《End of Days Game: I'm the Only One Who Can See the Hidden Cues》


 Chapter 1: Hallucination

    Moonlight Middle School.


    The weather is clear and sunny.


    "Jeremy... you... slow down, don''t be heard..." In an office on the fourth floor of the teacher''s building, Emma, the homeroom teacher of ss Three, blushed and couldn''t help but gasp for breath.


    She sat on the office chair with a sturdy arm, half of her ck professional attire taken off, revealing her tender and plump chest, and the ck strands on her legs were also pulled down to her thighs.


    Under the guidance of her arm owner, Emma''s curvy body kept rising and falling, and her full and soft chest rhythmically jumped. Despite trying to suppress it, she still couldn''t help but let out tempting moans from her mouth.


    Jeremy behind Emma smiled and joked, "Didn''t you just tell me to hurry up?"


    "I... I wanted you to end it quickly!" Emma''s eyes were filled with shame, anger, and confusion as she faced Jeremy''s teasing and the strong waves of impact beneath her.


    She didn''t understand why Jeremy, who was just a teenager under eighteen years old, had such strong endurance.


    In the end, Emma had no choice but to give Jeremy oral sex.


    Jeremy sat on the chair in the office, feeling his penis wrapped in a warm lump.


    Oh Yeah¡­


    The warm touch made Jeremy couldn''t help but take a breath.


    His body slowly rxed as hefortably gazed out the window at the scenery.


    Below the blue sky and white clouds, the teaching buildings stood quietly, with teachers asionally passing by holding books, and groups of young boys and girls sitting on the grass in the sports field, chatting andughing.


    Observing the peaceful campus, Jeremy felt somewhat dazed.


    The events of three years ago shed before his eyes like a fleeting dream.


    Copsed buildings, flying bullets, and wailing crowds seemed as if they had happened just yesterday.


    But all of that was now behind him.


    Now, Jeremy was just a high school senior with no family ties.


    Unless something unexpected happened, he would live out his life in tranquility, never again touching upon those past horrors.


    In his previous life, Jeremy had been a mercenary in a war zone, walking daily among gunfire and explosions, ultimately losing not only his life on the battlefield but also carrying severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with him to this parallel world.


    If Jeremy hadn''t been lucky enough to encounter a skilled psychologist after his transmigration, it''s highly likely he would''ve ended upmitting stress-induced crimes and spending the rest of his life in prison.


    Regardless, the fact that he was still alive was fortunate enough.


    Shaking his head, Jeremy was about to look away when he suddenly froze. A line of text slowly appeared before him.


    [Alert: 29 minutes and 59 seconds left until the arrival of the Apocalypse Game.]


    "The Apocalypse Game? What''s that?"


    Jeremy wondered, puzzled.


    But before he could think further, the text disappeared, and no matter how long he stared, it didn''t reappear.


    "A hallucination?"


    Jeremy pinched the bridge of his nose, dismissing it as a mistake.


    He had experienced this before; his PTSD often caused him to have hallucinations.


    "It looks like... I need to visit ire for some medication these next few days," Jeremy thought to himself.


    ire was the psychologist Jeremy had met after his transmigration, and he had been treating his psychological issues at her clinic.


    Up until now, Jeremy had been free of mental issues for three months, and he had even nned to stop taking his medication if not for today''s rpse.


    As Emma''s movements elerated, Jeremy''s mind was pulled back to reality.


    A charming voice echoed in the room, Emma kneeling on the ground, her head undting back and forth, her mouth rapidly swallowing, and her delicate white chest swaying back and forth due to the intense range of movements.


    Feeling the warm touch from his penis and caressing Emma''s charming face, Jeremy finally reached orgasm.


    Emma only felt a hot liquid spray into her mouth.


    She instinctively wriggled her throat and swallowed it.


    After regaining hisposure, Emma''s face instantly darkened.


    Jeremy sensed trouble since Emma disliked it when he finished in her mouth, finding the taste too strong.


    "You jerk, why didn''t you warn me!" Emma was livid, her teeth clenched as she reached to pinch Jeremy''s thigh.


    Jeremy quickly caught her hand, exining, "I got distracted, I''ll make sure to warn you next time." "You said the same thing the time beforest, and this is the fourth time now, you''re doing this on purpose!" Emma''s eyebrows furrowed in anger, this scoundrel always promised there would be no next time, yet he always broke his word.


    Jeremy awkwardly smiled, "This time was truly an ident."


    Jeremy spent a while calming Emma down, promising repeatedly that such incidents would not happen again, and she finally let go of her anger.


    Just before leaving, Jeremy thought he might have been mistaken, but it seemed like a line of text appeared above Emma''s head.


    [Emma, Ordinary Person]


    [Alert: After the Apocalypse Game begins, she will awaken an A-rank supernatural ability.]


    But before Jeremy could take a closer look, Emma had closed the door of the office.


    Jeremy frowned, muttering to himself,


    "This... doesn''t seem like a hallucination."


    The hallucinations he had experienced before were based on his own experiences, but what he just saw was clearly different.


    If the text was true, what did it mean by the arrival of the Apocalypse Game?


    Could the end of the world be near?


    Jeremy shook his head, dismissing the idea as impossible, preferring to believe it was a problem with his own mind.


    Clearing his mind of these distracting thoughts, Jeremy walked down from the teaching building. On his way down, he greeted several teachers as usual.


    One teacher jokingly scolded, "You''re skipping ss again, aren''t you?"


    The teachers at Moonlight Middle School were all familiar with Jeremy, the school''s genius who, despite frequently skipping sses and seeming not to study much, always ranked first in every exam. This often led to Emma calling him into her office for a talk.


    Jeremy simply shrugged, "I''ve already promised Emma it won''t happen again."


    The teachers looked relieved, mistaking Jeremy''s promise for a genuine intention to reform, unaware that his promise was not what they thought it was.


    After saying goodbye to the teachers, Jeremy made his way through the sports field to the teaching building, nning to go back to his ss to sleep.


    "Ding- Ding- Ding!"


    As Jeremy was heading upstairs, the bell for the end of the period rang, and a flood of students poured out of the ssrooms.


    Jeremy nced over them without much thought.


    But that one nce made his body freeze instantly, a chill running down his spine.


    Thousands of lines of text appeared before Jeremy!


    [Aron, Ordinary Person]


    [Alert: After the Apocalypse Game begins, he will turn into a zombie.]


    ...


    [Dino, Ordinary Person]


    [Alert: After the Apocalypse Game begins, he will turn into a goblin.]


    ...


    [Linna, Ordinary Person]


    [Alert: After the Apocalypse Game begins, she will turn into a werewolf.]


    ...


    Jeremy stood in the hallway, unable to move for a long time.


    If what the text said was true, wouldn''t all these people turn into monsters?


    Just the thought of it made Jeremy''s scalp tingle.


    [Alert: 10 minutes and 31 seconds left until the arrival of the Apocalypse Game.]


    Looking at the text before him, Jeremy''s expression grew increasingly grave.


    Jeremy wasn''t sure if this was all just in his head, but he felt he should at least make some preparations.


    If it were just his imagination, that would be for the best. But if it wasn''t, and the apocalypse was indeed upon them, then the preparations he made could very well save his life!


    Jeremy quickly weighed the pros and cons and made a beeline for his ssroom.


    With only 10 minutes to spare, he didn''t have time for extensive preparations.


    Fortunately, Jeremy had a habit of carrying weapons; he had two folding knives on him and several more in his backpack.


    Navigating through the crowd downstairs, Jeremy arrived at ss 3-1.


    Most people had already left, leaving only a dozen or so in the ssroom.


    Many were surprised to see Jeremy since, over the course of the semester, they could count on one hand the number of times he had showed up.


    "What brings you to ss today? Did Emmae to your house for a home visit again?" asked a skinny boy from the back of the room, his face full of confusion. He knew Jeremy well enough to know that only Emma could make Jeremy attend ss obediently.


    He was Jeremy''s deskmate, Ritchie, an anime fan and a bit of a homebody. The two of them got along quite well.


    "Came back for something, hold my backpack for me, will you?" Jeremy responded, neither confirming nor denying.


    Jeremy''s seat was right next to Ritchie''s, within easy reach.


    Taking advantage of the moment, Jeremy scanned his ssmates.


    Then, he unexpectedly discovered...


    Within his ss, there were two individuals capable of awakening supernatural abilities!

 Chapter 2: The Apocalypse Game

    One of them was the school''s beauty and the ss president of ss 3-1, named Bonnie.


    The other was his deskmate, Ritchie.


    ording to the information revealed, Ritchie would awaken a B-level supernatural ability.


    And Bonnie, to Jeremy''s astonishment, would awaken an S-level ability!


    This made Jeremy take a second look at her.


    She was the first person he had encountered capable of awakening an S-level supernatural ability. Bonnie furrowed her brows upon noticing Jeremy''s gaze.


    She had no fondness for a ssmate who constantly skipped school yet still managed to outperform her academically. To her, Jeremy was simply squandering his time and talent.


    Jeremy noticed Bonnie''s expression but didn''t mind it.


    He was not about to quibble with a girl. They were from different worlds.


    By this time, Ritchie had brought over the backpack.


    Just as Jeremy was about to reach for it,


    "Catch, Jeremy!"


    For some reason, Ritchie decided to toss the backpack the short distance to Jeremy, striking what he believed to be a cool pose.


    Jeremy sighed, already ustomed to Ritchie''s antics, and caught the backpack firmly.


    "Crash!"


    Unexpectedly, due to the momentum, the backpack''s zipper burst open.


    Suddenly, weapons such as w knives, nail des, stun batons, military spikes, curved knives, and anti-wolf sprays were all exposed to the onlookers.


    The whole ss went silent instantly.


    Everyone stared at the contents of Jeremy''s backpack, including Bonnie, who was also taken aback. What was this guy doing with so many weapons in his backpack when he was just hanging around? Ritchie scratched his head, puzzled, "Are you¡­ preparing for a fight or something?"


    Jeremy, unfazed by the stares, zipped up his backpack and casually replied, "Something like that." Indeed, he was preparing for a fight, albeit potentially against monsters.


    The ssmates exchanged looks and subtly moved away from Jeremy.


    It was best to keep a distance from such a dangerous person.


    Bonnie hesitated on whether to report this to the teacher.


    Ritchie, however, volunteered enthusiastically, "A fight? Count me in!"


    As a good brother, fighting was a joint affair, even if it meant getting beaten up together.


    Jeremy nced at Ritchie. Despite being a bit odd, he was a good person at heart.


    After thinking it over, Jeremy pulled a military knife from his backpack and handed it to Ritchie, saying earnestly, "Go wait for me on the rooftop.I''lle find youter."


    Of course, Jeremy was deceiving him.


    If the apocalypse were to arrive, Jeremy wasn''t sure he could look after Ritchie. Keeping him in a ce where no one else was seemed like the best option.


    "Holy shit, a military knife!" Ritchie eximed with exhration as he took the knife, as if he had discovered some kind of rare treasure.


    Several male ssmates looked on enviously at Ritchie, utterly fascinated by the military-grade weapon.


    Bonnie, on the other hand, watched Jeremy with a puzzled look, wondering where he had acquired such an item.


    There were only 7 minutes left.


    Jeremy nned to go back and find Emma.


    Officially, they were teacher and student, but secretly, they were lovers. Jeremy wouldn''t leave her behind.


    Before leaving, Jeremy turned back to address his ssmates, "There''s a rabies virus spreading through the city recently. Those infected show aggressive behavior. If you don''t want to get hurt, it''s best to find a weapon to defend yourself."


    With that, Jeremy didn''t spare another nce at his ssmates and turned to leave.


    He had said his piece. Whether they lived or died was up to them now. Jeremy felt no obligation to protect them.


    After Jeremy left, the ssroom was filled with puzzled faces.


    One student questioned, "Is that true? Jeremy wouldn''t be ying a trick on us, right?"


    Another student said incredulously, "Do we even need to ask? Has anyone heard about a rabies virus spreading recently? This has to be one of Jeremy''s pranks!"


    A hesitant student added, "But Jeremy doesn''t seem like the type to joke around."


    "I don''t believe it anyway," most of the ss dismissed the warning and didn''t take it seriously.


    Yet, some quietly slipped paper cutters into their pockets, just in case.


    Bonnie shook her head, dismissing Jeremy''s actions as a childish cry for attention.


    She stood up, nning to report Jeremy''s behavior to their teacher, Emma, to prevent him from causing any trouble.


    ¡­


    Leaving the teaching building, Jeremy quickly made his way to the faculty building.


    On the way, he pulled out his phone and called his psychologist, ire.


    After two rings, the call was picked up.


    "What''s up?" A cool female voice came through the phone.


    Jeremy, while running, instructed, "There might be some trouble soon, it''s dangerous outside. Lock the door and stay in your clinic, don''t go anywhere. I''lle to find you."


    Hearing Jeremy''s urgent tone, ire was silent for two seconds before replying, "Understood." Then ire hung up, and Jeremy felt a weight lift from his heart.


    ire was a smart woman; even if she doubted the truthfulness of his words, she wouldn''t joke about her own safety.


    Soon, Jeremy was back at Emma''s office.


    Emma had just changed her clothes and was preparing to head to ss with her books in hand.


    Upon seeing Jeremy, her eyebrows furrowed in disapproval. "Are you nning to skip ss again? This ss is mine, and if you run off, don''t bother looking for me this week."


    Jeremy didn''t respond; instead, he pulled her into the office and locked the door behind them.


    Seeing Jeremy lock the door, Emma blushed and spat out,


    "Really? Didn''t we just... I have to teach now, we can continue after school..."


    She was cut off mid-sentence by Jeremy.


    Jeremy said earnestly, "Stay here, don''t go anywhere."


    "Huh?" Emma was puzzled, not understanding what Jeremy was intending to do.


    However, seeing the rare serious expression on Jeremy''s face, she nodded obediently, "I understand."


    Jeremy''s gaze shifted towards the window, the ominous text reappearing in his mind.


    [Alert: 2 minutes and 31 seconds left until the apocalypse game begins.]


    Jeremy''s eyes flickered, wondering if it was all an illusion. He would soon find out.


    Time ticked away.


    Under Jeremy''s watchful eye, the countdown began.


    10 seconds... 9 seconds... 5 seconds!


    Jeremy stared intently at the timer, his mind tense.


    [Apocalypse game countdown: 3 seconds!]


    [Apocalypse game countdown: 2 seconds!]


    [Apocalypse game countdown: 1 second!]


    Time reached zero!


    A breeze passed, gently swaying the lush pines outside the teaching building, but nothing happened. It was the end of ss, and the campus was as noisy as usual, with no signs of anything amiss. Jeremy frowned, questioning if it had all been his imagination.


    Just then, Jeremy sensed something and abruptly looked up at the sky.


    His pupils dted in shock.


    The sun in the sky had somehow turned blood red!


    Simultaneously, crimson, blood-like text slowly began to appear in the sky.


    [The Apocalypse Game Begins!]


    [Game Introduction: Those eliminated under the light of evolution will turn into monsters, while the survivors will be yers. yers can gain experience or items by killing monsters, and a few may awaken special supernatural abilities...]


    Watching the lines of blood-red text slowly emerge in the sky, Jeremy didn''t know whether to be relieved that it wasn''t his illusion or to mourn the fact that the apocalypse had truly arrived.


    The blood-red text continued to emerge, as if an invisible hand was writing with fresh blood.


    [To enrich the yer experience, various resource chests will be randomly refreshed in the game, containing powerful supernatural items that can help yers quickly enhance their strength.]


    [We will also periodicallyunch various game events. We wish all yers a pleasant gaming experience.]


    [Game nner: The Hanged Man]


    Reading thest line, Jeremy felt a chill run down his spine.


    This apocalypse game was artificially created?!


    Who or what was The Hanged Man, and what was the purpose behind creating this game?


    Jeremy had countless questions but no answers.


    Meanwhile, people outside also noticed the changes in the sky.


    "The Apocalypse Game? The Hanged Man? Is this his prank?" Countless people looked up at the brilliant blood sun and the red text in the sky, all wearing faces of confusion, with many pulling out their phones to take photos and videos.


    But then, they noticed something was amiss.


    "My hand, my hand!"


    A boy looked at the blood-red patterns on his hand in horror.


    The blood patterns were spreading across his body at an rming rate...


    Then, the boy''s body began to emit a red glow as if it was being scorched at high temperatures, with wisps of white smoke rising.

 Chapter 3: The All-Seeing Eye

    "Oooooh!!!"


    The boy screamed in agony as his skin began to dissolve rapidly under the horrified gaze of the onlookers, soon revealing the flesh beneath. His originally handsome features twisted grotesquely.


    It wasn''t just the boy. Under the glow of the blood-red light, many others began to transform. Some sprouted fangs and ws, while others, like the boy, suffered skin deterioration. They writhed in pain on the ground, some passing out from the sheer agony.


    But in just a few breaths of time, these individuals twisted their bodies and rose from the ground.


    Inhuman roars erupted from their mouths. Upon rising, they immediately locked their sights on the living around them and pounced.


    These beings, no longer human, moved with an eerie agility. Once a person was knocked down, they would open their grotesque mouths wide, frenziedly tearing and devouring their flesh in a scene of extreme brutality.


    "Monsters... Monsters!"


    Cries and screams echoed across the campus as people ran in all directions, but they were likembs to the ughter under the pursuit of these monsters, turning the entire campus into a living hell in moments.


    "What... What is all this?!" Emma, pale and frightened, huddled in Jeremy''s arms.


    She could never have imagined that the world, once so normal, could turn into hell in the blink of an eye.


    Jeremy didn''t answer Emma''s question.


    Because just then, a series of blood-red pop-ups appeared before him.


    [The Apocalypse Game Begins!]


    [You have awakened an SSS-tier ability¡ª"The All-Seeing Eye!"]


    [Introduction: You can see hidden information and hints.]


    [Congrattions on bing the first yer to awaken an SSS-tier ability in this game!]


    [You have received a beginner''s gift pack!]


    [Hint: Opening the beginner''s gift pack while performing a handstand will yield double rewards!]


    Jeremy read the final hint and fell into a long silence.


    Double rewards for opening the beginner''s gift pack while doing a handstand?


    At that moment, Jeremy didn''t know whether to scoff at the absurdity of this ability or marvel at its strength.


    After hesitating, he ced his hands on the ground and, under Emma''s astonished gaze, performed a handstand.


    Jeremy said emotionlessly, "Open the beginner''s gift pack!"


    [Ding! The beginner''s gift pack has been opened!]


    [Rewards received: Storage space*10m3, Basic Physique Enhancer*1, Awakening Gem*1, Beginner''s yer Manual...]


    [Ding! Hidden mechanism triggered, you have received double rewards!]


    One by one, the notifications appeared before Jeremy, just as the All-Seeing Eye had hinted. Opening the beginner''s gift pack while in a handstand indeed triggered a hidden mechanism, granting him double the rewards!


    Jeremy clenched his fist, feeling a rare surge of excitement, for he knew well what this meant.


    With the powerful ability of the All-Seeing Eye, he could rapidly increase his strength and secure a foothold in the apocalypse game as swiftly as possible.


    Although Jeremy didn''t know the creator''s purpose behind this game, those were concerns for if he survived until the end. There was no need to delve into them now;cking strength, knowing too much could only lead to an earlier death.


    [Ding! You have obtained a supernatural item, personal panel activated!]


    Just then, a transparent panel suddenly appeared in front of Jeremy.


    [Name: Jeremy]


    [Level: Lv1]


    [Profession: None]


    [Ability: All-Seeing Eye (SSS)]


    [Attributes: Strength 9, Spirit 9, Stamina 9, Agility 9]


    [Skills: None]


    [Experience: 0/25 points]


    [Items: Storage Space*20m3, Basic Constitution Enhancer*2, Awakening Stone*2, Beginner yer''s Guide*2]


    ¡­


    Seeing the personal panel that resembled something out of a game did not surprise Jeremy too much. After all, the apocalypse game had already begun, so a game panel was hardly shocking.


    He proceeded to check the items he had just received.


    [Item]: Storage Space 20m3


    [Quality]: Purple (Rare)


    [Description]: Provides 20 cubic meters of storage space for non-living items that can be essed at any time.


    ...


    [Item]: Basic Evolution Enhancer


    [Quality]: Purple (Rare)


    [Description]: Increases all attributes by 10 points upon use, can only be used once per person.


    ...


    [Item]: Awakening Gem


    [Quality]: Orange (Precious)


    [Description]: Awakens supernatural abilities upon use.


    ...


    [Item]: Beginner''s yer Manual


    [Quality]: Common (Blue)


    [Description]: Provides basic knowledge about the apocalypse game upon use.


    ...


    The rewards provided by the beginner''s gift pack were all incredibly useful. The storage space allowed for carrying items, the Basic Evolution Enhancer offered a significant boost to attributes, and the Awakening Gem could awaken supernatural abilities.


    The seemingly unremarkable Beginner''s yer Manual was something Jeremy valued highly, even considering it the most precious item among them.


    Although it was only amon blue-quality item, it could quickly acquaint Jeremy with the basic rules of the apocalypse game, which was crucial for him at this stage.


    Just then, Jeremy heard Emma''s voice, tinged with urgency.


    "Jeremy, don''t scare me, say something!" Emma, seeing Jeremy still in a handstand and not moving, was on the verge of tears, calling out to him, fearing something had happened to him.


    It was only then that Jeremy remembered he was still in a handstand.


    "Don''t worry, I''m fine," he quickly reassured her as he got back on his feet.


    Seeing Jeremy return to normal, Emma let out a sigh of relief, wiping away her tears. "What were you doing suddenly standing on your hands without saying a word? You really scared me."


    Jeremy coughed awkwardly, forcing an exnation. "I was just thinking about something. I heard standing on your head could speed up blood cirction in the brain, so I gave it a try. It worked pretty well."


    Hearing his exnation, Emma looked confused. "Is that so?"


    Changing the subject, Jeremy said, "Let''s not talk about that. I have something for you."


    With a thought, a stone the size of an egg, covered in mysterious patterns, appeared in Jeremy''s hand.


    This stone, emanating an orange glow, was the Awakening Gem Jeremy had just received.


    He had noticed a change in the information disyed above Emma''s head.


    [Notice: Name: Emma, Grade A supernatural ability awakening in progress.]


    Jeremy had initially thought Emma would awaken her abilities as the apocalypse unfolded, just like he did.


    It seemed he had oversimplified matters; awakening abilities was a process after all.


    Fortunately, the beginner''s gift pack included two Awakening Gems.


    While these gems were of little use to Jeremy, they were invaluable to others.


    Upon seeing the Awakening Gem, an information introduction appeared in front of Emma as well. She couldn''t help but cover her mouth in surprise, eximing, "This... how did you get this?"


    Jeremy had his exnation ready, a mix of truth and fiction. "The game notified me that I was the first yer to awaken my abilities, so it gave me a beginner''s pack. This Awakening Gem was in it. Try it, see if you can awaken your abilities."


    Jeremy did not reveal all his secrets to Emma.


    Having been a mercenary for many years in his past life, he had seen too many betrayals and had grown ustomed to keeping things to himself, even from those closest to him.


    Emma, having no reason to doubt him, was thrilled to hear that Jeremy had awakened his abilities. Under Jeremy''s watchful eye, she used the Awakening Gem.


    The gem turned into a stream of light that entered her body, and as Emma closed her eyes, green glows appeared around her, signaling a vast life force awakening within.


    The awakening seemed to take some time, its duration uncertain.


    Taking advantage of this, Jeremy decided to enhance his own strength as well.


    He took out the Beginner''s yer Manual from his storage and used it.


    A sh of white light passed, and Jeremy''s mind was immediately filled with a wealth of information - all the basic knowledge about the apocalypse game such as the levels of monsters, the quality of equipment, how to acquire skills, and how to change sses after reaching lv10.


    Jeremy quickly assimted this information, gaining a rough understanding of the apocalypse game. In essence, it was a virtual online game with an apocalyptic theme that had now be reality.


    No wonder that the person hanging upside down had referred to himself as a game designer.

 Chapter 4: Energy Crystals

    Afterward, Jeremy took out a Primary Evolution Potion.


    It was a ss syringe filled with purple liquid, about the length of an index finger.


    Injecting it into himself, Jeremy instantly felt his body react; it was as if his genes were stirring restlessly.


    He felt a warmth spreading through his body, akin to the heat of a high fever, causing sweat to bead on his forehead.


    However, this sensation soon faded, and once his body returned to normal, Jeremy checked his attribute panel to find all his stats had increased to 19 points.


    Moreover, Jeremy noticed his movement and reaction speeds had significantly improved.


    Clenching his fist, he could feel his strength had more than doubled; he was brimming with inexhaustible power. After adjusting to his new capabilities, Jeremy decided to find a monster to test his skills on.


    Looking through the ss window, his gaze settled on a middle-aged zombie in a suit wandering the hallway.


    Information immediately appeared in front of him:


    [Zombie (Common)]


    [Level]: lv1


    [Health]: 150/150


    [Attack]: 12-14


    [Defense]: 2


    [Skills]: None


    [Notice: This is amon level 1 zombie, with a weakness in its head.]


    Jeremy noted the hint at the bottom.


    It seems the All-Seeing Eye''s abilities were more extensive than he had imagined, even capable of pinpointing a monster''s weak spot.


    Casually grabbing a military dagger, Jeremy confidently pushed open the office door and stepped out.


    The middle-aged zombie, hearing the noise, immediately halted, turning its gaze towards Jeremy.


    It was then Jeremy realized¡­ this zombie seemed to be their history teacher?


    However, because the teacher''s facial flesh hadpletely deteriorated, neither Jeremy nor Emma had recognized him initially.


    Upon seeing Jeremy, the zombie charged at him with renewed vigor, its previously sluggish steps now swift and determined.


    To an ordinary person, the sheer ferocity of the zombie might have been enough to induce leg-trembling fear.


    But Jeremy remained unfazed, waiting until the zombie was about to pounce before his previously calm eyes became sharp and piercing.


    With a powerful surge through his legs, Jeremy''s movements were lightning-fast as he delivered a kick straight to the zombie''s shin.


    "Crack!"


    The grating sound of bone breaking echoed through the hallway. The force of the impact instantly fractured the zombie''s shinbone, with sharp bone shards piercing through the flesh, causing the zombie to copse awkwardly onto the corridor floor.


    Yet, such an injury was not enough to incapacitate the zombie.


    Seemingly devoid of consciousness and pain, it got up, dragging its broken leg, and lunged at Jeremy again, mouth agape.


    Jeremy was prepared.


    His wrist flicked, and the cold, menacing military dagger in his hand stabbed out swiftly like a venomous snake.


    "Thud!"


    The dagger plunged deep into the zombie''s skull, with red and white brain matter sttering into the air.


    The zombie''s form stiffened instantly, the red glow in its eyes quickly fading.


    [You have killed a lv1 Zombie, gaining 5 experience points!]


    ncing at the zombie''s corpse, Jeremy pondered.


    Reaching level 2 required 50 experience points, and a level 1 zombie provided 5 points. This meant if Jeremy wanted to level up, he needed to kill 9 more level 1 zombies.


    Jeremy estimated the number of monsters on this floor.


    Unlike Emma''s office, where she, as the head teacher of ss 3-1, had her own private space, the school''s regr teachers often shared offices, usually three or four to a room.


    With over a dozen offices on this floor, and assuming most teachers were not present, there were likely more than twenty monsters around, averaging one or two zombies per office.


    With this in mind, Jeremy felt confident in his ability to handle them.


    He had already gauged the strength of a level 1 zombie. Although they were somewhat stronger than the average person, that was about the extent of it. As long as he didn''t encounter too many at once, these brainless creatures were not difficult for Jeremy to deal with.


    As Jeremy passed by an office, a prompt from the All-Seeing Eye suddenly appeared:


    [Notice: There are two lv1 zombies in the office to your left, one of which contains a tier 1 Energy Crystal.]


    "Tier 1 Energy Crystal?"


    Jeremy paused, recalling information from the beginner''s manual.


    Energy Crystals were special substances formed from the condensed energy within monsters, divided into 10 tiers. They could be used for trading items, enhancing attributes, unlocking treasure chests, and upgrading skills.


    Essentially, Energy Crystals were the universal currency in this post-apocalyptic game.


    Understanding the importance of Energy Crystals, Jeremy didn''t hesitate. He pushed open the office door.


    A thick scent of blood rushed to his nostrils.


    Jeremy surveyed the office and found it in utter disarray, with sttered blood and entrails everywhere on the walls and the floor, indicating the horrific ordeal the people in the room must have gone through.


    Amid the sound of gruesome chewing, Jeremy''s gaze shifted.


    In the corner of the office, a petite female teacher was grotesquely gnawing on a severed hand, while the other zombie was feasting on a human head.


    Jeremy could barely discern that the head belonged to a male, his face half-eaten and only his terrified eyes remaining, making it impossible to recognize his original appearance.


    The moment Jeremy entered, both zombies ceased their actions.


    They slowly turned their heads, blood-red eyes fixing on Jeremy.


    Jeremy''s gaze remained calm as he faced them.


    "Roar, roar, roar!"


    Enraged by Jeremy''s stare, the zombies wed their way towards him in attack.


    Facing the two charging zombies, Jeremy''s eyes were cold. He shifted his weight, turned his hip, and powered through his waist, delivering a vicious high kick straight to the head of the leading zombie.


    Jeremy''s move was swift and fluid, making it seem as though the zombie had run into his kick.


    "Boom!"


    The dull sound of the impact echoed through the office.


    The temple of the zombie caved in under the force of Jeremy''s kick.


    Its body flew backward like a cannonball, crashing into an office desk meters away.


    Papers fluttered down like snowkes as the zombie twitched twice before lying still.


    A one-hit kill!


    [You have killed a tier 1 zombie, gaining 4 experience points!]


    The smaller zombie halted in its tracks, momentarily stunned.


    It nced at the other zombie and then at Jeremy, a flicker of fear passing through its eyes, hesitant to advance further.


    "Well, you know fear?" Jeremy observed the zombie, chuckling lightly.


    Monsters possessing Energy Crystals differed from their ordinary counterparts; they had the potential to evolve, which Jeremy surmised was akin to humans capable of awakening extraordinary abilities.


    However, Jeremy was indifferent to its potential. His interesty solely in the Energy Crystal.


    Sensing the impending danger, the petite female zombie turned and fled.


    She dashed towards the window, seemingly intending to escape through it.


    Jeremy was not about to let his prey slip away.


    Clenching the military spike in his hand, he took a step back with his right foot, aimed carefully, tensed his muscles, then swung his arm, hurling the spike with force.


    "Whoosh!"


    The spike shot out like a javelin, tearing through the air with a fierce whistling sound.


    The zombie, sensing the danger, looked back, only to see a sh of dark light, brief and fleeting.


    "Thud!"


    The zombie''s head was instantly pierced by the spike, its force pinning the corpse firmly against the wall.


    [You have killed a tier 1 zombie, gaining 6 experience points!]


    Looking at the zombie hanging on the wall, Jeremy twisted his arm, reminiscing the feeling of battling enemies on the battlefield.


    He stepped forward to retrieve the spike, and the zombie''s body slumped to the ground.


    Crouching down, Jeremy used the spike to crack open its skull, digging around before extracting the Energy Crystal.


    The crystal was the size of a mung bean, crystal-clear and jade-like, its surface emitting a faint glow.


    Holding the Energy Crystal, Jeremy recalled the information from the beginner''s manual.


    It was hard for him to believe that such a small object could randomly enhance one of his attributes by one point.


    Considering Jeremy''s individual attributes were around nine points each, this tier 1 crystal was equivalent to one-ninth of his attributes.


    Remembering how to use the Energy Crystal, Jeremy ced it on his forehead. At first, he felt nothing, then a cool sensation spread across his forehead as the Energy Crystal seemingly liquefied and merged into his body¡­

 Chapter 5: Rapid Level-Up

    After absorbing the energy crystal, Jeremy opened his panel to find that his agility attribute had increased to 20 points.


    Agility not only enhances a yer''s movement speed but also their attack speed and reaction time. The other three attributes simrly provide a variety of enhancements to a yer.


    The strength attribute increases a yer''s attack power and explosive force.


    The stamina attribute enhances a yer''s recovery speed and resilience.


    While the spirit attribute boosts a yer''s memory and reaction time.


    Therefore, at higher levels, ordinary yers can be nearly as powerful as those with supernatural abilities, although they start off slower since theyck an extra ability.


    After absorbing the energy crystal, Jeremy rummaged through the two zombies again.


    Apart from some money, there was no other gain, let alone equipment items dropped.


    Low-level monsters don''t drop equipment or items very often, and Jeremy didn''t mind.


    He tossed the money aside carelessly and left the office without a second nce.


    In a post-apocalyptic world, money is as useless as scrap paper. Even if human systems were to be restored, a new currency system would likely emerge, rendering these bills worthless.


    Locking the office door behind him, Jeremy took a look at the campus outside.


    The once chaotic crowd had vanished, leaving only monsters wandering around.


    Cries for help could asionally be heard, quickly turning into screams.


    Surveying the monsters outside, Jeremy noticed zombies, werewolves, goblins, and other bizarre types among them.


    Most were level 1 and 2 monsters, with a few level 3 creatures scattered about, though they were rare among the hundreds of monsters present.


    Unexpectedly, Jeremy spotted a conspicuous level 5 elite monster in the stadium.


    This creature, having lost all semnce of humanity, moved on all fours with incredible speed. It had sharp ws and a long tail, and the other monsters looked at it with a mix of fear.


    [Aberration (Elite)]


    [Level]: lv5


    [Life]:


    [Attack]: 145-151


    [Defense]: 37


    [Skills]: w Strike, Gnaw


    [Note]: This is a level 5 elite monster. With your current strength, it''s best not to provoke it.


    Jeremy felt a sense of danger looking at the monster''s attributes.


    Monsters are categorized into four levels: Normal, Elite, Lord, and Boss, with significant power gaps between each level.


    Encountering this monster with his current strength, he doubted he could even run away.


    Crushing out his cigarette, Jeremy, armed with a military dagger, headed to the next office.


    The evolution of the monsters was faster than he had anticipated. He hadn''t expected that level 5 elite monsters would appear in such a short time...


    With that monster present in the stadium, it was virtually impossible for Jeremy to head to the academic building to find Ritchie.


    Moreover, with Emma still in the midst of awakening, he couldn''t venture too far.


    Therefore, Jeremy decided to use this time to clear the monsters on this floor.


    This would at least provide a safe resting ce and, incidentally, help increase his level.


    As Jeremy sped up his monster hunting, his experience points began to soar rapidly.


    To the ordinary person, these monsters might seem fierce and terrifying.But that was before Jeremy had used a primary evolution potion, which significantly boosted his strength. Level 1 monsters were like children in his hands.


    Even level 2 monsters posed no threat to Jeremy.


    [You have killed a level 1 zombie, earning 5 experience points!]


    [You have killed a level 1 goblin, earning 6 experience points!]


    [You have killed a level 2 mutant, earning 15 experience points!]


    ...


    With each kill notification, Jeremy pierced the heart of a level 2 mutant and was enveloped in a golden glow, apanied by a level-up notification in front of him.


    [Congrattions, yer has leveled up to lv2, you have received 10 free attribute points.]


    Before choosing a ss, yers receive 10 free attribute points that they can allocate freely with each level-up.


    After choosing a ss, yers also receive additional fixed attribute points based on their ss''s characteristics.


    These two types of attribute point rewards increase as the yer''s level increases and are one of the main ways yers can gain attribute points.


    Jeremy allocated all 5 free attribute points to strength, clearly feeling his power increase significantly. This visible increase in strength also made Jeremy even more enthusiastic about hunting monsters.


    ...


    At the same time, on the rooftop of the academic building.


    "What are these people doing?" Ritchie stood at the edge of the rooftop, looking down at the chaotic crowd below, puzzled.


    Because he was nearsighted and the rooftop was on the seventh floor, Ritchie could only see a chaotic scene below without understanding what was happening.


    "Could Jeremy and the others have started fighting?" Ritchie guessed, his expression changing as he took out his phone to call Jeremy.


    Jeremy was in the midst of fighting zombies. But he still answered the call from Ritchie.


    "What''s up, what happened on your end?" Jeremy kicked an approaching zombie, flying away, thinking Ritchie might have encountered zombies.


    "It''s not me who''s in trouble, it''s you!" Hearing the noise on Jeremy''s end, Ritchie immediately confirmed his suspicion.


    "What are you talking about? Make it clear." Jeremy twisted off a zombie''s head, confused.


    Ritchie angrily said, "Jeremy, you''re trying to fool me again? Do you think because I''m nearsighted, I''m easy to deceive? I''m only nearsighted, not blind! I saw what happened downstairs. How could you leave me up here and face those people by yourself? Don''t you consider me your brother anymore?"


    Jeremy fell silent on the other end of the phone.


    Had Ritchie misunderstood something?


    Thinking about his nearly ten-foot range of nearsightedness that couldn''t distinguish between humans and animals, Jeremy understood.


    "There''s nothing happening downstairs that concerns us. Just stay on the rooftop and remember to lock the door. Don''t open it for anyone but me." With two more zombies approaching, Jeremy quickly exined and then hung up.


    "Got it." After Ritchie figured out the situation, he found out that Jeremy had already hung up the phone.He followed Jeremy''s instructions and locked the door on the rooftop.


    As he was about to kill some time ying games out of sheer boredom, Ritchie suddenly noticed a golden glow flickering in a corner of the rooftop.


    "What''s that?" Ritchie was puzzled and put away his phone as he walked over.As he approached, he realized that there was a quaint golden box in the corner of the rooftop.


    ¡­


    Time flew by, and the sun set, darkening the sky.


    [You have killed a level 3 goblin, earning 35 experience points!]


    Inside the break room, Jeremy beheaded a goblin, leveling up to level 3.


    His weapon had been upgraded from a military spike to a machete since the former was damaged.There were more monsters in the academic building than he had anticipated.And he had only cleared about half of them so far.


    What made Jeremy somewhat speechless was the absence of any equipment drops from so many monsters.


    Under normal drop rates, there should have been one or two pieces¡­


    His luck was just not that great.


    Jeremy kicked the headless goblin corpse aside, poured himself a cup of water with a disposable cup, and gulped it down.


    After all, humans aren''t machines. Even though Jeremy''s stamina is amazing, he is still a bit tired from high-intensitybat for so long.


    Soon, Jeremy returned to Emma''s office.


    Emma is still awakening, but her green glow has be even stronger.


    A rich life force enveloped her, causing green sprouts to grow on the floor around her.And even the potted nts in the office flourished incredibly.


    Jeremy had a rough guess about Emma''s awakening ability¡­


    It was likely some kind of nt-based power.


    By the time Jeremy had rested for half an hour and left the office.It waspletely dark.


    The streetlights along the campus paths lit up.The campus, which used to be filled with monsters, has now be much quieter.


    Most of the zombies stood dazed on the roads, like statues. Although some zombies may wander left and right, their speed is very slow, like an elderly person hesitating on their steps.

 Chapter 6: The Bronze Chest

    Night falls.


    Some of the braver souls started sneaking out, seizing the opportunity to look for food.


    Jeremy casually threw the leftovers of his meal onto a zombie below.Amidst the roar of the zombies, he looked up towards the direction of the teaching building and noticed that some ssrooms were also lit up.


    Jeremy could vaguely see a figure walking among them. Some ssrooms have banners hanging outside their windows, asking for help, with words such as "Someone here, help!" and "Whoever has food, I can exchange it with water!"


    This reminded Jeremy of people seeking help in war-torn areas.


    However, he had no intention of ying the good Samaritan.


    Jeremy merely nced and then shifted his attention away, continuing his mission to clear the remaining monsters.


    He nned to spend the entire night grinding.


    For ordinary people, killing monsters at night is undoubtedly a suicidal behavior.


    Because thevision was obstructed, God knows what monster is hidden in the corner.


    But for someone as skilled and daring as Jeremy, these slow-moving zombies at night were just walking experience points.


    Arriving at a stairwell corner, Jeremy spotted two Level 2 werewolves covered in ck fur outside a restroom.


    As soon as Jeremyid eyes on the werewolves, their stats appeared before him.


    [Werewolf (Common)]


    [Level]: lv2


    [Attack]: 24-38


    [Defense]: 8


    [Skills]: None


    [Tip: Killing the werewolf on the left with your foot will 100% drop a ck Iron grade equipment!]


    ¡­


    Seeing the tip from the all-knowing eye, Jeremy''s eyes lit up!


    Finally, he encountered monsters that could drop equipment.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy, holding a machete, walked straight towards them.


    His original military spike had been damaged in battle. But fortunately, Jeremy had spare equipment in his backpack. Otherwise, he might have had to look for a fire axe by now.


    "Howl..."


    Two werewolves spotted Jeremy walking towards them, and their fur and hair stood on end. They bared their teeth and issued a warning, sobbing.


    They could smell the strong scent of blood on Jeremy and sensed that this human was very dangerous.


    Jeremy didn''t slow down.If anything, he sped up. The two Level 2 monsters posed no threat to him at this point. The night was full of dangers, and Jeremy was determined to make quick work of them.


    Seeing Jeremy not stopping, the werewolves'' eyes turned blood-red with violence.Their ws scratching white marks on the ground before they both leaped towards Jeremy.


    Jeremy didn''t retreat but advanced instead. Powering through his legs, he dodged one werewolf''s pounce and kicked the equipment-dropping werewolf away with a straight kick.


    The other werewolf, afternding, immediately swung its ws towards Jeremy''s back with a swift attack.


    However, Jeremy seemed to have eyes on his back and managed to dodge its ws on his side. At the same time, he stabbed the werewolf''s neck directly with his backhand and then shed it fiercely, causing blood to stter everywhere.


    By the time the other werewolf got up, the one behind Jeremy had already copsed heavily.


    [You have killed a lv2 werewolf, earning 14 experience points!]


    Jeremy didn''t stop. He rushed towards thest werewolf.


    The werewolf initially wanted to struggle desperately. But in just a few breaths, it had its arms severed by Jeremy''s de. Finally, its head was kicked open by Jeremy.


    [You have killed a lv2 werewolf, gaining 17 experience points!]


    A white orb emerged from the werewolf''s body, conspicuously visible in the night.


    Jeremy reached out to pick it up, and a white dagger instantly appeared in his hand.


    [Equipment]: Wolftooth Dagger


    [Level]: ck Iron


    [Quality]: Blue


    [Attributes]: Strength +5, Agility +5


    [Skills]: None


    Jeremy was somewhat surprised. He hadn''t expected toe across a Blue-quality ck Iron weapon!


    Equipment levels are categorized into ten grades, namely ck Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, etc.


    ck Iron grade corresponds to yers and monsters from levels 1 to 10.


    Besides, there are five quality levels.


    They are White (Broken), Blue (Common), Purple (Rare), Orange (Precious), and Gold (Perfect).


    The higher the level and quality of the equipment, the better its attributes, and naturally, the rarer it is.


    "My luck isn''t too bad after all!"


    Jeremy smiled, storing the military knife in his storage space and holding the Wolftooth Dagger. He could feel his body bing significantly lighter.


    He opened his panel and found that his Strength attribute had increased to 31 points and his Agility to 26 points. The equipment significantly boosted a yer''s strength.


    Jeremy is preparing to leave here and try his new weapon.


    However, he had only taken a few steps when he stopped, faintly hearing whispers.


    "Are there survivors?"


    Jeremy immediately judged. With all four attributes exceeding 20 points, Jeremy''s senses were incredibly sharp.


    He could even discern that it was a girl''s voice,ing from within a restroom stall... And there were other subdued voices conversing in the restroom.


    There seemed to be more than one person hiding.


    At the same time, a prompt from the all-knowing eye appeared before Jeremy.


    [Tip: There are 3 people in the restroom, and 4 monsters outside it.]


    Jeremy looked at the prompt, his expression unchanged.


    Strictly speaking, this was the first time Jeremy had encountered other survivors here, aside from Emma. The rest had either been killed by monsters or had tried to flee and died outside the academic building.


    However, Jeremy had no intention of rescuing them. Too many monsters could cause amotion, potentially putting him in danger.


    But just as Jeremy was about to leave quietly, a prompt suddenly appeared before him.


    [Tip: There is a Bronze-level chest outside the restroom!]


    Jeremy couldn''t move his steps and his eyes lit up.


    There was actually a Bronze chest here?!


    Chests are a type of item in the post-apocalyptic game, opening them could yield powerful equipment or items.


    Chests are graded into ten levels: ck Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, etc., with different levels of chests containing different items. This was the first chest Jeremy had encountered.


    Without a second thought, Jeremy headed straight in.


    Outside the restroom, three level 2 zombies and one level 3 goblin were wandering around.


    "Roar!" As Jeremy approached, their crimson eyes suddenly lit up, emitting bursts of angry roars. Even their originally slow footsteps immediately became swift.


    However, Jeremy''s gaze wasn''t on them but was fixed on a bronze chest behind them. His eyes sparkled with excitement, almost frighteningly so.


    ...


    Meanwhile, inside the restroom, Bonnie and several adults were hiding in the stalls of the women''s restroom.


    Their faces were pale, and they dared not breathe loudly.


    Through the gaps in the restroom door, they could see slow-moving shadows wandering outside. From time to time, zombies would hit the restroom door, seemingly sensing the presence of living people inside.


    Fortunately, the restroom door was very sturdy, and they had barricaded it with several partition doors. So even if zombies asionally sensed their presence, they couldn''t get in.


    Unfortunately... the door was already somewhat deformed and probably wouldn''t hold much longer.


    And with no windows in this restroom for escape, they were trapped.


    A female teacher with sses spoke up, "We can''t go on like this. We must find a way out. Otherwise, when the door is broken through, we''ll all die here!"


    A middle-aged male teacher with a beer belly, wearing a white shirt, irritably smoked a cigarette and said, "Easy for you to say, but how?"


    The female teacher hesitated, then suggested, "What if... we try to go through the vent?"


    Although there were no windows in the bathroom, there was an air vent, which was very small, only a few tens of centimeters.


    The overweight teacher seemed about to explode in anger but feared attracting monsters. He snorted heavily, pointed at the small window less than a few dozen centimeters wide, and angrily whispered, "Are you an idiot? Forget my size, look if you can squeeze through that gap. You''ve watched too many movies, haven''t you?"


    For a moment, the restroom fell silent again, with only the thumping of zombies knocking on the door.


    Bonnie huddled in the corner, pursing her lips tightly.She regretteding out to report Jeremy. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have been trapped in the restroom of the academic building after the apocalypse broke out, slowly waiting to die.


    Just then, there was amotion among the monsters outside.


    The people inside thought the monsters were preparing to break in, showing fear on their faces.


    But then, they realized something was wrong.


    Because they suddenly heard the sound of monsters roaring and fighting.


    "What''s happening outside?"


    They looked at each other, seeing the confusion in each other''s eyes.

 Chapter 7: The Chance Encounter

    Outside the restroom.


    Facing several monsters lunging at him, Jeremy remainedposed, moving through them like a specter.


    Despite the frenzied attacks of the monsters.Jeremy managed to dodge each one and left horrific wounds on their bodies.


    "Roar!!!"


    The monsters'' roars carried far into the night.


    Jeremy sidestepped a goblin''s swinging cleaver. His fang dagger lefta trail of afterimage as it plunged directly into a zombie''s eye socket.


    Then, with a kick, he sent it flying, knocking down two other zombies.


    [You have killed a Level 2 Zombie, gaining 15 experience points!]


    Seeing Jeremy dodge its attack, the goblin let out a sharp, piercing roar. The machete in hand shed horizontally towards Jeremy''s waist, as if attempting to cut off Jeremy''s entire body from the waist.


    But Jeremy was quick to react.


    His wrist twisted, blocking the cleaver''s attack with his fang dagger at a bizarre angle.


    "ng!" The sound of metal shing echoed in the night, Jeremy firmly blocking the goblin''s heavy blow.


    The goblin''s face showed astonishment, unable to believe that this human had so easily blocked its attack.


    After leveling up to 3, Jeremy''s strength had increased again, allowing him to withstand attacks from monsters of the same level.


    Seizing the moment of the goblin''s shock, Jeremy''s dagger moved like lightning. The sharp de cut through Goblin''s short neck and instantly cut off its head.


    Green blood sprayed into the air, the goblin''s head still wearing a bewildered expression as it flew.


    Until death, it didn''t understand why Jeremy, even though he was just a human, could possess such powerful power.


    [You have killed a Level 3 Goblin, gaining 37 experience points!]


    With the strongest goblin dead, thest two zombies couldn''tst a few breaths in Jeremy''s hands, all being in by him.


    [You have killed a Level 2 Zombie, gaining 16 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 2 Zombie, gaining 17 experience points!]


    Jeremy stepped over the bodies of the monsters, picking up the bronze treasure chest.


    [Item]: Bronze Treasure Chest


    [Rank]: Bronze


    [Description]: Consuming 10 Level 1 energy crystals or 1 Level 2 energy crystal can open it.


    [Tip]: Opening the chest in water will yield double rewards.


    Seeing the tip, Jeremy sighed in relief. He was grateful in his heart that The Eye of Omniscience had not made any more moves, such as opening the treasure chest upside down.


    However, 10 energy crystals were also a problem.


    Jeremy had used all the energy crystals he previously obtained to enhance his strength, leaving him without a single one.


    Gathering ten Level 1 energy crystals was not a small task, requiring considerable time.


    Higher-tier low-level monsters might drop Level 2 energy crystals. But such monsters were hard to find.


    Jeremy decided to store the bronze treasure chest in his storage space for now, setting aside the problem forter.


    He looked towards the direction of the women''s restroom and said, "Come out. How long do you three n to hide?"


    Behind the door of the women''s restroom, Bonnie and the others didn''t expect Jeremy to have already discovered them.


    The three emerged from the restroom, looking somewhat awkward.


    They had ventured out to check after noticing that the monsters seemed to have left, only to witness Jeremy efficiently killing several monsters, leaving them utterly shocked.


    While they were still hiding from the monsters, someone had already begun to actively hunt them... and that someone was a teenager.


    Bonnie''s gaze towards Jeremy was especiallyplex.


    She had harbored some resentment towards Jeremy. She thoughtthat if it weren''t for him, she wouldn''t have been trapped in the restroom.


    Unexpectedly, just in the blink of an eye, she was saved by this despicable guy.


    Jeremy surveyed the three, recognizing them all.


    The overweight teacher, named Eric, was the vice-principal of Jinghai First Middle School. The middle-aged female teacher seemed to be a high school sophomore teacher, though Jeremy had no specific memory of her identity or ss.


    Jeremy''s gaze lingered on Bonnie for a moment, surprised to find her here as well.


    The awkward silence was broken by the overweight teacher.


    He chuckled, "Don''t worry, we mean no harm. And we owe you our lives, Jeremy. If it weren''t for you, we might have all been killed by those monsters."


    "It was nothing, no need for thanks," Jeremy said, wiping the blood off his fang dagger, his expression unchanged.


    Eric noticed the dagger in Jeremy''s hand and immediately sensed something different about this weapon.


    He eximed, "Is that an equipment item? I can''t believe you''ve already got one!"


    Bonnie and the female teacher, Lisa, also turned their attention to the dagger in Jeremy''s hand. Then their eyes showed surprise, not expecting Jeremy to have already obtained the equipment items so quickly.


    Bonnie paused for a moment before suddenly asking, "Jeremy, have you already awakened to a supernatural ability?"


    Eric and Lisa were both intrigued.


    They had seen the sky''s prompts and knew that among the survivors. There were some with unique abilities. But this was their first encounter with such a person.


    Jeremy neither confirmed nor denied, not answering Bonnie''s question but instead said, "I''ve cleared most of the monsters outside. You can find an office to hide in and wait for rescue."


    The Eye of Omniscience was his biggest secret. Jeremy wouldn''t even tell Emma, much less these people.


    After speaking, Jeremy prepared to leave.


    He needed to figure out a way to obtain energy crystals to open the treasure chest and had no interest in wasting time here.


    The two teachers opened their mouths, wanting to say something.


    The ce was filled with monsters, and naturally, they wanted Jeremy''s protection.


    However, it was clear that Jeremy had no intention of protecting them, so they eventually closed their mouths.


    "Jeremy, wait!" Bonnie suddenly called out to him.


    "What is it, Bonnie?" Jeremy turned his head to look at her, his tone calm.


    Why Bonnie was here was not hard for Jeremy to figure out. He felt neither dislike nor fondness towards her actions.


    For Jeremy, such matters were not worth his concern.


    "It''s nothing." Bonnie initially wanted to ask Jeremy how he had awakened. But upon hearing his response, a surge of anger suddenly rose within her. And the words on the tip of her tongue changed their vor.


    Though Jeremy''s response seemed ordinary, Bonnie felt his indifference and disregard.


    This made her feel as if her pride was slightly wounded by Jeremy.


    Coming from a well-off family, excelling academically, and being beautiful, Bonnie had always been the pride of those around her, nevercking in admirers. When had she ever been treated like this?


    "So, he''s awakened to some supernatural abilities. What''s the big deal? To think he doesn''t even regard his teachers!" Lisa spoke indignantly after Jeremy left.


    Eric looked at Lisa as if she were a fool. He finally understood now why this woman had been teaching books in school for so many years and was still an ordinary teacher.


    It was the end of the world now.


    The old set of rules had changed.One''s status was now measured by strength.


    Jeremy had the strength. Of coursehe could disregard them.


    Thinking of the ghostly speed at which Jeremy had killed the monsters, Eric made up his mind.


    Since he was fortunate enough to encounter someone like Jeremy, it was natural to cling to him.


    Seeing Eric walking outside, Lisa asked in confusion, "Where are you going?"


    "I''m going to find Jeremy," Eric replied casually.


    "Why would you do that? He''s a thankless wretch and won''t help us." Lisa frowned, thinking Eric had gone mad. Jeremy clearly didn''t want to bother with them. so why should Eric, the vice principal, lower himself to seek Jeremy out?


    Just because Jeremy had awakened supernatural abilities. Should others go and ingratiate themselves with him?


    Having been a teacher for decades, Lisa was ustomed to students treating her with utmost respect. She found students like Jeremy, who didn''t regard her at all, most detestable.


    Lisa''s words not only failed to change Eric''s mind but even more solidified his resolve.


    Eric felt that if he continued to stay with this woman, he would be doomed sooner orter.

 Chapter 8: Liquid Bomb

    Watching Eric''s retreating figure without looking back, Lisa grumbled, "Eric really is opportunistic! He must feel like carrying us two women is a burden.So he wants to abandon us and seek refuge with that Jeremy!"


    Bonnie remained silent, understanding Eric''s reasoning.


    But for her to lower her pride and seek Jeremy''s protection was something Bonnie felt she couldn''t do.


    In the corridor, as Eric emerged, Jeremy was nowhere to be seen outside.


    The asional roar of monsters in the night made Eric''s heart race.


    But he wasn''t ready to give up.


    Eric had a clear understanding of himself. He knew that to survive in this post-apocalyptic world, he needed someone to rely on, even if just temporarily.


    Eric cautiously moved along the corridor, alert to the monsters and noises around him.


    Fortunately, it didn''t take long for him to find Jeremy in aboratory reserved for teachers, tinkering with test tubes.


    This sight made Eric heave a sigh of relief.


    Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he smiled, "So you''re here, Jeremy. You really had me looking."


    Jeremy was somewhat surprised by Eric''s arrival. Buthehad a rough idea of his purpose.


    Before Eric could speak, Jeremy cut straight to the point, "If Principal Eric is here to ask me to protect you, I''d advise you not to bother. I won''t waste my time and energy caring for people who have no rtion or value to me."


    Jeremy''s words made Eric swallow the speech he had prepared.


    Jeremy was straightforward. To gain his protection, one needed to demonstrate their value.


    Initially, Eric thought he could deceive Jeremy given his youth. Now, he understood that the young man before him possessed a maturity far beyond his peers.


    At this moment, Eric looked at Jeremy with not a hint of underestimation in his eyes.


    His mind raced, thinking of how to prove his value.


    The scene might have looked strange, yet it felt perfectly natural.


    In this post-apocalyptic world, Eric''s vice principal status was worthless in Jeremy''s eyes.


    And Eric, very much aware of his own situation, understood this clearly.


    Soon enough, sweat formed again on Eric''s brow.


    He sadly realized that aside from his corpulence, he seemed tock any other abilities.


    Having been in the workforce for so many years, Eric had long abandoned his original skills to be a businessman only looking for opportunities. His mind was filled with nothing but how to gain advantages and avoid risks.


    He pondered for a moment, then attempted, "I can help you manage and deal with affairs. Many of the affairs at Moonlight Middle School were under my management, I¡­"


    "The end times require sufficient strength, not what you''re proposing." Jeremy interrupted, adding a drop of liquid into a reactor without turning back. "Principal Eric, it seems you don''t meet my criteria. Please, leave."


    Eric, unwilling to give up, wanted to say more. But seeing Jeremy''s calm demeanor, he knew he couldn''t deceive him. This young man was much smarter than he had imagined.


    "Can you give me a chance? I want to survive." Eric said with a bitter smile, feeling powerless for the first time in many years, especially in front of a young man.


    Jeremy frowned, turning to nce at Eric.


    It must be said, Eric was indeed smarter and more clear-headed than many. Even after being explicitly rejected, he still sought to seize another opportunity for himself.


    Jeremy thought for a moment, then said, "I need trichloromethane. It should be in Teacher Hale''s possession."


    Hale was Jeremy''s chemistry teacher. Hisoffice was also on this floor. But Jeremy had yet to clear the area of monsters.


    He also wanted to test Vice Principal Eric, to see if he truly had the capability to be of use.


    With that, Jeremy fell silent.


    Eric hesitated, being just an ordinary person with little ability to resist the monsters. If he were to risk his life for this, it would be a bad deal for him.


    But in the end, Eric agreed.


    He wasn''t sure he could make it out of the school alive. And even if he did, he doubted he''d survive in the post-apocalyptic world long enough to encounter another expert like Jeremy.


    After Eric left, Jeremy continued to work with chemical reagents in theb.


    Opening the bronze treasure chest required arge amount of energy crystals, but farming monsters alone was too slow, and Jeremy wasn''t keen on hunting elite monsters. It was too reliant on luck. So he thought of a faster way to farm monsters.


    A homemade bomb.


    And not just any bomb, but a high-powered liquid bomb.


    That''s why Jeremy had asked Eric to fetch trichloromethane.


    Making bombs was basic knowledge, something any mercenary would know.


    However, Jeremy wasn''t making amon nitroglycerin bomb, but TATP, a substance with a powerparable to TNT, often used in terrorist attacks in his past life.


    Jeremy gently stirred the chemical liquid in a ss vessel, waiting for arge amount of white precipitate to form in the reactor. After sealing and letting it sit for a while, until the chemical liquid became clear again, Jeremy added some clean water and started stirring again. The next steps would require trichloromethane.


    Jeremy waited quietly.


    "Jeremy, help!" Not long after, a panicked cry for help came from outside theb, mixed with the roars of monsters.


    In the hallway, Eric was running fast, holding a ss bottle. His face was pale, with two deep cuts on his chest. His white shirt stained red, but he dared not stop.


    Behind him, tworge ck wolves were hot on his heels.


    Seemingly stimted by the scent of blood on Eric, the wolves were exceptionally ferocious and fast.


    Despite Eric giving it everything he had, the distance between them was closing visibly.


    When they were about two meters apart, one of the wolves, its eyes gleaming with ferocity, powered its hind legs and leaped forward, opening its fanged maw towards Eric''s head.


    Eric heard the movement behind him, feeling a gust of wind and even the strong scent of blood from the wolf.


    A look of despair shed in Eric''s eyes, as if he could already see his own end.


    Just as the wolf''s gaping jaws were about to close on Eric''s head...


    "Whoosh!"


    A sound of something tearing through the air suddenly came. Eric felt as if a ck object had grazed his scalp, the force so strong it even cut off a section of his already sparse hair.


    "Ow!" Then, right by Eric''s ear, came a pained howl, followed by the thud of a heavy object hitting the ground.


    Turning around, Eric was shocked to find a military knife embedded in the neck of one of the ck wolves.


    The de of the military knife hadpletely prated the neck of the ck wolf, and blood flowed out. Soon, a pool of blood formed under the ck wolf''s body, making it impossible for him to survive.


    The other wolf skidded on the hallway floor, forcibly stopping itself.


    "Arrr!" It bared its teeth at Eric, emitting a threatening growl.


    Immediately afterwards, the ck wolf seemed to have seen something terrifying, with a strong fear in its eyes and its low roar turning into a whimper. In an astonishing turn, under Eric''s bewildered gaze, it spun around and fled, moving even faster than when it was chasing him.


    "What are you standing there for?" A calm voice suddenly sounded beside Eric.


    Eric shivered,ing back to his senses. He turned to see the door to theb had opened at some point, and Jeremy was standing in the doorway, looking at him calmly.


    Eric nced at Jeremy, then back at the corpse of the ck wolf and the knife, filled with shock and awe.


    Throwing a flying knife can solve a monster. Who exactly is this young man?!


    If anyone suggested Jeremy was just an ordinary teenager, Eric would never believe it. What kind of teenager possessed such terrifying skills?!


    At that moment, only one thought crossed Eric''s mind:


    He had truly rode on coattails!


    Jeremy nced at the wounds on Eric''s chest without saying much, merely stating, "There''s hemostatic medicine and bandages I prepared in theb. Go treat your wounds yourself."


    Eric nodded eagerly, his respect for Jeremy deepening from the bottom of his heart.


    Initially, he had thought Jeremy was just a youth who had awakened some power, not paying much attention.


    But having witnessed Jeremy''s methods and capabilities, he was thoroughly convinced.


    Jeremy, for his part, didn''t dwell too much on it. With the trichloromethane now in his possession, he continued to work on his liquid bomb.


    Jeremy''s movements were quick and skilled, showing he had plenty of experience with this kind of work.


    Before long, several ss tubes filled with a transparent liquid appeared in his hands.


    TATP liquid explosive, sessfully created!

 Chapter 9: Jeremys Revenge

    "What''s this?" Eric, who had just finished treating his wound, asked curiously.


    Observing Jeremy''s careful handling of several ss tubes, he couldn''t help but wonder what was inside them that made Jeremy take them so seriously.


    "Liquid bombs." Jeremy replied casually.


    At Jeremy''s words, Eric''s eyes widened in shock."Holy shit! How did you get your hands on something like this?!"


    He stared at the test tubes in Jeremy''s hands, feeling a tingling on his scalp, almost wishing he could turn around and run.


    Now, Eric finally understood why Jeremy had asked him to get trichloromethane. It turned out he was using it to make liquid bombs.


    "My chemistry teacher taught me." Jeremy said, his expression unchanging.


    "They teach you this in high school now?" Eric''s brows furrowed deeply. He couldn''t believe Jeremy''s words. What kind of school would have teachers showing how to make liquid bombs?


    Jeremy didn''t seem inclined to exin any further.


    He nced outside.It was still early before dawn.


    Though more monsters roamed during the day, Jeremy wasn''t nning on waiting until daylight. With the apocalypse having just begun, time was of the essence. The priority was to enhance his strength as quickly as possible. Now that he had the bombs, the next step was to gather the monsters together.


    This would be rtively easy. All he needed was to find a loudspeaker in the broadcasting room to attract the monsters with noise.


    Jeremy walked out of theboratory and was just about to go downstairs.


    Aburst of green light erupted from Emma''s office, followed by a strong surge of life force.


    A smile appeared on Jeremy''s face. He realized that Emma had sessfully awakened her powers. Before he could go and ask Emma about her newfound abilities, a blue light shone from another office.


    This blue light is several times stronger than the green light.Ayer of frost has formed on the ground and guardrails outside the office.


    "Is this... Bonnie''s power?"


    Jeremy wasn''t surprised. He had always known Bonnie would awaken an S-rank ability.But he didn''t expect it to happen so quickly.


    Eric, who also witnessed the scene, couldn''t hide his envy. "So this is what it looks like to awaken extraordinary powers... I wonder if I''ll ever awaken any."


    Hearing this, Jeremy nced at Eric, a barely noticeable glint in his eye.


    The Eye of Omniscience was activated, disying information in front of Jeremy.


    [Eric, a normal human.]


    As Jeremy advanced in levels, he became more proficient in using the Eye of Omniscience''s ability. Now he was able to activate it at will.


    However, this required a significant amount of mental energy.So he often kept the Eye in a passive state.


    Jeremy could sense that as his level increased, the Eye of Omniscience might undergo further changes.But his current level was too low to unlock its full potential.


    Seeing Eric''s hopeful look, Jeremy didn''t crush his spirits but instead walked towards Emma''s office.


    Before he reached it, the door swung open.


    Emma rushed out, her face marked with anxiety and concern.


    Upon seeing Jeremy, she sighed in relief and chided."I thought something had happened to you. You scared me to death!"


    "What could possibly happen to me? Congrattions on your sessful awakening." Jeremy approached and hugged her, then looked her up and down. Emma had changed significantly after her awakening.


    Not only had her appearance be even more beautiful, but her eyes had also turned a stunning shade of green.She was radiated with the vitality of life.


    "Well.Your chest seems bigger than before too." Jeremy remarked, basing his judgment on the feel.


    Eric nced at the two of them.He was somewhat surprised, not expecting Jeremy to take down the most beautiful teacher in their school.And if he remembers correctly, Emma seems to be his homeroom teacher.


    Eric admired Jeremy immensely.


    "Vice Principal Eric?" Emma noticed Eric as well, her face turning slightly red.


    However, she didn''t pull away from Jeremy.


    There is nothing that cannot be disclosed about her rtionship with Jeremy, even if someone finds out. Moreover, it is already the end of the world, and the two of them who originally needed to worry about their influence no longer need to worry about these things.


    " Congrattions. I won''t disturb you two any longer. I''ll go back and rest." Eric tactfully made an excuse to leave, knowing he was superfluous in this situation.


    No sooner had Eric left than Bonnie and Lisa emerged from another office.


    Bonnie''s transformation was even more dramatic.Her hair had turned ice blue.Her aura was as cold as frost, causing Lisa to shiver uncontrobly beside her.


    Seeing Emma and Jeremy hugging each other, Bonnie immediately widened her eyes with a strong sense of disbelief... It was really a scene before her that somewhat challenged her values.


    Because Bonnie saw clearly that Jeremy''s hand was reaching into Emma''s clothes and constantly rubbing her chest.But Emma did not resist at all. She just had a look of anger in her eyes. The rtionship between the two is clearly extraordinary.


    What kind of rtionship is it between Emma and Jeremy?!


    "Dirty!"


    Bonnie''s face flushed with anger, and with a huff, she quickly retreated back to her office.


    It was unclear whether it was Jeremy''s increasingly bold actions she couldn''t stand to watch, or the shock of their rtionship that made her leave.


    Lisa, standing nearby, also looked displeased. Seeing Emma, who in both appearance and physique far surpassed her own, a wave of intense jealousy shed through her eyes. She muttered under her breath, "I can''t believe even someone like you could awaken extraordinary powers. It''s shameless to flirt with a kid.You call yourself a teacher!"


    Lisa had always harbored resentment towards Emma, often mocking her.


    Emma had not been at the school long, yet she was already the homeroom teacher of the senior ss. Lisa, on the other hand, had been at the school for over a decade, still a regr teacher, which naturally led to feelings of discontent.


    Now, seeing Emma not only awakened to extraordinary powers but also being intimate with Jeremy.Lisa''s emotions got the better of her, and she couldn''t hold back her words.


    This was a spur-of-the-moment reaction.She immediately regretted it, knowing full well that times had changed.


    Fortunately, they were far enough away that her words likely went unheard.


    Emma indeed didn''t catch Lisa''s remark. But Jeremy, whose senses had been enhanced, heard every word clearly.


    "It seems I''ve found an even easier way to attract monsters." Jeremy said, a cold smile ying on his lips.


    Meanwhile,Lisa, who was originally nning to go back, shuddered and inexplicably felt a chill.


    "It''s freezing." She nced at the office covered in frost, wrapped her clothes tighter around herself.Sheharbored a bit of resentment towards Bonnie inside before heading to another room.


    ...


    Under the bright moonlight, the night was pitch ck.


    10 minutester.


    In the middle of the sports field, Lisa was tied to a wheelchair.Her face, normally well-kept, now etched with fear.


    "Jeremy, what are you doing? I''m a teacher.You can''t do this to me!" She looked at Jeremy in terror, struggling incessantly but unable to break free from the ropes.


    "Don''t worry.I won''t kill you. I just need your help with something." Jeremy said, a smile on his lips.


    With a white dagger suddenly appearing in his hand, he slowly made a deep cut on her hand under her horrified gaze. Blood gushed out like water.


    "Murder!"


    Lisa''s scream pierced the quiet night.


    Emma, Eric, and Bonnie all saw this scene upstairs in the teaching building.


    Theyknew the cause and effect. After seeing Lisa tied up in the center of the stadium, theyhad different thoughts.


    Emma knew Jeremy was avenging her. Although she felt it was unnecessary, she ultimately remained silent.She supportedall of Jeremy''s decisions, even those that contradicted her own principles.


    Eric didn''t see much wrong with it. He had always thought Lisa problematic.But he was astonished at Jeremy''s ruthless methods, showing no mercy to those who crossed him.


    "Jeremyis sowless. How can he treat Teacher Lisa like this!" Bonnie frowned, her eyes filled with anger.


    Regardless of Lisa''s faults, Bonnie felt Jeremy''s actions were excessively harsh.

 Chapter 10: A Massive Haul

    Bonnie was about to step forward to intervene, but Eric stopped her.


    Eric said helplessly, "Jeremy said he won''t kill Lisa, just teach her a lesson. But if anyone dares to stop him, he wouldn''t mind killing Lisa outright."


    Bonnie halted in her tracks, angrily retorting, "Has Jeremy lost his mind? Can''t he find another way? Why must he resort to such extreme measures!"


    "Maybe Lisa just happened to cross his line." Eric shrugged, somewhat understanding Jeremy''s thinking. After all, Jeremy''s creation of liquid explosives was unlikely for mere amusement.


    In the sports field.


    "Jeremy, please, I beg you.Let me go. I really realize my mistake now!" Lisa cried bitterly on the chair, pleading continuously, her earlier sharp demeanor gone.


    Jeremy didn''t look at her but instead stared into the darkness. As the scent of blood and Lisa''s cries spread, he could clearly see pairs of crimson, violent eyes opening in the dark.


    "They''reing!" Jeremy''s pupils gradually filled with a bloody hue. Holding a rope connected to the wheelchair, he was fully focused, ready to seize the moment to start gathering the monsters.


    Given his limited supply of liquid explosives, he needed to gather the monsters together to maximize the benefits.


    "Roar!!!"


    Soon, furious roars erupted, and one monster after another charged out of the darkness, rushing towards Jeremy and Lisa with fierce momentum.


    Seeing a horde of terrifying monsters rushing towards her like a tidal wave, Lisa turned pale.Her eyes filled with an overwhelming fear.


    A pungent smell of urine emanated from her, making Jeremy frown.


    This woman really was pathetic, scared to the point of wetting herself.


    Themotion also rmed others in the school.


    Eyes hidden in the shadows turned towards the two in the sports field, filled with astonishment.


    A teacher eximed in shock, "Has this person gone mad? Making such a big scene! Isn''t he afraid of being torn apart by the monsters?"


    A student wondered, "That looks like our teacher Lisa. Why is she... tied to a chair?"


    "Isn''t that Jeremy?" A student from the senior ss recognized Jeremy.


    "It is Jeremy! What is he nning to do?"


    In the senior ss ssroom, others hearing this came over to look.


    They remembered deeply what Jeremy had said before the apocalypse erupted, which was why they had survived until now.


    As everyone wondered what Jeremy was nning to do, the next scene made everyone''s eyes widen.


    In the sports field,as the horde charged towards him, Jeremy saw the timing was right and pulled the rope, running in another direction. The powerful force also moved the wheelchair along.


    "What are you doing?" Lisa, sitting in the wheelchair, turned pale with fear.


    Jeremy didn''t answer, pulling Lisa along the track of the sports field at a fast pace.


    Lisa couldn''t stop screaming in terror, with ferocious monsters chasing right behind her.


    And as the noise grew louder, more and more monsters joined the pursuit.


    Seeing Lisa, who was almost fainting from fear, and the monsters behind them, everyone fell silent.


    The thought of being in Lisa''s ce sent shivers down their spines.


    At this moment, everyone felt that Jeremy was even more of a beast than the monsters themselves. However, they also understood Jeremy''s intention. It was clear he wanted to lure the monsters together.


    But what was he gathering them for? Did he have a way to kill these monsters?


    Everyone doubted this as they looked at Jeremy, who appeared to have nothing on him.


    Only Eric showed an expression of anticipation. He knew Jeremy had liquid bombs.


    In the sports field, under Jeremy''s deliberate control, the number of monsters behind Lisa had grown significantly, densely packed like a tide.


    Jeremy felt it was about time. If there were any more monsters, his bombs wouldn''t be able to take care of them all cleanly.


    With a thought, a sh of light appeared. And three liquid bombs materialized in his hand. Leaving Lisa behind, Jeremy found a good spot among the monster crowd and decisively threw his liquid bombs.


    The bombs arced through the air andnded among the monsters.


    A small me flickered among them.


    "Boom!!!"


    A terrifying explosion suddenly erupted in the night, the intense fire instantly engulfing the nearby monsters. The powerful st turned their bodies into mush.The ss all around the campus trembled non-stop.


    Everyone was startled by the loud noise, with some even instinctively crouching down.


    Lisa went pale and fainted.


    Even Eric, who had been prepared, was startled by the terrifying power of the explosion.


    "That power... it''sparable to TNT?!" Eric was shocked.


    [You have killed a Level 1 Zombie, earning 7 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 3 ck Wolf, earning 38 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 4 Goblin, earning 67 experience points!]


    ...


    A dense array of kill notifications appeared in front of Jeremy, dozensing in the blink of an eye.


    In just a breath''s time, he had gained levels three times.


    [Congrattions, your level has increased to lv4, and you have received 10 free attribute points.]


    [Congrattions, your level has increased to lv5, and you have received 10 free attribute points.]


    [Congrattions, your level has increased to lv6, and you have received 10 free attribute points.]


    A smile appeared on Jeremy''s face. This speed of leveling up was truly exhrating!


    He distributed all the attribute points equally, breaking through 30 points in all his attributes, with his strength attribute even reaching 40 points.


    Jeremy felt his strength increase significantly in an instant.His response and perception becamesharper.


    But now was not the time to savor the experience.


    After the aftermath of the explosion had cleared, Jeremy looked towards where the monsters had been, only to see remnants of limbs and bodies. Even the few monsters that had miraculously survived were severely injured.


    First-order crystals appeared on the ground, and Jeremy even spotted two white light orbs... This haul was huge, with two equipment items dropping.


    Jeremy didn''t rush to pick them up but prepared to deal with the severely injured monsters first.


    Those hidden in the shadows also saw the items dropped by the monsters, their eyes filled with greed. However, no one dared to approach at this moment.


    Who knew if Jeremy still had bombs on him? If he did, even if they managed to grab the equipment, they might not live to use it.


    Jeremy was well aware of this. The reason he had kept a liquid bomb was precisely to deter those with malicious intent lurking in the shadows.


    Some monsters, untouched by the explosion and seeing Jeremy approach, exhibited fear in their eyes as if Jeremy was the true monster. Many snarled in warning, while others turned tail and fled.


    Jeremy didn''t bother chasing them. Instead, he walked among the piles of monster corpses, finishing off those that were dying.


    [You have killed a Level 2 Werewolf, earning 16 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 2 ck Tiger, earning 15 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 4 Orc, earning 63 experience points!]


    ...


    Reaching level 7 required over 800 experience points. Although these monsters were low-level and gave modest amounts of experience, their sheer numbers significantly boosted Jeremy''s experience, bringing him closer to level 7.


    After collecting all the energy crystals and eradicating the monsters, Jeremy cleaned up the battlefield and tallied his loot. Hefounda total of 44 first-order energy crystals and 4 iron-grade equipment pieces.


    An additional piece of equipment was discovered during the cleanup of severely injured monsters, guided by the prompts from the Eye of Omniscience, with 12 of the crystals also acquired this way. The Eye of Omniscience guaranteed equipment drops with its prompts, substantially increasing Jeremy''s haul.


    What surprised Jeremy the most was that he even acquired a piece of purple-quality iron-grade equipment!


    [Equipment]: Bone Ring


    [Level]: Iron


    [Quality]: Purple


    [Attributes]: Spirit +8, Agility +8


    [Skill]: None


    ...


    [Equipment]: Tiger Skin Coat


    [Level]: Iron


    [Quality]: Blue


    [Attributes]: Strength +5, Constitution +5


    [Skill]: None


    ...


    [Item]: Constitution Potion


    [Quality]: Blue (Common)


    [Description]: Increases Constitution attribute by 5 points upon use.


    ...


    [Item]: Strength Potion


    [Quality]: Blue (Common)


    [Description]: Increases Strength attribute by 5 points upon use.


    ...


    Looking at the 45 energy crystals and 4 pieces of iron-grade equipment before him, even Jeremy felt a surge of excitement.


    These were items that could significantly enhance his strength, not to mention the bronze treasure chest he possessed.


    After today, Jeremy''s power was bound to surge dramatically, putting him far ahead of other yers!

 Chapter 11: Killing the Elite Aberration!

    After cleaning up the battlefield and ensuring nothing was overlooked, Jeremy prepared to return and open the treasure chest.


    It was not wise to linger here any longer. The recentmotion had been too loud, and Jeremy had already noticed some monsters approaching their location.


    ncing at Lisa, who had fainted from fear and was still trembling in her unconscious state, Jeremy couldn''t help but shake his head.


    He hadn''t killed Lisa. Although he had killed many people before, Jeremy was not a man who relished in killing.


    Lisa might have been foul-mouthed. But she hadn''tmitted any grave error. A profound lesson to teach her asting memory was sufficient.


    Jeremy believed that after this experience, she would dare not speak recklessly for the rest of her life.


    Just as he was about to drag the unconscious Lisa away.


    Jeremy suddenly felt his hair stand on end, and his pupils contracted sharply as his keen senses sent him a warning of danger.


    Without a second thought, Jeremy immediately ducked. "Whoosh!"


    A gust of wind swept over his head, the force of it whistling through the air.


    "Bang!"


    A sound akin to a watermelon bursting rang out behind Jeremy.


    Although he had dodged the surprise attack, the unconscious Lisa was not so fortunate.


    Her head exploded instantly, with red and white brain matter sttering everywhere.


    Her body convulsed a couple of times before bing still, instantly killed by the attacker!


    Poor Lisa, having fainted, would never have the chance to wake up again.


    Jeremy stood up and slowly turned to look behind him.


    Next to Lisa''s body stood a ferocious-looking monster.


    The creature was on all fours, with a long tail and sharp ws still dripping with blood.


    Noticing Jeremy''s gaze, it even extended a tongue as red as a snake''s and licked its ws, its eyes full of provocation towards Jeremy.


    [Aberration (Elite)]


    [Level]: lv8


    [Attack]: 307-321


    [Defense]: 124


    [Skills]: w Strike, Gnaw, Stealth, Ambush


    [Tip]: Its weakness is in the abdomen. Attacking the abdomen causes double damage. Killing it with its tail grants 1 tier-2 energy crystal.


    As Jeremy had expected, the attacker was indeed the aberration.


    Its strength had increased significantly from lv5 to lv8, with its attack and defense more than doubling.


    Even knowing the terrifying speed of these monsters'' evolution, Jeremy was astonished.


    He had thought his own power was increasing rapidly.But these creatures were even more exaggerated.


    However, with his increased strength, The Eye of Omniscience also revealed the aberration''s weakness.


    What surprised Jeremy the most was that this elite monster had a chance to drop a tier-2 energy crystal!


    The higher the monster''s rank, the higher the probability of dropping high-tier energy crystals.


    This aberration, being merely an elite monster, unexpectedly brought him such a pleasant surprise.


    "Jeremy, run!" Emma''s anxious voice came from behind.


    They hadn''t noticed when the aberration had approached until now, finally seeing the terrifying creature in front of Jeremy.


    Jeremy waved his hand towards them, indicating there was no need to worry.Then he took a fang dagger from his storage space, simrly provoking the aberration by flicking the tip of the de at it.


    "Roar!"


    The aberration let out an angry roar.Its eyes filled with a murderous rage but also a hint of caution. Even faced with Jeremy''s provocation, it did not rashly charge forward, clearly wary of Jeremy''s tactics.


    Seeing the creature not pouncing on him, Jeremy felt somewhat disappointed and retracted thest liquid bomb he had hidden in his other hand back into his storage space.


    Jeremy was not surprised by this. Given this creature''s rapid evolution, it must possess a certain level of intelligence and would not be easy to deal with.


    After pondering for a moment, Jeremy, right in front of the monster, put on the newly acquired tiger skin coat and bone ring. Heinjected himself with a strength potion and a constitution potion. His aura instantly surged significantly.


    [Name]: Jeremy


    [Level]: lv6


    [Profession]: None


    [Ability]: The Eye of Omniscience (SSS)


    [Attributes]: Strength 50, Spirit 43, Stamina 46, Agility 41


    [Skills]: None


    [Experience]: 0/25 points


    [Items]: Storage Space*20m3, Tier-1 Energy Crystal*45, Basic Constitution Enhancer*1, Awakening Stone*1, New yer''s Handbook*1...


    Jeremy nced at his own panel, feeling the surge of power within him. His heart instantly settled a lot.


    At this time, the aberration''s ferocious expression had stiffened.


    This damned human dared to increase his power right in front of it? This was a total disregard for its presence!


    "Roar!"


    Seeing Jeremy take out dozens of energy crystals, the aberration let out an angry roar, no longer daring to let Jeremy so recklessly increase his power.


    It forcefully propelled itself with all four limbs, instantly turning into a blur as it pounced towards Jeremy.


    With their distance already short, Jeremy had to put away the energy crystals.


    The aberration arrived in front of Jeremy in an instant, its sharp ws sweeping towards him like a steel knife.


    Jeremy dodged to the side, opting not to sh directly with the aberration.


    Monsters were innately stronger than humans. Even with Jeremy''s significant gain in strength, his current physique probably couldn''t withstand a single w strike from the opponent.


    Then, with a flick of his wrist, Jeremy''s fang dagger left a wound on the aberration''s nk, causing red blood to flow out, albeit the wound wasn''t deep.


    The pain from its bodypletely enraged the aberration. It roared and its tail swept towards Jeremy.


    However, Jeremy, relying on his nimble movements, dodged it and once again left a wound on the aberration.


    In the arena, the aberration''s roars continued. But no matter how it attacked, it couldn''ty a hand on Jeremy. As time went on, the number of wounds on its body kept increasing.


    Those lurking in the shadows watching Jeremy''s closebat with the monster couldn''t help but swallow hard.


    How could Jeremy be this strong?


    Is this really the level a human can achieve?!


    Not far from the arena, a team of five students was also watching this scene.


    One of the shorter boys eximed in surprise, "Jeremy is just too strong, being able to fight such a terrifying monster up close!"


    These students, daring to venture out, naturally had some strength, managing to reach level 3 through their coboration.


    They had witnessed the horror of the monsters, finding it difficult to even block their attacks, let alone engage in closebat with them.


    A petite girl in the team, her eyes sparkling, said, "Jeremy is just too cool. I''ve always wanted to get to know him but never had the chance. I''ll definitely go ask him for his contact informationter."


    Hearing the girl''s praise for Jeremy, a burly student next to her showed a hint of jealousy and disdainfully said, "It''s just good luck that he got some explosives. Once our levels are as high as his, we''ll definitely be no weaker than him!"


    The leader of the group, a boy wearing sses, smiled and said, "The fight will probably be over soon. I''ll ask Jeremyter if he wants to join us. After all, weare ssmates.I think he won''t refuse."


    Everyone nodded in agreement.


    Having someone as powerful as Jeremy on their side would undoubtedly be a great asset.


    In the stadium, although the mutant''s strength and speed were superior to Jeremy''s, he managed to turn the tide several times with his richbat experience and agile maneuvers.


    Despite this, he still suffered a minor injury to his arm from the mutant''s ws.


    In contrast, the mutant was covered in wounds.


    Its body was drenched in blood.And its originally fierce attacks now showed signs of weakening.


    Jeremy noticed the mutant''s intent to retreat.


    Without having obtained the level 2 energy crystal, Jeremy naturally couldn''t let it escape.


    He dodged the mutant''s sweeping tail again and seized the opportunity to drive his fang dagger deep into it.


    "Stter!"


    Blood sttered everywhere!


    The tail had been a primary target for Jeremy.This time he exerted all his strength.


    His dagger followed the wound he had made earlier, cutting off the mutant''s tail entirely.


    The mutant let out a pained howl, opening its huge mouth to bite at Jeremy, attempting to repel him.


    However, Jeremy used the mutant''s severed tail to block its attack, then wrapped himself around the mutant''s neck, flipping onto its back. He gripped the severed tail with both hands and pulled hard.


    The grating sound of breaking bones emanated from the mutant''s neck.


    Jeremy had forcibly broken its neck!

 Chapter 12: What Are You? How Dare You Speak to Me Like That?

    The aberrant''s crimson eyes suddenly bulged, almost popping out of its sockets.


    Despite its broken neck, it was not yetpletely dead. Its body struggled violently, disying a formidable vitality.


    However, the oue was already determined. Jeremy sat atop the aberrant, allowing it to struggle in its death throes, his tail wrapped tightly around its neck, refusing to let go.


    Soon, the aberrant''s body stilled, its scarlet eyes slowly losing their lustre.


    At the same time, a kill notification appeared in front of Jeremy.


    [You have killed a Level 8 Aberrant (Elite), gaining 1239 experience points!]


    Jeremy''s body glowed with the light of leveling up again, reaching Level 7.


    Moreover, he was only two-thirds away from reaching Level 8.


    This time, Jeremy did not use all his free attribute points.


    After reaching Level 10, yers need to undergo a ss change.


    Since the initial ss change is random, Jeremy was not sure what ss he would be.


    ording to the beginner''s manual, it''s best for yers to bnce all their attributes before changing sses to avoid a mismatch between their ss and attributes.


    Otherwise, yers would have to find a rare and hard-to-obtain Attribute Reset Stone to reset their attribute points.


    This item is a precious artifact, not easily obtained.


    Picking up a 2nd-tier Energy Crystal the size of a fingernail from the ground, Jeremy nced at its properties.


    [Item]: Energy Crystal [Level]: 2nd-tier


    [Description]: Can randomly increase a yer''s attributes by 5 points when used, or canbe used to unlock treasure chests or upgrade skill levels, among other things.


    A 2nd-tier Energy Crystal could only add 5 points to a yer''s attributes.But its value couldn''t be determined solely by the attribute points it provided. yers would also need it for trading or upgrading skill levelster on.


    SoJeremy decided to store this 2nd-tier crystal in his inventory for now, not nning to use it immediately.


    Then, Jeremy looked at Lisa''s headless corpse, feeling sorry for her death.


    He only hoped that in her next life, she could keep her mouth shut.


    At this moment, Emma and the others approached.


    "Jeremy, are you okay?" Emma and Eric looked at Jeremy, who was covered in blood, with concern.


    Due to theirck of strength, they couldn''t help much. So they could only watch Jeremy fight alone. Seeing him now covered in blood made them feel guilty.


    Bonnie, ring at Lisa''s body, disyed anger in her eyes.


    However, she understood that now was not the time to speak of it. So she could only snort coldly and look away from Jeremy.


    Emma hurried forward to check on Jeremy''s injuries, her expression filled with concern. "Jeremy, are you hurt anywhere? Let me help you with that."


    Jeremy smiled and reassured her. "Don''t worry. I''m fine. This is all blood from the monster."


    Despite his reassurances, Emma quickly noticed the wound on Jeremy''s arm.


    The sight of the gory injury inflicted by the aberrant brought tears to her eyes.


    Before Jeremy couldfort her, a green light suddenly emanated from Emma.


    She ced her hand on Jeremy''s wound and said, "Don''t move. I''m going to heal you."


    "I thought you had awakened some nt-based ability." Jeremy said, somewhat surprised as he watched his wound gradually heal.


    He hadn''t had the chance to ask Emma about her powers before. Only now did he learn that Emma had awakened a wood-based support ability.


    If Jeremy remembered correctly, wood-based support abilities were rare and extraordinary powers, very few in number. yers with this type of ability would be highly sought after in the future.


    It was no wonder her awakening was apanied by such a strong vitality.


    Hearing Jeremy''sment, Emma smiled.


    "Surprised? Not only that, but I''ve awakened an A-level wood-based support ability!"


    Bonnie and Eric looked at Emma in surprise, not expecting her to have awakened an A- level ability.


    "Nice." Jeremy smiled, showing no significant emotional reaction.


    He had already known about Emma''s talent. So her abilities did not surprise him.


    Bonnie, frowning, said, "We can''t stay here long. The smell of blood will attract many people and monsters. Let''s head back."


    Emma and Eric agreed with her, feeling that this ce was not safe.


    "With me here. It''s fine." Jeremy, whose senses were sharper, could feel many eyes watching him from the shadows.


    Most of them carried fear, but a few also held malice.


    Jeremy cast a cold nce their way. Most averted their eyes, not daring to meet his gaze.


    However, there were one or two exceptions.


    Jeremy frowned and looked towards the exit of the stadium.


    Then he saw a bespectacled young man approaching with four others.


    The malicious gaze belonged to one of the burly men by his side. His eyes filled with undeserved hatred.


    "Bravo!As our ss''s top student,you kill an elite monsterso easily!" The bespectacled young man pped from a distance, offering Jeremy his admiration.


    Jeremy, expressionless, simply asked, "Who are you?"


    The young man''s expression froze on his face.


    "You don''t know me?" he pointed at himself, utterly astonished.


    The people behind the young man, including Bonnie, looked at Jeremy as if he were a monster.


    Emma, massaging her forehead in exasperation, said, "This is our ssmate, John. He sits right in front of you."


    Bonnie looked at Jeremy incredulously and said, "You can''t possibly... not recognize your own ssmate?"


    "John?" Jeremy furrowed his brows, racking his brain, but he couldn''t recall any memories of him.


    "Yes.I''m John, your ssmate." Seeing this, John''s lips twitched involuntarily, wishing he could just turn around and leave.


    This was too humiliating. They had spent a year together in the same ss, whileJeremy didn''t even remember who he was.


    John had initially hoped to use their status as ssmates to get closer to Jeremy. Now he just wanted to p himself for being so foolish.


    However, he understood why this was.


    Jeremy was notorious for skipping ss.John had hardly seen him throughout the year. So it was actually normal for Jeremy not to recognize him.


    What wounded John''s pride was that he considered himself a notable figure in the ss, sitting right in front of Jeremy, yet Jeremy had no recollection of him at all.


    This filled John with sorrow.


    In the group, a short girl already started giggling.


    Even a short boy was trying to hold back hisughter.


    Only the burly young man snorted coldly,"Poser."


    Not just Jeremy, but everyone could feel his hostility towards Jeremy.


    Jeremy, pointing at the burly young man, looked at Emma with confusion, "Is he also from our ss?"


    "No," Emma shook her head.


    However, she knew their identities and introduced them."The muscr one is Gary, the sports representative from ss 2.The girl is the ss president of ss 2, Hedy. The bespectacled boy is the ss president of ss 3, Everley. And the short one is a student from ss 2, George."


    The ssrooms of three sses are adjacent to each other


    Since Emma also attended their sses, she knew them well.


    Jeremy now understood.


    These people were likely selected by their sses to find food.


    At that moment, Garysaid arrogantly, "Your strength ismendable. We came to invite you to join us. but let me warn you, don''t be so arrogant just because you are at a higher level than us, we..."


    Before Garycould finish, he suddenly felt a gust of winding straight at him.


    John''s pupils dted, and he instinctively shouted, "Watch out!"


    Although John had warned him in time, his reaction was still too slow.


    By the time Garynoticed, Jeremy''s palm had already reached his face.


    A crisp pnded directly on Gary''s face, and the powerful force sent him flying backward!


    The muscr young man, almost six feet tall, couldn''t get up for quite some time after being pped by Jeremy.


    Gary on the ground with a bloody nose, looking very pitiful.


    Everyone was stunned.


    He...he actually dared to strike?


    Jeremy remained calm, speaking indifferently, "At least John is my ssmate... Who are you to talk to me like that?"


    In that moment, John felt a ghostly sense of pride amidst the shock!

 Chapter 13: Opening the Bronze Treasure Chest, Two Skill Books

    "You bastard! I''m going to kill you!!"


    Fuming with rage, Gary scrambled up from the ground. Being pped in front of the girl he cherished made him lose his cool.


    "Gary, don''t be rash!" John and the others'' faces changed dramatically as they hurried forward to stop him.


    Gary was an extraordinary yer, having awakened a B-level superpower.


    If he used his ability, ordinary yers could easily be killed by him.


    "Get out of my way!!" Gary flung everyone aside with a sweep of his arm. With his tall, muscr build, John and the others couldn''t hold him back.


    Bloodshot eyes, Gary strode up to Jeremy, stopping less than half a meter away. His towering presence was immensely intimidating.


    "Kneel down and beg for forgiveness now, and I''ll grant you a swift death." He red at Jeremy. His eyes crimson and his face smeared with blood, looking ferociously menacing.


    Facing the raging Gary, Jeremy''s lips curled into a smirk.


    To the astonishment of everyone watching, he reached out and patted Gary''s face again.


    "Do you really think you''re worthy?" Jeremy said disdainfully.


    His pat was neither light nor heavy, yet it made everyone''s heart tighten, feeling a sense of suffocation.


    With each p from Jeremy, Gary''s facial muscles twitched uncontrobly, his neck veins bulging and turning red at a visible rate.


    A faint scent of blood emanated from him as Gary''s aura suddenly turned wildly ferocious!


    "Oh my god!" Seeing this, everyone''s faces changed. Gary had activated his superpower!


    "Go to hell!" Before they could step forward to stop him, Gary roared and threw a punch at Jeremy.


    He put all his strength into the punch, generating a terrifying whistling sound in the air.


    With his superpower activated, Gary''s strength and speed increased manifold!


    If this punchnded, an ordinary person would likely be killed instantly. "Be careful!" Emma, Bonnie, and others quickly shouted a warning.


    However, facing Gary''s full-powered punch, Jeremy remained unshaken.


    Gary thought Jeremy was frozen in fear, his face twisting into a grim smile.


    He seemed to have already envisioned Jeremy being killed by his punch.


    But in the next moment, Gary''s expression froze.


    A slender hand suddenly reached out, miraculously catching his wrist mid-air.


    Gary''s seemingly unstoppable attack came to an abrupt halt, unable to advance any further.


    Jeremy had actually blocked Gary''s full-powered strike head-on!


    Everyone watching was in shock.


    "This is impossible!" Gary''s face was filled with disbelief. His ability was strength enhancement. How could Jeremy possibly withstand his attack!


    Gary''s face turned red as he tried to break free from Jeremy''s grip. But to his horror, he found that even with all his strength, he couldn''t escape. Jeremy''s grip was like steel, unyielding.


    "Is this the level of B-level extraordinary yers??" Jeremy shook his head in disappointment.


    The next moment, he released his grip, and his hand turned into a blur.


    "Thwack!"


    Gary was once again sent flying by Jeremy''s p.


    This p was even more vicious, Gary had already passed out mid-air.


    By the time hended on the ground, his face began to swell at a visibly rapid pace.


    In just a moment, a clear handprint appeared on Gary''s face.


    Witnessing Gary motionless on the ground, everyone fell silent.


    They knew Jeremy was powerful, but they hadn''t anticipated that even a B-level extraordinary yer would stand no chance against him...


    It was aplete overpowering.


    John wore a bitter smile. He had never expected things to turn out this way.


    It was Gary''s fault for knowing too little about Jeremy initially. Otherwise, he would have never brought people to confront him, essentially inviting trouble upon themselves.


    Hesitating for a moment, John sighed, "Jeremy, Gary''s father is the captain of the detective squad, and he''s definitely still alive... Offending Gary like this, he won''t let it go easily."


    Hearing John''s words, Emma and the others'' expressions changed.


    Even though the police''s deterrent effect had diminished after the apocalypse, those with firearms were still untouchable by ordinary people.


    Yet, Jeremy simplyughed, "Is that so? That''s actually great news. I was just wondering where to get a gun."


    Firearms might not be effective against monsters, but they were very useful against people.


    Hearing Jeremy''s words, everyone was speechless.


    It was hard to say whether Jeremy was fearless or just arrogant.


    After speaking, Jeremy headed towards the faculty building, nning to return and open the treasure chest... As for Gary, he didn''t give it another thought.


    Emma and Eric didn''t hesitate to follow Jeremy.


    Bonnie paused for a moment but chose to follow as well.


    Jeremy, leading the way, noticed Bonnie catching up and without turning back said, "Aren''t you going with them?"


    In Jeremy''s view, Bonnie and John seemed quite suited to mix together. He had initially hoped for less trouble, not expecting her to eventually follow him back.


    Bonnie''s eyebrows furrowed slightly, she replied coldly, "What does it matter to you where I go?" Jeremyughed but didn''t respond.


    Soon, Jeremy and the others returned to the teaching building.


    Emma, Bonnie, and a few others went to tidy up their rooms, while Jeremy went straight to the pantry.


    Filling a basin with water from the tap, Jeremy ced the bronze treasure chest inside.Then he took out 10 first-level energy crystals from his storage space.


    Looking at the bronze treasure chest in the water, Jeremy felt somewhat excited about what his first chest might contain.


    [Dear yer, are you sure you want to use 10 first-level energy crystals to open the chest?]


    Jeremy made up his mind and chose to confirm.


    The next moment, a bronze light shed before him. The bronze treasure chest in the water slowly opened.


    [Ding! Congrattions on opening the Bronze Treasure Chest!]


    [Ding! As you have triggered a hidden rule, you receive double rewards!]


    [Congrattions on your rewards: Random Basic Skill Books*2, Basic Agility Potion*2, 3rd Level Energy Crystals*2]


    "Skill books?!" Seeing the rewards, Jeremy''s eyes lit up.


    Skill books were a type of rare item that could provide a yer with a skill.


    For a newbie yer, even a single skill can be of great assistance. This time, Jeremy had directly received two. Albeit two random skill books, but it was enough to thrill him.


    Jeremy took out the two skill books, and the introduction of the books appeared before him.


    [Item]: Basic Random Skill Book


    [Quality]: Purple (Rare)


    [Description]: Upon use, you can randomly obtain a basic skill.


    [Tip]: Perform 50 squats before using, and you will receive a low-level enhancement skill.


    ...


    [Item]: Basic Random Skill Book


    [Quality] Purple (Rare)


    [Description]: Upon use, you can randomly obtain a basic skill.


    [Tip]: Perform 50 push-ups before using, and you will receive a low-level offensive skill.


    ...


    Jeremy rubbed his eyes to make sure the tip mentioned a low-level skill, not a basic skill!


    "A low-level skill indeed!" Joy appeared in Jeremy''s eyes.


    ording to the newbie yer''s manual, skills are also ssified by levels and types.


    The levels of skills are categorized as basic, low-level, mid-level, high-level, etc.


    Meanwhile, the types of skills are divided into offensive, support, enhancement, and lifestyle.


    A low-level skill is indeed a grade higher than a basic skill!


    A smile appeared on Jeremy''s face. The strength of The Eye of Omnisciencey in the fact that while others relied on randomness, he could obtain extra rewards through hidden information and mechanics.


    "Just squats and push-ups. I''ll do it now!"


    Jeremypleted the two hidden mechanisms in session and used both random skill books.


    [Ding! You have used a random skill book and triggered a hidden mechanism!]


    [You have obtained the low-level skill "Shadow Step!"]


    [Ding! You have used a random skill book and triggered a hidden mechanism!]


    [You have obtained the low-level skill "Gale sh!"]


    As the notifications appeared, Jeremy opened his personal panel to check the attributes of the two skills.


    [Skill]: Shadow Step lv1


    [Level]: Low-Level Skill


    [Type]: Enhancement


    [Description]: Upon activation, increases the yer''s movement speed by 20%, with a cooldown of 10 minutes.


    ...


    [Skill]: Gale sh lv1


    [Level]: Low-Level Skill


    [Type]: Offensive


    [Description]: Upon activation, you can unleash a sh, dealing 130% physical damage to the target, with a cooldown of 5 minutes.

 Chapter 14: Bonnies Breakdown

    Seeing the introductions of the two skills, Jeremy let out a sigh of relief.


    Skills could be good or bad, and luckily, the two he received were quite decent.


    Shadow Step could increase his movement speed, allowing Jeremy to be more agile inbat. Gale sh provided him with a long-range attack method, which might surprise and have more impact than expected.


    In addition to these, Jeremy also obtained two Agility Potions, which could increase his agility by 10 points each, and two tier-3 Energy Crystals.


    After using the Agility Potions, Jeremy''s agility attribute increased by 20 points, reaching 51, nearly catching up to his strength attribute.


    Energy Crystals were guaranteed drops from chests, with iron chests dropping tier-2 Energy Crystals and bronze chests dropping tier-3 Energy Crystals, and so on.


    [Item]: Energy Crystal


    [Level]: Tier 3


    [Description]: Upon use, you can randomly increase an attribute by 10 points.


    [Tip]: Perform 30 sit-ups to gain 10 points of strength attribute.


    To Jeremy''s surprise, the Energy Crystals also came with a tip from The Eye of Omniscience, allowing him to gain 10 points of strength attribute with 100% certainty bypleting the hidden mechanism.


    As he leveled up, Jeremy could clearly feel The Eye of Omniscience''s power growing stronger.


    In the future, he might rely on the hidden mechanisms of Energy Crystals to gain specific attributes, or even ensure that monsters drop equipment or items 100% of the time.


    The thought of such scenarios excited Jeremy.


    Though it diminished the thrill of gambling, the reassurance it provided was irreceable!


    ...


    Having calmed his emotions, Jeremy stored the Energy Crystals in his storage space and left the tea room.


    Since Emma''s original office had be overgrown with weeds, they had moved to another office that was cleaner and more spacious.


    When Jeremy pushed open the door of the office, he found that the original office had been tidied up by Emma, who was now arranging the bedding in the temporary rest room.


    A room initially meant for brief rests had been transformed into a homey bedroom, and it was unclear where she had found the bedding.


    Seeing Jeremy return, Emma, dressed in a ck silk nightgown, wiped the sweat from her forehead and greeted him with a radiant smile.


    She threw him a coquettish look and said in a soft voice,"Honey, you''re back."


    Emma was already a mature and charming woman, and her deliberate act made her even more enchanting.


    Jeremy, in the prime of his youth and vigor, couldn''t resist her flirtation and felt a me ignite within him.


    "I''m back."


    Jeremy stepped forward and hugged Emma, his hand dishonestly reaching into her silk nightgown to pinch it.


    He unexpectedly discovered that Emma was not wearing anything inside, and found it smooth and soft.


    A warmth surged in Jeremy''s heart, and he promptly carried Emma to the bed.


    "Take it easy." Emma eximed softly as she fell onto the bed, then chuckled, responding even more passionately to Jeremy.


    Soon, the room was filled with heavy breathing and soft moans.


    Feeling the time was right, Jeremy had Emma turn over and lie face down on the bed. Supporting her rounded, fair hips, he entered her.


    "Oh yeah..!"


    Emma''s moans, a mix of pain and pleasure, filled the room.


    Followed by the rhythmic sounds of physical collision.


    ...


    In another office, Bonnie had finished tidying up the room and was now lying on the sofa to rest.


    It was alreadyte, and after a day of ups and downs, she was exhausted and soon fell asleep.


    However, Bonnie hadn''t been asleep for long when she began to hear strange noises.


    The banging sounded like a monster attacking the door.


    At this thought, Bonnie instantly opened her eyes, her beautiful gaze cautiously scanning her surroundings.


    But gradually, she realized something was off about these noises... In addition to the sound of something hitting the door, there seemed to be voices.


    Bonnie held her breath and listened carefully.


    "Honey... faster... even faster..."


    At first, Bonnie didn''t understand what was happening, but after recognizing Emma''s seductive voice, she was momentarily stunned before abruptly standing up from the sofa.


    Her face flushed as if it would drip water, her eyes filled with embarrassment and anger. Jeremy was actually... actually making love with Principal Emma?


    "Despicable!"


    With her teeth clenched in anger, Bonnie wished she could change rooms right then.


    Unfortunately, the other rooms were covered in filth and blood, and it had taken her some effort to clean up this one.


    Moreover, it was night, and Bonnie couldn''t find a better ce in such short notice.


    Hearing Emma''s increasingly embarrassing moans, Bonnie was restless and couldn''t sleep a wink.


    Annoyed, she took a sip of water and paused, looking at the cup in her hand with a sudden cunning glint in her eye.


    "You''re the one doing wrong. Don''t me me for this." Bonnie huffed coldly and suddenly smashed the ss cup onto the floor.


    The clear ss cup shattered upon contact with the floor.


    This noise obviously startled the indecent couple next door.


    The inappropriate sounds ceased, and the room fell silent again.


    Imagining Jeremy''s astonishment and anger at this moment gave Bonnie a sense of sessful revenge, making even the hard sofa feel somewhatfortable.


    But before she could lie down for long, even more frantic banging and moaning sounds came through again.


    The banging was clearer through the wall than before, making Bonnie visualize a scene where Jeremy was pressing Emma against the wall, persistently thrusting.


    "Jeremy, you bastard!" Bonnie''s voice was filled with embarrassed anger.


    In the next room, a smirk appeared on Jeremy''s face.


    He had always been one to retaliate.


    Since this woman dared to interrupt his enjoyment, Jeremy was determined to keep Bonnie awake all night.


    "Jeremy... doing this... isn''t it too much?" Emma, graceful and alluring, pressed against the wall, continuously receiving Jeremy''s thrusts, her eyes full of shame.


    She, too, had heard Bonnie''s voice.


    The thought of her student just beyond the wall nearly overwhelmed her with intense shame.


    Supporting Emma''s slender waist without pausing, Jeremyughed, "This is just a lesson for her, to see if she dares to cause trouble again."


    At this, Emma could only nod, as she no longer had the strength to speak.


    It was destined to be a sleepless night.


    However, Jeremy couldn''t shake the feeling that he had forgotten something important.


    ...


    On the rooftop of the teaching building, the night wind blew.


    Hungry Ritchie huddled in the corner and couldn''t help but shiver. He moved her body to change her leeward direction.


    By now, Ritchie had realized his predicament. Unfortunately, his phone had run out of battery due to ying games, and he had also locked the door to the rooftop, effectively trapping himself there.


    He looked up at the bright moon in the night sky, sniffled, and murmured, "Jeremy... when will you finallye?"


    ...


    Time passed, and the night quickly turned into morning.


    Early the next morning, Jeremy woke up on time, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.


    Bing a yer had greatly improved his constitution, allowing him to recover his energy and spirit with just a few hours of sleep.


    Beside him, Emma''s bare shoulders were exposed, and her hair was somewhat disheveled.


    There was a look of exhaustion on her face as she slept soundly.


    After being kept up all night by Jeremy, Emma probably wouldn''t be waking up any time soon.


    Jeremy tidied her hair and kissed her smooth forehead before getting dressed.


    Jeremy found his toiletries, opened the door, and prepared to go out for his morning wash.


    Just then, the door to the adjacent office opened.


    Bonnie walked out, looking haggard, with tworge dark circles under her eyes, resembling smudged eye shadow.


    Seeing Jeremy, a surge of intense anger filled her eyes, as if she wanted to bite him to death.


    "Good morning, Bonnie. How did you sleepst night?" Jeremy said with a smile, acting as if nothing had happened the night before, and politely greeted Bonnie.

 Chapter 15: A Lone Assault on the Teaching Building

    "You... despicable!" Bonnie nearly crushed her teeth in anger.


    The audacity to ask her how she slept, when this beast had almost spent the whole night with Emma.


    Bonnie was already exhausted when she went to bedst night, only to have her nerves tormented by Jeremy and another all night long.


    Now, Emma''s voice still echoed in her mind, and she couldn''t control the images that came with it even if she tried.


    Watching Bonnie''s angry, pretty face, Jeremy scoffed softly, "Losing sleep for one night is just a warning. If you dare to disturb me again, be careful, or I might strip you naked and throw you outside!"


    "Vile!" Jeremy''s blunt threat enraged Bonnie, her face flushing red, and she was at a loss for words for a while. Her good upbringing prevented her from uttering anything too offensive.


    "Eavesdropping on people making love is what''s truly vile." Jeremy retorted, then headed towards the bathroom.


    He had monsters to grind and levels to gain, far too busy to waste time with Bonnie.


    Oh, right.


    Ritchie was still on the rooftop.


    Jeremy wasn''t too worried about it.


    The rooftop of the teaching building was fairly safe. As long as Ritchie didn''t do anything foolish, he should be fine.


    Then, remembering Ritchie''s character, Jeremy suddenly felt a headacheing on.


    Keeping that guy from doing something foolish seemed like a tall order. Better go rescue him first...


    Watching Jeremypletely ignore her and walk away, Bonnie''s chest heaved, her face turning shades of green and white.


    It was the first time she realized there could be someone so despicable and shameless in this world, ming their own wrongdoings on her for supposedly spying on them.


    At that moment, Eric also pushed open the door of the office.


    Although he looked somewhat worn out, he was faring much better than Bonnie.


    Eric had the foresight to choose a room not too far from Jeremy, anticipating what might happen.


    The room was a bit dirty, but he managed to get some restst night.


    ncing at Bonnie''splexion and then at Jeremy in the distance, Eric quickly grasped the situation.


    Eric understood what was going on with the two of them after a little thought


    He couldn''t help but shake his head. This girl thinking she could contend with Jeremy was likely to bepletely outyed by him.


    ...


    After washing up, Jeremy left some food for the three of them and then left the teaching building alone.


    A day had passed, many monsters in the campus had leveled up to level 5. Some people had also awakened their abilities and started to cautiously grind monsters. Individuals like John had even reached level 4.


    Jeremy walked into the stadium, where the remnants of the liquid bomb explosion were still visible. But the bodies, including the mutant kind and Lisa, had vanished, leaving behind only some bloodstains on the red track, silently testifying to the events that had urred the day before.


    In the stadium, students grinding monsters looked up at Jeremy with awe in their eyes.


    Even those who hadn''t witnessed Jeremy''s disy of might the day before had, over the course of the night,e to know of his ferocious achievements.


    The more they knew about the monsters'' ferocity, the more they understood the terror that was Jeremy. While they struggled to take down a mere level 1mon monster, he was already capable of soloing level 8 elite monsters!


    Jeremy took this as par for the course. Wherever he went, formidable strength always earned him respect and awe.


    Ignoring the gazes of others, his eyes scanned a group of monsters, eventually settling on a few level 5 Minotaur creatures.


    After killing the mutant kind, Jeremy had reached level 7, Level 1 and 2 monsters offered little improvement for him, so he had no intention of wasting time and energy on these lower-level creatures.


    Taking out a fang dagger from his inventory, Jeremy, d in a ck tiger skin coat, walked towards the Minotaurs.


    [Minotaur Warrior (Common)]


    [Level]: lv5


    [Attack]: 73-76


    [Defense]: 24


    [Skills]: Swipe, Charge


    [Hint]: High strength but slow movement. Exploding its lower body yields 1 tier-1 energy crystal.


    Jeremy made a curious face.


    ording to the hint from The Eye of Omniscience, these creatures could drop tier-1 energy crystals.


    However¡­ the method was somewhat peculiar.


    The Minotaur Warriors, at this point, had no idea what they were about to face.


    Seeing Jeremy walking towards them, one by one, the cow headed poption let out excited moos and rushed towards Jeremy with an axe in hand.


    For monsters, the quickest way to enhance their strength is to devour yers, especially advanced yers. In their eyes, it is the ultimate delicacy, emitting irresistible temptations all over their bodies.


    Sighing as the monsters charged towards him, Jeremy''s expression changed.


    When he looked up again, the emotion in his eyes reced by a dense killing intent.


    The Minotaur Warriors had already reached him, swinging their axes towards Jeremy''s head, a hit that could potentially crack his skull open on impact.


    Shadow Step!


    Suddenly, a glimmer of pale blue light surfaced on Jeremy, his speed surged.


    Dodging the Minotaur''s axe with a sidestep, his gaze turned icy, and he stabbed... right into the creature''s lower body.


    Blood sttered everywhere!


    The excited expression on the Minotaur Warrior''s face instantly froze, its eyes bulging like ping pong balls.


    It nced incredulously at its now-empty loincloth, followed by a shrill scream, before its muscr body heavily fell to the ground.


    [You have killed a level 5 Minotaur, gaining 103 experience points!]


    The rest of the Minotaurs, witnessing the gruesome death of their kind, shuddered in unison, their bovine eyes filled with fear as they looked at Jeremy.


    How could this human¡­ How could this human be so ruthless?!


    Jeremy, expressionless, moved among the Minotaurs like a wraith. Each time his fang dagger struck, a Minotaur would let out a shrill scream of agony.


    In just about ten minutes, all the Minotaursy on the ground, eyes wide open, their lower bodies drenched in blood, motionless.


    John and a few other yers, who had hoped to learn something from Jeremy, couldn''t help but swallow hard at the sight.


    The short boy, George, said in a parched voice, "Do we¡­ do we have to learn this move? Isn''t it a bit too sinister?"


    John adjusted his sses, teeth clenched, "Learn it! We must! Didn''t you see those monsters couldn''t get up after Jeremy attacked their lower body? That proves this move works!"


    Hedy had an epiphany, "You''re right. Jeremy must have discovered their weakness. I''ll give it a try first!"


    Saying this, Hedy, wielding a baseball bat found who-knows-where, swung it a few times and excitedly walked towards some werewolves.


    Watching Hedy swing her bat, making a werewolf howl in agony.


    Everley said after a moment of silence, "Why do I feel like she really enjoys this way of attacking?"


    John and the others didn''t speak, just unconsciously crossing their legs tighter.


    Of course, Jeremy was unaware that his method of killing Minotaurs had been adopted by others.


    Holding his fang dagger, he continued to mow down any monster that stood in his way, stabbing anything that blocked his path with his current strength, there were few monsters in the campus that could stand against him.


    [You have killed a level 5 ck Bear, gaining 99 experience points!]


    [You have killed a level 6 Mutant, gaining 166 experience points!]


    ]You have killed a level 5 Half-Orc, gaining 101 experience points!]


    ¡­


    One notification after another appeared, Jeremy''s experience points began to soar at an astonishing rate.


    By the time he reached the teaching building, his body was enveloped in the light of leveling up. [Congrattions, yer level has increased to 8, you have gained 10 free attribute points.]


    The level-up notification appeared before Jeremy, who did not pause, continuing his rush towards the rooftop.


    Meanwhile, themotion Jeremy caused downstairs quickly drew the attention of other monsters in the teaching building.


    Monsters crowded the corridors, swarming towards Jeremy like a tide, enough to make anyone''s scalp tingle.


    Jeremy''s expression was cold, a pale blue light suddenly emanating from his dagger, then he swung it fiercely.


    Gale sh!


    A fierce de light instantly flew towards the swarming monsters.


    Seven or eight monsters were cut through their necks and bodies by Jeremy''s skill.


    But the number of monsters in the teaching building was just too vast, and Jeremy''s attack was only a drop in the bucket.


    Facing the oing tide of monsters, Jeremy, with a thought, took out hisst liquid bomb.


    He threw it directly into the crowd of monsters.

 Chapter 16: Ritchies Ability

    "Boom!"


    mes erupted, sending countless monster limbs and fragments of stone whizzing past Jeremy.


    Everyone inside the teaching building felt the structure shudder violently at that moment.


    Dust cascaded from the ceiling, and their faces were etched with panic, mistaking themotion for an earthquake.


    The explosion caught the attention of John and the others, who were busy fighting monsters around the campus.


    They turned their heads and saw the teaching building, now billowing with thick smoke.


    John paused, a sense of familiarity with the mes sparking in his mind.


    Then it clicked, and he eximed in astonishment, "How does Jeremy still have explosives? Where on earth did he get this kind of stuff from!"


    "Who knows." George said, his eyes shining with envy. If he had those explosives, he wouldn''t have to grind through monster battles so miserably.


    Hedy''s eyes sparkled excitedly, "Well, worthy of my idol, daring to actually blow up the school. That''s something I wouldn''t even dare to dream of."


    Beside them, Gary, his face wrapped in bandages, clenched his fists, the jealousy and anger inside him almost consuming him.


    "Let''s see how much longer you can keep up this glory." he thought bitterly, his gaze icy.


    Gary had called his father the day before, knowing that the police station had settled down and it wouldn''t be long before they sent someone to deal with the monsters in the school.


    That would be Jeremy''s downfall!


    At the sports field, Emma, Eric, and their team, who were leveling up, also witnessed the explosion at the teaching building.


    Emma immediately spotted Jeremy standing on the corridor, expressing her concern, "Why did Jeremy go into the teaching building? That''s where the most monsters in the whole school are!"


    Bonnie gritted her teeth, "Such an arrogant guy. So what if he has bombs? There are thousands of monsters in Moonlight Middle School. He can''t possibly kill them all with those!"


    Her words were clearly tinged with personal emotions, but Eric thought Bonnie had a point.


    Even though he knew Jeremy made those bombs himself, the idea of Jeremy mass-producing them seemed far-fetched to Eric.


    Not to mention the difficulty of making liquid bombs, just sourcing the materials was a significant challenge.


    Just as Eric had thought, making those few liquid bombs had already exhausted all the materials in theboratory. It was virtually impossible for Jeremy to recreate or mass-produce them.The one he had was thest of its liquid explosives.


    In the teaching building, as the aftermath of the explosion slowly dissipated, Jeremy emerged from behind a sheltering wall.


    The once-clean corridor was now marred by a huge crater.


    Cracks filled the walls, and the charred remains of monsters along with shattered stones were scattered everywhere.


    Kill notifications appeared before Jeremy.


    [You have killed a Level 6 Minotaur, gaining 154 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 5 Goblin, gaining 107 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 6 Zombie, gaining 166 experience points!]


    ...


    A surge of experience flowed into Jeremy, and not long after leveling up, his body once again emitted a golden glow.


    [Congrattions, yer level has increased to 9, you have received 10 free attribute points.]


    Jeremy was in luck this time; among the monsters he killed, a light orb dropped.


    He approached and picked it up, revealing an item resembling a charred stick in his hand.


    [Equipment]: Ancient Wood Staff [Level]: ck Iron


    [Quality]: Blue [Attributes]: Spirit +10 [Skills]: None


    ...


    "It''s ugly, but the attributes aren''t bad." Jeremy nced at it before storing the equipment in his inventory space.


    The staff wasn''t suitable for his use but seemed perfect for Emma, he decided to give it to her when he returned.


    Jeremy picked up some energy crystals scattered on the ground and didn''t linger. Taking advantage of the monsters still being in shock, he quickly headed towards the rooftop.


    To his surprise, as he approached the rooftop, he received a prompt from The Eye of Omniscience...


    [Alert: There is a golden treasure chest within 100 meters of you.]


    The moment he saw the alert, Jeremy''s breath hitched, as if a voice echoed in his mind.


    This is a windfall!


    Jeremy was well aware of what obtaining a golden treasure chest in the early stages meant.


    A bronze chest could significantly enhance his strength. If he could get this golden chest and acquire what was inside...


    Jeremy couldn''t even imagine how far his strength would soar! His heart surged with excitement.


    He must get his hands on that chest!


    But for now, he needed to find Ritchie first.


    Arriving at the rooftop door, Jeremy pushed it, only to find it locked.


    He called out Ritchie''s name a few times, but to no response.


    A sense of dread filled him. Something''s wrong?


    Without hesitation, he used his wolfsbane dagger to pry open the locked door.


    What greeted him was the empty rooftop, and Jeremy was stunned.


    "Where''s Ritchie?" The rooftop waspletely deserted, with no sign of Ritchie anywhere.


    Jeremy searched everywhere, only to find some snack wrappers and a few urine stains, with no other traces to be found.


    He frowned and took out the phone to call Ritchie.


    Voice prompt that the other party has turned off.


    "This kid couldn''t really have gotten into trouble, right?" Jeremy stood on the rooftop, a bad feeling brewing in his heart.


    If Ritchie was really dead, he doubted he''d ever sleep peacefully again.


    With this thought, Jeremy shouted, "Ritchie, if you''re still alive, make some noise!"


    His voice echoed across the rooftop.


    Jeremy didn''t expect a response, but to his surprise, Ritchie''s voice came from behind him.


    "Holy shit, Jeremy, you finally showed up!" Ritchie stood at the entrance to the stairwell, clutching a pile of snacks, angrily saying, "We agreed to fight together, and you damn left me on the rooftop to catch a cold? Do you have any idea what I went through yesterday? If I hadn''t awakened my ability, you''d probably be looking at my corpse now!"


    Seeing Ritchie was okay, Jeremy breathed a sigh of relief.


    He apologized, "Sorry, bro.I ran into a female zombie yesterday and fought her all night long before I managed to take her down. I made you wait."


    Ritchie looked at Jeremy''s dirty ck coat and believed him a bit.


    He stepped forward, patted Jeremy on the shoulder, and said reflectively, "So that''s what happened, seems like you had it tough too."


    Jeremy''s mouth twitched, but he ultimately chose not toment on Ritchie''s melodramatic tone.


    Changing the subject, he asked, "What ability did you awaken, and howe you make no sound when you walk?"


    Jeremy''s perception was far beyond ordinary, but Ritchie had gotten so close without him noticing, which surprised him. When his ability was mentioned, Ritchie''s eyes lit up with excitement.


    "Well, you''ll never guess." he said with a mysterious smile. "I''ve awakened an ability everyone dreams of!"


    Jeremy thought for a moment, then hesitantly said, "Time stop?"


    "Holy shit, you''ve seen those kinds of movies too?" Ritchie looked surprised.


    Jeremy immediately denied it, "I haven''t, don''t talk nonsense. I was just making a random guess."


    Ritchie looked at Jeremy skeptically, sure he was lying.


    However, Ritchie didn''t press further, boasting instead, "My ability is called Shadow Stealth. Although it''s only a B-ranked ability, it''s incredibly powerful!"


    After Ritchie rambled on for a while, Jeremy finally understood the ability he had awakened.


    Indeed, as Ritchie said, Shadow Stealth was an ability many people dreamed of having.


    Once the ability was activated, Ritchie could merge into shadows, making him immune to any external attacks.


    Moreover, he had a ten-square-meter shadow space for storage, simr to a storage space, which was extremely convenient.


    In a post-apocalyptic world, Shadow Stealth could definitely be considered a life-saving skill.


    The only downside was that aside from escaping and storage, the abilitycked offensive capabilities.


    To show off to Jeremy, Ritchie even gave a demonstration of his ability.


    ck mist suddenly erupted from his body, and then Ritchie sank into his own shadow.


    The process was incredibly fast and without the slightest fluctuation of aura.


    When Ritchie reappeared, he was already behind Jeremy, and the snacks he had been holding had vanished, reced by a golden box.


    "How about that? Pretty cool ability, huh?" Ritchie said with pride.


    Jeremy didn''t respond to his question but instead intently looked at the golden box in his hands.


    [Item]: Golden Treasure Chest


    [Grade]: Gold


    [Description]: Opening the treasure chest requires 10 tier-3 crystals or 1 tier-4 crystal.


    [Tip]: Crawling forward for 1 kilometer before opening the chest will yield triple rewards.

 Chapter 17: Lord-Level Monsters

    Jeremy hadn''t expected the golden treasure chest to be in Ritchie''s possession.


    What surprised him even more was that the hidden mechanism provided by The Eye of Omniscience could actually grant him triple rewards!


    It was as if he could open three golden treasure chests at once!


    ncing at Ritchie''s expression, Jeremy knew this guy likely had no idea about the value of the golden treasure chest.


    After hesitating for a moment, Jeremy decided to dismiss the thought of deceiving Ritchie and instead chose to inform him about the chest''s value, allowing him to make his own decision.


    After some consideration, Jeremy earnestly said, "Ritchie, this chest is very precious. It can contain very rare items and equipment, its value is immeasurable."


    Pausing for a moment, he continued, "For certain reasons, this chest could significantly enhance my strength, so I''m hoping you might let me borrow this treasure chest for now. I will repay this favor doubly in the future. Of course, there''s also a chance that I might die in this post-apocalyptic world before I can repay you, so..."


    Before Jeremy could finish, Ritchie handed over the golden chest.


    Ritchie nonchntly said, "Since you want it, it''s yours. Don''t be so formal over a mere chest. Its value doesn''t matter much to me. With Shadow Stealth, I''m good. I don''t need too much power."


    Looking at Ritchie''s indifferent face, Jeremy''s lips moved, but in the end, he only uttered.


    "Thank you. I''ll remember this favor." as he took the golden chest seriously.


    "Actually, I also have a favor to ask of you." Ritchie said, scratching his head, then suddenly smirked mischievously. "Could you share with me that website where you watch time stop? I know you definitely have it."


    He even nudged Jeremy with his elbow, giving him a knowing look.


    Jeremy replied in exasperation, "I really don''t have it. Why would I need such a thing when I have a girlfriend?"


    Ritchie was shocked, eximing, "What? When did you get a girlfriend? I thought we agreed to stay single for life, you traitor! How long have you two been together?"


    Jeremy stored the golden treasure chest into his storage space and after a moment, said, "About a year."


    "A year?" Ritchie pondered for a moment, realizing that it was around the time they had started their senior year of high school.


    Something clicked for Ritchie, and he gasped in astonishment, "Your girlfriend, is it Bonnie?"


    Before Jeremy could respond, Ritchie pped his hands, convinced, "Yes, it must be her. It can only be her. Wow, Jeremy, you look so honest with those thick eyebrows and big eyes, but you quietly managed to win over our ss beauty and president!"


    "It''s not her." Jeremy replied briefly, knowing well that Ritchie was a chatterbox. The more you engage, the longer he talks, endlessly.


    Ignoring Ritchie''s questions, Jeremy walked downstairs.


    His eyes revealed contemtion, thinking about how to unlock the golden treasure chest in his hand.


    Opening the golden treasure chest required 10 tier-3 energy crystals, and he already had 2 in his possession, obtained from a bronze treasure chest. However, he was still far from the needed 10.


    Jeremy thought it over and realized there were essentially only two methods.


    One was to hunt high- level monsters, specifically those of at least elite status and level 10.


    Only monsters of this caliber had a chance of dropping tier-3 energy crystals, and Jeremy was just capable of defeating them.


    The other method was to find a silver treasure chest.


    After opening the silver treasure chest, he wouldinevitably receive a 4th order energy crystal.


    Unfortunately, both methods required too much luck, and Jeremy wasn''t confident he could achieve either in a short time.


    Ritchie, on the other hand, was still talking non-stop.


    He was wondering who Jeremy''s girlfriend was if not Bonnie, chastising Jeremy for not introducing his girlfriend to his best friend, and even asking if Bonnie could set him up with a girlfriend.


    Seeing that Ritchie had no intention of stopping, seemingly determined to achieve his goal.


    Jeremy could only say helplessly, "Stop asking, you''ll meet her soon. If you want a girl''s contact, you might as well ask her if she''s avable yourself."


    Ritchie''s eyes lit up at this, excitedly eximing, "That''s why you''re my bro, always so righteous!"


    Jeremy just shrugged, hoping Ritchie wouldn''t chicken out upon meeting Emma.


    After all, Emma had always had a strict image in ss, which allowed her to manage a top ss like theirs for three years. She only showed her gentler side in front of him.


    Of course, Ritchie was oblivious to the setup Jeremy had alreadyid out for him.


    The two descended from the rooftop and started towards the school building.


    Along the way, they encountered monsters, but these creatures didn''tst long against Jeremy and were quickly dispatched.


    Ritchie took the easier route by hiding in the shadows.


    As they went downstairs, Jeremy casually rescued some students trapped in ssrooms.


    During this process, Jeremy also encountered many teachers and learned that the principal had turned into a monster.


    The school was left with only a few vice-principals and teachers, including Eric.


    The situation was worse than imagined, with no one leading, which exined the chaos.


    After pondering for a moment, Jeremy decided to have Eric step up and organize the students and teachers upon his return.


    Given Eric''s capabilities, managing them shouldn''t be difficult.


    However, as Jeremy rescued more people, the number of monsters drawn to them gradually increased.


    Moonlight Middle School was the top ranked high school in Moonlight City. IThad arge student body. Even though most had turned into monsters or were killed, the surviving students still numbered over a thousand when gathered.


    Such arge group would be a feast in the eyes of the monsters.


    Therefore, after saving about thirty people, Jeremy stopped.


    No matter how much the others pleaded, Jeremy didn''t attend to them anymore.


    Saving people was just a convenience, if it meant putting himself in danger, Jeremy would rather not save anyone.


    Even so, after Jeremy led these people out of the school building, they attracted forty or fifty monsters and an unwee guest.


    ¡­


    On the za outside the school building.


    Jeremy looked at the monsters blocking their path with a cold gaze.


    One of them was a gigantic creature, four to five meters tall, withyers of fat and multiple human faces and arms protruding from its chest, abdomen, and even its back, as if many people had fused together.


    Theyseemed to be alive, struggling on the body of the monster, trying to pull everyone in front of it to be one of them, creating a horrifying sight.


    [Fused Zombie (Lord)]


    [Level]: lv10


    [Attack]: 1190-1205


    [Defense]: 258


    [Skills]: Roar, Devour, Venom, Charge...


    [Hint]: Extremely dangerous, the weak point is in the head. Cutting off all its arms guarantees a drop of a tier-4 energy crystal.


    ¡­


    Jeremy''s eyes gradually filled with a bloody hue as he read the monster''s information.


    He had just been thinking about how to get a tier-4 energy crystal, and now it seemed to have delivered itself to his doorstep.


    The surrounding monsters were slowly closing in, their crimson eyes fixed on them, causing everyone''s hair to stand on end.


    Behind Jeremy, dozens of people saw the terrifying fused zombie and the surrounding monsters, their eyes filled with fear.


    One teacher screamed in panic, "Run, everyone! This is a lord-level monster, we can''t deal with it!"


    A student beside him said in despair, "There are monsters everywhere. How can we run? We''re surrounded!"


    A girl knelt on the ground, crying and shouting, "Save me! Can someone save us!"


    Cries and shouts filled the crowd; over thirty people were panicking. Some even med Jeremy for leading them out, feeling that he had doomed them all. A skinny student angrily said, "It''s all Jeremy''s fault. I''ve always said staying in the ssroom was the safest. Now, he''s going to get us all killed!"


    This scene not only stunned Ritchie on the spot but also made Emma, John, and others who wereing to help feel the absurdity of the situation.


    As the monsters grew stronger, staying in the ssroom would only lead to being devoured by countless creatures. Why would these people think Jeremy had doomed them? Did they really believe staying in the ssroom would keep them alive?


    Emma pursed her lips, saying nothing.


    Bonnie''s face turned pale.


    Feeling as if the things she had held onto had crumbled in an instant.


    Eric shook his head, feeling sorry for Jeremy.


    John also stared nkly at the scene, muttering, "Are these people really worth us risking our lives to save?"

 Chapter 18: They Were Always Like This

    Surprisingly, amidst this chaos, Jeremy remained extremely calm.


    Meanwhile, Emma, Bonnie, John, and others took advantage of the iplete encirclement by the monsters to rush over.


    Gary, of course, wouldn''t show up; he wished for Jeremy''s early demise.


    Without uttering a word, Emma and the others simply pulled out their weapons and silently stood beside Jeremy.


    Jeremy nced at them but didn''t say much.


    The monsters were getting closer. They refrained fromunching an attack, possibly wary of Jeremy and his group, or perhaps sensing trouble within the ranks behind Jeremy, they waited for an opportune moment.


    However, the people Jeremy had rescued were blissfully unaware of the imminent danger, their noise levels rising, prompting John and the others to internally curse their stupidity.


    As expected, it didn''t take long for the noise to attract even more monsters.


    The stairs behind the school building were soon blocked by creatures, cutting off their retreat.


    Faced with monsters on all sides, many despaired.


    With easily a hundred monsters surrounding them, escape seemed impossible.


    Suddenly, a teacher pointed at Jeremy, using, "This is all your fault! We wouldn''t be in this situation if it weren''t for you!"


    The skinny student who had first voiced hisints also angrily added, "Exactly! If he hadn''t led us out, we wouldn''t be surrounded by monsters!"


    Dozens of people began to murmur, quickly turning into a chorus of me towards Jeremy, with the rest remaining silent.


    They only saw Jeremy as the bringer of danger, even though it was their actions that had doomed them. Now, they all ced the me squarely on Jeremy''s shoulders.


    The sincere thanks Jeremy had received from these people while rescuing them now seemed like a farce.


    The pettiness of human nature was fully disyed in this moment.


    Emma, gripping her weapon tightly, her pretty face flushed with anger, eximed, "Jeremy kindly saved them, how can they be so shameless!"


    The others looked on with displeasure. These people were being too much.


    "They''ve always been like this. You''ve just thought too highly of them." Jeremy said with a smile, though his eyes grew colder.


    He looked around andmanded in a cold voice, "Everyone shut up. If anyone makes noise again, I''ll kill them first!"


    As he spoke, a terrifying aura of killing intent, honed from countless battles, erupted from Jeremy.


    The murderous intent in his eyes was even more ferocious than that of the monsters, silencing everyone present, including the monsters that had been advancing towards them.


    Dozens of people looked at Jeremy, some with fear, others with terror.


    Of course, there were those who defied him.


    The skinny student stepped forward, angrily saying, "Why can''t we speak? You''re clearly guilty! You said you''d lead us out, but I think you''ve had ill intentions from the start, wanting all of us to die with you!"


    His words seemed to embolden others, and they began to denounce Jeremy once more.


    Seeing the agreement in others, the young man became even more agitated.


    He lifted his chin in defiance, looking at Jeremy with disdain, "You want to kill someone? Then kill me if you dare! I''m telling you¡ª"


    Suddenly, a streak of white light shed through the air, and the young man''s voice stopped abruptly.


    A thin line of blood slowly appeared on his neck.


    Immediately following, under the horrified gazes of all present, the young man''s head slid from his neck and fell to the ground, rolling a few times.


    Blood gushed out like a fountain, revealing Jeremy''s stern face to the crowd.


    "Wham."


    The young man''s head fell to the ground and rolled twice.


    His eyes, filled with bewilderment and shock, seemed unable to believe what had just happened.


    Jeremy flicked the blood off his dagger and said peculiarly, "This is the first time I''ve seen such a strange request."


    The crowd fell into a stunned silence, with those who had been most vocal now trembling in fear, worried Jeremy would turn on them next.


    John and the others exchanged nces, then shared a satisfiedugh.


    Well done!


    People who sow discord among the ranks only push everyone deeper into an abyss from which there is no return.


    Bonnie''s eyes shifted, and for the first time, she didn''t openly criticize Jeremy.


    No one spoke again. The dozens of students and teachers watching Jeremy now looked at him with fear in their eyes.


    At that moment, they even thought Jeremy seemed more monstrous than the monsters themselves.


    Just then, a young girl, unable to bear the pressure any longer, broke down in tears, crying out, "He''s killed someone! He''s killed someone! I''m still young.I don''t want to die!"


    With that, she ran towards the monsters.


    Her fate, needless to say, was sealed instantly as a ck wolf snapped her slender, pale neck.


    Many who witnessed this scene shuddered, their fear deepening.


    The scent of blood agitated the other monsters, causing the hundreds surrounding them to grow restless.


    Yet, they made no move, instead fixing their blood-red gazes on the leading ghoul among them, as if waiting for itsmand.


    The reason why leaders among monsters are prefixed with "leader" is because they canmand many lower-level monsters to follow their orders.


    Sensing the monsters'' restlessness, Jeremy frowned and looked at the few dozen people in front of him.


    They all had weapons, albeit things like baseball bats and table legs, but it was better than nothing.


    Jeremy said coldly, "Now, everyone follow mymand. Those who can fight, form a circle around the girls and ordinary people."


    Everyone looked down, silent, unwilling to step forward.


    Seeing this, Jeremy scoffed, "This is yourst chance to survive. I hope you cherish it and understand one thing... I''m saving you just in passing. Whether you live or die doesn''t really matter to me. If you prefer to wait here and die, I have nothing more to say."


    After Jeremy''s words, the crowd was silent for a few seconds.


    Then, a muscr young man stepped forward. He said in a deep voice, "I have awakened a C-level ability, Stone Skin, and can stand on the outside."


    Several others followed, among them were ordinary yers at levels 2 and 3, as well as extraordinary yers who had awakened supernatural abilities.


    However, it was clear they could not withstand an attack from hundreds of monsters. Jeremy activated The Eye of Omniscience, scanning the crowd.


    Immediately, information about several individuals who hadn''t stepped forward appeared before him.


    Jeremy pointed them out one by one, "You, you, you, and you, the five of you,e forward."


    All eyes turned towards these individuals.


    The ones Jeremy pointed out had pale faces and eyes full of shock.


    They couldn''t understand how Jeremy had seen through their hidden strengths.


    Some thought Jeremy was merely guessing and kept their heads down, silent, with others following suit.


    Seeing their reluctance, Jeremy''s voice turned ice cold, "I''ll say it again, step forward, or would you rather I make you move?"


    After a few seconds of silence, they finally joined the defensive ranks.


    Having witnessed Jeremy''s strength and methods, no one wanted to provoke him.


    Facing the monsters, they at least had a chance to survive, but if Jeremy made a move, they feared they would die right there.


    With this, the number of people forming the defense increased to twelve.


    Together with Jeremy, John, Bonnie, and others forming the first line of defense, as well as the ordinary people armed with weapons in the core area, a simple, barrel-shaped threeyer defense was established.


    At this moment, there was movement among the monsters. The fused ghoul shuffled its massive body, leaving a trail of foul-smelling pus on the ground.


    It moved to the front, its dark red eyes fixed on Jeremy, issuing a low growl:


    "Roar!"


    This roar seemed to be both a threat and a warning.


    The surrounding monsters voluntarily cleared a path.


    Jeremy understood the fused ghoul''s intention. It was telling him to leave this ce.


    This monster''s intelligence was high, no wonder it could produce a fourth-tier energy crystal.


    Jeremy''s eyes narrowed slightly, "Unfortunately, you seem to have misunderstood something."


    Holding his wolfsbane dagger towards the fused ghoul, he smiled and said, "I''m not here to save these people. I''m here to kill you."

 Chapter 19: Leveling Up Skills

    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, the human faces and arms that were brandishing ws on the fusion zombie''s body all quieted down for a moment.


    Then, the human faces on the zombie''s body split into a wide, exaggerated smile.


    The next moment, they opened their mouths and let out a sharp piercing roar!


    A wave of sound that was visible to the naked eye rapidly spread through the air, rushing towards Jeremy and the others!


    There was no way to dodge such a wide-range skill attack.


    Jeremy only felt a pinprick in his brain, but it disappeared in an instant, likely due to his far superior mental strengthpared to others of his level.


    But the others weren''t so lucky.


    Everyone, including Bonnie and John, felt a wave of dizziness, struggling to even hold their weapons steady for a moment.


    "Roar!!!"


    As if responding to amand, hundreds of monsters roared in anger, charging at the crowd like a tide.


    By the time the others regained theirposure and saw what was happening, they were all in a state of panic.


    The battle had barely begun, and Jeremy and his team were already at a disadvantage.


    The crowd was in chaos, their eyes filled with fear.


    John and the others gripped their weapons tightly, their expressions tense, while Emma and Bonnie''s faces were pale.


    Jeremy frowned, knowing this was no way to fight. The first thing he needed to do was to give them some confidence.


    He took a deep breath, his gaze bing incredibly sharp.


    Naturally, the best way to boost their confidence was to show them a glimpse of hope for victory!


    "Ritchie, remember to save peopleter!" Jeremy reminded. As a pale blue glow emanated from his body, he moved swiftly, pushing against the current and boldly charging towards the horde of beasts.


    Jeremy''s action stunned everyone.


    This guy was truly brave! He dared to charge at so many monsters!


    Seeing this, the smile on the human faces on the fusion zombie became even more terrifying.


    It swung its thick arm, and seven or eight monsters rushed towards Jeremy.


    Facing the monsters charging at him, Jeremy remained calm.


    He sidestepped a pouncing ck tiger, his dagger moving fluidly as it sliced across a goblin''s neck.


    "Stter!"


    The goblin clutched its neck, slowly falling to the ground.


    [You have killed a Level 8 Goblin, earning 397 experience points!]


    Blood sttered on Jeremy''s face. But he didn''t stop moving, his dagger pierced the neck of another ck tiger that pounced at him. With a swift turn of his waist, he delivered a lightning-fast kick to the head of a werewolf attempting to sneak attack him.


    "Crack!"


    The sound of bones breaking was jarring as the werewolf''s head spun a full one hundred eighty degrees from Jeremy''s kick.


    Killing it instantly.


    [You have killed a Level 7 ck Tiger, earning 259 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 8 Werewolf, earning 423 experience points!]


    In the blink of an eye, three monstersy dead by Jeremy''s hand.


    The monsters that were originally charging at Jeremy stopped in their tracks, fear evident in their eyes.


    Jeremy pulled the wolf tooth dagger from the ck tiger''s neck, blood spraying everywhere.


    He beckoned towards the remaining monsters with a gesture and said, "Come on, continue."


    Seeing this, the human faces on the fusion zombie all stiffened.


    The others, looking at Jeremy, had their eyes light up.


    Regaining his senses, John raised his weapon and shouted, "Everyone, don''t give up! These monsters are not as terrifying as we thought. With Jeremy here, we can definitely survive!"


    "Let''s go!" The long-suppressed crowd erupted, their morale quickly recovering, they gripped their weapons tighter, ready to face the monsters charging at them.


    The first wave of monsters quickly arrived, and people like John and Bonnie showed their true strength.


    A faint white light emerged on John''s machete, each strike leaving a horrific wound on the monsters.


    George, Everley, Eric, and others used steel shields to block the monsters'' attacks.


    A chill surrounded Bonnie, with ice arrows forming behind her and piercing through the bodies of the monsters.


    Emma was protected in the middle by everyone, green light emerging around her, quickly stopping the bleeding of wounds around her.


    Ritchie hid in the shadows, asionally helping those in danger to dodge the monsters'' attacks.


    The first wave of monsters wasrgely withstood by John, Bonnie, and others.


    Seeing this tough nut to crack, some monsters bypassed them and charged towards the people behind.


    Facing so many monsters, the others were initially nervous. But after engaging with the monsters, they were surprised to find that using Jeremy''s method. It was quite easy to fend off the attacking monsters together.


    Now everyone understood Jeremy''s intention, and their looks towards him were filled with admiration.


    As the situation improved, Jeremy did not rx at all in his heart.


    He was well aware that this was only temporary. If they continued to drag on, they would still lose.


    Jeremy nced at the fusion zombie, knowing that the final victory would be decided by their battle.


    And it had to be quick.


    The longer it dragged on, the more dangerous it would be for Emma and the others.


    With a thought, Jeremy took out energy crystals from his storage space.


    He had initially nned to save these energy crystals to upgrade his skill levels after changing his ss... But now he had no choice but to use them.


    Jeremy currently had 75 first-tier energy crystals, 4 second-tier energy crystals, and 2 third-tier energy crystals.


    After some thought, he decided to use the first-tier energy crystals to enhance his attributes, the second-tier crystals to upgrade the levels of his skills such as Shadow Step and Swift sh, and he decided to save the third-tier energy crystals forter use.


    "Hold on a moment!" After killing a ck wolf, Jeremy told John and the others.


    They didn''t understand what he meant. But they nodded anyway.


    Jeremy temporarily withdrew from the battle and found a safe ce to begin absorbing the first-tier energy crystals.


    As Jeremy''s level increased, his speed of absorbing the first-tier energy crystals also noticeably elerated.


    [Ding! You have used 75 first-tier energy crystals, gaining 18 strength, 20 spirit, 16 stamina, and 21 agility!]


    Jeremy felt a surge of tremendous energy within him, sweeping through every corner of his body in an instant.


    At this moment, Jeremy''s strength had broken through 70 points, and besides, he had 30 free attribute points.


    Jeremy evenly distributed all the attribute points, bringing all four of his attributes up to 77 points, gaining another increase in strength.


    With time pressing, and knowing John and the others couldn''t hold on for much longer, Jeremy began to upgrade his skill levels.


    [Do you confirm using second-tier energy crystals to upgrade the skill level of "Shadow Step"?]


    When the prompt appeared, Jeremy confirmed.


    [Ding! "Shadow Step" skill level has been upgraded to Level 2!]


    Without stopping, Jeremy used all four second-tier energy crystals in one go.


    The skill levels of Shadow Step and Swift sh both reached Level 3, significantly enhancing the effects of these two skills.


    Shadow Step''s movement speed boost increased from 30% to 50%, with a longer duration, while Swift sh''s physical attack damage went from 130% to 150%, and its cooldown time was also reduced.


    [Name]: Jeremy


    [Level]: lv9


    [ss]: None


    [Ability]: The Eye of Omniscience (SSS)


    [Attributes]: Strength 77, Spirit 77, Stamina 77, Agility 77


    [Skills]: Shadow Step lv3, Swift sh lv3


    [Experience]: 3358/10200


    ...


    Jeremy opened his status panel and noticed he was about 8000 experience points away from reaching level 10.


    Barring any surprises, he should be able to reach level 10 today.


    Jeremy''s gaze returned to the battlefield. Just a few minutes away, and John and the others were already struggling.


    The fusion zombie lurking behind the monsters had made its move.


    Its bloated abdomen swelled as the human faces on its body opened their mouths to spray ck liquid towards John and the others.


    Eric and George, among others, used steel shields to block.


    The ck liquid hit the shields, emitting white smoke and a sizzling sound.


    In just a few breaths, the thick steel shields corroded, forming holes.


    Shocked, Eric and the others quickly discarded the shields.


    Without their defense, John and the others were in danger.


    John urgently said, "Jeremy, are you ready? We can''t hold on much longer!"


    Jeremy didn''t respond, a pale blue light emerged around him again.


    Shadow Step!


    With a step, his figure instantly vanished, appearing in front of the fusion zombie in the blink of an eye, moving more than twice as fast as before.


    The fusion zombie, taken aback by Jeremy''s sudden appearance, paused.


    Before it could react, Jeremy''s dagger swung down.


    "Whoosh!"


    A green wind de flew out swiftly, striking the fusion zombie''s arm.


    "Wham!"


    The thick arm crashed to the ground, blood raining down like a shower.


    Everyone was stunned.

 Chapter 20: The "Sun Chaser" Event

    "Roar!"


    The fusion zombie let out a painful roar. Its human faces on its body twisting in agony.


    The intense pain turned its eyes blood-red and drove it into a frenzy.


    It lifted its other arm, attempting to smash Jeremy into pulp with a thunderous swipe.


    "Boom!"


    Its palm hit the ground, creating a massive sound and leaving a dent in the earth.


    However, when it lifted its palm, Jeremy was nowhere to be found underneath.


    "You''re too slow." came Jeremy''s calm voice from behind the fusion zombie.


    The faces on the zombie''s body showed surprise, and as it turned, its remaining arm swung backward in a fierce motion.


    A sh of cold light swiftly passed.


    Jeremy''s strike severed the fusion zombie''sst arm.


    Arge amount of blood gushed out, dyeing the ground red in the blink of an eye.


    Looking at the fusion zombie, now missing both arms, everyone present, as well as those watching from afar, showed shock in their eyes.


    Jeremy was incredibly powerful... He had rendered such a terrifying creature powerless.


    From a distance, Gary watched the scene unfold with hate and a deep fear in his eyes.


    Jeremy''s demonstrated strength far exceeded that of a regr yer, marking him as a potential formidable force in the post-apocalyptic world.


    The thought made Gary''s eyes sh with a vicious intent.


    No matter what, he had to kill Jeremy early on!


    Outside the school building, the once fearsome fusion zombie had been reduced to a stick figure, with only its ordinary arms remaining.


    To trigger a hidden mechanism, Jeremy needed to sever these as well.


    His eyes calm like still water, Jeremy continued to swing his dagger.


    chopping off one arm after another, the number of the fusion zombie''s arms was visibly diminishing.


    John, engaged in the battle, shuddered at the scene.


    It appeared as though Jeremy was torturing the fusion zombie.


    Having seen people and animals tortured, this was his first time witnessing a monster being abused.


    The thought brought back memories of those pitiful minotaurs, sending a shiver down his spine.


    Could Jeremy be a sadist?!


    It wasn''t long before Jeremy had chopped off all of the fusion zombie''s arms, leaving it resembling a meatball.


    "Roar!" Overwhelmed by fear, the fusion zombie roared and attempted to flee.


    Unfortunately, it was far too slow, unable to even escape in front of Jeremy.


    In the end, Jeremy''s Swift sh decapitated the fusion zombie.


    [You have killed a lv10 fusion zombie (Lord), earning 5310 experience points!]


    As the fusion zombie copsed with a thud, the kill notification appeared before Jeremy.


    Everyone witnessing this was left speechless.


    Defeating a Lord-level monster single-handedly?!


    This was beyond theirprehension.


    Ignoring the stares, Jeremy approached the fusion zombie''s severed head and extracted a chicken egg-sized transparent crystal.


    [Item]: Energy Crystal


    [Grade]: Tier 4


    [Description]: Grants 50 random attribute points upon use.


    [Tip]: Walking on your hands for 100 meters will grant 50 free attribute points.


    "Atst get!" Jeremy looked at the energy crystal in his hand, his eyes zing with excitement.


    With this crystal, he could unlock the golden treasure chest. His strength would surely surge once more!


    But the battle was far from over. Now was not the time to dwell on it.


    Storing the energy crystal in his inventory, Jeremy, holding his fang dagger, charged towards the remaining monsters.


    He was less than two thousand experience points away from leveling up, killing about ten more monsters would elevate him to level 10, with such an excellent opportunity to farm monsters right in front of him, Jeremy naturally wouldn''t let it pass.


    After the fusion zombie was killed, the rest of the monsters were terrified by Jeremy.


    Seeing him charge towards them, they showed fear in their eyes, each running faster than thest.


    But how could Jeremy let them escape so easily?


    He chased the group of monsters for hundreds of meters, relentlessly pursuing them until the golden glow of leveling up enveloped him.


    [You have reached level 10, gaining 20 free attribute points!]


    [Ding! Profession change officially avable!]


    [You will not be able to level up further until you have sessfully changed professions.]


    [You may initiate the profession change at any time.]


    Simultaneously, a white magical circle slowly appeared on the back of Jeremy''s hand.


    Ready to be activated with just a thought.


    However, Jeremy didn''t n to change his profession here. He needed a quiet ce.


    When Jeremy came back to his senses and turned to look behind him, he found everyone staring at him dumbfounded.


    "What''s with those looks?" Jeremy asked, puzzled.


    John and the others swallowed hard and quickly shook their heads, saying, "It''s... it''s nothing."


    The others quickly averted their gaze as well.


    Jeremy''s performance had been terrifying. After all, chasing and killing a group of monsters single-handedly, an observer might think the monsters were the victims.


    "I''ll be going now." Jeremy said, shaking his head, ready to return to the school building for the profession change.


    Just then, his gaze sharpened. He looked up at the sky.


    The sun, for some reason, had turned red again.


    This time, however, there was a ck pointer and twelve different symbols on the sun, resembling a clock, the ck pointer was now on the first symbol.


    At the same time, a series of notifications popped up in front of everyone.


    [Ding! Congrattions to yer "Jeremy" for being the first yer to reach level 10 in this apocalypse game!]


    [Reward special title: "Pioneer"!]


    [The first event of the apocalypse game, "Sun Chaser," officially begins!]


    [Event Description: This eventsts for 7 days. During the event, yers will earn double experience from killing monsters. After 7 days, the yer ranked first on the leaderboard will receive an incredibly generous reward.]


    [Sneak Peek: Each event reward will include at least one God-level equipment item.]


    [Additionally, the apocalypse game will officially open various features for yers, including dungeons, a trading market, cross-server chat, team leveling, and more. We wish you a pleasant gaming experience.]


    [Game nner: Magician]


    Jeremy stared at thest notification in silence.


    The game nner had changed.


    That is to say, the entities behind this apocalyptic game are likely a group rather than an individual.


    What exactly do they want to achieve?


    Jeremy had no clue.


    The only thing he knew was... they were incredibly powerful, even beyond hisprehension.


    "These damn people, actually treating this as a game!" John clenched his fists in the crowd, seething with anger.


    The others didn''t speak, but their expressions were grim as well.


    Being treated as mere ythings would sour anyone''s mood.


    "What do you want to do?" Emma approached Jeremy, her face etched with concern.


    Knowing Jeremy, she realized that he wouldn''t just sit back passively in such a situation.


    "I want to be the first in the Sun Chaser event." Jeremy said calmly.


    After all, the Magician had mentioned that each event would include at least one God-level equipment item.


    That was exactly what he needed.


    Jeremy was well aware that strength was the foundation. Without power, not only would seeking revenge against those who had disrupted his peaceful life be out of the question, but surviving in this apocalypse would also be a challenge.


    Emma took Jeremy''s hand, smiling. "I believe you can do it."


    Though she said this, Jeremy could clearly feel her hand trembling.


    She was scared.


    Perhaps afraid he might die at the hands of the monsters, or maybe it was the fear of the unknown.


    Jeremy squeezed Emma''s hand reassuringly. "Don''t worry, we''ll be fine."


    A warm feeling surged in Emma''s heart, and she nodded slightly.


    Afterwards, Jeremy bid farewell to John and the others, heading back to the school building.


    Unable to level up beforepleting his ss change, Jeremy''s top priority was now to finish his ss change task, even opening the golden treasure chest was temporarily set aside.


    With such a significant change in their situation, Bonnie, Emma, and the others were not in the mood to farm monsters and followed Jeremy back to the school building.


    Ritchie naturally came along as well.


    All the way, Ritchie rambled on non-stop.


    He said with a serious expression on his face. "Jeremy, do you think they could be aliens, here to enve us? I''ve seen a movie about that before. It was terrifying¡­"


    Hearing Ritchie''s wild spection, Jeremy couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

 Chapter 21: The Class Change Goddess Gana

    Ritchie''s thought process was unlike that of normal people.


    While everyone else was pondering their next steps, he was caught up in thoughts about aliens and movies.


    Jeremy didn''t engage with him, instead finding Ritchie a room to clean up before returning to his own room.


    Emma had gone to another room to cook, conveniently absent.


    Jeremy entered his bedroom and sat on the bed. He didn''t rush into his ss change but first checked the title he had received.


    [Title]: Pathfinder


    [Type]: Special


    [Effect]: All attributes +30, drop rate +10%, experience +10%


    [Skill]: Forerunner


    [Description]: Upon using the skill, the yer''s damage increases by 30%, and speed by 50% for a duration of 3 minutes, with a cooldown of 24 hours.


    [Note]: Those who step forward first may encounter misfortune. But more often than not, they are also the ones to find good fortune.


    Staring at the attributes of "Pathfinder," Jeremy''s eyes revealed his surprise.


    The title, worthy of its special equipment status, added a total of 120 points to his attributes, along with rare attribute bonuses like drop rate and experience.


    What surprised Jeremy the most was that this title also provided a skill.


    The "Forerunner" skill could not only increase a yer''s damage but also significantly boost their speed... Though itsted only a brief 3 minutes, it was enough to turn the tide in some battles.


    After equipping the title, Jeremy opened his panel and found his name now followed by the suffix (Pathfinder), with his total attributes breaking into triple digits at 107 points.


    Among novice yers, this was undoubtedly astonishing.


    Jeremy nodded slightly, guessing he should be able to acquire a decent profession soon.


    A yer''s first profession is determined by their attributes and talents¡ªThe higher these are, the better the profession they can obtain.


    There are three different ranks of professions: Common, Rare, and Hidden.


    There are also three different types: Combat, Support, and Lifestyle.


    The gap between different ranks of professions is vast, both in terms of attributes and skills, with higher-ranked professions overwhelmingly dominating the lower-ranked ones.


    Hidden professions are exceedingly rare, requiring luck, talent, and strength. Jeremy didn''t dare hope for a hidden profession. He would be content with a rare one.


    With a thought, Jeremy''s hand lit up with a white light from the magic circle.


    Gradually, the light enveloped him entirely.


    When Jeremy opened his eyes again, he found himself in a square, facing a several-meter-tall statue.


    It depicted a woman with wings, breathtakingly beautiful and serene, with her wings folded. She had her eyes closed, hands holding a transparent crystal ball, exuding aforting presence.


    As Jeremy looked at the statue, it, too, slowly opened its eyes.


    Her eyes were gentle, as she slowly extended the crystal ball towards him.


    Simultaneously, a soft and beautiful voice echoed in Jeremy''s ear.


    [Dear yer, wee to the realm of ss change.]


    [Please ce your hand on the crystal ball, and I shall select the best profession for you.]


    This was Jeremy''s first encounter with a talking NPC, but he wasn''t overly surprised, having already learned about their existence from the beginner''s yer manual.


    Jeremy didn''t step forward immediately but instead looked at the statue with a somewhat strange and conflicted expression.


    Just moments ago, a prompt from The Eye of Omniscience had appeared before him.


    [Prompt: pping the ss change statue 99 times will grant you the hidden profession "sphemer!"]


    Jeremy had to admit, he was tempted.


    After all, a hidden profession was incredibly rare, possibly one in a million job holders wouldn''t have the chance to obtain one!


    Securing this hidden profession,bined with his Eye of Omniscience andbat experience, Jeremy was confident he would be unbeatable among his peers.


    But pping a statue 99 times... Was this some kind of joke?


    Jeremy nced at the statue''s panel.


    [Name]: Goddess Gana (Statue)


    [Level]: 120


    [Rank]: Boss


    [Health]: ???


    [Attack]: ???


    [Defense]: ???


    [Skills]: ???


    [Description]: A statue of the ancient goddess responsible for ss changes.


    ...


    Looking at the series of question marks on the panel, Jeremy was filled with question marks of his own.


    This was his first time encountering a level 120 entity. A being of such power could probably turn him to ash with a mere breath, yet The Eye of Omniscience wanted him to p it 99 times?


    Perhaps The Eye of Omniscience was malfunctioning.


    With a sigh, even though he was reluctant, Jeremy concluded that his life was more important.


    He wasn''t willing to risk his life for a chance at obtaining a hidden profession and decided to give up on the opportunity.


    At that moment, the statue''s voice once again whispered in Jeremy''s ear.


    [Please ce your hand on the crystal ball, and I shall select the best profession for you.]


    The voice of the statue was as soft and lovely as before.


    But this time it made Jeremy feel a sense of mechanical repetition, simr to a looped recording.


    Noticing this detail, a thought crossed Jeremy''s mind, and his eyes gradually brightened.


    After all, this was just a statue responsible for ss changes, not a real deity.


    Despite its high level, itcked a real soul and consciousness and couldn''t feel what was done to it.


    Perhaps... he really could give it a try?


    With this thought, Jeremy felt a surge of daring enthusiasm.


    However, to be safe, he decided to test the waters first.


    Jeremy stepped forward and waved his hand in front of the statue, noting that it remainedpletely still.


    Growing bolder, he pinched its face.


    The statue remained unchanged. Its smile still as sweet as ever.


    Jeremy blinked, then stretched out his hand and, with a smack, pped the beautiful face of the statue.


    [Please ce your hand on the crystal ball, and I shall select the best profession for you.]


    The sudden voice startled Jeremy.


    It took him a moment to realize that the statue was still operating in its previous mode.


    This reassured Jeremy.


    In that case, he thought, let''s have the goddess make a little sacrifice.


    With that thought, Jeremy began pping the face of the ss change statue left and right.


    "Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!..." The crisp sounds of his ps echoed endlessly across the empty ss change square.


    It wasn''t long before Jeremy had delivered dozens of ps. But then he suddenly noticed something odd.


    Were the statue''s eyelids moving?


    Just as Jeremy thought he was seeing things, the statue suddenly turned its head towards him and shouted angrily, "Have you had enough?!"


    "Holy shit!" Jeremy''s heart stopped in that instant.


    The statue was alive?!


    At the same time, Jeremy noticed that the information panel for the statue had changed.


    [Name]: Goddess Gana (Incarnated)


    [Level]: 120


    [Rank]: Deity


    [Health]: ???


    [Attack]: ???


    [Defense]: ???


    [Skills]: ???


    [Description]: The ancient goddess responsible for ss changes.


    ...


    Jeremy gasped.


    This was the first time he realized that there was a rank beyond boss, that of a deity.


    This was never mentioned in the beginner''s yer manual!


    "You despicable huan, daring to insult my statue. I shall throw you into the Prison of Spirits, where you will remain for eternity, never to be reborn!" The gritted voice of the woman in Jeremy''s ear sounded identical to the one before.But now it clearly carried a slight emotional charge.


    Jeremy''s hand paused mid-air, unable to continue its motion.


    A bitter smile appeared on his lips.


    He really was done in by The Eye of Omniscience this time!


    Although he didn''t know what the Prison of Spirits was, Jeremy didn''t need to think twice to know it wasn''t anywhere pleasant.


    Noticing Jeremy''s expression, Goddess Gana snorted coldly, "Scared now? Kneel before my statue and p yourself back, and I might just spare your life."


    However, to Goddess Gana''s surprise, Jeremy did notply. Instead, heughed.


    He patted the stone face of Goddess Gana and said with a smile, "You probably can''t really incarnate, or even if you can, you can''t take action. Otherwise you would have killed me by now. Why else would you bother talking to me like this."


    Jeremy was perceptive, and the unusual behavior of Goddess Gana alerted him that something was amiss.


    "I...I''m just being kind. If you continue to be stubborn, believe it or not, I can smite you with divine punishment right now!" Goddess Gana''s face stiffened, clearly hit by Jeremy''s guess. But she still tried to intimidate Jeremy.


    Jeremyughed and pped the statue''s face again.


    Goddess Gana fell silent.

 Chapter 22: The Heaven-Defying Hidden Class, The Fools Doomsday Game

    Afterwards, no more sound came from the deity statue of the ss change.


    Jeremy noticed that, at some point, the panel of the ss change statue had returned to normal.


    It seemed like he had annoyed the goddess away.


    Jeremy chuckled and didn''t mind, his palm waving out phantoms.


    In the empty ss change za, only the sound of ps echoed.


    Soon, a prompt appeared before him.


    [Ding! You have triggered a hidden mechanism and obtained the hidden ss "sphemer"!]


    [Your stats have received an enhancement!]


    [You have gained skills: Lawless One lv1, Seven Sins-Wrath lv1, Sinme lv1, Cmity de lv1]


    [Note: Favorability from the gods -100!]


    ¡­


    Simultaneously, the previously clear sky suddenly darkened.


    Jeremy sensed this and looked up, only to see the sky filled with rolling dark clouds, as if brewing something.


    "Boom!"


    Suddenly, a terrifyingly dark red lightning tore through the sky, carrying an immensely wild aura and might, as though it aimed to split heaven and earth, striking him precisely.


    "Damn!" Jeremy barely had time to curse inwardly before the terrifying energy surged into his body.


    In that instant, Jeremy felt as though he was about to be torn into shreds by this wild energy.


    He clenched his teeth, enduring the pain of feeling like his body was being ripped apart.


    Jeremy could feel this powerful force rapidly transforming his body.


    After an unknown amount of time, the dark clouds in the sky dispersed.


    On the ss change za, Jeremy was enveloped in dark red energy, even his eyes turned dark red, emitting an immensely wild aura.


    "It''s done!" The red light in Jeremy''s eyes faded, and he clenched his fist, feeling the power inside him had increased several fold.


    If he faced the fused zombie again, he now had the confidence to kill it with one blow!


    Jeremy opened his panel.


    [Name]: Jeremy


    [Level]: lv10


    [ss]: sphemer


    [Ability]: Moonlight City (SSS)


    [Stats]: Strength 557, Spirit 557, Stamina 430, Agility 430


    [Skills]: Shadowstep lv3, Gale sh lv3, Lawless One lv1, Seven Sins-Wrath lv1, Sinme lv1, Cmity de lv1


    Jeremy found that after the ss change, his strength and spirit attributes had almost increased by 4 times, and his stamina and agility had increased by 3 times.


    He also gained two super-tier skills and two high-tier skills.


    [Skill]: Lawless One


    [Level]: lv1


    [Tier]: Super-tier


    [Type]: Amplification (Passive)


    [Description]: The yer is not limited by rules.The yer can equip two weapons, can learn any ss''s skills, all stats increased by 20%, damage increased by 20%.


    ¡­


    [Skill]: Seven Sins-Wrath


    [Level]: lv1


    [Tier]: Super-tier


    [Type]: Amplification (Active)


    [Description]: Upon activation, yer''s damage increases by 200%, spirit attribute decreases by 80%, duration 1 minute. After the skill ends, there''s a 10% chance the yer enters an irrational rage state, skill cooldown time 48 hours.


    ¡­


    [Skill]: Sinfire


    [Level]: lv1


    [Tier]: High


    [Type]: Attack (Active)


    [Introduction]: Upon activation, the yer can attack with the fire of sin, inflicting 180% magic damage to the target and adding a mental scorching effect, with a cooldown of 10 minutes.


    ...


    [Skill]: Disaster de


    [Level]: lv1


    [Tier]: High


    [Type]: Amplification (Active)


    [Introduction]: After activation, the yer can imbue their weapon with the effect of cmity, increasing physical damage by 15% and magical damage by 15%,sting for 5 minutes with a cooldown of 1 hour.


    ...


    Looking at the skill descriptions in front of him, Jeremy was amazed.


    Worthy of a hidden ss, indeed powerful!


    "The Unreachable" allowed him to wield two weapons and learn skills from other sses.


    "Seven Sins - Wrath," although it had severe negative effects, could give him a chance to turn the tides in a desperate situation.


    "Disaster de" could enhance his damage, adding special effects to his attacks.While "Sinfire" was a magical skill that could not only deal magic damage but also add a mental scorching effect.


    At this moment, Jeremy finally understood why the beginner''s yer manual said that only yers who have changed sses are considered true yers.


    His power had far exceeded that of an ordinary person, making him a true transcendent being!


    This kind of power was beyond anything he could have imagined before.


    As for the prompt about the gods'' favorability being -100, Jeremy nced at it and then brushed it aside.


    Compared to the increase in strength, it was nothing.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the Divine Realm.


    In a splendid golden pce.


    Gana, wearing a gorgeous long dress with white and gold threads, sat on the highest throne, her beauty stunning and her demeanor noble.


    However, her exquisite face was filled with anger, her magnificent chest heaving with fury.


    She mmed her throne, gritting her teeth, "You despicable creature, wait for me! I will throw you into the All-Spirit Prison and let those monsters deal with you harshly. Let''s see if you dare to disrespect me again!!"


    The thought of Jeremy being tormented by various monsters in the All-Spirit Prison until he cried for mercy brought a vengeful satisfaction to Gana''s face.


    She huffed, "Even if you beg for mercy a hundred times, I will never forgive you..."


    Just then, a guard in golden armor entered the pce.


    He knelt on one knee and respectfully said, "My goddess, the magician hase to visit you."


    Hearing this, the anger on Gana''s face disappeared instantly, reced by a majestic and noble expression.


    She indifferently said, "Tell the magician I am unwell and ask him toe back another day."


    The golden-armored guardplied and was about to leave.


    In the great hall, a man''s voice suddenly rang out.


    Heughed, "I wonder where Goddess Gana is feeling unwell. I have some medical knowledge. Perhaps I could be of assistance to Her Grace."


    "It''s none of the magician''s concern." Gana replied, lifting her eyes to the entrance of the hall, where a man had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.


    He wore a ck gentleman''s hat, a ck tailcoat, and held a silver-handled white wax cane. His appearance was ordinary and unremarkable, yet it caused the golden-armored guard beside him to suddenly look rmed.


    "Without permission, no one is allowed to barge into the Transcendent Temple!" The golden-armored guard reached for the sword at his waist, his expression wary, as if facing a great enemy.


    However, before he could draw his sword, the magician''s gloved hand gently pressed on the hilt, preventing the guard from pulling it out no matter how hard he tried.


    Cold sweat broke out on the guard''s forehead.


    The magician did not look at him, instead, he lightly chuckled at Gana, "Is this how you treat your guests, Goddess Gana?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, a terrifying pressure suddenly erupted from the magician, enveloping the golden-armored guard.


    The guard fell to his knees, trembling, feeling as if a mountain were pressing down on him, rendering him immovable.


    "I never said you were my guest." came Gana''s cold voice.


    At the same time, the guard felt the pressure on him suddenly vanish, as if it had never been there.


    "Thank you, Your Grace!" The guard stood up, shamefully bowing his head.


    "Leave us." Gana ordered the guard.


    The guard nced at the magician, then obeyed themand and withdrew.


    Gana turned to the magician, indifferently asking, "What brings the magician here so unannounced?"


    The magician gave a gentleman''s bow, smiling, "The Fool has noticed that Your Grace has entered the game. So he sent me to ask if you''d like to have a share of the spoils. We could meet to discuss."


    Gana calmly responded, "The Fool worries too much. I merely noticed some issues with the Transcendent Idol, so I went to check. I have no interest in participating in his Endgame."


    The magician''s eyes narrowed, "In that case, I hope Your Grace won''t interfere too much with the affairs of the game in the future, to avoid misunderstandings... It wouldn''t be good to harm the harmony."


    Gana gave him a cold look, "Magician, I doubt those were The Fool''s exact words for you to convey. Guess what would happen if I told The Fool that you tried to meddle while attempting to recruit me? What end do you think you''d meet?"


    At her words, the magician''s expression changed.


    He took a deep look at Gana, said nothing more, and turned to leave the Transcendent Temple.


    Not until she saw him leave did Gana breathe a sigh of relief.


    She murmured to herself, "I didn''t expect The Fool to have noticed. I''ll have to be more careful next time."

 Chapter 23: Bonnie Isnt Your Girlfriend?

    A sh of white light, and Jeremy reappeared in the room.


    [Alert: Since you have angered the Transcendent Goddess Gana, she ns to throw you into the Pantheon Prison during your second ss change. That ce is where the gods imprison criminals, so please be cautious.]


    Jeremy was momentarily stunned.


    He hadn''t expected the seemingly foolish Transcendent Goddess to actually contemte revenge against him.


    Jeremy furrowed his brows. Even though he didn''t hold much reverence for these deities, he had to acknowledge their immense power.


    A prison used by them to detain criminals was undoubtedly a dreadful ce, without needing further thought.


    Soon after, Jeremy''s brows rxed.


    Since things had alreadye to this, dwelling on it was pointless... Besides, the second ss change was an event after level 30, which was still quite a ways off for him now.


    Jeremy didn''t regret offending Gana.


    To gain power, one naturally had to pay a price. There was no such thing as a free lunch in the world. Just like how he possessed an SSS-ss ability ''The Eye of Omniscience'', to obtain rewards, one had to trigger hidden mechanisms.


    Moreover, the main reason for this situation was his ownck of strength.


    If he were powerful enough, not to mention pping Gana''s statue, even if he had slept with Gana, she wouldn''t have been able to do much against him.


    This further solidified Jeremy''s determination to secure the first ce in the event.


    After all, strength was the essence!


    Jeremy calmed his emotions and opened the level leaderboard.


    With theunch of the "Race Against Time" event, the Endgame also introduced other game functionalities.


    The level leaderboard was just one of them. In addition to this, there were also a trading marketce, world channel, dungeons, and secret realms, all of which Jeremy had already learned about from the beginner''s guide.


    Avish golden window appeared before Jeremy, filled with the densely packed rankings of levels.


    [First ce]: Jeremy, Level 10


    [Second ce]: Howard, Level 8


    [Third ce]: Kean, Level 8


    ...


    Jeremy was somewhat surprised. He hadn''t expected to still be in first ce after all this time, especially with a two-level lead over the second ce.


    However, Jeremy understood that his advantage wasrgely due to The Eye of Omniscience, which allowed him to prepare in advance and level up quickly. But this didn''t mean the others were weak.


    Moreover, the "Race Against Time" event was set tost seven days, and anything could happen in that time. Someone might even catch up to him by killing a boss, so he couldn''t afford to becent.


    Then Jeremy checked the world channel, only to find it filled with trivial messages, either calls for help or yers looking to team up for grinding.


    The information was simr to what was avable online. So he didn''t waste his time there.


    After a moment''s thought, Jeremy called ire.


    She was the female psychologist Jeremy had met after his transmigration, and he hadn''t forgotten about her safety.


    "Jeremy?" The call was quickly answered, ire''s voice was still clear but sounded tired.


    Jeremy sighed in relief internally.


    At least this confirmed ire was still alive.


    "It''s me. How are things on your end?" he asked.


    "Fairly stable for now." ire replied calmly. "I''ve awakened my ability and have reached level 5... Thanks to your warning, I managed to avoid the first wave of the apocalypse. Otherwise, I might have been eaten by monsters by now."


    Jeremy had expected ire to awaken her abilities. If someone as talented as ire couldn''t awaken, that would have been the real surprise.


    Hesitating for a moment, Jeremy said, "There might be some issues with my condition. Take care of yourself. I''lle to find you as soon as I can."


    After the onset of the apocalypse, Jeremy noticed signs that his nearly cured condition was rpsing, and the symptoms became more pronounced after his ss change.


    Jeremy suspected it was the influence of his sphemer ss.


    Many sses could affect a person''s mind.


    This wasn''t good news. Jeremy didn''t want to end up a madman.


    He needed ire, especially her psychological therapy.


    "Try to control your emotions. If your condition rpses, it could be more severe than before." ire said seriously.


    She was well aware of Jeremy''s situation.


    Arguably, Jeremy was the most severe case of post-war psychological syndrome she had encountered. When his condition red up, he couldn''t control himself, and this rpse could potentially turn him into a madman solely focused on killing.


    Just then, Emma''s voice came from outside.


    "Jeremy, time to eat," she called.


    "Coming." Jeremy replied. He spoke a few more words with ire, and then hung up the phone.


    ...


    The sky had already darkened.


    Jeremy stepped out of his room to find a barbecue grill and a long table set up in the hallway, adorned with not only barbecued items and sds but also a variety of snacks like chips and cookies.


    "It''s quite lively." Jeremy observed, noticing that not only were Bonnie, Ritchie, and Eric there, but John and a few others had also joined, armed with beer and soft drinks.


    Seeing Jeremy emerge, they waved and greeted him.


    John gestured with his beer andughed, "You don''t mind if we crash your dinner, do you?"


    Hedy and the others looked at Jeremy expectantly.


    Though they phrased it as crashing, Jeremy understood that John and the others were actually looking to stay in the teachers'' building. After all, Jeremy had cleared the building of monsters, and with him around, it was far safer than being outside.


    Jeremy didn''t mind lending a hand.


    He stepped forward, grabbed a beer, and chuckled, "For the sake of the beer, I suppose I can make the tough decision to take you in."


    At that, Hedy and the rest showed evident relief, while John couldn''t help but give a wry smile, "You could have just said it''s for the sake of being ssmates."


    Jeremy opened his beer and downed it in one go, looking refreshed, "Nope, it''s definitely for the beer. You guys are just a bonus."


    John was resigned, and the others couldn''t help butugh, lightening the heavy, apocalyptic atmosphere significantly.


    Jut then, Ritchie rushed over excitedly, "Jeremy, and you say Bonnie isn''t your girlfriend? Your rooms are right next to each other. Don''t try to fool me. I''ve seen it! Hurry up and have her introduce me to a girlfriend. I want one with a big chest and a nice butt!"


    Ritchie''s voice was loud, making it difficult for anyone present to ignore.


    The atmosphere instantly turned silent.


    Everyone exchanged looks, their gazes filled with sympathy towards Ritchie.


    "Who told you I was his girlfriend?!" Bonnie stood up abruptly.


    She blushed and red angrilyat Jeremy, as if she had been greatly insulted.


    "Yeah, who told you that?" Emma''s tone was calm, but her tranquility made the situation even more unnerving.


    Sharp-eyed observers noticed that the knife and fork in Emma''s hands had been twisted out of shape.


    Both women seemed to be questioning Ritchie, yet their gazes were fixed on Jeremy.


    "It wasn''t me. He guessed it himself." Jeremy said without hesitation, throwing Ritchie under the bus.


    The women''s unfriendly stares turned towards Ritchie.


    "Could it be that I guessed wrong?" Ritchie asked, puzzled.


    No one spoke.


    Emma set down her broken cutlery, She said expressionlessly, "Ritchie, I think it''s necessary to assess your recent learning." she stated.


    Ritchie was bbergasted. What did this have to do with studying?


    After failing to answer several of Emma''s questions, Ritchie found himself subjected to a stern half-hour lecture.


    He was scolded like an ostrich, only daring to nod his head in agreement, not understanding what had just happened.


    It wasn''t until the party was over and he saw Jeremy and Emma enter the same room that Ritchie finally realized.


    "Holy shit, Jeremy, your girlfriend is the ss monitor?!" Ritchie''s shocked yell could be heard outside the room.


    Emma, just about to turn around, darkened in expression at once, ready to go out and give Ritchie a proper lesson.


    "Hold on, don''t go yet. I have something for you." Jeremy quickly held Emma back, buying Ritchie a sliver of reprieve.


    "What is it?" Emma stopped, looking puzzled.


    Jeremy took out the agility potion, constitution potion, ancient wood staff, and a beginner''s yer manual he had, and ced them all on the table.


    He was supposed to give these items to Emma the day before, but had forgotten in his agitated state.


    "Where did you get all these from?" Emma asked in surprise upon seeing the equipment and items.


    "They were all from grinding monsters and opening treasure chests." Jeremy replied, telling the truth for once.


    There was no need to hide anything since it was all obtained through legitimate means.


    Given their rtionship, there was no need for formalities, and Emma epted the items.


    "Thank you, hubby. Let me change into something more sexy and then I''ll properly reward you!" Emma said, pecking Jeremy on the cheek with a coquettish voice that sent shivers down his spine.


    Jeremy wrapped his arms around Emma and chuckled, "No need to change. I have to go outter. Let''s start now."


    Before Emma could reply, Jeremy''s other hand had already slipped under her clothes.


    Soon, the room filled with sounds that could make one''s cheeks flush with embarrassment.


    In the next room, Bonnie, who was moving her belongings, turned beet red upon hearing the familiar noises.


    "That bastard. Is he an animal!" Bonnie gritted her teeth in anger.


    She had moved early to avoid a repeat ofst night''s incident, only to find the couple next door starting so early in the morning.


    What a miscalction!

 Chapter 24: The Chest Opens, Are You Secretly Working Hard?

    Two hours had passed by the time Jeremy was done.


    In the room, Emma''s face was flushed, her fair skin covered in glistening sweat, as she had already fallen deeply asleep.


    Jeremy kissed her forehead before leaving the room.


    By then, the sky hadpletely darkened.


    The campus was almost deserted, with very few people or creatures around, most having retired for the night.


    Jeremy headed downstairs towards the stadium.


    He nned to take advantage of the darkness to fulfill the conditions for triggering the golden chest on the track.


    Why not during the day?


    Mainly to avoid embarrassment.


    After all, anyone seeing a person crawling forward on a sports field full of monsters would likely think him insane.


    Arriving at the stadium and ensuring no one was around, Jeremy got down on his belly, stretched out his legs, and started crawling forward with his right hand, executing a perfect crawling posture.


    Jeremy was somewhat speechless. These hidden tasks provided by The Eye of Omnisciencewere hardly ever normal, making him wonder which deranged game designer came up with such hidden mechanisms.


    Fortunately, it was deserted now. Otherwise, he figured he might die of social embarrassment on the spot.


    Despite this, Jeremy kept his eyes peeled, wary of any inopportune soul who might venture out for ate-night bathroom break and ruin his reputation forever.


    At the school''s public restroom, Ritchie, munching on a chicken leg, walked out looking sullen.


    Jeremy''s romance with the ss monitor had dealt a great blow to his tender heart.


    More importantly, his prospects for a girlfriend seemed to vanish.


    He couldn''t possibly ask Emma for a girl''s contact information.


    Even though Emma undoubtedly had many, giving Ritchie even a thousand chances, he wouldn''t dare ask.


    After spending a year under Emma''s watch, his legs would tremble at the sight of her.


    Not just him, few in their ss weren''t intimidated by Emma.


    Ritchie felt indignant.


    No wonder Jeremy could skip sses every day without consequence, while he got criticized school-wide for merely ncing at a risquemagazine during ss.


    He made up his mind to find a teacher to be his wife in the future.


    Then, not only would he skip sses daily, but he''d also have her write his homework every day!


    With these bitter thoughts, as he passed by the sports field, something on the track caught Ritchie''s eye under the moonlight.


    A dark figure was moving across the ground at an astonishing speed, swift as lightning.


    Ritchie tensed, thinking he had encountered a monster.


    But when he got a clear view of the figure''s appearance, he gasped in shock.


    "Holy shit, Jeremy!" Ritchie was stunned.


    On the track, Jeremy''s body instantly froze.


    He slowly turned his head to nce at Ritchie beside him.


    In that moment, Jeremy had already figured out where he could bury Ritchie.


    What a miscalction!


    Despite all his nning, he had somehow overlooked Ritchie.


    Although Ritchie couldn''t even defeat a zombie with an attack power of 5, his skill in concealing his presence was so adept that even Jeremy could hardly detect it.


    Ritchie hadn''t noticed anything odd about Jeremy.


    He approached, standing beside Jeremy, and asked with bewilderment, "Why are you lying on the ground in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"


    "Working out." Jeremy replied, continuing to crawl forward with a nk expression.


    Ritchie paused, then a look of realization dawned on him as he said, "Oh, Jeremy, while everyone else is asleep, you''re out here exercising in the middle of the night. Are you trying to secretly work harder than everyone else?"


    Jeremy was speechless.


    He truly wanted to crack open Ritchie''s skull to see what kind of dog brain coulde up with such an idea.


    Seeing Jeremy''s silence, Ritchie became even more convinced of his guess.


    He angrily said, "I knew it! Howe you skip sses every day but still do so well in studies? You must have been secretly working hard. This time, I won''t let you get away with it!"


    After saying that, Ritchie also got down and started crawling, his speed surprisingly faster than Jeremy''s.


    Watching Ritchie rapidly crawling on the track, the corner of Jeremy''s mouth twitched.


    He must have been out of his mind to be friends with an idiot like Ritchie.


    "I''m heading back." Jeremy said, standing up and walking toward the teacher''s building.


    He had achieved his goal and didn''t need to crawl anymore.


    Watching Jeremy leave, Ritchie sneered, "You sneaky dog, Jeremy. You must be trying to trick me into going back to rest and then continue to exercise in secret. If I believe you again, I''m the fool!" After that, he crawled even faster.


    Jeremy rolled his eyes, too tired to deal with this idiot anymore.


    He headed straight back to the teacher''s building, found a quiet room, and took out a golden chest and a tier-4 energy crystal.


    [Do you want to use 1 tier-4 energy crystal to open the chest?]


    Jeremy chose yes.


    The next moment, the golden chest slowly opened, and a golden light instantly illuminated the entire room.


    [Ding! You have opened the golden chest!]


    [Due to triggering the hidden mechanism, you receive 3 times the rewards!]


    [You received: Random Golden Equipment*3, Intermediate Strength Potion*3, Tier-5 Energy Crystal*3]


    [You received Golden Equipment: ze Sword, Frost Wind Sword, Crimson Gold Mask!]


    The golden light shed and disappeared, and a series of notifications appeared.


    Once Jeremy came to his senses, he found three pieces of equipment, three Intermediate Strength Potions, and three apple-sized energy crystals in front of him.


    Looking at the red and blue swords before him, Jeremy''s eyes brightened, for they were exactly what he needed.


    The Wolf Fang Dagger was no longer sufficient for his strength. Moreover, with the "Person of No Way" skill, Jeremy could gain the attribute bonuses of two weapons, making these two swords perfectly suitable for him.


    Jeremy checked the attributes of the three pieces of equipment.


    [Equipment]: ze Sword


    [Level]: Golden


    [Quality]: Blue (Common)


    [Attributes]: Strength +60, Stamina +60


    [Skill]: None


    ...


    [Equipment]: Frost Wind Sword


    [Level]: Golden


    [Quality]: Blue (Common)


    [Attributes]: Spirit +60, Agility +60


    [Skill]: None


    ...


    [Equipment]: Concealment Mask


    [Level]: Golden


    [Quality]: Purple (Fine)


    [Attributes]: All Attributes +50


    [Skill]: Concealment


    [Description]: Upon using this skill, you can conceal your presence and blend into the environment,sting for 1 hour with a cooldown of 24 hours.


    ...


    The two swords were ofmon quality, with fairly average attributes.


    However, the Concealment Mask was of purple quality, not only boosting all attributes by 50 points but also equipped with a skill.


    Jeremy''s eyes sparkled as he read the description of the "Concealment" skill.


    It was simply a divine technique essential formitting crimes undetected!


    In addition to these, Jeremy also obtained 3 Intermediate Strength Potions and 3 tier-5 energy crystals.


    The Intermediate Strength Potion could increase his strength attribute by 50 points, while the tier-5 energy crystals could grant him 100 random attribute points each.


    Jeremy used one Intermediate Strength Potion, instantly boosting his strength by 50 points.


    He kept one energy crystal as a reserve and used the other two to enhance his skill levels.


    Naturally, his priority was his ssskills.


    "Person of No Way" was a core skill and had to be upgraded.


    "Seven Sins - Wrath" was seldom used, so Jeremy had to choose between "Sin Fire" and "Disaster de".


    Ultimately, he chose Disaster de as it provided the greatest enhancement for his frequent closebat.


    [Ding! You have used a tier-5 energy crystal, "Person of No Way" skill level has increased to level 2!]


    [Ding! You have used a tier-5 energy crystal, "Disaster de" skill level has increased to level 5!]


    The higher the skill tier and level, the more terrifying the number of energy crystals required for an upgrade.


    A tier-5 energy crystal, corresponding to super-tier skills, could only increase "Person of No Way" by one level, but it could directly boost the high-tier skill "Disaster de" by four levels.


    Jeremy checked the two skills.


    He found that the damage and attribute enhancement effect of "Person of No Way" had increased from 20% to 40%, while "Disaster de" had its damage boost increased to 60%, and its cooldown reduced by 10 minutes.


    Although high-level skills are difficult to enhance, each level up significantly increases the skill''s effect.


    Moreover,pared to low-level skills, high-level skills have a higher cap and more room for improvement.


    Afterward, Jeremy put on the Concealment Mask, held the ze Sword and Frost Wind Sword, and checked his panel.


    [Name]: Jeremy


    [Level]: lv10


    [ss]: sphemer


    [Ability]: Moonlight City (SSS)


    [Attributes]: Strength 777, Spirit 727, Stamina 600, Agility 600


    [Skills]: Person of No Way lv2, Seven Sins - Wrath lv1, Disaster de lv5, Sin Fire lv1, Shadow Step lv3, Wind sh lv3, Concealment (Equipment)...


    ...


    Looking at his panel, feeling the power coursing through his body.


    Jeremy smiled.


    From now on, he is unstoppable in this dpidated school.

 Chapter 25: One-Hit Lord-Level, Bonnies Mayor Father

    Afterward, Jeremyfound that the stealth mask he wore could be toggled between visible and invisible at will, which proved to be incredibly handy.


    Jeremy switched the mask to its concealed mode, deciding to keep this piece of equipment a secret for now.


    Thinking he mightter use the stealth mask to craft an identity that would allow him to operate in the shadows.


    Packing two long swords, Jeremy then left his room.


    A recent nce at the level leaderboard revealed his rank had unexpectedly fallen out of the top 100.


    The new leader was someone named Howard, the former second ce, who had shockingly reached level 15.


    In just a few hours, he had managed to climb seven levels.The speed is so fast that it makes one''s scalp tingle.


    Furthermore, everyone in the top 10 had reached level 14.


    Jeremy understood this to mean that the major yers were beginning to show their strength.


    With time pressing, he knew he couldn''t afford a moment of rxation.


    While descending the stairs, he passed by a room and faintly heard Bonnie speaking inside.


    She said timidly, "Mhm, I''m fine. Don''t worry, I''ll take good care of myself."


    Jeremy''s gaze shifted, realizing Bonnie must be in touch with her family.It seemed she was one of the lucky ones, her family was still alive. Manypeoplehad seen their loved ones turn into monsters at the onset of the apocalypse.


    Jeremy himself was an orphan with no family ties, while Emma, whose parents were divorced, had lived solely with her mother until her passing from cancer.


    Ritchie, on the other hand, came from affluent parents who were still alive. Though he had always had a rocky rtionship with them, purportedly because they suspected Ritchie wasn''t their biological child.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    Thinking their suspicions might not be entirely unfounded.


    As he passed the stadium, he saw Ritchie still crawling on the track, panting like a dog on itsst legs yet showing no sign of stopping.


    Ritchie didn''t notice Jeremy, who decided to let him endure a bit longer.


    Crossing the sports field, Jeremy made his way to the outside of the academic building, where he could see the gap he had sted open with liquid explosives.


    Inside, most of the ssrooms were engulfed in darkness, with only a sparse few emitting a faint glow¡ªsignificantly fewer than a couple of days ago. He figured the people inside had either died or managed to escape.


    Looking around, Jeremy noticed about a dozen monsters roaming the za outside the academic building, where corpses had littered the ground at noon. Now only patches of bloodstains remained, with several monsters bending down to lick the blood off the ground.


    Not far from Jeremy, a muscr, two-headed dog twitched its nose a few times.


    When it turned and saw Jeremy, intense greed and excitement shed in the eyes of both heads, as if they had spotted a delectable feast.


    [Double-Headed Hound (Lord)]


    [Level]: lv12


    [Attack]: 1459-1472


    [Defense]: 289


    [Skills]: Fireball, Water Jet, Pounce, Bite...


    [Tip]: The weakness is in the head; decapitating it guarantees a 100% chance to obtain 2 Tier-3 energy crystals.


    ...


    Jeremy gripped his twin swords, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    It seemed his luck was good today, encountering a lord-level monster right from the start.


    A region would only have one lord at a time, and only upon its death could a new lord emerge in that area.


    Jeremy had just in a fusion zombie that morning, and by evening, a new lord had already arisen, indicating just how rapidly these monsters were evolving.


    At that moment, the double-headed hound suddenly sprang into action.


    "Roar! Roar!" Both of its heads let out a roar, with red and blue lights gathering in its mouth.


    Following this, a fireball and a water jet wereunched simultaneously at Jeremy.


    As the monsters continued to evolve, they gained supernatural abilities, utilizing various skills for attacks. With each increase in level and tier, they became even more formidable.


    Faced with the iing fireball and water jet, Jeremy remained calm, lightly stepping on the ground.


    He leaped up, dodging the double-headed hound''s attack with ease, like a floating leaf.


    "Boom!"


    "Bang!"


    The two skills hit the ground; the fireball exploded with a loud bang, shattering several stone bs.


    The water jet pierced through the ground, leaving behind a two-finger-wide ck hole.


    Just as Jeremynded, the double-headed hound pounced towards him.


    Its muscr body leaped forward, both of its heads opening their jaws wide, aiming a bite at Jeremy.


    At that moment, a dark red glow suddenly appeared on Jeremy''s twin swords, as if they were coated with dried blood.


    A surge of ferocious killing intent erupted from him!


    "Cataclysm des!"


    Feeling the sudden surge of power from Jeremy, the double-headed hound''s eyes widened in shock.


    But before it could react, the stone bs under Jeremy''s feet burst apart.


    His figure shed like a ghost, the long swords in his hands instantly shing across the neck of the double-headed hound.


    The crossing dark red sword lights vanished in the night in a sh.


    While still in mid-air, the double-headed hound''s heads were severed from its body.


    [You have in a Level 12 Double-Headed Hound (Lord), earning 6577 experience points!]


    As the kill notification appeared, Jeremy sheathed his swords. Behind him, the heads of the double-headed hound hit the ground, blood gushing forth.


    A level 12 lord was in by Jeremy in a single strike!


    The surrounding monsters, originally intending to join the fray, halted in their tracks upon witnessing this scene.


    Their gazes towards Jeremy were filled with fear.Are these humans still being treated as food by them?


    Jeremy retrieved the 2 Tier-3 energy crystals from the double-headed hound''s heads. Hestood up, and turned his gaze towards the surrounding monsters, his eyes glowing with a bloodthirsty light.


    In this moment, the roles of prey and hunter began to reverse!


    ...


    Moonlight City, Central Tower.


    Mayor''s Office.


    In the antique office, the light was bright.


    Behind the desk, a middle-aged man with graying temples hung up the phone.


    "Your daughter is safe now. You can rest easy,.Mayor Benjamin of Moonlight City said, putting down the phone and addressing the dignified middle-aged woman beside him.


    Mayor Benjamin''s wife, Eina, let out a sigh of relief upon hearing his words, but then she red at him and said, "How can I be at ease when there are monsters outside? I told you yesterday to bring our daughter back, but you wouldn''t listen. Now she''s out there alone. What if she encounters danger? Do you have to wait until something happens to your daughter to be happy?"


    Benjamin lit a cigarette, replying with a sense of helplessness, "I''ve already said that now is the time for a shortage of manpower. Everyone in the city is calling for help. Does that mean our daughter is more important than anyone else''s?"


    Eina mmed the table, angrily retorting, "I don''t care about other people''s daughters. That''s not my business! Benjamin, let me tell you, Bonnie is our only precious daughter. If anything happens to her, I''ll never forgive you in this lifetime!"


    Benjamin was somewhat angered by Eina''s unreasonable attitude. But seeing the tears in her eyes, he swallowed back his words.


    Rubbing his temples, he said wearily, "I''ll call Howardter and ask if he could stop by Moonlight Middle School. If not, we''ll have to ask Bonnie to wait another couple of days."


    Howard, a federal major general leading a division of fifteen thousand infantrymen, was not far from Moonlight City. He had already received orders and was on his way.


    Eina originally wanted to urge further, but seeing the white hairs at Benjamin''s temples and his weary expression, she ultimately sighed.


    She knew her husband was having a tough time. The sudden apocalypse had caught everyone off guard. As the mayor of Moonlight City, Benjamin naturally faced immense pressure.


    Eina wasn''t unreasonable. If it wasn''t for her worry about their daughter, she wouldn''t have troubled Benjamin at this time.


    She poured a ss of water for Benjamin,forting him, "No one anticipated this disaster. Given Moonlight''s current situation, we can only leave it to fate. You don''t need to put too much pressure on yourself."


    "Forget it. Make it coffee." Benjamin shook his head, not saying much more.


    Since he holds the position of mayor, he must be responsible for the entire city. Whether it is natural or man-made disasters, he has no reason to evade responsibility.


    He picked up the phone again, calling Major General Howard.


    "Do you need something?" The call was quickly answered, a man''s voiceing through.


    The two were old acquaintances, and Benjamin cut straight to the point, "I have a personal favor to ask of you."


    Howard paused for a moment, thenughed heartily, "After knowing each other for so many years, I never thought you, an old stubborn, would actually have a moment when you need my help. Tell me, as long as it doesn''t vite my principles, I can agree."


    Benjamin spoke gravely, "My daughter is trapped at Moonlight Middle School. You''re about to lead your troops into Moonlight City. I was wondering if you could possibly bring her back with you?"


    Howard thought for a moment, thenughed, "We''ll be passing by the Moonlight Middle School anyway. We should get there by tomorrow. Don''t worry, I''ll make sure to bring her back safe and sound."

 Chapter 26: Was It You Who Hit My Son?

    Upon hearing this, both Benjamin and Eina heaved a long sigh of relief.


    Benjamin expressed his gratitude, "Thank you.I owe you one for this."


    Howard chuckled, "Don''t mention it. I''m quite fond of that little girl, Bonnie, too. Besides, I happen to have a favor to ask of you."


    "Go ahead." Benjamin reciprocated the favor.


    "I''ve been appointed to head up a special division for yers, overseeing several nearby cities. I was wondering if you could use your connections in the capital to check on the top-ranked yers. If anyone is in Moonlight or the surrounding cities, I''d like to recruit them into my team." Howard exined.


    Benjamin didn''t hesitate and agreed, "I''ll have someone look into it and get back to you."


    "Great." Howard nodded, smiling.


    He was confident in his old friend''s influence in the capital. Even if it was like finding a needle in a haystack, he believed Benjamin would bring him a pleasant surprise.


    ...


    The night was as dark as ink at Moonlight Middle School.


    Roars and howls of monsters continuously echoed through the tranquil campus.


    On the za in front of the teaching building, a horde of monsters was sprinting madly, wishing they had more legs.


    Behind them, Jeremy moved like lightning, with two long des in his hands, akin to the scythes of the Grim Reaper. Every time a cold gleam shed through the night, a monster would unwillingly fall, its life mercilessly reaped by him.


    These monsters, which are incredibly terrifying in the eyes of ordinary people, stood no chance in his hands.


    [You have in a Level 8 Minotaur Warrior (Normal), gaining 415 experience points!]


    [You have in a Level 9 Goblin Archer (Normal), gaining 659 experience points!]


    [You have in a Level 10 Mutant Zombie (Elite), gaining 2069 experience points!]


    ...


    As kill notifications appeared one after another, experience points surged into Jeremy''s body.


    With a single strike piercing through the skull of an elite-level zombie, a golden glow finally emerged around him.


    [You have leveled up to Level 11, gaining 20 free attribute points!]


    [You have gained job-specific attribute bonuses: Strength +30, Spirit +30, Stamina +15, Agility +15!]


    Two leveling notifications popped up in front of Jeremy.


    Apart from the free attribute points granted by leveling up, his sschange also provided him with fixed attribute points. Now, every time Jeremy leveled up, he would gain an increase of over 100 attribute points.


    Hidden jobs were indeed powerful. If it were a regr job, the fixed attributes Jeremy received would be half as much.


    Moreover, the mutant zombie he had just killed dropped an equipment item.


    [Equipment]: Leather Boots


    [Level]: Iron


    [Quality]: White (Normal)


    [Attributes]: Agility +3


    [Skill]: None


    Although it was just amon Iron-level White equipment, it was still better than nothing. Jeremy put it on and checked his stats, discovering his strength attribute had now exceeded 800 points.


    He hadn''t used his free attributes yet, saving them for a potentially life-saving moment.


    Sheathing his long knives, he nced at the campus square littered with bodies, then turned to leave the school.


    Having reached level 11, he needed nearly 30,000 experience points for the next level up. The monsters in the school were no longer sufficient for his leveling needs.


    Jeremy nned to venture outside the school to grind for experience and also to see if he could rescue ire from her psychiatric clinic.


    Leaving her alone there was something that weighed heavily on his mind.


    As Jeremy made his way out of the school, his path was unobstructed. Even the monsters that spotted him were deterred by the strong scent of blood emanating from him and dared not attack.


    Inside the school, some people drawn by the noise were shocked and envious at the sight.


    From the top of a teaching building, a beautiful girl yelled desperately, "Jeremy, please save me! I''m still a virgin. I''ll do anything if you can get me out of here!"


    Others, as if clutching at straws, followed her lead.


    But Jeremy turned a deaf ear to their pleas.


    The lives of others were not his concern.


    Carrying his dual knives, he strode out of the school gates.


    The moment he stepped outside, it felt as though he had entered another world.


    Instead of the brightly lit, bustling streets of before, Jeremy saw dpidated darkness, deste and disorderly ruins.


    Dim streetlights flickered sporadically, windows and doors of shops were shattered, and walls cracked.


    The once clean streets were now chaotic, filled with a pungent, unpleasant smell.


    Cars were parked densely packed together on the road. Many car windows were stained red with blood, with blurred fingerprints printed on them. It''s not hard to imagine what happened in this car at that time.


    Watching the skyscrapers in the distance still belching thick smoke and mes, and listening to the asional roars of monsters nearby, Jeremy felt a bit dazed, as if he had returned to the battlefield.


    But instead of facing people armed with modern weapons, he now faced bloodthirsty monsters.


    "Crunch, crunch!"


    The eerie sound of chewing broke Jeremy''s reverie.


    Turning his head, he saw under the flickering streetlight, by an overturned trash can, a small ck cat with sharp fangs wide open, gnawing on a mangled corpse.


    Much of the body''s flesh was eaten away, exposing white bones. From the skeleton and clothing, it appeared to have been a woman.


    As Jeremy looked at the cat, its feeding abruptly halted.


    The ck cat turned its head, all three blood-red eyes focusing on Jeremy, filled with ferocity.


    [Three-Eyed Cat (Elite)]


    [Level]: lv15


    [Attack]: 1169-1175


    [Defense]: 197


    [Skills]: w Strike, Swift Pounce, Gnaw...


    [Tip]: Extremely fast but with weak defense. Blinding its eyes before killing it will yield a 3rd-tier energy crystal.


    The moment it saw Jeremy, the ck fur on the three-eyed cat bristled.


    "Meow!"


    In the next instant, it let out a whimper. Its body transforming into a ck shadow that swiftly charged towards Jeremy.


    In just the blink of an eye, the three-eyed cat was in front of Jeremy. It leapt up, its ws shing out from its paw pads, aiming straight for Jeremy''s neck.


    "ng!"


    A cold light sliced through the air, and amidst the sparks, a clear sound of metal striking metal echoed through the streets.


    Jeremy''s right hand, holding the zing knife, firmly blocked the three-eyed cat''s ws. His expression as calm as still water.


    "Meow!" Missing its strike, the three-eyed catnded and quickly put some distance between itself and Jeremy.


    It crouched on the ground, body tense and fur bristled, its three eyes warily watching Jeremy.


    The three-eyed cat sensed an unprecedented danger from this human... a danger stronger than any creature it had ever encountered!


    Jeremy squinted his eyes.


    He could clearly feel that the monsters outside the school were far more formidable than those within.


    Whether it was their level, strength, or speed, they were all significantly superior to the monsters inside the school.


    However, for him, that was all there was to it.


    With a thought, Jeremy''s hand suddenly ignited with ck mes.


    The ck mes kept jumping in his hands, like elves, but the aura emanating from them was incredibly wild, chaotic, and evil.


    "Sinfire!"


    In that moment, fear appeared in the eyes of the three-eyed cat.


    It sensed a thick scent of death from the mes!


    Without hesitation, the three-eyed cat turned swiftly and bolted.


    "Trying to run?"Jeremy snorted coldly, just as he was about to give chase.


    Just then, an incredibly arrogant voice suddenly rang out from behind Jeremy.


    "Jeremy, I hadn''t evene looking for you yet, and here you are delivering yourself to me!" Heughed heartily. His jubtion unable to be suppressed, as if he had encountered something exceedingly joyful.


    This brief distraction allowed the swift three-eyed cat to vanish from Jeremy''s sight.


    Jeremy frowned and turned around.


    At the entrance of a store, Gary, his face wrapped in bandages, was staring at him with a vicious expression. His eyes filled with deep hatred and the satisfaction of impending revenge.


    Beside him stood four muscr detectives armed with guns.The leader was a tall and burly man with a beard all over his face, whose facial features resembled those of Gary by seven or eight points.


    "Garcia?" Jeremy''s eyes narrowed, recognizing that this must be Gary''s father.


    He hadn''t expected him to show up at this time, which was indeed inconvenient.


    "So, you''re the one who beat my son?" Garcia sized up Jeremy.


    When his gaze fell on the dual knives in Jeremy''s hands, a strong greed shed in his eyes.


    Being a yer himself, he naturally knew that what Jeremy held was the legendary equipment.


    The other detectives also recognized the extraordinary nature of Jeremy''s gear.


    Their faces lit up with joy. They were just here to save someone, but they didn''t expect such a big gain.


    This was a fortune!


    A rough smile appeared on Garcia''s rugged face, his voice hoarse, "So, you''re Jeremy? Take off the equipment you''re wearing now, and I might just spare your life."

 Chapter 27: Kill, A Father and Son at the Brink

    "Dad, we can''t let him go!" Gary immediately panicked.


    He still vividly remembered the ps from Jeremy. How could he let him off so easily?


    Just thinking about it made Gary grind his teeth in anger. He not only had to p those two ps back, but also broke his limbs in front of Hedy. Only in this way could he eliminate the hatred in his heart.


    Gary wanted to say more, but was met with a cold nce from Garcia.


    He immediately shrank back, not daring to speak further, clearly showing his fear of his father.


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy smiled and calmly asked, "And what if I refuse?"


    At his words, the group exchanged looks and couldn''t help but burst intoughter.


    Garcia cocked his gun, pointing its dark muzzle at Jeremy.


    He dropped the smile from his face and coldly said, "It seems you don''t understand your situation."


    As he spoke, the other four men also drew their guns, aiming them at Jeremy, all assault rifles in hand.


    Jeremy nced at the guns they held, and memories involuntarily surfaced in his mind...


    The APC-9 submachine gun, capable of firing 11.43x23mm Colt pistol bullets.


    It features both semi-automatic and fully-automatic firing modes, with a rate of fire that can reach up to 1080 rounds per minute, equipped with aser sight.


    A smile yed at the corners of Jeremy''s mouth.


    It seemed his gains this time were not bad at all.


    Seeing Jeremy still able to smile, Garcia felt provoked and scoffed, "So, Jeremy, I know you''re the top-ranked yer. But don''t think your high level makes you untouchable. We''ve killed more than one or two yers."


    With that, Garcia aimed the gun at Jeremy''s head and coldly said, "Now, I''ll give you onest chance. Lay down all your equipment and items!"


    "Dad, no need for talk. Just shoot him dead!" Gary egged on from the side, eager for Garcia to kill Jeremy on the spot.


    Garcia remained silent. If it could be avoided, he didn''t want to engage with a high-level yer like Jeremy. Who knows what tricks he had up his sleeve.


    But if Jeremy truly not to know chalk from cheese, Garcia wouldn''t mind turning him into a beehive.


    Garcia had killed extraordinary yers before, even obtaining equipment from them.


    Thus, Garcia was well aware of the strength of such equipment. For this reason, he had to have Jeremy''s equipment at any cost!


    "So, you''ve killed yers?" Jeremy''s tone was even, but a cold light shed in his eyes.


    One of Garcia''s menughed loudly, "Not only have we killed, but we''ve also took turns fuckingthem. The taste of yers is not something ordinary people canpare with. Scared now? It''s still not toote to beg for mercy."


    Jeremy smiled indifferently, "It''s not fear. I just feel that killing you now wouldn''t weigh on my conscience."


    As Jeremy''s words fell, his eyes suddenly shed with a blood-red light.


    To the astonishment of everyone present, silver-white and deep blue lights suddenly radiated from Jeremy.


    "Lead the Way!"


    "Shadow Step!"


    Both skills activated simultaneously, and Jeremy''s speed surged instantly!


    Garcia''s pupils dted in shock, and he roared, "Fire!!"


    The remaining three dared not ck off and aimed directly at Jeremy''s position, pulling the trigger.


    Jeremy exerted force beneath his feet, and the ground exploded with a roar, his figure instantly vanishing.


    "Bang, bang, bang, bang!!!!"


    mes spat from the APC-9 submachine guns in the hands of the four men, and for a moment, the dense sound of gunfire echoed through the night sky.


    Dirt and debris flew, and a trash can beside the sidewalk was riddled with bullets in the blink of an eye.


    By the time the four had emptied their magazines, the stainless steelmp posts beside the road had been deformed by the dense bullets and then slowly crashed to the ground.


    "Boom!"


    The streetlight fell, sparking on impact.


    With the light gone, the area darkened considerably.


    "Is he... is he dead?" Gary looked around nervously and asked.


    Jeremy''s sudden activation of his skills had startled him.


    Despite being yers themselves, he hadn''t even caught a glimpse of Jeremy''s form. The gap between them was too vast.


    Garcia frowned as he reloaded, just about to remind him to keep quiet.


    At that moment, he suddenly sensed something was amiss and turned his gaze towards the two detectives behind Gary.


    They were holding their submachine guns with stiff bodies, like stone statues.


    A bad feeling suddenly surged in Garcia''s heart, "What are you two zoning out for, get moving..."


    Before he could finish, a horrifying scene unfolded.


    The heads of the two detectives began to slowly slide off their necks, followed by a fountain-like spray of blood gushing from their necks, dripping down like rain.


    Gary, standing in front of them, felt a warm sensation on his face and thought it was raining, reaching out to touch it.


    "Is this... blood?!" Seeing the blood on his hand, he immediately realized what was happening, turning in horror to look behind him...


    And then he saw two headless bodies standing upright.


    "God!!" Gary let out a piercing scream. The tall and strong young man hiding behind Garcia like a frightened girl.


    The remaining two detectives also showed faces of fear.


    They hadn''t even seen when Jeremy had made his move, and their two colleagues were already killed by the opponent!


    "You coward, show yourself if you dare!" Garcia, suppressing the fear in his heart, sprayed bullets all around with his submachine gun, as if only this could bring him some sense of security.


    "Interesting." A sneer, like that of a demon, echoed close to Garcia and the others.


    The four felt as if they had plunged into an ice cave, sweat beading on their foreheads.


    "Are you in such a hurry to die?" Unknown when, Jeremy''s figure had appeared behind Garcia and the others, like a ghost, even patting the shoulders of the two detectives.


    "Damn you! Go to hell!" Ovee with fear, one of the detectives turned around abruptly, aiming his submachine gun at Jeremy, ready to pull the trigger.


    Jeremy''s eyes were cold, his arm swung, and his long sword chopped down.


    In the darkness, two dark red sword lights shone, sliding from top to bottom across the bodies of the two gun-wielding detectives.


    The bodies of the two detectives stiffened suddenly, a line of blood slowly appearing on their foreheads.


    Then, their bodies were abruptly split in half, with viscera and blood spilling everywhere, the stench foul.


    In just a few breaths'' time, the four armed detectives had lost their lives at Jeremy''s hand.


    Watching Jeremy, holding his swords with a calm demeanor, Garcia''s breath halted, his eyes filled with terror.


    These were four detectives with richbat experience! However, in the confrontation with Jeremy, they surprisingly had no strength to counterattack.


    Is this... really just a high school student?!


    Seeing Jeremy approach with his sword drawn, Gary''s expression was one of terror, and his voice trembled as he threatened, "Jeremy, you can''t kill us. My father is a detective. If you kill us, you''ll be opposing the government..."


    "The government?" Jeremy''s lips curled into a sneer. In a world on the brink of copse, the government could barely protect itself, let alone concern itself with him.


    Moreover...


    Jeremy said with a light smile, "If I kill all of you, won''t that solve the problem?"


    Looking into Jeremy''s calm eyes, a chill rose in Garcia''s heart.


    Having been a police officer for many years, he had encountered countless vicious criminals and killers. But he had never seen anyone like Jeremy, who killed as easily as one would drink water.


    It was as if he wasn''t killing people, but merely wild chickens or dogs.


    This was a profound disregard for life from the bottom of his heart.


    "You and your father, just be on your way then." Jeremy had no intention of giving the father and son a chance to plead for mercy.


    Since they dared to offend him, they had to pay the price.


    ck mes ignited in Jeremy''s hand, and an aura filled with malevolence suddenly erupted.


    "Sinfire!"


    With a wave of his hand, Jeremy sent the ck mes flying towards Garcia.


    Watching the ck mes flying towards him, Garcia''s pupils shrank to the size of needle points, feeling as if a massive shadow of death had enveloped him, causing his whole body to tremble uncontrobly.


    In that moment, Garcia was truly afraid.


    He didn''t want to die. He hadn''t yet had the chance to reign supreme in this apocalyptic world. How could he just die here!


    Without a second thought, Garcia pulled Gary, who was beside him, in front of him as a shield.


    Then, he turned and ran, not looking back.


    At that moment, Gary was still in a daze, not having time to react before the ck Sinfirended on him.


    "Boom!"


    The moment it touched Gary, the ck me, originally only the size of a fist, exploded violently. The surging Sinfire instantly engulfed himpletely.


    "Argh!!!"


    Engulfed by the Sinfire, Gary let out a heart-wrenching, agonized scream.

 Chapter 28: Sky Skimmers, Center of Moonlight City

    Gary writhed and howled on the ground, unable to even beg for mercy.


    He melted at a visibly rming rate, the smell of his charred flesh and blood permeating the air.


    The fire of sin inflicted damage not only on the body but scorched the soul as well.


    It was a kind of intense pain that stemmed from the depths of the soul, unbearable for most...


    Jeremy remained indifferent to Garcia''s actions and Gary''s tragic state.


    Seeing Garcia panic and try to flee, Jeremy moved swiftly like lightning and chased after him.


    By then, Garcia had already run more than ten meters, his physical condition as a yer was equally remarkable.


    Turning his head and seeing Jeremy rapidly catching up, Garcia was scared out of his wits.


    While running, he fumbled inside his coat, seemingly searching for something.


    Jeremy certainly didn''t give Garcia a chance. With a fierce stamp of his foot, his speed surged dramatically, propelling him forward like a cannonball and in the blink of an eye, he was behind Garcia.


    Jeremy''s eyes were cold as ice, his dual des swung down without hesitation!


    At this life-and-death moment, Garcia finally managed to retrieve the item from his coat.


    It was a coin engraved with strange patterns.


    [Item]: Leap Coin


    [Type]: Consumable


    [Rank]: Purple (Rare)


    [Description]: Allows the yer to perform a random leap within 100 meters once used, each Leap Coin can only be used once, with a cooldown time of 24 hours.


    The next moment, Jeremy''s long sword swung down fiercely.


    A dark red de light cut through the night!


    Garcia''s figure suddenly stiffened in ce, a line of blood emerging on his neck.


    He clutched his throat, his eyes full of unwillingness and despair.


    He was so close, just a bit more and he could have escaped...


    "Wham!"


    Garcia''s body fell heavily to the ground, his head and body separated, blood sttering everywhere.


    The coin in his hand dropped to the ground, rolling a few times beforeing to a stop at Jeremy''s feet.


    Garcia, dead!


    Picking up the coin from the ground, Jeremy looked at its skill effect, somewhat surprised... He hadn''t expected Garcia to have such a life-saving item on him.


    Had he been a bit slower, the guy might have actually escaped.


    Jeremy stored the Leap Coin in his storage space and turned to look behind him.


    Gary''s body had vanished, leaving only a pile of ashes in its ce.


    With a gust of wind, even the ashes disappeared without a trace.


    Inhaling the strong scent of blood in the air, Jeremy''s breath was heavy, the bloodlust in his eyes bing more apparent.


    His heart was tumultuous with uncontrolled ferocity.


    "It starts again." Jeremy took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the uncontroble killing intent inside him.


    He could feel his symptoms worsening, the violence in his heart bing increasingly difficult to suppress.


    At this rate, Jeremy figured it wouldn''t be long before he turned into a madman.


    Once his emotions settled, the bloody hue in Jeremy''s eyes slowly dissipated.


    He approached and rummaged through the ghastly remains of four detectives.


    To Jeremy''s slight surprise, he found extraordinary items on all four of them.


    [Item]: Basic Life Recovery Potion


    [Type]: Consumable


    [Grade]: Blue (Common)


    [Description]: Upon use, the yer can recover a certain amount of health. Cooldown time 15 minutes.


    ...


    [Item]: Basic Stamina Recovery Potion


    [Type]: Consumable


    [Grade]: Blue (Common)


    [Description]: Upon use, the yer can recover a certain amount of stamina. Cooldown time 15 minutes.


    ...


    [Item]: Basic Agility Enhancement Potion


    [Type]: Consumable


    [Grade]: Blue (Common)


    [Description]: Upon use, the yer gains 20 points of agility for a duration of 10 minutes. Cooldown time 30 minutes.


    ...


    Jeremy found a total of 5 potions on the four men.


    2 health recovery potions and 3 enhancement potions.


    It seemed they had acquired quite a bit, likely looted from other yers.


    Afterward, Jeremy collected the firearms and ammunition from their bodies, tallying his loot.


    1 Jump Coin, 5 enhancement and recovery potions, 5 APC-9 submachine guns, 5 Colt M1911A1 pistols, 637 CPA5 bullets, and 7 M67 grenades.


    It was evident these guys came well-prepared.


    The police station wasn''t far from Moonlight Secondary School, and Jeremy thought he might visit there if he had the time.


    Storing everything in his storage space, Jeremy felt some of his frustration from the escaped monster dissipate.


    He continued towards the city center, carrying his knife.


    ...


    Bonnie''s psychology clinic was located in the most bustlingmercial district at the city center.


    That area was also one of the most dangerous ces in the entire Moonlight City.


    Jeremy couldn''t just barge in recklessly. With his current strength, he would be overwhelmed by monsters in an instant, likely leaving nothing behind.


    In this world, there''s only one nation, "The Federation," governing five continents with a poption reaching ten billion.


    Although the Moonlight City was just a second-tier small city within the Federation, with a poption of nearly ten million.


    If even half of Moonlight City''s poption turned into monsters after the apocalypse, that would amount to five million ¨C enough to fill 175rge stadiums... It was hard to imagine such a horrifying scene.


    However, Jeremy had the skill of a Concealment Mask, allowing him to hide his presence. So as long as he was careful, sneaking by wouldn''t be too difficult.


    The problem was how he would get ire out.


    He decided he''d have to figure that out when the time came.


    To avoid being surrounded by monsters, Jeremy didn''t choose to walk on the monster-infested streets but instead decided to take to the rooftops.


    With his current physical condition, traversing rooftops wasn''t much of a challenge for him.


    With a powerful leap, Jeremy jumped up and grabbed onto the wall, easily hopping onto the rooftop of amercial building.


    He looked out over the city, now shrouded in ayer of ck mist under the night sky.


    The towering buildings, like monsters lurking in the shadows, seemed as though they could choose someone to devour at any moment.


    Jeremy only nced briefly before his form leaped to the next rooftop, speeding towards themercial district.


    Themercial area of Moonlight City was about 7 kilometers from Moonlight Secondary School, a distance that would''ve been negligible under normal circumstances.


    However, in this post-apocalyptic world, with roads blocked, Jeremy estimated it would take him at least an hour to reach, and that was under the assumption he didn''t encounter any monsters.


    But that was clearly impossible, as the sky was also filled with humanoid monsters with fleshy wings.


    [Skyraker (Elite)]


    [Level]: lv13


    [Attack]: 617-637


    [Defense]: 135


    [Skills]: Skyraking, Pounce, Throw...


    [Hint]: Extremely fast with weak defense. ying it after severing its wings yields a Tier 3 Energy Crystal.


    These Skyrakers were stark naked, with lean bodies, fangs, and sharp ws, flying through the sky like bats.


    As soon as they spotted a human within their sight, they would swoop down from the sky.


    Either shing open their skulls with their sharp ws or grabbing them to throw them to their deaths from mid-air.


    Jeremy leaped across rooftops, and the Skyrakers in the sky clearly noticed him as an unusual prey. They began to circle and fly around him, seizing any opportunity to attempt a sneak attack.


    [You have in a level 13 Skyraker (Elite), earning 2207 experience points!]


    With a swing of his de, Jeremy cleaved an elite Skyraker in half, feeling somewhat irritated.


    His progress was significantly slowed down by these Skyrakers, and their agility made them difficult targets. His only ranged skill was Sinfire, but its slow attack speed made it easy for the Skyrakers to dodge.


    The only constion was that the Skyrakers'' defense wasn''t high. As long as theygot close enough, Jeremy could dispatch them with a single strike.


    Soon, the Skyrakers got wise and started to throw stones and metal at Jeremy in groups.


    Although this didn''t pose much of a threat to Jeremy, it sessfully maxed out his rage meter.


    Jeremy stopped, found a safe spot on the rooftop, and pulled out a submachine gun from his storage space. Aiming at the Skyrakers in the sky, he pulled the trigger.


    "Bang, bang, bang, bang!!!"


    The dense gunfire erupted in the night, with bullets as if guided by sight, striking the bodies of the Skyrakers with precision.


    Their defense was not strong enough to withstand the bullets. Hit by Jeremy, they immediately wailed and fell from the sky, some hitting the ground and sttering into a mess of flesh.


    However, Jeremy''s counterattack didn''t make the group of Skyrakers back down. Instead, it fueled their ferocity.


    "Squeak, squeak, squeak¡ª!"


    One after another, the Skyrakers let out piercing screams, attracting even more of their kind.


    They gathered together, forming a dark cloud so dense it blotted out the sun!

 Chapter 29: The Tower of Death, Claire Severely Injured

    Jeremy frowned as more Skyrakers filled the sky.


    Although he wasn''t afraid of these monsters, he didn''t want to waste time on them.


    After a moment of thought, he pulled out an M67 grenade from his storage space.


    Scanning for a dense cluster of Skyrakers, he pulled the pin, wound up his arm, and hurled the grenade.


    In an instant, the grenade flew like a shell.


    "Boom!!!"


    A massive explosion echoed through the night, a bright re lighting up the darkness like dazzling fireworks.


    The grenade exploded instantly, sending out shrapnel that pierced through a group of Skyrakersbefore they could react, turning them into a hive of bullet holes.


    Scores of Skyrakersfell from the sky like snowkes.


    [You have killed a level 13 Skyraker(Normal), gaining 1423 experience points!]


    [You have killed a level 12 Skyraker(Normal), gaining 1198 experience points!]


    [You have killed a level 15 Skyraker(Elite), gaining 4807 experience points!]


    ...


    As the kill notifications popped up, a golden light shone on Jeremy.


    [You have leveled up to 12, gaining 20 free attribute points!]


    "Roar Roar Roar!!!"


    Themotion awakened many monsters in the darkness, and the Skyrakersin the sky let out angry roars.


    But by the time they thought to retaliate, Jeremy''s figure had already vanished into the night.


    Under the shroud of night, with the silver moon hanging high.


    Jeremy, dressed in ck, leaped and darted across rooftops.


    His movements were swift and agile, reminiscent of a spry monkey, easily covering several meters in a single leap at incredible speeds.


    Some onlookers, their eyes wide with disbelief, thought they were witnessing an illusion.


    A little girl holding a doll pointed at Jeremy leaping across the rooftops and said crisply, "Mommy, Spider-Man!"


    Her mother turned to look out the window but only saw a wandering monster. "Child, that''s a monster, not Spider-Man." She said, weariness in her tone as she stroked her child''s hair, mistaking the child''s inability to differentiate between monsters and humans, while pondering on how to survive.


    As Jeremy delved deeper into Moonlight City, the number of monsters increased exponentially, visible everywhere at a nce.


    The entire city had be a yground for monsters.


    Only a few flickering lights and asional screams and pleas for help indicated the presence of humans in the city.


    ...


    Two hourster.


    Jeremy finally reached themercial district at the city center.


    The sky was a dull gray, nearly dawn.


    The number of monsters around multiplied, with tens of thousands of them crammed together on themercial za, forming a sea of monsters¡ªan horrific scene that could suffocate anyone.


    The monsters at Moonlight Secondary School were aplenty, but they were nothingpared to this.


    With skyscrapers everywhere in themercial district, rooftop travel was no longer an option.


    Jeremy ducked into a coffee shop by the roadside, surveying the monsters outside through the ss window.


    He noticed that few of the monsters were below level 10, and the variety was bizarre.


    Spider-like deformed zombies, snake people with four pairs of eyes, and earthworms asrge as pythons, among others.


    Moreover, in the center of the mall za, Jeremy saw a gigantic meatball, twenty meters tall.


    This massive meatball was covered in countless human heads and tentacles. The long tentacles continuously grabbed living beings and other monsters, feeding them into its dark, bottomless maw as if it were an insatiable abyss.


    This scene made even Jeremy''s scalp tingle.


    This monster was even devouring its own kind!


    [Devouring Tyrant (BOSS)]


    [Level]: lv21


    [Attack]: 5121-5230


    [Defense]: 1693


    [Skills]: Devour, Flying Skull, Frenzy...


    [Hint]: Extremely dangerous. ying it will definitely yield a high-level skill book.


    Faced with the stats of the Devouring Tyrant, Jeremy''s expression grew solemn.


    This was the first BOSS he had encountered, and its level had reached 21.


    He hadn''t expected that just before the third day of the apocalypse, the Moonlight City would already have such a high-level monster.


    Although killing it would grant a high-level skill book, Jeremy wasn''t particrly interested in taking it on.


    His priority was to rescue ire safely.


    Jeremy looked toward themercial skyscraper, his brows deeply furrowed.


    He was less than a kilometer away from the skyscraper where ire''s psychology clinic was located on the 42nd floor, which he could see just by lifting his eyes.


    However, the skyscraper was surrounded by dense throngs of monsters, numbering in the tens of thousands, not to mention the ones inside.


    Jeremy thought for a moment and realized that perhaps only by using a cloaking mask could he sneak past them.


    But if he used the cloaking mask, how would ire get out?


    After all, the cloaking mask could only be used by one person and had a 24-hour cooldown period.


    After much deliberation, Jeremy finally set his sights on the skyscraper''s ss windows.


    "Seems like, I''ll have to climb up from the outside." Jeremy said, lighting a cigarette, his eyes flickering with determination.


    If anyone knew of Jeremy''s n, they would surely think him mad.


    Themercial skyscraper was over 500 meters tall, with an exterior as smooth as ss. Climbing it without any safety measures would be as difficult as reaching the heavens... If he were to identally fall from a hundred meters up, even with Jeremy''s extraordinary constitution as a yer, there would be no chance of survival.


    Yet, Jeremy was not worried about this.


    Danger was rtive to ordinary people; for him, climbing a hundred-meter building was not as difficult as it seemed.


    In his past life as a mercenary, he had sessfully climbed to the top of a hundred-meter building to nt a bomb, albeit withplete equipment.


    However, his physical condition now was different from his previous life, and Jeremy was confident he could make the climb.


    The biggest problem now was how to draw the monsters away so he could approach the skyscraper.


    It was a pity that Lisa had already died. Otherwise, he could have thrown her out to attract the monsters.


    Exhaling smoke, Jeremy''s eyes revealed a resolute determination.


    In that case, he would have to do it himself.


    No matter what, he had to rescue ire!


    ...


    42nd floor of themercial skyscraper, ire''s psychology clinic.


    "ngngng!!!" The intense sound of something pounding on the door, like a death knell, kept ringing, and the stainless steel door of the psychotherapy room trembled continuously. The grating sound of metal scratching assaulted the eardrums.


    ire sat on the couch of the psychotherapy room, with a fruit knife and a medical kit by her side.


    Her stunningly beautiful face was somewhat pale, with beads of sweat continuously appearing on her forehead.


    There was a terrifying wound on ire''s abdomen, and her white coat was already stained red with blood. Despite being bandaged, fresh blood still seeped out from the wound.


    Even though she was enduring intense pain, ire''s eyes remained unusually calm.


    If Ritchie and others were here, they would find that her gaze was sometimes identical to Jeremy''s, as if devoid of any emotion.


    ire found an anesthetic painkiller in the medical kit and swallowed it. Then, she propped up her head and legs on the couch to lie down, trying to alleviate the injury to her abdomen as much as possible.


    Even this simple action made herplexion even paler.


    The power of that white wolf was truly terrifying. Just one strike had almost gutted her. She owed her survival to her abilities.


    However, ire could feel her body getting weaker and weaker, and the door to the psychotherapy room wouldn''t hold much longer.


    Unless something unexpected happened, she was likely going to die today.


    Facing death, ire felt unusually calm, perhaps due to her strong psychological resilience or perhaps because she didn''t have much to cling to in life.


    At this thought, an image of a person suddenly appeared in her mind.


    "Jeremy..." Aplicated look shed through her calm eyes.


    ire had already been seriously injured when she spoke to Jeremy on the phone. She didn''t mention her condition, fearing it would upset Jeremy.


    Besides, talking about it was pointless. The monsters below themercial skyscraper had already sentenced everyone still inside to death.


    ire had awakened an S-ss ability not long after the apocalypse began. She had tried to escape the skyscraper, and the wound on her abdomen was the price she paid for it.


    "It''s over..." Everything in front of her began to blur, and the sound of banging on the door became indistinct. The medication started to take effect, and ire closed her eyes wearily.


    ...


    In the coffee shop, having made up his mind, Jeremy no longer hesitated.


    He allocated all his free attribute points to agility, bringing his agility attribute to 538 points. Afterwards, Jeremy used 21 second-tier energy crystals to upgrade the skill level of Shadow Step to lv10, the maximum level.


    The maximum level of Shadow Step increased the amplification effect to 100%, and its duration reached an astonishing 8 minutes!

 Chapter 30: Baiting with One’s Body, Dancing on the Blade

    As Jeremy leveled up, the power of The Eye of Omniscience grew increasingly formidable.


    He could now specify the acquisition of certain attributes based on the different hidden information that appeared on the energy crystals.


    After some thought, Jeremy decided to use all the third-tier energy crystals to enhance his strength, to avoid any unforeseen circumstances.


    [You have used a third-tier energy crystal, gaining 10 points of strength attribute!]


    [You have used a third-tier energy crystal, gaining 10 points of strength attribute!]


    ¡­


    After using all the energy crystals, Jeremy''s strength attribute had reached 930 points, significantly increasing his power.


    He then took out the strength enhancement potion and agility enhancement potion he had obtained from Garcia and others.


    Using both potions, his strength and agility attributes increased by 20 points each,sting for 10 minutes.


    Fully equipped, Jeremy took out a military dagger from his storage space and, without hesitation, made a cut on his hand.


    Red blood flowed from the wound, dripping onto the ground like a stream.


    Jeremy stood up and walked straight out of the coffee shop.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    In an instant, hundreds, if not thousands, of monsters swiftly turned their heads to look at Jeremy, their crimson eyes filled with brutality and greed.


    The blood of a yer, especially that of a high-level yer like Jeremy, had an irresistible allure to monsters.


    "Roar!!!" Thousands of monsters roared in unison, all charging toward Jeremy at the entrance of the coffee shop.


    However, Jeremy frowned as he looked at the swarm of monstersing his way.


    Because the monsters near themercial skyscraper hadn''t budged at all.


    "Not enough." Jeremy muttered to himself, needing to draw more monsters'' attention.


    His eyes turned bloody as he raised the military dagger.


    With a fierce stab.


    Blood sttered everywhere as the bay instantly pierced through his left hand!


    Jeremy calmly pulled the bay out, as if he felt no pain at all.


    The gushing blood flowed out like water from a spring, quickly forming a pool of blood on the ground.


    The thick scent of blood rapidly spread, sending thousands of monsters in the area into a frenzy in an instant.


    "Roar, roar, roar!!!"


    They charged at Jeremy like mad beasts, their blood-red eyes devoid of any sanity, driven only by the intense desire to crush and chew the human in front of them and devour him mercilessly.


    "It worked!" Jeremy smiled as he looked at the monsters charging at him.


    Some of the monsters from beneath themercial skyscraper had started to move towards him.


    If everything went as nned, they would soon all be drawn to him.


    Of course, he had to survive the onught of these monsters for the n to be considered a sess.


    The next moment, Jeremy''s body lit up with bluish and silvery glows.


    Two skills activated simultaneously.


    "Advance!"


    "Shadow Step!"


    With a step, Jeremy''s figure instantly vanished.


    The monsters that had rushed close were momentarily stunned, looking around in confusion.


    "Over here!" Jeremy''s voice came from behind the monsters. They turned at the sound and found, somehow, Jeremy was already standing on the shoulders of two zombies.


    He was smiling, even waving at the group of monsters.


    Blood from Jeremy''s hand sttered onto several monsters, instantly driving the nearby ones into a frenzy.


    "Roar, roar, roar!!!" A horde of monsters, driven mad, charged toward Jeremy and those few monsters. Some didn''t even have time to react before being trampled into pulp, a terrifying scene that made one''s scalp tingle.


    However, Jeremy didn''t even nce at them, charging towards another direction filled with monsters.


    The duration of the Shadow Step and Advance skills was only a few minutes. If he couldn''t attract all the monsters within this time, all his efforts would be in vain, and he would have to try again next time.


    Jeremy''s figure flickered among the monsters, dodging various attacks.


    He was like a dancer on the de''s edge. Amoment''s slowdown would let the monsters tear him apart. Yet, Jeremy managed to escape danger every time.


    The monsters'' roars echoed throughout themercial za, quickly drawing more of them. Soon, there were tens of thousands of monsters behind Jeremy. Wherever he appeared, they rushed there, with hundreds to thousands being trampled into mush.


    Simrly, themotion attracted the attention of the Devouring Tyrant, but since it moved too slowly, Jeremy easily shook off this massive flesh ball without a direct confrontation.


    Before long, Jeremy noticed that the monsters under themercial skyscraper were all drawn to him.


    However, as more monsters charged at him, Jeremy increasingly felt the strain.


    These monsters were high-level, including many elite monsters, not only fast but also capable of using various skills.


    He needed to find a way to escape quickly.


    Thinking this, Jeremy suddenly felt a warning in his heart.


    He instinctively turned his head.


    "Swoosh!"


    A wind de flew past his cheek.


    Even though Jeremy dodged in time, the wind de still left a bloody mark on his face.


    Jeremy''s gaze turned icy as he looked back.


    He saw a giant white wolf charging at him at high speed.


    [Hurricane White Wolf (Lord)]


    [Level]: lv20


    [Attack]: 2137-2199


    [Defense]: 823


    [Skills]: Wind de, Dive Attack, w de¡­


    [Hint]: Extremely fast, weakness in the waist area.


    Jeremy frowned, knowing he had encountered a tough opponent.


    He couldn''t afford to be entangled with it.


    Jeremy''s peripheral vision caught the surrounding monsters closing in again.


    If he got surrounded, even he would be doomed.


    At that moment, the Hurricane White Wolf charged at him.


    Its body was surrounded by a faint stream of wind, moving rapidly like a streak of white light, directly wing towards Jeremy''s throat.


    "ng!"


    Sparks flew, and a clear sound of metal shing rang out.


    Jeremy crossed his des to block the attack of the Hurricane White Wolf, but the force sent him flying backward uncontrobly.


    "Woo!" The Hurricane White Wolf howled, about to continue its pursuit when suddenly it saw Jeremy fling a few dark objects its way.


    The agile wolf easily dodged, looking at Jeremy with a mocking gaze.


    But then, three deafening explosions suddenly erupted right behind the Hurricane White Wolf!


    "Boom, boom, boom!!!"


    Fiery waves engulfed the Hurricane White Wolf and the monsters behind it, sting a dozen of them into pieces in the blink of an eye.


    The powerful shockwave swept up the Hurricane White Wolf and the surrounding monsters, tossing them all into the air.


    What Jeremy had thrown were M67 grenades!


    [You have killed a Level 13 Goblin Knight (Ordinary), gaining 1537 XP!]


    [You have killed a Level 14 Mutant ck Bear (Ordinary), gaining 1739 XP!]


    [You have killed a Level 15 Zombie Crawler (Elite), gaining 4663 XP!]


    ...


    A dense flurry of kill notifications appeared in front of Jeremy, his experience points rocketing up rapidly.


    In just the blink of an eye, three golden glows lit up Jeremy, boosting his level directly to 15. Jeremy felt an instant surge in his physical strength, his tired body not only fully recovered but also the wounds on his hands healing at a visibly fast rate, the level-up bringing him back to peak condition.


    "Roar!" The Hurricane White Wolf got up from the ground, releasing an angry roar.


    Its body was riddled with holes, its white fur stained red with blood, and its eyes looked at Jeremy with ruthless hatred, wishing to tear him to pieces.


    A hint of pity shed in Jeremy''s eyes.


    Although the Hurricane White Wolf appeared pitiful, it was far from being seriously injured. The wounds were merely superficial.


    As the level of the monsters increased, the effectiveness of firearms dwindled. The three M67 grenades had only killed a few dozen monsters and barely injured the Hurricane White Wolf, who was at the explosion''s center.


    Jeremy nced at the monsters regrouping around him and quickly moved towards themercial skyscraper.


    The duration of his skills was nearly up. He couldn''t afford to waste any more time with these creatures.


    Having suffered a significant blow, the Hurricane White Wolf was not willing to let things go easily. Seeing Jeremy attempting to flee, it immediately gave chase without a second thought. However, just a few steps into the pursuit, it saw the human turn around and throw another dark object.


    This time, learning from its previous mistake, the Hurricane White Wolf swiftly dodged to maintain distance.


    To its bewilderment, the object did not explode as before buty silently on the ground afternding.


    "Idiot." A sneer appeared at the corner of Jeremy''s mouth.


    What he had thrown was merely an apple.

 Chapter 31: Ascending the High-rise, Riot in the Business District

    "Argh!!"


    The Hurricane White Wolf, infuriated by Jeremy''s trickery, transformed into a bolt of lightning, charging at him with ferocious momentum.


    Seeing the Hurricane White Wolf and the surrounding monsters gathering towards him again, Jeremy''s eyes flickered.


    The duration of his skill was about to end, and he was now less than 200 meters away from themercial building.


    But the speed of the Hurricane White Wolf was too fast.If he didn''t deal with it, Jeremy had no way to ascend.


    With that thought, Jeremy made up his mind.


    He stealthily took out his remaining fourM67 grenades, pulled the pins, and threw them all at the Hurricane White Wolf.


    The Hurricane White Wolf, with a ferocious gaze, was undeterred, thinking that this despicable human was toying with it again.


    However, the next moment, a torrent of mes suddenly erupted!


    "Boom, boom, boom, boom!!"


    The grenades exploded beneath the Hurricane White Wolf''s feet, and the wild mes instantly engulfed it and the surrounding monsters.


    [You have killed a Level 14 Goblin Knight (Common), gaining 1789 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 15 Mutated ck Bear (Common), gaining 2067 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 15 Zombie Crawler (Elite), gaining 4397 experience points!]


    ...


    Dust and debris flew in all directions, and the terrifying explosion instantly blew up more than twenty monsters into pieces, with limbs and innards flying everywhere. Even the Hurricane White Wolf was left bloodied and mangled.


    This time, Jeremy had thrown all four grenades in the same spot. Although the explosion range was reduced, the damage was multiplied several times over.


    In the blink of an eye, a golden glow shone on him again.


    [Your level has increased to 16, you have gained 20 free attribute points!]


    [You have gained ss fixed attributes, Strength +30, Spirit +30, Stamina +15, Agility +15!]


    At this moment, Jeremy''s strength attribute had reached 1070 points, officially breaking the thousand mark.


    Powerful strength surged within him. Jeremy felt as if his body had undergone some qualitative change at this moment, gaining even more control over his strength.


    In addition to that, Jeremy still had 80 free attribute points unused.


    As he was considering how to use these attribute points, a shadow suddenly burst out of the smoke and dust from the explosion.


    It was the Hurricane White Wolf.


    The wolf had turned into a charred ck color, its skin cracked open to reveal fresh, red flesh, with blood continuously flowing out of its densely packed wounds, and one of its eyes had been blinded by shrapnel.


    The once majestic Hurricane White Wolf now looked utterly miserable, not evenparable to a stray dog.


    The Hurricane White Wolf, looking at Jeremy with its remaining eye filled with madness.


    The intense pain had driven it insane. At this moment, in the eyes of the Hurricane White Wolf, there was only Jeremy, the cause of its current state.


    "Howl!" The Hurricane White Wolf let out an angry howl, its muscles tensed, and the air around it suddenly turned violent. Then, with a powerful force from its limbs, its agile figure instantly turned into a ck shadow, recklessly charging at Jeremy.


    It was determined to make this human pay for hurting it!


    Watching the Hurricane White Wolf charging at him, Jeremy remained calm.


    It doesn''t matterif he can''t win. He could always add points.


    With a thought, Jeremy directed all his free attribute points into strength, boosting it to 1150 points.


    Surging power flooded into him, causing the ground beneath his feet to crack instantly.


    His eyes cold, he gripped his twin des tightly, and with a thought, they turned a dark red in an instant.


    An overwhelmingly brutal aura of cmity enveloped him!


    Disaster des!


    "Swish!"


    The Hurricane White Wolf was incredibly fast, reaching Jeremy in the blink of an eye.


    It opened its massive jaws wide, aiming to bite down on Jeremy''s head, seemingly intending to swallow it whole.


    However, Jeremy sidestepped the moment the White Wolf opened its mouth, easily dodging its attack.


    Then, with a fierce knee strike, Jeremy hit the Hurricane White Wolf''s abdomen hard.


    "Zap!"


    A dull impact sounded, and the powerful blow made the Hurricane White Wolf''s remaining eye bulge as if it would pop out of its socket, followed by its body involuntarily flying into the air.


    Seizing the opportunity, Jeremy lifted his twin des, ruthlessly chopping down at the waist of the Hurricane White Wolf!


    "St!"


    Blood gushed, and organs flew out!


    The entire body of the Hurricane White Wolf was split into two by Jeremy''s single strike!


    [You have killed a Level 20 Hurricane White Wolf (Lord), gaining 16856 experience points!]


    From the explosion to now, only a few breaths of time had passed. Everything happened so quickly that by the time the other monsters reacted, the Hurricane White Wolf had already been cleaved in two by Jeremy.


    To Jeremy''s surprise, the Hurricane White Wolf even dropped an equipment item.


    With the monsters regrouping, Jeremy didn''t have time to check. He grabbed the white light orb and stored it in his inventory space, then dashed towards themercial building like a shooting star.


    What surprised Jeremy was that until he reached themercial building, that terrifying BOSS hadn''t troubled him.


    Looking back, Jeremy noticed the Devouring Tyrant consuming the corpses of the monsters.


    "Eat... eat... eat..."


    Its massive body slowly moved, its tentacles swiftly wrapping around the nearby corpses to pull into its mouth, while the heads growing on its body muttered words in a daze, creating an eerie atmosphere that sent chills down one''s spine.


    And perhaps it was an illusion, but Jeremy noticed that after devouring the Hurricane White Wolf and some monsters, the Devouring Tyrant''s body seemed to grow bigger and even its movement speed appeared to be faster.


    Could it be that this monster grows stronger by devouring?


    The thought startled Jeremy.


    If that were true, then this monster was terrifying indeed!


    "Hopefully, I''m wrong." Jeremy dismissed the thought from his mind, reasoning that even if it were true, it didn''t concern him.


    At that moment, the monsters in the square charged again.


    Jeremy looked up at themercial building in front of him and forcefully propelled himself several meters into the air.


    Then, grabbing the edge of anding window and finding a foothold, he swiftly ascended.


    "Roar, roar, roar!!!"


    In themercial square, countless monsters surged crazily!


    They were packed tightly together, stepping on the heads of other monsters, and madly pouncing towards Jeremy.


    However, these monsters were either nimbly dodged by Jeremy or kicked down by him. Even some monsters that could move on walls as if on t ground were beheaded by Jeremy once they got close.


    Tens of thousands of monsters could only watch helplessly as Jeremy, the piece of "fat meat", climbed higher and higher until they could no longer reach him.


    The sky lightened with the first glimmer of dawn, and the sun slowly rose from the horizon.


    The light of dawn spilled over thend, with Jeremy leaping agilely atop themercial building.


    His figure was incredibly agile, quickly moving towards the floor where ire was located.


    In themercial square, the Devouring Tyrant, which was consuming corpses, paused its movements.


    The human heads on its body looked up at Jeremy, muttering,


    "sphemer..."


    Had Jeremy heard this, he would have felt chills down his spine.


    Because this monster actually knew he was a sphemer!


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the City Hall, in the mayor''s office.


    Benjamin was handling affairs behind his desk, while Eina was helping him sort and summarize messages from different areas.


    "Mayor, we have a problem!" Just then, the office door was suddenly pushed open.


    Following that, the head of the security department, Dana, rushed in with a panic-stricken face.


    It was clear he had hurried over, even wearing his shoes on the wrong feet.


    Benjamin put down the document in his hand, looked up, and asked, "What happened?"


    His tone was very calm.After the outbreak of the apocalypse, such situations urred dozens of times every hour, and Benjamin had be immune to them.


    Given that it''s already the apocalypse, how much worse could things get?


    "Take a drink, and speak slowly." Eina, unfazed as well, poured a ss of water for Dana.


    Dana was too panicked to even catch his breath, let alone drink water.


    He said with a frightened look, "There''s big trouble. Our people observed that the monsters in themercial district are rioting!"


    At these words, Benjamin and Eina''s expressions changed dramatically.


    "What did you say?!" Benjamin stood up abruptly, shocked.


    It wasn''t surprising that Benjamin had such a strong reaction, given themercial district''s importance.


    The monsters there had already formed arge scale, with preliminary estimates of at least 100,000, including the emergence of BOSS-level monsters.


    Themercial district was located in the center of Moonlight City. If the monsters there rioted, the impact would radiate throughout Moonlight City, centered on themercial district.


    Then, not only would the people in themercial district suffer, but the entire Moonlight City would also face a great disaster.

 Chapter 32: The Peril of Moonlight City, Evacuate or Not?

    Eina, standing next to him, also understood what this meant.


    Her face turned pale, and she said in disbelief, "How could the monsters in themercial district suddenly riot? Could you have seen it wrong, or was it just a minor disturbance?"


    It wasn''t beyond the realm of possibility. If arge number of people tried to escape from themercial district, it could easily trigger a small-scale riot among the monsters, which usually ended quickly. Perhaps this was just a false rm.


    Dana gave a wry smile, "It''s absolutely true. This time it''s different from before. It''s a real riot! Just now, tens of thousands of monsters in the square of themercial district suddenly started converging on one spot, even that BOSS was drawn over!"


    "How is that possible..." Hearing this, even Benjamin''s face turned a bit pale.


    Now, with the apocalypse just upon them, these monsters hadn''t fully unleashed their potential.


    Originally, as long as the military arrived, there was still a chance for recovery.


    But if the monsters in themercial district were to riot now, the situation, which was still under control, could be disrupted. Eventually, it could lead to a domino effect, and the entire Moonlight City might fall because of it.


    Eina decisively said, "We can''t stay here any longer. Notify everyone immediately to evacuate the City Hall!"


    The City Hall was only a few kilometers away from themercial district. If the monsters began their attack, they would be the first area to be impacted.


    Benjamin clenched his fists, grinding his teeth, "Why does it have to be now? Just a little more time, and the army would have arrived!"


    If the military came, even if they couldn''t clear all the monsters in Moonlight City, they could at least reim the central areas of the city.


    Then, retaking Moonlight City would just be a matter of time.


    However, this little bit of time had plunged them directly from heaven into hell.


    Dana sighed, "At this point, we can only try to minimize the losses."


    Eina had already picked up the phone, ready to notify the departments to evacuate.


    Suddenly, Dana''s phone rang.


    Seeing the caller, he didn''t care about the situation and hurriedly answered.


    He anxiously asked, "What''s the situation in themercial district? Has it improved?"


    Benjamin and Eina both looked over, knowing that it must be new information from themercial district.


    They listened carefully, hoping that the sudden riot in themercial district would soon subside.


    But contrary to their wishes.


    A bitter voice came through the phone.


    He said, "The situation has gotten worse. Now, all the monsters in themercial district are restless!"


    The three of them turned pale instantly.


    Things were moving in the direction they least wanted to see.


    Then, the observer on the other end hesitated a bit and said, "However, there''s something odd about this situation... We seem to have discovered the cause of the monster riot in themercial district."


    The scene they had witnessed was so shocking that even the observer was somewhat unsure.


    Upon hearing this, the three in the office all frowned.


    The observer''s cryptic words left them at a loss, unable to guess what had actually happened.


    Dana angrily said, "What do you mean ''seems like''? Make it clear to me!"


    The observer, bracing himself, said, "The riot in themercial district might have been triggered by one person. It was him who agitated the monsters in themercial district..."


    Dana interrupted him before he could finish, scolding, "You''re telling me one person attracted tens of thousands of monsters? Are you fucking kidding me?"


    The observer didn''t respond.He too was at a loss for words.


    Shortly after, Dana received a video on her phone.


    The video was somewhat blurry, taken from a distance, andsted only about a dozen seconds.


    But what the video showed left all three in the officepletely dumbfounded.


    Because in the video was Jeremy, weaving through tens of thousands of monsters as if he was in a realm all his own.


    The youth moved through the masses of monsters with a ghost-like agility, dodging their attacks with swift and nimble movements. He brushed with death several times, yet not a single monster couldy a finger on him.


    The three exchanged stunned looks, seeing the disbelief in each other''s eyes.


    This scene was indeed a shock to their understanding.


    Dana said through clenched teeth, "This guy must be a high-level yer, daring to venture into themercial district with a bit of skill, utterly reckless! Now who knows how many will die because of his actions!"


    Benjamin remained silent, just watching Jeremy on the screen with a furrowed brow.


    Eina reminded, "This young man probably won''tst long before the monsters tear him to pieces. We need to leave."


    Benjamin suddenly said, "Wait."


    "What?" Eina and Dana looked at Benjamin, puzzled, thinking they had misheard.


    Benjamin lifted his head, his voice grave, "If we evacuate, the entire Moonlight City will be a yground for the monsters. With millions of monsters in Moonlight City, once they gain momentum... by then, not just Howard, but even if a general came with troops, taking back Moonlight City would be impossible!"


    Eina frowned, "But it''s toote to change anything. It won''t be long before the monsters break through. Staying here to sacrifice ourselves is pointless!"


    Benjamin firmly said, "It''s not over until thest moment. There might still be a chance."


    "A chance?" Eina was taken aback, then pointing at Jeremy on the screen, asked incredulously, "You aren''t seriously hoping this young man can hold off tens of thousands of monsters until Howard and the others arrive, are you?"


    Benjamin looked at them, countering, "If he can survive the onught of tens of thousands of monsters, why can''t he hold them off?"


    At that moment, the two felt that Benjamin had gone mad.


    That was tens of thousands of monsters, not something a human could hold off!


    Even if the young man had miraculously survived the monsters'' onught, what then?


    Let alone holding them off for an hour or two, it would be a miracle if hested a few minutes before being devoured by the monsters, bones and all.


    They wanted to dissuade him, but Benjamin had made up his mind.


    He calmly said, "No need to say more. I am the mayor of the Moonlight City. If even I give up on the Moonlight City, then it truly is over."


    Eina and Dana fell silent upon hearing this.


    Indeed, if even they gave up, then the Moonlight City truly was finished.


    ...


    At this moment, Jeremy was still unaware of the hugemotion he had caused.


    Leaping around the exterior of the building, he could clearly see inside the building through the floor-to-ceiling windows.


    At a nce, the building was littered with corpses and various monsters, a sight too gruesome to bear.


    There were a few people on some floors, but very few, just a scattered handful, all looking haggard and listless.


    Most of them didn''t notice Jeremy''s fleeting presence outside the window, and even if they did, they likely thought they were seeing things.


    Jeremy climbed quickly, reaching over thirty floors in no time.


    At this point, he had to slow down because those disgusting Skyrakers hade again.


    "Squeak, squeak, squeak!!!" One after another, the Skyrakers pped their wings mid-air, emitting angry shrieks.


    They looked at Jeremy with hatred in their eyes and then charged at him in waves.


    Clearly, these were the same Skyrakers Jeremy had encountered before.


    "What a bunch of spiteful creatures." Jeremy muttered, his body agile as he swiftly flipped into themercial building.


    While dodging the Skyrakers'' attacks, he pulled out a submachine gun from his storage space and turned around to spray bullets at the swarming Skyrakers.


    The sound of gunfire erupted in the sky.


    However, learning from theirst encounter, these Skyrakers had be smarter.


    As soon as they saw Jeremy with a gun, they scattered instantly.


    Jeremy emptied his magazine but only managed to bring down a few Skyrakers.


    "Troublesome." Jeremy frowned, deciding not to bother with these Skyrakers anymore.


    But as soon as he tried to climb further up, the Skyrakers would gather around andunch another attack on him.


    After several such instances, veins started to bulge on Jeremy''s forehead.

 Chapter 33: The Treasure Chest, Two Choices

    "Gale sh!"


    Jeremy swung his long sword, unleashing a swift de of wind that instantly cleaved several iing Skyrakers in half.


    Then, without looking back, he proceeded straight into themercial building.


    These Skyrakers were too much of a nuisance, and Jeremy didn''t want to waste any more time on them.


    Now, he was only a few floors away from ire, close enough to make his way up to her.


    However, Jeremy took note of this grudge. He vowed to destroy the nest of these beasts whenever he got the chance.


    Upon entering the building, Jeremy surveyed his surroundings.


    He found himself in a luxuriously decorated office, surprisingly clean and devoid of any bloodstains.


    Jeremy took out the equipment he had obtained from the Hurricane White Wolf and checked it.


    To his surprise, it was a piece of bronze-level equipment.


    [Equipment]: Windrider Boots


    [Level]: ck Iron


    [Quality]: Purple


    [Attributes]: Agility +20, Jumping Power +10


    [Skill]: Windride


    [Introduction]: Using this skill allows the yer to momentarily hover in the sky for 5 minutes, with a cooldown of 3 hours.


    Jeremy''s eyes lit up when he saw the equipment''s skill.


    It was a piece of purple-quality equipment with a skill that allowed him to hover!


    Although the skill''s duration was only a mere 5 minutes, it could be life-saving at critical moments.


    After swapping his leather boots for the Windrider Boots, Jeremy checked his stats and found his agility had reached 660 points.


    With a light jump, Jeremy noticed he could now jump a full meter higher than before, a clear improvement in his jumping attribute.


    After resting briefly, Jeremy pushed the door open and exited the office.


    He entered a spacious workspace, dimly lit due to the lights being off, with rows of desks neatly arranged and monsters in suits wandering among them.


    Jeremy assessed the situation, guessing it was likely a financial bondpany, and these monsters were formerly financial white-cors.


    "Roar!" Upon seeing Jeremy, the group of suit-wearing monsters charged at him.


    With Jeremy''s current strength, these monsters naturally posed no threat.


    Jeremy easily dispatched them and then approached the elevator.


    As expected, the elevator was out of service. The building''s electrical system had been damaged. If he wanted to go up, he would have to take the stairs.


    Upon reaching the stairwell, before even entering, Jeremy heard the roaring of monsters.


    He peeked into the stairwell.


    Then, Jeremy saw the densely packed monstersyered on top of each other in the stairwell, crammed so tightly that the stairwell was virtually blocked.


    "Roar!!!"


    Upon seeing Jeremy, the monsters roared in unison.


    They climbed over the bodies of other monsters, baring their teeth and ws as they pounced toward him.


    Jeremy sighed. This was exactly why he hated taking the stairs.


    Such a narrow stairway, while limiting the number of monsters, also restricted his movements, preventing him from dodging attacks with ease.


    Havinge this far, he had no choice but to take a risk.


    Just as Jeremy was about to head upstairs, a notification from The Eye of Omniscience suddenly appeared before him.


    [Notice: In the living room on the 38th floor above you, there is a silver treasure chest.]


    Jeremy paused for a moment, his eyes then lit up with excitement.


    "Finally, another treasure chest!" A smile crept onto Jeremy''s face.


    Unlike ordinary yers, possessing The Eye of Omniscience allowed him to gain extra rewards. So every treasure chest significantly increased his power.


    "Roar!!"


    At that moment, monsters had already rushed towards him.


    "A bunch of beasts, dare to block my way!" Looking at the swarm of monstersing towards him, a bloody light shed in Jeremy''s eyes.


    He gripped his twin des tightly, his gaze icy as he boldly charged towards them.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the conference room of the central building in Moonlight City.


    By now, the room was filled with people, and a few videos were being looped on the big screen.


    The footage showed Jeremy weaving through monsters like a flood, and scenes of him ascending amercial building surrounded by tens of thousands of monsters.


    Everyone was shocked by these videos.


    Had these videos not been provided by Benjamin, they would have thought they were fabricated.


    Some faces in the room looked grim.


    These were the people who supported evacuation, as no one wanted to stay and face their doom.


    But who could have imagined that someone could actually survive among tens of thousands of monsters!


    What shocked them even more was that this person did not flee after surviving but instead climbed up themercial building.


    It was known that themercial building was the second tallest in Moonlight City, standing over 500 meters tall. At the time of the apocalypse, it was the peak of the workday, and now it housed at least tens of thousands of monsters.


    Yet, that young man charged in alone!


    A young woman with sses expressed her amazement, "Worthy of being the top yer on the leaderboard. Jeremy looks only a few years younger than me, but I didn''t expect him to be so powerful."


    "Indeed powerful." Dana nodded. Jeremy''s identity was easily discovered. Although he had guessed that Jeremy''s level must be high, he did not anticipate that he would be the current number one on the leaderboard, Jeremy.


    That exined why he dared to enter themercial district alone.


    Benjamin knocked on the screen, drawing everyone''s attention.


    He spoke gravely, "Although there has been a riot among the monsters in themercial district, it is not the worst-case scenario. They remain in themercial district, specifically gathered under themercial building. Moonlight City is temporarily safe... instead, this presents an opportunity!"


    Saying so, a map of Moonlight City appeared on the screen behind Benjamin.


    Themercial district was circled in red, and themercial building was marked with a red dot.


    Everyone knew the meeting was getting to its crucial point and became serious.


    Benjamin pointed at themercial building on the map, saying, "We now have two options. One is to proceed as nned, waiting for Howard and his team to arrive and then gradually reim themercial district. This is what I advocate."


    He then looked around the room and continued, "The other option, as suggested by someone, is to use drones to carry high-yield explosives to indiscriminately bomb themercial building and its surrounding areas, thuspletely eliminating the threat of themercial district!"


    After his words, the room fell into silence.


    Among the two options, many people leaned towards the second.


    It would not only eliminate the threat but also avoid potential idents in the process.


    They were well aware that if the second n were implemented, it wouldn''t just be the threats and monsters being eradicated, but also the humans and that young man inside themercial building.


    But it wasn''t them who were going to die, so why should they care?


    A middle-aged man hesitated, "The problem is¡­ do we even have the authority to issue such an order with our current ranks?"


    Others had also considered this point.


    The Federation had a strict hierarchy of power, and officials without sufficient rank couldn''t overstep their boundaries to issue orders.


    Benjamin didn''t exin. He turned his gaze to the young woman wearing sses and said, "Maggie, why don''t you say a few words?"


    "I understand." Maggie, the woman with the sses, nodded and stood up to walk to the front.


    She reached into her coat to pull out her credentials, looked around at everyone, and announced loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Federal Special Agent Maggie. I am here to inform you about a matter."


    The room shuddered at her words, and everyone instinctively sat up a bit straighter.


    Every city had its special agents. But they were usually called into action only for major incidents.


    Since a special agent was involved, the matter at hand was clearly no small issue.


    Maggie, with a serious expression, continued, "As of yesterday, the federal government has issued an emergency directive. The entire globe has entered a state of war. All local matters are now under the full authority of the local supreme institutions and highest officials...


    For the survival of humanity, special measures may be used during this critical period, and there will be no subsequent ountability."


    After Maggie finished, the room was filled with looks of astonishment and mutual nces of disbelief.


    Did this mean Benjamin had be the highest authority here?


    Benjamin looked around at everyone and said calmly, "Now, I would like to hear your thoughts."


    The room fell into silence.


    Damn, if the higher-ups have given you full authority, what opinions could we possibly have?


    It was then that everyone realized Benjamin had called them over as a mere formality.


    "I agree with Mayor Benjamin''s decision. I think we should wait for General Howard to arrive. After all, indiscriminate bombing is too inhumane." the middle-aged man who spoke earlier quickly stated his position.


    Realizing the situation, others followed suit.


    A smile appeared on Benjamin''s face as he said, "It seems that everyone''s opinions align with mine, which I find very reassuring."


    The people in the room wore strange expressions, internally cursing.


    Shameless, who''s in agreement with you? You said there were two options, but there was clearly only one!


    ...


    The meeting ended shortly after.


    In the spacious conference room, Benjamin was left alone.


    He watched a video of the young man moving through throngs of soldiers as if he was in a realm of his own, admiration in his eyes.


    He had to admit, Jeremy had the best skills among the young people he had ever seen.


    It was hard to imagine that this young man was only eighteen years old.


    If given the chance, Benjamin would very much like to meet him.


    But that was contingent on Jeremy making it out of themercial building alive. "Reinforcements will arrive soon... Hang in there, kid!" Benjamin prayed silently, his gaze shifting to the official mobile phone on the podium.


    The screen disyed a message.


    "The apocalypse has arrived, and the yers are humanity''sst hope. This young man has emerged unexpectedly, carrying too much on his shoulders. I have already ordered the strongest specialbat team from the capital to assist. At all costs, he must be protected during this time! Remember, at all costs!"


    Sender:


    The Supreme Leader of the Federation!

 Chapter 34: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, The Horrifying Spell Skills!

    In themercial building, on the thirty-eighth floor.


    "Boom!"


    A loud explosion suddenly erupted in the luxurious office space as Jeremy kicked the door at the stairwell entrance off its hinges.


    Covered in blood, Jeremy appeared at the stairwell, longsword in hand.


    Behind him, the corridor was almost filled with corpses, withyers uponyers of monster bodies piling up. The mix of blood and foul stench was overwhelming, making one want to vomit.


    "I''ve finally made it." Tossing a zombie head into a trash can nonchntly, Jeremy''s expression was calm, though his pupils had turned blood red. The surge of murderous intent and violence within him was indomitable.


    What should have been a short distance of just a few floors took him half an hour to ascend. The monsters in the building, although not high-level, were numerous enough to have forcibly raised his level to 17.


    Jeremy took a moment to calm his emotions, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.


    What appeared before him was a splendid hotel lobby.


    The interior wasvishly decorated, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and expensive carpets on the floor, unmistakably a high-end hotel in Moonlight City.


    A few monsters, previously the hotel''s staff judging by their attire, were wandering in the lobby.


    Jeremy easily dispatched them and followed the guidance of The Eye of Omniscience directly toward the reception room.


    Before long, he found his target.


    Pushing open the door, a luxurious room came into view.


    Jeremy scanned the room, his gaze finally resting on a mahogany tea table in the reception area.


    A shining silver treasure chest was prominently disyed on it.


    "I''ve finally found it!" Jeremy sighed in relief, a smile appearing on his face.


    After all the effort, it was all for this silver treasure chest.


    He wondered what he would find inside this time.


    Jeremy was somewhat expectant.


    If he could get a few pieces of equipment, his strength would be enhanced once more.


    After saying a silent prayer, Jeremy looked at the introduction of the silver treasure chest.


    [Item]: Silver Treasure Chest


    [Introduction]: Opening the chest requires spending 10 level 2 crystals or 1 level 3 crystal.


    [Tip]: Sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" out loud before opening to guarantee a 100% chance of obtaining an intermediate skill book.


    When Jeremy saw the tip following the introduction, his expression became somewhat stiff.


    The reward from the chest didn''t disappoint him, as it contained an intermediate skill book, far exceeding his expectations.


    But the hidden mechanism was indeed peculiar.


    Singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"? What the heck?


    The thought of a grown man having to sing a nursery rhyme out loud made Jeremy want to find a hole to crawl into.


    Was the game designer sick in the head? Why alwayse up with these mortifying mechanisms!


    Jeremy clenched his fists.


    If he ever found out who came up with this hidden mechanism, he would definitely make that person stand on their head and sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" a hundred times!


    After leaving the reception room, Jeremy carefully inspected it twice.


    Once he was sure there were no living people left, he killed all the monsters and then returned to the reception room.


    Looking at the treasure chest in front of him, Jeremy took a deep breath to calm his emotions. Then, the room was filled with his emotionless voice as he reluctantly started to sing,


    "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are..."


    At first, his singing was stiff and off-key, but as he continued, Jeremy surprisingly got into it.


    His voice grew louder, and his emotions became more intense.


    Jeremy was relieved that nothing untoward happened while he sang.


    If someone had discovered him likest time, he would have been mortified.


    [Ding! You have opened the Silver Treasure Chest!]


    [Due to triggering the hidden mechanism, you have received: 1 Intermediate Random Skill Book, 3 Intermediate Damage Amplification Potions, and 1 Level 4 Energy Crystal]


    The silver glow in the reception room shed and vanished.


    An intermediate skill book in purple, three blue potions, and a level 4 energy crystal appeared in front of Jeremy.


    [Item]: Intermediate Random Skill Book


    [Quality]: Purple (Rare)


    [Introduction]: Upon use, randomly grants an intermediate skill.


    [Tip]: Do 100 frog jumps before using, and you will 100% receive an intermediate spell skill.


    ...


    [Item]: Intermediate Damage Amplification Potion


    [Type]: Consumable


    [Grade]: Blue (Common)


    [Introduction]: Upon use, the yer receives a 15% damage boost for 3 minutes, with a cooldown of 15 minutes.


    [Tip]: Shout "Explode, my cosmos!" before use to double all effects of the potion.


    ...


    Jeremy nced at the tip from The Eye of Omniscience and his mouth twitched.


    He could handle 100 frog jumps, but what was with this cringy line?


    Although the prospect of doubling all effects was tempting.


    The thought of having to shout something before a battle made Jeremy feel as if he was crawling with bugs.


    Impossible!


    He would never shout like that in his life, unless he was dead!


    Jeremy thought resolutely.


    Afterwards, he did 100 frog jumps in the living room and activated an intermediate random skill book.


    [Ding! You have opened the Intermediate Random Skill Book!]


    [Due to triggering the hidden mechanism, you have obtained a 100% spell skill!]


    [Ding! You have acquired the intermediate skill "Ice Arrow Rain"!]


    Jeremy opened his panel to check the properties of his newly acquired skill.


    [Skill]: Ice Arrow Rain


    [Level]: lv1


    [Grade]: Intermediate Skill


    [Type]: Attack


    [Introduction]: Upon activation, the yer can summon a barrage of ice arrows to deal 130% magic damage to enemies for 30 seconds, with a cooldown of 20 minutes.


    Jeremy''s eyes lit up.


    It was an area-of-effect spell skill!


    The one thing Jeremy was currentlycking was a powerful area damage ability. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been chased around by a horde of monsters.


    The Ice Arrow Rain perfectly addressed his weakness.


    Jeremy didn''t rush to test his new skill. Instead. He took out the thirteen Level 3 Energy Crystals he had found in the building to upgrade the skill level of Ice Arrow Rain.


    [Ding! You have used a Level 3 Energy Crystal!]


    [Your skill "Ice Arrow Rain" has been upgraded to Level 7!]


    Upon checking the attributes of Ice Arrow Rain again, Jeremy found that its magic damage had increased to 210%, the duration had been extended by 1 minute, and even the cooldown had been reduced to 12 minutes. The skill had received a significant boost overall.


    "Not bad." Jeremy said with a smile on his face as he quickly headed to the stairwell to test the effects of his new skill.


    "Roar!" This time, the monsters in the stairwell didn''t immediately pounce upon seeing Jeremy but issued threatening growls instead.


    Some monsters even squeezed backward, their eyes filled with fear at the sight of Jeremy.


    After all, Jeremy had killed too many monsters in a short time, instilling fear even in them.


    Jeremy didn''t care what the monsters thought.


    Upon seeing them, he immediately activated his skill.


    A blue glow emanated from Jeremy''s eyes.


    "Ice Arrow Rain!"


    The temperature in the air dropped suddenly! A chilly aura swirled around Jeremy, and clusters of ice crystals began to form in the air behind him. Soon, icy blue arrows rapidly took shape.


    In the blink of an eye, a dense array of ice arrows appeared behind Jeremy, their cold aura making all the monsters shiver uncontrobly.


    "Roar, roar, roar!!" Sensing danger, the monsters tried to flee but found themselves too cramped to move.


    Left with no choice, they braced themselves and charged at Jeremy.


    Jeremy pointed the tip of his sword towards the charging monster, his mind racing.


    "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!!"


    The Ice Arrow Rain behind him flew out swiftly, cutting through the air and heading straight for the attacking monsters!


    The group of monsters hadn''t even reached Jeremy before their heads were pierced by the sharp ice arrows.


    Bursts of blood exploded in an instant!


    [You have killed a Level 11 Mutant ck Bear (Common), gaining 1139 XP!]


    [You have killed a Level 12 Werewolf Warrior (Common), gaining 1470 XP!]


    [You have killed a Level 15 Ghoul (Common), gaining 2115 XP!]


    ...


    A series of kill notifications appeared.


    In just the blink of an eye, the dozen or so monsters charging at Jeremy were wiped outpletely!


    The monsters that had narrowly escaped were terrified, their eyes filled with fear as they looked at Jeremy.


    This human was incredibly powerful!


    He was nothing like the humans they had encountered before, not even the same species!


    Despite being mentally prepared, Jeremy was also taken aback by the impressive performance of Ice Arrow Rain.


    No wonder in many games, mages are referred to as artillery on the battlefield. This skill was just too powerful!


    If he had been using dual swords, even if the monsters stood still and let him sh at them, Jeremy couldn''t have finished the battle so quickly.


    Moreover, after these Ice Arrow Rainwere shot, new ice arrows quickly formed behind Jeremy. The level 7 Ice Arrow Rain wouldst for 90 seconds, during which he couldunch several ice arrow attacks.


    "Such a powerful skill!" Jeremy marveled inwardly.


    It seems that going forward, it would be necessary to learn more mage skills and skills from other sses.


    With the powerful passive ability of being ''Limitless,'' Jeremy could learn skills from other sses, something many yers couldn''t replicate and a significant advantage for him.


    Given this, he intended to maximize this advantage as much as possible.

 Chapter 35: Critical Moment, Who Asked You to Come?

    As he thought, Jeremy used the ice arrows behind him to carve a path forward, climbing towards the 42nd floor.


    [You have killed a Level 11 Rotten Corpse (Normal), gaining 1199 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 12 Goblin Assassin (Normal), gaining 1751 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 12 Mutated Crawler (Elite), gaining 3663 experience points!]


    ...


    With each kill notification that appeared, Jeremy''s experience points soared at an astonishing rate. As his level increased, so did the experience required for the next level up.


    To move from level 17 to 18, he needed 160,000 experience points, and Jeremy still required 120,000 experience pointsto reach level 18.


    Previously, it would have taken Jeremy at least two hours.


    However, with Ice Arrow Rain, his monster clearing speed had significantly increased.


    At this rate, he should be able to reach level 18 in less than half an hour.


    Moreover, with Ice Arrow Rain, clearing monsters became much easier for Jeremy,he just needed to mentally control and aim the ice arrows.


    With his current level of mental strength, multitasking was not an issue.


    Taking advantage of the moment, Jeremy checked the level leaderboard.


    He found himself back in first ce.


    However, the second and third ce were only one level behind him, likely to catch up soon. Seeing a string of level 16 yers below him, Jeremy felt a strong sense of urgency.


    After all, he was just one person and found it hard topete with yers who had various resources from heavy spending.


    Relying on his current leveling speed, not to mention winning first ce in the "Chase the Sun" event, he feared he might even drop out of the top ten.


    The event had just begun and hadn''t reached its most intense phase.


    The only way Jeremy could think of to pull ahead was by clearing dungeons and killing high-level monsters to gain a massive amount of experience.


    Unfortunately, both high-level monsters and dungeon secrets were not easy toe by and dependedrgely on luck.


    What Jeremy didn''t know was that his ability to stay ahead of the others had already shocked many.


    The top ranks were mostly upied by individuals from major forces, even many from the federation, backed by various resources.


    If it weren''t for the fact that monsters killed by missiles don''t count towards a yer''s kill count, the federal officials would have loved to stuff each of them with dozens of missiles, speeding up their leveling process.


    People outside now all believe that Jeremy must also be a yer supported by some major force. If they knew that Jeremy was just a lone wolf yer, still aiming for first ce in this event.


    They would surely fly over to give Jeremy a few ps to bring him to his senses.


    ...


    Meanwhile, on the 42nd floor of themercial building.


    In the psychotherapy room, ire slowly woke up on the couch.


    Her eyebrows were tightly furrowed as she reached up to touch her forehead, feeling a headache and somewhat dazed.


    "nk¡ª!"


    A grating metallic noise echoed in the room, instantly snapping ire to full alertness.


    It was that crawler!


    It was still outside!


    This realization made ire''s heart tighten.


    Ignoring the pain in her abdomen, she quickly got up, grabbed a fruit knife, and warily looked towards the direction of the door.


    The once smooth metal soundproof door was now covered in dense, sharp w marks.


    A sharp ck w was slowly being withdrawn from the door.


    Through the gap in the door, ire saw a crimson eye, blood-red and ring.


    It was indeed that monster!


    At the same moment ire saw the crawler, the crawler also set its sights on her.


    "Roar!" The crawler outside let out an excited growl, beginning to hit the soundproof door even more fiercely.


    The intense banging was non-stop, and the powerful force was shaking the room.


    The soundproof door looked like it was about to give in.


    Just then, the noise outside suddenly stopped.


    "Boom!"


    The French doors behind ire shattered suddenly, and the soundproof door plummeted towards the ground from a hundred meters high.


    Soon after, ire heard a dull thud, followed by the furious roars and howls of countless monsters from below.


    ire stood up and looked at the monster slowly crawling into the room.


    It was a humanoid creature with six arms, resembling a spider.


    Its body was bare, with grayish-white skin, and each arm ended in sharp, menacing ws. Its twisted facecked facial features, but it had four elongated, crimson eyes.


    A Crawler!


    A level 12 elite monster!


    Seeing ire with the fruit knife, the crawler''s grotesque mouth opened, emitting a strangeugh, as if mocking her for overestimating herself.


    ire''s delicate face remained expressionless.


    Facing the terrifying crawler, she didn''t feel fear but rather a bit of relief.


    Fortunately, the door had not been broken through while she was unconscious. Otherwise, she would likely be dead already.


    Although the situation wasn''t optimistic now, at least she had a chance to fight for her life.


    Then, the crawler suddenly moved.


    "Bang!"


    With a sudden burst of power from its six arms, the floor shattered beneath it.


    The crawler transformed into a missile, hurtling directly towards ire.


    At the same moment, ire''s eyes, cast downward, suddenly emitted a hint of azure light. Following this, the ss shards on the floor began to levitate.


    This was ire''s S-tier supernatural ability, telekinesis!


    The sharp edges of the ss shards aimed at the crawler, shooting out like arrows.


    The crawler, caught off guard, showed a look of astonishment, not expecting ire to have the capacity to resist.


    Mid-air, it had no way to dodge.


    Countless ss shards pierced its body instantly.


    Sharp ss left numerous wounds on the crawler, sttering blood everywhere.


    "Screech¡ª!" The crawler let out a piercing wail,nding on the ground covered in ss shards. Its eyes, a particr focus of ire''s attack, were immediately shattered by the ss.


    Caught off guard, the crawler was severely injured in an instant.


    However, an attack of this magnitude was clearly not enough to kill it. In fact, before ire could seize the opportunity to attack again, the crawler''s figure vanished from its spot, reappearing instantaneously in front of her.


    With its eyes burning with rage, the crawler''s sharp ws fiercely aimed for ire''s head.


    The attack was too fast,despite ire''s quick reaction and her attempt to defend with her telekic power, she was still struck by the crawler''s formidable force and sent flying.


    "Wham!"


    ire''s slender body hit the wall, feeling as if all her organs had been severely damaged.


    This added insult to injury for ire, who was already in critical condition. Had she not recovered some of her strength earlier, that hit could have knocked her out cold.


    Blood trickled from her mouth, and the purple glow in her eyes faded.


    Looking at the crawler crawling towards her, a sense of resignation appeared in ire''s eyes. Despite her best efforts, was she still going to die?


    "Roar!!!" The crawler approached ire, its face suddenly splitting open like a clove of garlic, revealing a horrific mouth oozing with yellow liquid, and let out an angry roar at ire. "Disgusting!" A flicker of revulsion passed through ire''s eyes.


    The thought of being devoured by such a repulsive creature made her feel nauseous.


    Perhaps the crawler understood ire''s words because its body suddenly stiffened.


    Then, a voice that seemed to agree with ire''s sentiment echoed in the psychotherapy room. "Right, I also find these monsters quite disgusting." the voice said lightly.


    Following that, Jeremy''s figure appeared behind the crawler.


    He stood tall and calm, dual swords in hand, his tiger skin coat soaked in dark red blood, his eyes filled with the same deep loathing as ire''s.


    Seeing Jeremy, ire was momentarily stunned.


    She was all too familiar with Jeremy''s voice and appearance.


    But how could he be here? Wasn''t he supposed to be trapped in Moonlight Secondary School? ire''s brows furrowed slightly, wondering if she was hallucinating on the brink of death.


    As she pondered this, the crawler''s body suddenly split open from top to bottom.


    "Splurt!"


    The crawler''s blood and viscera spilled everywhere, some even sshing onto ire''s face.


    Feeling the warmth on her face, ire realized this was no hallucination.


    Jeremy had actually made it to themercial building!


    Thinking about the terrifying horde of monsters on the ground and seeing Jeremy''s coat stained dark with blood.


    ire''s emotions were a whirlwind of shock, astonishment, anger, and rage.


    But notably, there was no joy.


    Jeremy slowly sheathed his swords, turning to look at ire who was staring at him in a daze.


    He reached out his hand, smiling, "So, Dr. ire, are you moved?"


    Observing Jeremy''s eyes, nowpletely overtaken by red, and seeing the suppressed yet unmistakably crazy murderous intent in his gaze.


    ire reached out her hand. However, instead of taking Jeremy''s hand, she pped him across the face.


    "Thwack!"


    The crisp sound of the p echoed through the room.


    With her beautiful eyes slightly reddened, ire yelled angrily, "Have you lost your mind? Who asked you toe here!"

 Chapter 36: After That Incident, I Knew She Was The One

    Jeremy was momentarily stunned by the unexpected p.


    But seeing ire''s expression, he just smiled, not taking it to heart, and teased, "You really don''t know what''s good for you, do you? If I hadn''te, you''d probably have your head chewed off by a crawler by now."


    With that, Jeremy reached out and pulled ire up from the blood-soaked ground.


    Herb coat was nowpletely dyed red.


    Jeremy noticed that ire had virtually no strength left,she could barely stand, clearly in bad shape.


    ire was barely able to stand with Jeremy''s support.


    She was pale and ignored Jeremy''s teasing, weakly saying, "You shouldn''t havee for me. I don''t think I''ll live much longer. And I probably won''t be able to help with your illness anymore. The medicine that can alleviate your condition is in the third drawer of the bedroom, the prescription is in there as well.


    Although this medicine only treats the symptoms and not the root cause, at least it can dy the worsening of your condition..."


    "Cough, cough!!"


    After speaking, ire suddenly coughed violently, then spat out a mouthful of ck blood.


    Her injuries had not healed, and the monster''s attack had shattered her mental defenses, mming her against a wall and worsening her condition. The fact that she had managed to p Jeremy was entirely due to her exceptional willpower.


    Once the immediate crisis was over, ire''s bodypletely copsed, unable to hold up any longer.


    Jeremy raised an eyebrow and said, "It seems your situation isn''t as ''fine'' as you''ve made it out to be."


    He noticed the wound on ire''s abdomen, which was clearly not fresh.


    He had felt something was off when he called her earlier but didn''t think much of it. Now, it seemed she had been seriously injured even then, surviving until now was nothing short of a miracle.


    ire didn''t respond to Jeremy''s words.


    Her brows were furrowed, and her teeth clenched.


    Jeremy could see she was struggling to suppress her pain.


    He frowned, knowing they couldn''t dy any longer.


    From his experience, if such injuries weren''t treated promptly, ire wouldn''t survive the day. Jeremy sighed, "You can''t die. If you do, I''ll go mad."


    Without waiting for ire to respond, he scooped her up in his arms.


    ire didn''t struggle.


    She leaned against Jeremy''s shoulder, silent.


    It was unclear whether she had no strength left or had passed out.


    Jeremy carried ire out of the psychotherapy room and made his way to her bedroom, familiar with the path.


    After all, he had spent most of his time here receiving treatment over the past three years.


    Gently, Jeremy ced ire on the bed.


    The clean sheets were immediately stained with arge patch of red.


    Jeremy carefully assessed ire''s condition and found that her consciousness was somewhat blurred. Despite her efforts to stay conscious, herplexion was getting worse, enduring both physical and mental agony.


    She looked up at Jeremy, weakly saying, "Don''t waste your energy... I know my own condition... Without professional medical equipment here... I won''tst long..."


    Jeremy didn''t respond verbally but approached the bed and carefully began to undo ire''s shirt and the bandages around her abdomen.


    Instead of unblemished skin, he was greeted by a horrific wound.


    Though it had been crudely treated, the skin around it had turned a dark purple.


    Indicating blocked blood vessels and subcutaneous hemorrhage.


    Upon closer examination, Jeremy discovered that the situation inside was not optimistic either. Gently pressing on several areas of ire''s abdomen, he could feel a fluid-like presence, likely indicating internal bleeding.


    When Jeremy''s hands touched ire''s skin, her body tensed up, and her brows furrowed. However, she soon rxed under his touch.


    ire didn''t stop Jeremy, just quietly watched him, her thoughts inscrutable.


    Jeremy, absorbed in assessing the wound, frowned deeply.


    Such injuries would typically be a death sentence for an ordinary person without immediate medical intervention.


    Internal bleeding without medical facilities meant amon person wouldn''tst long.


    But ire was no ordinary person.


    As a yer, her physical constitution far surpassed that of a regr human.


    Plus, Jeremy had two basic healing potions on hand, which should be enough to save ire''s life.


    However, the prerequisite was to clean the blood clot.


    Jeremy could only try his best in this regard, not bothering to think too much about potential problems.


    Saving her was the priority, everything else could wait.


    Jeremy stood up to look for the medical kit.


    Fortunately, the medical kit was still in the psychotherapy room, undamaged.


    It was well-stocked with tourniquets, syringes, and surgical needles.


    Jeremy carefully cleaned the clot at the edge, then took out two basic healing potions from the storage space and injected one into ire.


    ire''s consciousness, which had been somewhat blurry, suddenly felt a warm flow entering her body.


    Following that, she felt the wounds on her body rapidly healing.


    "What did you do?" ire asked in confusion.


    She could feel her body recovering at an astonishing rate.


    This method of treatment was something she had never seen before.


    Jeremy nced at ire and noticed a significant improvement in herplexion, although she was still as pale as paper. Excessive blood loss wasn''t something that could be easily recovered from.


    "I injected you with a basic healing potion. Remember to pay me backter." Jeremy casually mentioned, his gaze still on ire''s slowly healing wound.


    Once he was sure there were noplications, his eyes inadvertently drifted upwards, admiring in silence.


    He had noticed before that ire had a prominent chest, but he hadn''t expected it to be quite so impressive even when lying down.


    Realizing what had likely happened, ire guessed Jeremy must have used an extraordinary item on her.


    She was about to thank him when she caught him staring intently at her chest.


    Her brows knitted together in annoyance, and she coldly asked, "Have you seen enough?"


    As she spoke, she reluctantly pulled over the nket and covered her body.


    "What''s the big deal? It''s not like we haven''t shared a bed before." Jeremy retorted, his gaze returning to her face.


    He immediately realized his mistake.


    Because that was just an ident, he didn''t even remember the process.


    Jeremy had been undergoing psychological therapy with ire when he unexpectedly fell ill.


    By the time he woke up, ire had been sleeping next to him. Both of them undressed.


    ire didn''t say much when she woke up, just assumed that it never happened.


    Since then, the incident had remained a silent presence between them.


    But Jeremy knew that ire had always kept this matter to her heart and never let it go from beginning to end.


    Sure enough, upon hearing Jeremy''s words, ire''s expression changed immediately.


    She looked at Jeremy coldly, her lips pursed, not saying a word.


    The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense.


    "Cough, I''ll step out for a bit. You should rest." Jeremy quickly realized the mood had soured and made a hasty exit from the bedroom.


    Despite this, the gaze from behind still made his hair stand on end.


    Inside the bedroom, ire''s expression was aplex mix of emotions.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the outer rings of Moonlight City.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    The deafening roar of gunfire abruptly shattered the city''s silence.


    Many were jolted awake by the noise.


    Their eyes widening in shock as they looked towards the source.


    Unbeknownst to them, an armored torrent had appeared in the city.


    Tanks and armored vehicles advanced in neat rows, their roaring engines unstoppable like bulldozers moving towards the city center.


    All the things standing in front of them, whether they were monsters or cars, were smashed to pieces, unable to stop their footsteps.


    Following the armored vehicles were fully armed soldiers with icy stares.


    They marched in step, working together efficiently to clean up any monsters missed by the artillery fire.


    This force was massive, consisting of thousands of personnel.


    However, the most eye-catching was the figure standing atop a tank at the forefront of the formation.


    He was d in military gear, with a burly physique and a scruffy beard, shouldering a rocketuncher. His appearance was somewhat unkempt, yet he exuded a bold aura.


    Behind the burly man, Bonnie, Emma, Ritchie, and others stood in an armored vehicle.


    They looked dazed, still not quite processing what was happening.


    They had been sleeping peacefully when this man, without a word, had people enter the school and bring them onto the vehicle.


    Ritchie was so scared he almost wet himself, his mind racing through every misdeed he hadmitted in his life.


    Bonnie recognized the burly man''s identity and appeared rtively calm, but she too was clueless about Howard''s intentions.


    After a moment, Bonnie asked loudly, "Uncle Howard, where are we going?"


    Howard, who was busy clearing monsters with his rocketuncher, chuckled at Bonnie''s question. "We''re going to find your ssmate." he replied with a smile.


    The group exchanged puzzled looks, not understanding.


    Bonnie hesitated before asking, "Uncle Howard, are you looking for Jeremy?"


    Of all her ssmates, Jeremy was the only one she thought Howard would care so much about. Howard grinned broadly but remained silent.


    He had seen Jeremy''s video.


    After watching it, Howard had only one thought.


    He needed that guy!

 Chapter 37: Is This Your First Time Jumping Off a Building?

    After ire''s anger subsided, Jeremy administered a second dose of the healing serum to her. Soon, ire''s injuries had significantly improved. Although she wasn''t fully recovered, her life was no longer in danger.


    Jeremy didn''t disturb her rest.


    He stepped out of the bedroom into the psychotherapy room and observed the situation on the ground through the window.


    It was now morning, and the sun was shining brightly.


    Themercial za was still swarming with countless monsters. Although they weren''t piled up as exaggeratedly as before, many gathered beneath themercial buildings, forming a dark, endless mass.


    Observing the scene below, Jeremy''s brow furrowed.


    ire had been saved, but the problem abouthow the two of them would leave this ce remained.


    ording to his original n, he intended to give ire the invisibility mask so she could sneak out by hiding her presence. Jeremy himself was prepared to charge through the beast horde again... After all, as long as he ran fast enough, those monsters wouldn''t be able to catch up to him.


    The problem was that ire was injured and couldn''t use the invisibility mask, as the scent of blood would reveal her location.


    So, Jeremy was left with only two options.


    One was to stay in themercial building and wait for rescue, and the other was to rush out with ire.


    The first option was uneptable to Jeremy.


    Emma was still outside. With her being a support-type ability user with little self-defense capability, Jeremy couldn''t possibly abandon her at the school without care.


    Moreover, who knew when someone woulde to their rescue.


    Given Jeremy''s understanding of his officials, they might end up receiving a few missiles instead of rescue.


    If it were him, seeing so many monsters gathered in one ce, he would also be very tempted by the proposal topletely destroy the area.


    Now, it seemed the only choice left was to rush out with ire.


    Jeremy lit a cigarette, feeling somewhat headache-ridden.


    The difficulty of rushing out alone versus with someone else wasn''t on the same level, and he wasn''t very confident about it.


    "What are you thinking about?" ire, who had woken up at some point, asked.


    She walked into the office and saw Jeremy smoking, her brows unconsciously furrowing.


    Jeremy then realized that an hour had unknowingly passed.


    "I''m thinking about how to get out." he replied, turning to look at ire. He noticed that although herplexion was still pale and her steps somewhat unsteady, she looked much better than before.


    It seemed the effects of the basic life potion were betterthan he had expected.


    ire stepped forward, took the cigarette from Jeremy''s hand, and threw it out the window.


    She looked at Jeremy''s furrowed brow and said lightly, "You seem very anxious to leave. Is it because of Emma?"


    ire knew about Emma and Jeremy''s rtionship.


    After all, Jeremy and Emma had met in her psychotherapy clinic.


    At that time, Emma''s mother had just passed away, and she was suffering from severe depression. Jeremy, who was a regr patient of ire''s for therapy, eventually got together with Emma over time.


    Jeremy nced at her and lit another cigarette, without saying a word.


    ire was a genius in psychology, not only in psychotherapy but also in micro-expressions, psychological analysis, and various other skills.


    Although Jeremy didn''t speak, ire easily deciphered the meaning behind his nce.


    "None of your business."


    ire''s chest heaved with emotion, her eyes aze with fury, almost wishing she could p Jeremy again.


    She found that every time she faced Jeremy, her emotions were uncontroble.


    This guy was simply a jerk!


    Taking a deep breath, ire said coldly, "On one hand, youe to rescue me. And on the other, you can''t forget your girlfriend. Jeremy, you really are ''devoted''!"


    "I think so too." Jeremy stretchedzily, smiling at ire. "Otherwise, I wouldn''t have risked my life to save you, would I?"


    ire pursed her lips, not continuing the topic, but instead asked, "So, how do you n to leave?"


    "Of course, we''ll make a run for it." Jeremy flicked off some ash from his cigarette.


    ire frowned.


    With so many monsters outside, how could the two of them make a run for it?


    However, she didn''t say much, only asking, "When?"


    Jeremy tossed his cigarette away, suddenly smiling. "Now."


    "Now?" ire was startled. Before she could react, Jeremy suddenly wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace.


    All ire saw was a blur, followed by a strong sensation of weightlessness.


    Herplexion changed, and her eyes widened in astonishment...


    Above the sky, the two of them flew out of themercial building and plummeted towards the ground at high speed!


    Jeremy had actually jumped off from the 42nd floor with her!


    In mid-air, the wind howled, and their clothes fluttered loudly.


    With his hair standing on end, Jeremy joked, "ire, this must be your first time jumping off a building, right? How does it feel?"


    ire couldn''t believe he could still joke at a time like this.


    Clinging tightly to Jeremy, her usually calm face showed a rare panic as she gritted her teeth, "Jeremy, you''re insane!"


    If he wasn''t insane, how could a normal person jump from the 42nd floor?


    Forget escaping; they would turn into mush the moment they hit the ground from such a height!


    Seeing ire clinging to him like a frightened deer, Jeremy couldn''t help but kiss her moist red lips, chuckling softly, "Don''t worry. With me here, it''s going to be alright."


    He wasn''t someone who sought death.


    Facing Jeremy''s kiss, ire didn''t resist.


    She slowly closed her eyes, responding awkwardly.


    Facing death, ire hade to terms with a lot.


    As for Jeremy''s words, she took them as mere delusions.


    They didn''t have much time for tenderness. In a few breaths, they had already fallen several hundred meters.


    With only a hundred meters left, the two of them woulnd.


    Jeremy''s mind raced.


    The next moment, a cluster of blue wind appeared beneath his feet, astonishingly causing their falling figures to hover mid-air.


    "Wind control!"


    ire noticed the anomaly and slowly opened her eyes.


    When she saw that they were actually floating in mid-air, she was stunned.


    Then, seeing Jeremy''s smiling face, how could ire not understand that she had been yed by Jeremy?


    She looked at Jeremy coldly, "Are you having fun?"


    Jeremy shrugged, smiling, "Don''t look at me like that.I just wanted to give you a surprise."


    ire didn''t feel much of a surprise, but she did get quite a scare.


    She didn''t want to deal with Jeremy anymore and turned her head away.


    At this moment, they were less than a hundred meters from the ground, and the monsters below had yet to notice them. However, the Skyrakers guarding themercial building had spotted Jeremy and ire and excitedly flew towards them.


    Catching sight of the Skyrakers approaching like a dark cloud, a bloody hue reappeared in Jeremy''s eyes.


    These beasts were relentless!


    With a thought, a crimson longsword appeared in his hand.


    He smiled lightly, "The most dangerous part ising up. Hold on to me tight. Don''t fall off."


    Since he was holding ire, Jeremy could only use one longsword, significantly reducing his strength.


    Moreover, the "Wind Control" ability onlysted for 5 minutes.


    So, whether they could survive the next moments would depend on luck.


    ire also noticed the Skyrakers flying towards them.


    "I understand." She nodded, her eyes shimmering with a purple glow.


    ire would not let Jeremy fight alone.


    "Squeal¡ª!"


    At that moment, the Skyrakers charged at them rapidly, an elite Skyraker diving from the sky with brutality and hatred in its eyes, its sharp ws swiftly aiming for Jeremy''s head.


    Just as it was about to reach him, the blue wind beneath Jeremy suddenly shifted, narrowly dodging the Skyraker''s attack.


    As they brushed past each other, Jeremy''s eyes filled with a surge of killing intent, and he fiercely swung his zing sword.


    A red streak of light suddenly cut through the air.


    The head and body of the Skyraker were cleaved in two by Jeremy''s single strike.


    Fresh blood gushed out like a fountain, raining down from the sky.


    [You have killed a Level 16 Skyraker (Elite), gaining 5563 experience points!]


    An elite Skyraker, killed in one strike!


    With Jeremy''s current strength, elite monsters were no different from ordinary ones in his hands, only providing more experience.


    "Squeak squeak squeak!!!"


    Far from retreating, the death of their kin only spurred the Skyrakers'' ferocity.


    More of them viciously pounced towards Jeremy.


    ire''s eyes glowed with a purple light.


    A powerful psychic force suddenly erupted from them as the center.


    Five or six Skyrakers, hit by this psychic attack, emitted piercing screams and plummeted to the ground, bleeding from all orifices.


    "Deserve to be calledan S-ss ability." Jeremy nced at ire, he wassurprised that in her current state, she could still unleash such a strong psychic attack.


    However, after releasing that strike, ire''s spirit visibly weakened.


    While a basic potion had healed some of her injuries, it didn''t restore her psychic energy.


    "Save your strength for now, there''s no need for you to act yet." Jeremy said, his gaze shifting to the Skyrakers attacking again, a sh of ice-blue light in his eyes.


    "Okay." ire had just responded when she suddenly noticed the temperature around them had dropped significantly.

 Chapter 38: First Time Seeing Someone Die for Love

    ire was astonished to find that, at some point, a series of icy arrows had materialized behind Jeremy.


    Each and every ice arrow shimmered with an eerie chill, appearing as crystals under the gleam of the sunlight.


    "Ice Arrow Rain!"


    With a mere flicker of thought from Jeremy, all the ice arrows transformed into radiant streaks of light, hurtling towards the Skyrakers diving towards him.


    "Whoosh, Whoosh, Whoosh,Whoosh!"


    A cluster of Skyrakers hadn''t even managed to get close to Jeremy before they were impaled by the ice arrows, tumbling directly from the sky.


    [You have killed a level 15 Skyraker (Normal), gaining 2133 experience points!]


    [You have killed a level 16 Skyraker (Normal), gaining 2319 experience points!]


    [You have killed a level 14 Skyraker (Elite), gaining 1787 experience points!]


    ...


    Without waiting for the other Skyrakers to react, new ice arrows condensed behind Jeremy and shot towards them again.


    Instantly, the Skyrakers fell from the sky like dumplings plunging into boiling water.


    Injust a few breaths of time, more than twenty monstersy dead by Jeremy''s hand.


    ire watched this scene in stunned silence, finally understanding why Jeremy had been able to ascend themercial skyscraper alone.


    The terrifying attack power and range were not just one level above her own, but perhaps even more.


    ire surmised that Jeremy must have awakened an S-tier ability, as nothing else could exin the magnitude of his strength.


    As Skyrakers continued to fall to the ground, the battle in the sky drew the attention of the monsters on the ground.


    One by one, they looked up, only to recognize the all-too-familiar figure of Jeremy.


    "Roar, roar, roar!!!"


    Countless monsters immediately let out excited roars. Some elite monsters with abilities even hurled their skills towards them. They were so enthusiastic as if they had seen their loved ones.


    However, due to the distance, these skills couldn''t touch Jeremy and ire, with some even falling back into the crowd of monsters, killing several of them.


    Jeremy couldn''t be bothered with them. Once theynded, he and ire took off, leaving the monsters to eat their dust.


    Soon, a golden glow enveloped Jeremy.


    [Your level has increased to 18, granting you 20 free attribute points!]


    [You have received your job-specific attributes: Strength +30, Spirit +30, Stamina +15, Agility +15!]


    Jeremy was only a bit of experience away from reaching level 18. These monsters had just filled that gap.


    Taking advantage of the ongoing Ice Arrow Rain attack, Jeremy began to lead ire towards less crowded areas.


    However, their flight speed wasn''t fast, far from his actual speed.


    "Wind Riding" although allowing yers to hover in mid-air, it wasn''t a proper flying skill.Besides being slow, it was also quite cumbersome to control, only moving in up, down, left, and rightdirections.


    Jeremy calcted the distance, breathing a sigh of relief.


    If all went well, they should be able to reach a safe area before the skill ended.


    "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"


    Just then, several whooshing sounds suddenly pierced through the air.


    Jeremy''s pupils shrank suddenly, and he swiftly moved to the left.


    At the same time, he brandished the long sword in his hands boldly in front of him, firmly protecting ire.


    Four white bone spikes, like sharp arrows, tore through the air, shooting directly at Jeremy and ire.


    Despite Jeremy dodging two and blocking another with his longsword, the final bone spike still struck his sword-bearing shoulder.


    Blood spurted out as the sharp bone spike pierced through Jeremy''s shoulder.The powerful force even carried him upside down and flew him out, until Jeremy barely stopped his body after flying a few meters.


    "Jeremy!" ire instinctively called out, her eyes shing purple with determination to use her psychic powers as she saw the bone spike and blood on Jeremy''s shoulder.


    "I''m fine." Jeremy stopped her. Then he sheathed his zing sword, grasped the bone spike in his shoulder, and with a forceful twist of his wrist, he unhesitatingly pulled it out.


    "Splurt!"


    Blood sprayed out like a stream, drawing countless monsters below into a frenzy towards the area. They opened their mouths trying to catch Jeremy''s blood, creating a horrifying scene.


    Jeremy remained expressionless andlooked up at the monster that had ambushed him.


    In the sky, in front of a swarm of Skyrakers, a monster around five or six meters tall had appeared at some point.


    It resembled the Skyrakers but was much stronger and had a pair of white bone wings.


    At that moment, the creature was looking down at Jeremy. Its crimson eyes filled with cunning and mockery.


    [Skyraker Lord]


    [Level]: lv25


    [Attack]: 3079-3210


    [Defense]: 1013


    [Skills]: Bone Spike, Bone Shield, Bone w...


    [Warning]: Dangerous, high defense, fast. Killing it will definitely yield a golden-level equipment.


    ...


    Jeremy frowned. They were now in trouble, facing a lord-level monster.


    On the ground, Jeremy wouldn''t fear this Skyraker Lord.


    But they were in mid-air, the Skyrakers'' home turf.


    Moreover, the duration of his Wind Riding skill was almost up.


    If they got dyed by this creature, once the skill ended, both of them would be monster feed.


    Jeremy was eager to quickly end the battle, but the Skyraker in the sky simply wouldn''te near him.


    It stood behind a group of Skyrakers,manding them to charge towards Jeremy one by one, while hiding behind it, which was very cunning.


    Clearly, it knew that Jeremy''s abilities wouldn''tst much longer and was deliberately stalling for time.


    As hordes of Skyrakers fearlessly charged at Jeremy, he switched his sword to his other hand, fending off attacks with Sinfire and Disaster de while pondering a strategy.


    Unfortunately, time was pressing, with only 2 minutes left of Wind Riding. Jeremy couldn''te up with a good n in such short notice.


    Finally, Jeremy had no choice but to hand a Jump Coin to ire from his storage space, instructing, "When the skill ends, I''ll draw the monsters'' attention. You use the Jump Coin to escape."


    The Jump Coin was too unpredictable, Jeremy wouldn''t have considered it if there was any other option.


    ireunderstoodthe value of the item as she read its description. She didn''t take it, but instead stared at Jeremy, asking, "If you give me the item, what will you do?"


    Jeremy wanted to say he had another and brush it off, but looking into ire''s eyes, he knew he couldn''t deceive her.


    "I''ll figure something out¡­" Jeremy admitted honestly. "Don''t worry. With my strength, escaping isn''t hard. If you stay, we might both end up dead!"


    ire carefully observed every slight change in Jeremy''s facial expressions.


    She knew Jeremy all too well. If he were lying, it would never escape her notice.


    Once she was sure Jeremy wasn''t lying, ire pursed her lips and epted the Jump Coin.


    She understood that her presence would only hinder Jeremy.


    In that case, leaving was the best solution.


    After a pause, ire looked at Jeremy seriously and said, "If you die, I''ll go kill Emma too."


    Jeremy was taken aback and then burst intoughter at herment.


    He said with slight annoyance, "I''ve heard of dying for love, but you''re the first I''ve seen willing to die for someone else''s love. Are you the king of hell?"


    ire, holding the coin, remained silent.


    Jeremy sliced a Skyraker in half with his sword and estimated the remaining duration of his skill¡ªabout 1 minute left.


    He nced at the ground. Apart from a few monsters and the Corpse Devouring Tyrant picking at bodies, nearly all the monsters had been attracted by his blood.


    In the shopping za below, a mountain of monsters piled up beneath them, frantically scrambling for Jeremy''s spilled blood, their eyes filled with longing and excitement.


    Jeremy''s frown eased.


    This was a good thing. Attracting the monsters would create arger safe zone for ire.


    With only ten seconds left of Windriding, Jeremy and hispanion were still descending.


    As they got closer, some of the monsters'' abilities were already within range to attack the two of them.


    Moreover, the Skyraker Lord in the sky appeared to be getting restless.


    It had flown out from behind the group of Skyrakers, seemingly ready to make its move.


    Jeremy thought quickly and instructed ire, "I''ll cancel the skill. You use the Jump Coin immediately. If you''re unlucky and end up in a pile of monsters, just hold on for a bit. I''lle to save you."


    ire nodded.


    Jeremy nced at the mountainous group of monsters below.


    He took a deep breath and suddenly shouted, "Go now!"


    Hearing this, ire immediately activated the Jump Coin in her hand.


    The coin emitted a burst of white light, enveloping irepletely, and in the blink of an eye, her figure vanished.


    The next moment, the blue whirlwind beneath Jeremy''s feet suddenly dissipated, and he began to plummet from the sky.


    "Roar!Roar!Roar!!"


    The monsters on the ground, seeing this scene, crazily rushed towards his falling location.


    The Skyraker Lord in the sky also fiercely pped its wings, diving at Jeremy with incredible speed.


    Jeremy was instantly plunged into a crisis!

 Chapter 39: Rage, The Worlds First Kill

    Jeremy was in mid-air, in free fall, plummeting rapidly as if he had no ability to resist.


    The Skyraker Lord in the sky, like a bolt of lightning, reached Jeremy in the blink of an eye.


    Amid the furious roars of the monsters, the Skyraker Lord''s ghastly white bone ws fiercely reached for Jeremy''s head. Its eyes filled with excitement¡ªthis enticing human was its prey!


    But in that moment, the Skyraker Lord sensed something was amiss.


    The human showed no trace of fear. Instead, there was a hint of mockery on his face.


    "Been waiting for you!" Jeremy sneered.


    His long sword suddenly burst into a dazzling light.


    The next moment, a two-meter-long azure wind de shed towards the Skyraker Lord rushing at him.


    [Gale sh!]


    The Skyraker Lord, caught off guard by Jeremy''s ability to resist, had no defenses ready.


    The distance between them was too short. It had no chance to evade.


    "Swoosh!"


    A sh of azure light flickered through the sky and then vanished.


    Then, the head of the Skyraker Lord flew into the air!


    [You have killed a level 25 Skyraker Lord, gaining 35,977 experience points!]


    Warm blood sshed over Jeremy''s face, and a light orb appeared from the headless body.


    Jeremy, quick to react, immediately collected it into his storage space, without any time to check the equipment attributes.


    Because the monsters below him had already opened their gaping maws, waiting for him.


    Meanwhile, a sh of white light streaked through themercial za.


    ire''s figure appeared.


    She couldn''t bother to survey her surroundings and looked up towards the sky.


    Then, ire witnessed a scene that made her heart stop.


    In the sky, Jeremy, covered in blood, was falling like a broken kite.


    Below him was a terrifying mountain of monsters, piled up to dozens of meters high!


    Jeremy''s figure plunged into the mountain of monsters, and countless monsters instantly engulfed himpletely.


    ire''s face turned as pale as paper, hoping for a miracle.


    But after two breaths, there was still no sign of Jeremy.


    "Liar, Jeremy, you liar!" ire''s lips trembled as she murmured to herself.


    Falling into so many monsters, Jeremy had no chance of survival.


    ire felt a suffocating pain in her chest.


    She didn''t notice that behind her, a huge meatball was slowly creeping closer.


    The monsters around it instinctively moved away, their eyes filled with fear.


    "Eat¡­ eat¡­ eat¡­"


    By the time ire realized what was happening, she was already engulfed in a shadow.


    ire numbly turned her head, and a horrifying spherical monster appeared in her sight.


    This creature was enormous, measuring dozens of meters wide, resembling a giant meatball covered in densely packed heads and worm-like tentacles.


    The heads on its body stared at her with lifeless eyes, continuously muttering to themselves.


    "Eat... eat... eat..."


    This monster was none other than the Devouring Tyrant!


    And it had already reached level 25!


    Yet ire seemed not to see it, her eyes empty, her expression one of destion.


    In her current state, it was impossible for her to survive an encounter with such a boss.


    "If that''s the case, death might be preferable." she murmured to herself.


    After speaking, ire slowly closed her eyes, no longer prepared to resist.


    Suddenly, a voice filled with immense anger exploded across themercial za.


    "Are you an idiot, ire?!" the voice roared.


    Startled by the voice, ire''s eyes suddenly sparkled with life.


    Because she recognized it¡ªthis was Jeremy''s voice.


    Jeremy wasn''t dead!


    The Devouring Tyrant cared for nothing but filling its stomach.


    Its tentacles immediately swept towards ire.


    Just then, Jeremy''s cold voice echoed again from within the mountain of monsters.


    "Wrath of the Seven Sins!"


    The next moment, an overwhelmingly ferocious and terrifying pressure descended upon themercial za!


    All the monsters froze, their expressions filled with terror.


    They felt a fear that stemmed from the depths of their souls!


    Even the Devouring Tyrant''s tentacles stopped mid-air.


    All the heads on its body turned simultaneously towards the direction of the monster mountain, eximing in surprise, "sphemer... Wrath..."


    Before the Devouring Tyrant could finish, a dark red beam of light suddenly burst from the mountain of monsters and soared into the sky.


    Like a meteor shing through the heavens, it carried an unparalleled ferocity and crashed into its massive body with a fierce impact.


    "Boom!!!"


    A massive explosion echoed through themercial za, and the Devouring Tyrant''s twenty-plus-meter body was sent flying like a cannonball.


    It carved a deep trench on the ground before crashing into the mall.


    The mall''s walls, as if made of paper, were punctured by a huge hole as it smashed through threeyers of walls before the Tyrant''s body finally came to a halt.


    Immediately after, a series of booming sounds like a tempestuous storm erupted within the mall.


    "Boom boom boom boom boom!!!"


    Dust and debris filled the air, and the entiremercial za shook continuously as if hit by an earthquake.


    Terrifying dark red mes swept through, turning everything they touched within the mall into ashes instantaneously.


    When the dust settled, the mall was littered with rocks and ss shards, nearly reduced to ruins.


    All was silent in the mall,even the sound of monsters ceased at that moment, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.


    ire''s hair fluttered in the air as she stared, still not quite grasping what had just happened.


    At that moment, a dark red figure, emanating a terrifying murderous intent, walked out from the mall.


    His face was stern, his upper body naked and covered in blood, his pupils a frightening dark red filled with brutality and madness, and his body enveloped in terrifying dark red mes.


    This person was Jeremy!


    It was merely the state after unleashing the Seven Sins - Wrath.


    ire looked at him, hardly daring to associate the person before her with the Jeremy she knew. She hesitated for a moment before calling out, "Jeremy?"


    Jeremy paused in his steps, his dark red eyes turning towards ire.


    In an instant, an overwhelmingly terrifying intent to kill enveloped ire!


    Before ire''s eyes seemed to manifest a sea of corpses and a river of blood, causing her breath to nearly stop.


    At this moment, ire was absolutely certain.


    Jeremy truly intended to kill her!


    She sensed something was terribly wrong with Jeremy''s state.


    But ire wasn''t afraid,instead, she said earnestly, "Jeremy, it''s me, ire. Do you recognize me? Remember what I once told you? Stay sane!"


    ire had encountered this situation before when Jeremy had his episodes.


    Though Jeremy hadn''t shown such drastic changes back then, his current state was undoubtedly simr to those times.


    ire indeed managed to bring back some of Jeremy''s sanity.


    His gaze lingered on ire''s face for a moment, his dark red eyes flickered. With a hoarse voice, he said, "Leave... quickly. I can''t control myself right now."


    ire wanted to say more, but Jeremy had already turned his head, continuing to move forward.


    Jeremy could feel that his time was running short.


    It must be said, he was incredibly unlucky.


    If Jeremy wasn''t mistaken, he must have encountered the 10% rage chance.


    Time was running out.


    Now, the most important thing was to extract all the information he could from this boss and then deal with it.


    Only then did ire notice that Jeremy was holding a flesh-colored tentacle in his hand.


    As Jeremy moved forward, the ground beneath him cracked inch by inch, trembling along with his steps.


    Behind him, the massive body of the Devouring Tyrant was slowly being dragged out.


    The ball-like body of the Devouring Tyrant had a massive, gore-filled hole sted through its center.


    Through the hole, one could even see its internal organs and the ground.


    Its heads had all turned into bloodied holes, and its tentacles were all severed, a sight too gruesome to bear.


    Jeremy dragged it out of the mall and asked emotionlessly, "What do you know? Who is the Fool?"


    The Devouring Tyrant was on itsst breath, but it seemed not to feel any pain.


    Perhaps hearing Jeremy''s words, the Devouring Tyrant mumbled, "sphemer... Fool... eat... sphemer..."


    Jeremy frowned,the Devouring Tyrant''s consciousness was even worse than his, hardly able to provide him with much information.


    The only information he managed to get was that the apocalypse game seemed to be rted to someone called the Fool.


    No matter how much more Jeremy asked, the Devouring Tyrant only repeated those few sentences.


    Jeremy''s rationality was gradually worn down.


    A long knife, burning with dark red mes, appeared in his hand.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy swung the knife down.


    "Boom!"


    A terrifying dark red de light flew out, tearing the ground open with a crack tens of meters long.


    The massive body of the Devouring Tyrant was instantly cleaved in two.


    [You have killed a level 25 Devouring Tyrant (BOSS), gaining 117,000 experience points!]


    [Your level has increased to 19, and you have gained 20 free attribute points!]


    [You receive fixed professional attributes: Strength +30, Spirit +30, Stamina +15, Agility +15!]


    ¡­


    [Congrattions, you are the first yer in this apocalypse game to kill a BOSS!]


    [You have obtained a special title: World''s First Kill (Legendary)!]


    [You have received a special reward: Resurrection Coin*1 (Precious)!]


    A series of notifications appeared, but Jeremy had no time to look at them.


    Just then, his skill''s duration had just ended.


    A surge of murderous intent, as overwhelming as a tsunami, instantly flooded his mind!


    Jeremy only had time to warn ire with a final shout, "Run!!"

 Chapter 40: Jeremy Goes Berserk, Benjamin Steps In

    Before ire could react further.


    "Boom!"


    Jeremy''s already ferocious aura suddenly surged even more violently!


    The mes around him quickly turned into a blood-red color, and his overwhelming presence spread rapidly like a tidal wave with Jeremy at its center.


    Jeremy slowly turned his head, his crimson eyes locking onto ire.


    In his eyes, there was nothing but hysterical madness and a towering killing intent, devoid of any sanity.


    "Jeremy...you..." ire staggered back in shock.


    She could feel that the person in front of her was no longer Jeremy.


    But a monster that could choose to devour someone at any moment!


    "Roar!!"


    The next moment, Jeremy let out an inhuman roar towards the sky.


    The ground beneath his feet exploded violently, and his figure instantly disappeared.


    The chilling wind lifted ire''s long hair.


    Jeremy transformed into a streak of blood light, brushing past her and charging directly towards the monsters in themercial za.


    Perhaps it was thest bit of reason that prevented him from striking ire.


    "Jeremy!" ire shouted Jeremy''s name, but received no response.


    Only then did she realize that the skill Jeremy had used just now had side effects.


    Falling into madness might have been the price he paid.


    At this moment, ire''s heart was filled with mixed emotions.


    In themercial za, tens of thousands of monsters that saw Jeremy charging like a battle tank, their greed turned into deep fear at some unknown point.


    Faced with the furious Jeremy, some of the monsters even began to retreat, attempting to flee.


    However, Jeremy didn''t give them any chance to escape.


    "Boom!!"


    He crashed into the masses of monsters like a meteor, instantly turning hundreds of monsters into mush.


    The entiremercial za seemed to shake.


    Then, with Jeremy at the center, the violent red mes spread like a tsunami.


    Countless monsters were engulfed by the mes!


    Some monsters screamed in fear and fled outward, but many more revealed a bloodthirsty madness in their eyes, charging towards Jeremy.


    "Roar roar roar!!!"


    Two types of madness collided, monster roars, and screams echoed throughout themercial za.


    Jeremy plowed through the monster horde, relying purely on brute force, without any strategy, the dark mass of monsters instantly overwhelmed him.


    But it didn''t take long for Jeremy to forcefully break out from the pile of monsters, like a raging wild beast, unstoppable.


    ire watched Jeremy, who was like a god of ughter, feeling somewhat powerless.


    She couldn''t think of how to rescue Jeremy.


    ...


    In the central building of Moonlight City, inside the mayor''s office.


    When Benjamin learned from the observer that Jeremy had actually jumped off themercial building, his heart skipped a beat.


    Trouble had struck!


    Without hesitation, Benjamin immediately notified Dana and other senior officials.


    He urgently said, "Gather all the special forces personnel immediately! Arm yourselves, and follow me to themercial district! Hurry!"


    Dana and the others were still unclear about what had happened.


    However, seeing the usually calm Benjamin in such a rush, they knew something serious had urred.


    Dana didn''t dare dy, quickly gathering the team and grabbing their gear, heading towards the za.


    As Benjamin was heading downstairs, he sighed, "Why did this kid have to be so impulsive? If he had just stayed in themercial building a bit longer, Howard would have arrived soon, and he would have been safe. But instead, he chose the most dangerous way."


    Maggie and Eina, standing by, were aware of the Benjamin''s high regard for Jeremy.


    Maggie shook her head, "After all, he''s just a teenager. Having such great power, it''s hard to avoid being impulsive."


    The others felt the same way, attributing it to his youth.Monsters are not so easy to deal with.


    Eina tried to offer somefort, "Don''t worry too much. This young man doesn''t seem like one to give up on his life easily. If he did it, he must have been confident."


    "Let''s hope so." Benjamin sighed deeply.


    They knew Eina''s words were merely meant tofort.


    Even if Jeremy survived the fall, facing countless monsters on the ground, his chance of survival was next to none.


    Now that things hade to this, Benjamin could only hope Jeremy wouldst until they arrived.


    It didn''t take long for Benjamin and his team to reach the outside of the central building.


    On the za, over a thousand special forces in ck uniforms were assembled.


    They stood solemn and armed to the teeth, exuding a sense of readiness.


    These thousand were chosen warriors from Moonlight City, each with extensivebat experience, representing the elite force of the capital.


    Yet, Benjamin''s expression remained grave.


    He was well aware that these thousand men were insignificant in the face of the monsters in themercial district.


    If tens of thousands of monsters charged at them, they would be overwhelmed in the blink of an eye.


    But Benjamin had no other options, as Howard still needed time to bring reinforcements.


    If he had to watch a talent like Jeremy die before his eyes, Benjamin doubted he could ever forgive himself.


    Seeing Benjamin approach, Dana immediately stepped forward.


    He reported, "Mayor, everyone is ready!"


    Benjamin nodded, stepped forward, and addressed the thousand special forces warriors with a grave voice, "Rememberit. No matter the cost, even if it means sacrificing the lives of all of you here, we must rescue Jeremy! Because this young man holds the future of many, his life is even more valuable than all of oursbined!"


    Upon hearing Benjamin''s words, everyone was visibly shaken.


    Dana was also surprised, not expecting Benjamin to ce such importance on this young man!


    Only Maggie and a few others knew.


    It wasn''t just Benjamin.Even that high-ranking official in the capital ced great importance on Jeremy!


    After speaking, Benjamin scanned the crowd and dered loudly, "Now, those willing toy down their lives for this cause, step forward. Those who are not, may leave now!"


    "Whoosh!"


    As soon as Benjamin''s words fell, all the special forces personnel stepped forward in unison.


    Their gaze was unwavering, not a single person stepped back. Many even had a fervor and anticipation in their eyes.


    When they joined the special forces, they were already prepared to face death. In times of peace, they were unnecessary. But now, as the apocalypse descended, it was their time toy down their lives!


    They had been waiting for this moment for a long time!


    "Excellent! Worthy of being Moonlight City''s special forces!" Benjamin showed a smile on his face.


    Then, he turned to Dana beside him and ordered, "Prepare a set of equipment for me.I''m going with you this time!"


    Everyone was taken aback.


    Benjamin was going too?!


    Eina''s expression changed, she anxiously said, "What are you going for? Your absence won''t make a difference there. But if Moonlight City is without you, wouldn''t that lead to chaos?"


    Benjamin calmly replied, "If I''m not in the capital, isn''t there still you here?"


    Benjamin was well aware of his wife''s capabilities.


    Eina was once a renowned politician in the capital.


    Even if he were to die, Benjamin was confident that Moonlight City would not fall into chaos.


    Just as everyone was about to persuade Benjamin to think it over.


    Suddenly, a global announcement appeared before everyone.


    [Congrattions to the yer ''Jeremy'' for being the first to kill a BOSS in this apocalyptic game!]


    [Reward: Special Title: World''s First Kill (Legendary)!]


    As they read the prompt in front of them, Dana and the others found their words stuck in their throats.


    The room fell silent.


    Jeremy... had actually killed the BOSS in themercial district?!


    Many showed shocked expressions, hardly believing what they saw.


    That was a BOSS!


    Among them, many couldn''t even defeat ordinary monsters, facing elite monsters meant certain death.


    Ny-nine percent of them had never even seen a Lord-level monster!


    Yet, Jeremy had already managed to kill a BOSS!


    Benjamin was also stunned for a moment.


    Then, he suddenlyughed heartily, "I knew I wasn''t wrong about him! This kid will definitely be a pir for our human race. Surely he will uphold a new era for humanity in this apocalypse!"


    Many hadplex expressions on their faces.


    Now they finally understood why Benjamin ced so much importance on Jeremy!


    Dana hesitated, "Mayor... do we still need to go?"


    Jeremy had even killed the BOSS, he should be fine.


    Without a second thought, Benjamin said, "Of course, we go and bring Jeremy back first."


    Having witnessed Jeremy''s actions a few times, he had a rough understanding of Jeremy''s character.


    This was not someone who would stay put, always keeping others on their toes.


    If they didn''t bring Jeremy back, Benjamin reckoned he wouldn''t be able to sleep well.


    ...


    Two kilometers away from themercial district, on a construction site, Howard''s army was rapidly advancing towards themercial district.


    At the same time Jeremy was killing the monster, Howard, Bonnie, and others also suddenly received the notification of Jeremy''s kill.


    [Congrattions to the yer ''Jeremy'' for being the first to kill a BOSS in this apocalyptic game!]


    "Holy shit!Jeremy got the BOSS first kill!!" Ritchie''s shouts filled the armored vehicle.


    He was ecstatic, turning to the driver next to him, gesticting wildly, "Did you see the global announcement? You know, this Jeremy is my brother! Our rtionship is very close! If you let me drive this armored vehicle now, I''ll have him look out for you in the future, how about that?"

 Chapter 41: More Monstrous than Monsters, Must Hold On

    "Get lost!" The driver was exasperated.


    This kid wasout of his mind!


    Ever since he got on, he''s been nagging about driving the armored vehicle, wanting to see how it differed from the ones in the game.


    Damn it! This is reality. Are armored vehicles something you can just drive around as you please?


    "My honeyis awesome!" Emma, sitting in the back, was all smiles.


    Naturally, she was overjoyed to see Jeremy bing stronger.


    "It''s just a BOSS. What''s the big deal!" Bonnie gritted her teeth, unwilling to admit Jeremy was stronger than her.


    Even though her name was nowhere to be seen on the current level rankings, Bonnie''s remark was somewhat unreasonable.


    But just the thought of Jeremy''s smug face and his snarky mouth made her lose her cool.


    On a tank at the very front of the team.


    After seeing the prompt, Howard couldn''t help but burst intoughter, "Goodd! He even ughtered the BOSS of themercial district, truly someone I had my eyes on!"


    Howard was bing impatient, eager to meet this young man.


    He grabbed the walkie-talkie and loudly ordered, "Everyone, full speed ahead!"


    "Roger that!" came immediate responses from the walkie-talkie.


    The steel torrent surged forward with increased speed, unstoppable towards themercial district!


    ...


    Meanwhile, high above in the sky.


    A supersonic jet was rapidly approaching Moonlight City.


    On the ne, four individuals dressed in ck special ops uniforms were either meditating or resting.


    [Congrattions to the yer ''Jeremy'' for being the first to kill a BOSS in this apocalyptic game!]


    As the notification appeared, all four on board paused.


    "No wonder themander asked us toe personally. This Jeremy is something special, managing to get the first BOSS kill." remarked one of the average-looking young men, amazed.


    A muscr man carrying a battle axeughed, "Not only did he be the first level 10 yer, but he also got the first BOSS kill, and I heard he''s only 18. I''m already looking forward to meeting this young man!"


    A refined and handsome young man looked down at his book,menting indifferently, "Benjamin is also in the capital. This might be a yer he''s grooming. With his assistance, it''s not surprising this young man could kill the BOSS."


    A woman with fiery red lips snorted, "Anotherpdog of the major families, a bunch of useless people. Every time they''re hyped up to no end, but once on the battlefield, they turn into cowards."


    The others nced at her, knowing this woman had issues with the major families and wisely chose to remain silent.


    The refined young man suddenly looked up and asked, "Captain, what do you think of this Jeremy?"


    At his words, everyone''s gaze shifted towards the direction of the pilot seat.


    Vaguely, they could see a svelte figure with silver long hair sitting at the helm.


    Silence lingered for a moment.


    A cool voice emanated from the driver''s seat.


    She calmly said, "If he''s not strong enough, just kill him. The leader probably won''t say much."


    The others were momentarily stunned, then smiles quickly spread across their faces.


    Because this was exactly what they desired.


    Being suddenly dispatched to the distant Moonlight City to rescue someone had already put them in a bad mood.


    If the person had strength, it would be one thing. But if they were going to save a nobody, they wouldn''t be med for not showing any courtesy.


    ...


    In themercial square.


    Half an hour passed, ire could only watch helplessly as monsters overwhelmed Jeremy time and again, leaving wounds across his body.


    What relieved ire was that every timeJeremy would emerge from the pile of monsters with blood-red eyes, showing no signs of fatigue. Moreover, every so often, a golden glow would light up on him, healing his battered body somewhat.


    But this was no solution.


    While leveling up could enhance one''s physique and strength, it couldn''t fully restore wounds and stamina.


    ire could seethat Jeremy''s speed and strength had slowed down considerably from the start.


    If this continued, Jeremy would sooner orter be overwhelmed by the tens of thousands of monsters.


    ire was frantic, trying to think of a way to rescue Jeremy.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang!"


    Just then, the sounds of gunfire and explosions suddenly came from afar.


    ire initially didn''t pay much attention, assuming they were just yers who had obtained firearms.


    But as the gunfire grew clearer and louder, she realized something was amiss.


    It seemed many people were approaching their direction!


    ire was startled and quickly found a higher position to look towards the source of the sounds.


    Then, not far away, she saw a fully armed ck-d troop.


    The troop, consisting of thousands, was rapidly approaching themercial square.


    "This is... Moonlight City''s Special Forces!" ire recognized their identity, her eyes widening in surprise.


    Moonlight City''s Special Forces were arguably the strongest armed force in Moonlight City. ire hadn''t expected to encounter them here.


    Although the number of these people was small, and she was unclear about the purpose of their teams being here.


    But Jeremy couldn''t hold on much longer. Even with just a glimmer of hope, ire had to try. Ignoring her injuries, she forced herself to use her mental strength to project her voice as far as possible.


    "Over here, we need rescue!!"


    With the help of her psychic power, ire''s voice created ripples in the air, rapidly spreading out.


    To ire''s surprise, upon hearing her call for help, the troop immediately changed direction and sped towards them.


    Just as ire was puzzled, from afar, someone used a megaphone to shout towards her, "What''s the situation over there? Is Jeremy still alive?!"


    ire recognized the voice. It was Benjamin, the Mayor of Moonlight City!


    At that moment, she understood the reason for their arrival.


    They hade for Jeremy!


    Without hesitation, ire shouted back, "Jeremy is still alive, but he can''t hold on much longer!"


    Upon hearing this, Benjamin and the others were all overjoyed.


    It was a relief that Jeremy was still alive!


    "This kid really does have a big destiny!" Benjamin said excitedly. He then spoke into the walkie-talkie loudly, "Everyone, speed up! We absolutely can''t let Jeremy die here!"


    Hearing Benjamin''s words, the thousand-person special forces team quickened their pace towards themercial square.


    However, upon reaching the square and witnessing the scene, everyone froze in ce.


    Themercial square waspletely drenched in blood, with countless monsters'' limbs and body parts strewn everywhere.


    At the center of the square, numerous monsters converged, forming a ck sea of beasts.


    A blood-red figure stood out conspicuously among them.


    He moved through the monsters like a god of war, with tens of thousands of beasts unable toy a finger on him!


    In the center, Jeremy''s eyes were fierce, gripping a long sword, his entire being soaked in red.


    His body was covered in wounds, his features no longer discernible.


    The only memorable traits were his blood-red eyes and the strikingly bright blood-colored mes enveloping him.


    Surrounding him were menacing monsters and their corpses.


    "He actually survived!" Maggie said, her face full of shock as she gazed at the hellish scene.


    What shocked her even more was that in the face of such a desperate situation, Jeremy not only persisted but also killed so many monsters!


    Those who snapped out of their shock quickly checked Jeremy''s level on the leaderboard.


    To their astonishment, Jeremy was ranked first, having reached level 25, a full five levels ahead of the next person!


    Maggie was speechless with shock.


    How many monsters had Jeremy killed in such a short time!


    It was beyond her imagination.


    Dana said with immense reverence, "This guy, he''s more like a monster than the monsters themselves!"


    Everyone unanimously agreed.


    "What are you waiting for, go rescue him now!!" Benjamin shouted angrily into the walkie-talkie.


    Snapping back to reality, the group hastily rearranged their formation and rushed towards the center of themercial square.


    With the special forces joining the battle, the sudden change disrupted the status quo in the square.


    Some monsters, seeing so many humans charging at them, instantly abandoned Jeremy and excitedly surrounded the special forces.


    But before they could get close, the special forces'' guns were already aimed at them, triggers pulled.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"


    The dense gunfire erupted like thunder across the square.


    Monsters that hadn''t even reacted were torn apart by bullets.


    Seeing this, ire let out a long sigh of relief.


    But worry still lingered in her beautiful eyes.


    Although the special forces were well-equipped, there were only a thousand of them.


    Facing tens of thousands of monsters, even if they could rescue Jeremy, it would likely take considerable time.


    ire looked in Jeremy''s direction, praying in her heart, "Jeremy, you must hold on!"


    At this moment, Jeremy''s speed weaving through the monsters had slowed significantly, even the blood-colored mes on his body were no longer as fierce as before.


    Clearly, he had reached his limit.


    Worry was also evident on Benjamin''s face.


    If Jeremy died, it would be a loss not just for Moonlight City, but for the entire federation, and indeed, all of humanity!

 Chapter 42: Howard Arrives, Jeremy Should Go to Hell

    "Roar! Roar! Roar!"


    Themotion from the special forces attracted the attention of many monsters.


    Noticing there were over a thousand humans, countless monsters immediately surged towards them in a frenzy.


    "Don''t engage in battle. Save him first!" Benjamin knew they couldn''t afford to waste precious time on these monsters. He quickly ordered the special forces to advance towards Jeremy''s location.


    All special forces received the order and immediately changed direction.


    The square was filled with smoke and littered with corpses.


    Facing the onught of monsters, the more than a thousand special forces soldiers fought as they advanced, holding assault rifles and rifles, spitting fire like sharp knives cutting directly into the horde of monsters.


    At this time, ire also joined the battle.


    She borrowed an assault rifle from a special forces soldier, her eyes shing with purple light.


    With the aid of her psychic power, every bullet she fired hit a monster''s head with deadly uracy.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    Among the special forces, Dana threw out five or six grenades in quick session. The intense explosions suppressed the roaring of the monsters and the sound of gunfire, tearing a gap in the monster horde that hadn''t yet fully gathered.


    Taking advantage of the monsters not yet rallying, the special forces quickly advanced.


    Before long, they caught sight of Jeremy.


    He was covered in blood, the mes on his body about to extinguish, but it seemed he could hold on until they reached him.


    Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, amander-level mutant ck wolf suddenly appeared behind Jeremy.


    Everyone''s heart skipped a beat, not even having a chance to warn him.


    "Howl!"


    Themander-level mutant ck wolf moved swiftly, its ws striking Jeremy''s arm.


    "St!"


    Blood sttered!


    Jeremy''s arm was badly mangled, the wound deep enough to reveal bone.


    His body trembled, and the fiery de fell from his hand to the ground, leaving him weaponless in an instant.


    Everyone''s heart was in their throat!


    "Rescue him now!!!" Benjamin roared.


    And ire was already rushing towards Jeremy!


    "Fuck!"


    The intense pain in his arm unleashed Jeremy''s ferocity. He let out a furious roar, and his eyes, which had been dim, suddenly burst into a wild, fierce light.


    With his other hand, Jeremy swiftly reached out, grabbed the mutant ck wolf by the neck, and twisted with all his might!


    "Crack!"


    The grating sound of breaking bones echoed through the crowd of beasts!


    Jeremy had twisted the neck of the mutant ck wolf into a grotesque angle, instantly killing themander-level creature!


    At the same time, Jeremy''s strength was spent. He fell into unconsciousness, yet he remained standing upright.


    All the monsters watched this scene in fear, hesitating to advance on Jeremy.


    Seizing this opportunity, ire, with the cover of others, rushed to Jeremy''s side.


    She then pulled Jeremy up and quickly retreated.


    "Roar!!!"


    A group of monsters, enraged, charged at ire in unison.


    ire''s face turned pale, overwhelmed by the sheer number of monsters.


    In the special forces, Dana shouted loudly, "Cover them!!"


    Without needing his reminder, the others had already begun aiming and firing at the monsters.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang!"


    Themercial square was once again filled with the sound of intense gunfire, instantly killing all monsters charging towards ire and Jeremy.


    The special forces quickly stepped forward, firmly protecting Jeremy and ire at the center.


    "How is Jeremy?!" Benjamin hurried over to check on Jeremy''s condition.


    He found Jeremy covered in horrifying wounds, not a single patch of skin unmarred, his breathing extremely faint.


    Despite being at death''s door, Jeremy was indeed still alive.


    Benjamin let out a sigh of relief, and without a word, pulled out a purple potion from his bosom and injected it into Jeremy.


    ire noticed it was a mid-level life healing potion, even more precious than any she had used before, so she did not stop him.


    After using the mid-level life healing potion, Jeremy''s condition quickly stabilized, though he remained unconscious.


    Both Benjamin and ire breathed a sigh of relief.


    Saving his life was what mattered most.


    ire sincerely thanked him, "Thank you, Mayor. We will surely repay this life-saving grace in the future!"


    The mid-level life healing potion alone was incredibly precious, not to mention the rest.


    "Stay here and take good care of him!" Benjamin shook his head, not saying much else.


    He gave ire amand and then headed outside with his weapon.


    Although Jeremy had been saved, the situation was still dire.


    They had ventured too deep, and now the special forces were surrounded by densely packed monsters.


    Benjamin saw nothing but a sea of monsters outside, easily numbering in the tens of thousands, a truly terrifying sight.


    The more than a thousand special forces soldiers might seem numerous.


    But facing tens of thousands of monsters, they were like a small boat in the ocean, at risk of capsizing at any moment.


    If it weren''t for their experience and prior preparation.


    The special forces could have been easily overwhelmed and swallowed by the sea of monsters in the blink of an eye.


    Although the monsters were temporarily stymied by the special forces team''s formidable firepower, they couldn''t do anything about them for the time being.


    However, if things continued like this, they were all bound to die here sooner orter.


    "Bang!"


    After blowing the head off an attacking monster, Benjamin wiped the blood from his face and gritted his teeth, "Howard, if you don''t show up soon, get ready to collect our bodies!"


    "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    Just then, the sound of artillery fire suddenly erupted from behind themercial square.


    Everyone was taken aback.


    Then, their faces lit up with joy.


    They knew what this sound meant!


    Howard and his men had arrived!


    Benjamin''s face also brightened as he roared, "Hold on, everyone! Reinforcements have arrived!"


    Hearing this, the spirits of all the special forces members were lifted.


    Their previously waning morale now red up like a me once more.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"


    Amid the fierce artillery fire, they killed monster after monster.


    Despite being outnumbered, the tens of thousands of monsters were still unable to breach the special forces'' tight defense line.


    The rumbling from the direction of themercial square grew louder and louder.


    Finally, Howard, dressed in military uniform, appeared in Benjamin and the others'' line of sight.


    Behind him, there were armored vehicles and tanks, as well as soldiers dressed in military uniforms!


    When Howard saw the scene in themercial square, he was momentarily stunned, not expecting the battle to have reached such a dire state.


    However, he immediately grasped the urgency of the situation.


    Without hesitation, Howard bellowed, "Everyone, charge with me!"


    "Whoosh!"


    Behind Howard, a group of soldiers responded in unison, with the neat sound of their firearms being loaded.


    Following that, the sound of artillery fire, many times denser than that of the special forces, erupted in themercial square.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"


    Dense bullets rained down on the monsters like a curtain, causing blossoms of blood to spring up on their bodies.


    Many monsters were perforated before they could even react.


    The sheer number of monsters in themercial square was overwhelming.


    The soldiers didn''t even need to aim. Just firing their guns would guarantee a hit.


    Simultaneously, following Howard''s order, tanks charged into the horde of monsters like ferocious beasts.


    The cannons on the tanks rotated, targeting the densest clusters of monsters, and fired round after round.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    Several shells exploded among the monsters, each one iming the lives of a dozen monsters.


    Though they evolved quickly, the ordinary monsters could not yet withstand the attack of tank shells.


    In an instant, themercial square was littered with limbs and filled with smoke and dust.


    The once terrifying tide of beasts was instantly torn open by the fierce artillery fire, creating a huge gap.


    The special forces, seizing the opportunity, coordinated with Howard from inside and out, and quickly retreated.


    When the special forces emerged, Emma, Ritchie, Bonnie, and others saw Jeremy, covered in wounds and unconscious.


    Everyone fell silent.


    On their way here, they had learned what Jeremy was facing, but no one expected him to have ventured into themercial district and into such grave danger.


    "Jeremy, don''t scare me!" Seeing Jeremy bloodied and motionless, Emma almost fainted on the spot.


    ire wiped the blood off her face and calmly said, "He''s fine, just unconscious."


    Hearing ire''s words, Emma breathed a sigh of relief.


    She was about to express her gratitude when she noticed ire.


    "Dr. ire?" Seeing ire, Emma''s expression stiffened for a moment.


    Then, without another word, she silently walked over to Jeremy and began to heal him using her abilities.


    ire did not look at Emma again. Instead, she turned her gaze towards the battlefield, her expression unreadable, lost in thought.


    The atmosphere between the two was subtly awkward, and everyone could sense that something was off.


    Bonnie nced at them, then suddenly clenched her teeth and said, "Jeremy, that scumbag, truly deserves to die!"


    Initially, she had been touched by Jeremy''s solo venture into themercial district.


    She thought that, although Jeremy was a wed person, there were aspects of his character worth admiring, such as his courage.


    However, upon seeing ire, a woman''s intuition instantly made Bonnie aware that there was something unusual about their rtionship.


    Putting together the fact that Jeremy had suddenly run to themercial district, Bonnie immediately understood.


    Jeremy hade here purely to save this woman!


    Now, Bonnie felt it would be better if Jeremy never woke up.


    Despite already being involved with Emma, he was still messing around with another woman.


    Such a man deserved to go to hell!

 Chapter 43: Insatiable Consumption, Jeremy Becomes Vegetative

    Jeremy was unaware that Bonnie was secretly wishing him to hell.


    However, his consciousness was indeed in another world at this moment.


    Floating weightlessly in the dark, silent void, Jeremy found himself here inexplicably after falling into a frenzy.


    "What is this ce?" Jeremy frowned, looking around. In the darkness, he could see white points of light, both dazzling and dim, floating like stars in the sky, beautiful and enchanting yet filled with the unknown.


    Observing this strange sight, Jeremy pondered.


    He had heard before that some people had identally entered a special world, which soundedsomewhat simr to this one¡ªequally void and dark, with countless points of light like stars.


    These people regarded this ce as a manifestation of the collective consciousness, believing each light point represented the soul of a living being, holding the most fundamental secrets of life and the world.


    Some called it the "Deep Collective Consciousness Space," while others preferred "Spirit World," the world of souls.


    Jeremy had never believed in such abstract concepts but was surprised to find the Spirit World actually existed.


    "But how do I get out?" Jeremy wasn''t interested in this ce. His real-world self was probably going insane. Even if there were great secrets here, they weren''t what he needed to consider now.


    Just as Jeremy was about to try pping himself to see if he could return,


    He suddenly spotted a basketball-sized purple orb not far away.


    This object was clearly different from the other points of light. Not just in color and size, but also because it was constantly devouring the other lights, like an insatiable monster.


    As Jeremy looked at it, a thought filled with "hunger" entered his mind.


    "Eat... Eat... Eat..."


    Jeremy''s heart shook violently.


    Is this... the Devouring Tyrant?


    Why is it here?!


    Before Jeremy could think further, the purple light seemed to notice him too, suddenly turning into a streak of light and charging straight at him.


    Jeremy instinctively tried to dodge, but the purple light was too fast. Before he could react, it hit him and merged into his body in the blink of an eye.


    "Boom!"


    In an instant, a blinding purple light exploded in the darkness!


    Jeremy was enveloped by the purple light in an instant.


    At this moment, Jeremy felt his mind filled with an intense hunger.


    There was only one thought in his mind.


    Eat!


    As this thought emerged, a purple vortex quickly formed around Jeremy.


    All the surrounding points of light were drawn into the vortex, crazily converging towards Jeremy, then merging into his body.


    Jeremy was stunned for a moment.


    He actually felt his spiritual power grow stronger!


    Jeremy''s eyes moved, realizing he might have stumbled upon an incredible opportunity.


    Before he had time to think, countless points of light were already hurtling towards him.


    As each point of light merged with his body, Jeremy could feel his spiritual power growing at an astonishing rate.


    Soon, Jeremy''s figure vanished, reced by a giant cocoon radiating white light.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the outside world.


    After rescuing Jeremy, Benjamin and the others quickly made their way back to the downtown building under the protection of Howard''s soldiers.


    Though Jeremy''s wounds had begun to heal, he had not yet awakened.


    This caused Benjamin to feel an ominous premonition.


    Therefore, upon returning to the building, Benjamin immediately took Jeremy to the hospital for aprehensive examination.


    Not far from the downtown building was Moonlight GraceHospital. The monsters inside the hospital had been cleared by the special forces at the start of the apocalypse, so most of the doctors and nurses were still alive.


    After the hospital received the order, it wasn''t long before the deputy director, Wain, arrived at Jeremy''s ward in a hurry with a group of leading physicians.


    Following a detailed examination, Deputy Director Wain and the doctors quickly reached an uncertain conclusion.


    Apart from some superficial injuries, Jeremy''s breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure were all normal, his health even surpassing that of an ordinary person.


    The reason for his deepa was not due to external injuries but possibly an issue with his brain neurons.


    Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged puzzled looks.


    Does that mean there''s something wrong with Jeremy''s brain?


    ire, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, said, "Brain issues can vary in severity. Please, Deputy Director, rify what exactly is wrong with Jeremy."


    Among those present, she was the most familiar with Jeremy''s condition.


    ire knew that Jeremy''s brain neurons were somewhat different from those of ordinary people due to post-war syndrome.


    Thus, she suspected that what Wain and the others had found might rte to this issue.


    Deputy Director Wain hesitated for a moment, seeing that Benjamin and the others were frowning.


    He had no choice but to say, "Honestly, this is the first time we''ve encountered such a situation. Although the patient''s body appears normal, his brainwaves are t. Logically speaking, with t brainwaves, he should be dead by now. However, the patient''s organs are miraculously still functioning normally. This is incredible and beyond the scope of medical science. We''re powerless to help."


    Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.


    Dana eximed, "Doesn''t that make Jeremy a vegetable?!"


    Emma''s face turned pale at these words.


    She grabbed Wain''s sleeve, urgently saying, "Deputy Director Wain, Jeremy just fainted. How could it be serious enough to be vegetative? Can''t you check him again? There must be some mistake."


    Tears were already brimming in Emma''s eyes, her fear clearly overflowing.


    She couldn''t imagine how she would continue to live if something happened to Jeremy.


    Ritchie, hands on hips, angrily said, "A bunch of quacks just trying to scam money! Jeremy was perfectly fine.I don''t believe a word you say!"


    The group of doctors was speechless.


    In this apocalyptic world, scamming money was thest of their concerns.


    Benjamin frowned and said, "The guy was just jumping around alive and well a moment ago. Could you have made a mistake?"


    Deputy Director Wain sighed and responded, "We used the most advanced brainwave monitoring equipment and have checked three times. Although we''re unclear about the cause of the patient''s condition, we''re certain about his symptoms. Please prepare yourselves for the worst."


    Hearing his words, everyone fell silent.


    Bonnie and the others stood frozen in ce, uncertainty shing in their eyes.


    They had never imagined that Jeremy could end up in a vegetative state.


    ire tightly pursed her lips, her knuckles turning white from the grip.


    The thought that it was because of her that Jeremy had ended up like this caused her intense pain.


    Later, at Emma''s earnest plea, Wain and a few other doctors reluctantly conducted another brain examination on Jeremy.


    But the result was the same: t brainwaves!


    At this point, everyone was in despair.


    Jeremy had truly be a vegetable.


    Overwhelmed by emotion, Emma fainted on the spot.


    Even ire felt a wave of darkness before her eyes.


    Ritchie sat silently in a corner.


    Looking at Jeremy lying on the bed, Benjamin said with a bitter face, "Fuck! How did ite to this! We survived through the toughest times only to face this at the final hurdle..."


    With that, Benjamin sighed again.


    Looking at the motionless Jeremy on the bed, Bonnie bit her lip.


    Although she disliked Jeremy, she didn''t wish for him to just die like this.


    The news of Jeremy bing a vegetable quickly reached Howard, who was clearing monsters in themercial district.


    He made a special trip back.


    When Howard saw with his own eyes the boy, who everyone had high hopes for and believed had a limitless future, lying motionless on the hospital bed, his body pierced with needles.


    He clenched his fists and said with profound regret, "Heaven envies the talented!Truly, heaven envies the talented!"


    After Howard walked away, shaking his head and sighing.


    Emma, sitting beside the bed, tightly held Jeremy''s hand and murmured, "Jeremy, I believe you can wake up. I know you can."


    ire, leaning against the wall and gazing out the window, dared not look too much at Jeremy on the bed.


    Later, Benjamin reported the situation here back to the capital.


    Initially, he thought the higher-ups would give up on Jeremy and support other yers instead.


    But to his surprise, the order from the capital was clear.


    "Save him at all costs!"


    Benjamin didn''t understand why, but this was exactly what he had hoped for.


    In his heart, Benjamin couldn''t believe that such a remarkable young man, who hadn''t yet had the chance to shine his brightest, would end so abruptly!


    Time flew by quickly.


    On the first day, most of the monsters in themercial district were cleared.


    Dana,Maggie,Eina, and others came to see Jeremy.


    Many hoped for a miraculous recovery.


    But Jeremy continued to sleep.


    Emma''s eyes dimmed a bit, yet she remained steadfastly by Jeremy''s side.


    ire was healing in the next room, but she spent the most time in Jeremy''s room.


    On the second day, John, George, Eric, Hedy, and others came to visit.


    Seeing Jeremy''s condition, John and George couldn''t bear to look at him, while Hedy cried with eyes red and swollen, unable to stop her tears.


    "Damn, how did ite to this!" Eric stepped out of the hospital room and sighed incessantly while smoking in the garden.


    Before leaving, Hedy, with eyes red,forted Emma, saying, "MissEmma, Jeremy will surely wake up. He''s so strong. He definitely won''t go down so easily."


    "Yes, he will wake up." Emma managed a smile.


    But her smile was somewhat bitter, and herplexion had grown much more haggard.

 Chapter 44: Breaking Free, A Message from the World

    On the third day, thanks to Jeremy attracting many monsters to themercial district, Howard''s subsequent cleaning operation went very smoothly.


    He has now taken his army, starting from themercial district, and begun to push towards other directions in Moonlight City.


    Benjamin and Howard brought many people to express their special thanks.


    But Jeremy still hadn''t woken up.


    The light in Emma''s eyes dimmed significantly.


    Despite a strong unwillingness to ept it, she understood that reality might truly be irreversible.


    ire now often found herself lost in thought, unsure of what to think.


    On the fourth day, the special forces team from the capital arrived.


    Benjamin personally went to receive them.


    When they learned that Jeremy had be a living dead, the mboyant woman with fiery red lips immediately mmed the table and rose up.


    Sheughed angrily and said, "Benjamin, because of your message, we wasted a lot of precious time traveling thousands of miles from the capital to Moonlight City. Now you tell me that the boy has be a living dead? Are you making fun of us?!"


    Except for the leading woman with silver hair, who was expressionless, the faces of the other three were also not very pleasant.


    Anyone who had wasted a great deal of valuable time only toe for nothing would not be in a good mood.


    The leading woman with silver hair said calmly, "I will personally report this matter to the chief. I hope you can behave yourself."


    After speaking, she gestured, and the group stood up, ready to turn around and leave, unwilling to waste any more time here.


    Benjamin helplessly said, "Please rest a bit before you go. When General Howard was clearing monsters in the city, he discovered a low-level dungeon about to open in an abandoned factory to the south of the city. They n to explore it tomorrow. This dungeon should be of some help to you. Consider it as my apology to you."


    Hearing this, the woman with silver hair and the other four stopped in their tracks, surprised, and turned back to look at Benjamin.


    After the daily activities began, many magical dungeons appeared all over the world.


    These dungeons varied, including forests, oceans, deserts, and more.


    Without exception, each dungeon contained incredibly rich resources, and each had a BOSS.


    Defeating these Bosses for the first time would yield a lot of experience and rewards.


    These things were fatally attractive to yers.


    The woman with silver hair nced at her teammates'' expressions and nodded, "Fine, we epted it."


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, in the spirit world.


    "Crack!" "Crack!"


    Suddenly, cracks appeared on the white cocoon.


    Then, the cocoon burst open, transforming into countless points of light.


    Several miniature purple vortexes appeared on Jeremy''s body, absorbing all the light points.


    At this moment, his body emitted a faint white light, and even his pupils had strands of white luminance flowing in them, making him look extraordinarily remarkable.


    Jeremy felt a surge within him and realized that, in just a short moment, his mental strength had increased manifold!


    Moreover, there seemed to be some bizarre change within him.


    He couldn''t pinpoint exactly what the change was, but it felt as if his soul had undergone some kind of elevation.


    "What in the world is this?" Jeremy wondered, looking at the purple vortex in his hand, puzzled.


    After merging with the light points from the Devouring Tyrant, Jeremy felt he had gained some sort of ability.


    It seemed to be... devouring!


    That is, the ability of the Devouring Tyrant!


    Jeremy wasn''t sure why he couldobtain this ability, but he guessed it might be rted to the Devouring Tyrant and his ss as a Defiler.


    He felt this way because, from the reaction of the Devouring Tyrant before, it was clear that it recognized Jeremy''s ss and was deeply impressed by it.


    However, where the Devouring Tyrant got this information from was aplete mystery to Jeremy.


    Aren''t these monsters transformed from humans? How would they know such information?


    After some thought, Jeremy concluded that the most likely exnation was that the Devouring Tyrant did not transform from a human but appeared out of nowhere after the apocalypse.


    This wasn''t hard to ept.Considering things like treasure chests and dungeons, which also didn''t exist in reality before,it was unclear if other Bosses were the same.


    Unfortunately, due to theck of information, Jeremy couldn''t specte further.


    He shook his head.The top prioritywas to figure out how to get out.


    Just as Jeremy was deep in thought, the spirit world began to change.


    "nk..."


    Suddenly, an ear-splitting bell tolled in the endless void.


    The sound, like a grand bell, echoed throughout the spirit world!


    "Why would there be bell sounds here?!" Jeremy was surprised, looking up to see points of light being drawn towards the darkness, converging like fireflies into the depths.


    Before long, the countless points of light merged in the dark, forming a breathtaking river of stars!


    This white river of stars was boundlessly brilliant, extending into the deepest darkness without end!


    Jeremy waspletely bewildered.


    At that moment, the endless darkness was suddenly torn apart!


    "Boom!"


    To Jeremy''s astonishment, a massive golden w suddenly reached out from the depths of the darkness!


    It fiercely grabbed the brilliant white river of stars, pulling it entirely into the deepest reaches of the spirit world!


    Then, a chilling sound of massive chewing came from the depths of the darkness.


    "Crunch!" "Crunch!" "Crunch!..."


    Jeremy gasped, his heart pounding.


    What the hell was that?!


    How could such an existence be in the spirit world?


    Before Jeremy could ponder further,


    Suddenly, a solemn voice boomed in his ear.


    "The sphemer, this is not a ce for you to be now." The voice was filled with authority, devoid of any emotion, like thunder exploding in the darkness, startling Jeremy.


    There were other beings in this world!


    Soon after, Jeremy found his consciousness being pulled and tugged.


    There seems to be a powerful force trying to push him back into his true self in reality.


    "Who are you? What was that just now? What does this have to do with the apocalypse game?" Jeremy looked up and asked.


    He had too many unanswered questions in his heart.


    But in the darkness, no voice came through for a long time, only the incessant, grating sound of chewing echoed.


    It wasn''t until thest moment before returning to his body that Jeremy faintly heard a response.


    "You can call me ''the World''. All the answers you seek are in the game. Defilers are not bound by rules and are the only variables. I hope you can end the fool''s game and return the myriad worlds back to their rightful path..." The voice was somewhat ethereal, as if it traveled across the cosmic shore and endless star rivers into Jeremy''s mind.


    The next moment, Jeremy felt the world spin, and his consciousness plunged into darkness.


    ...


    When Jeremy woke up again, the darkness before his eyes had vanished.


    In its ce was a white ceiling and the ring light of incandescent bulbs.


    "Why am I in a hospital room?" Jeremy surveyed his surroundings, finding himself lying on a hospital bed, his body hooked up with IV tubes and a densework of monitoring wires.


    The room was equipped with variousplex monitoring instruments disying his vital data.


    If it weren''t for everything being normal in hisbody, Jeremy might have thought he was being dissected for research.


    Outside the window, it was pitch ck, the silence of deep night evident.


    Emma sat beside the bed, already asleep, her beautiful face more haggard than usual.


    "It seems a lot has happened while I was in a frenzy." Jeremy muttered to himself, trying to move his body. He found no serious harm, just a bit of muscle soreness from lying down too long.


    He sat up, not wanting to disturb Emma''s rest, and decided to go outside to see what was happening.


    Despite Jeremy''s careful movements, the noise still woke Emma.


    "Do you need help..." She rubbed her eyes, looking tired, thinking it was the doctoring to change the medication.


    But when she saw Jeremy, her words stopped short.


    Emma was stunned, rubbed her eyes again, thinking she was dreaming.


    "Sorry for worrying you." Jeremy said, feeling guilty as he looked at Emma''s worn-out appearance.


    Without thinking, he knew that Emma must have been living in fear and exhaustion since he fell into aa. Otherwise, she wouldn''t be sleeping so restlessly.


    Hearing Jeremy''s voice and realizing it wasn''t an illusion, Emma''s tears instantly started to flow.


    She rushed to hug Jeremy, crying tears of joy, "I knew you would be fine... The doctor said there was nothing wrong with your body, but that there was a problem with your mind, even said you had be a vegetative person..."


    Her words became intermittent, eventually reduced to crying and sobbing.


    After the doctors diagnosed Jeremy as vegetative, Emma felt as if the sky had fallen.


    Now seeing Jeremy waking up again was like a dreame true for her.


    Because such dreams, she had been having every day for the past few days, but each time they were just illusions.


    Emma hugged Jeremy, crying like a child, her tears falling freely and wetting Jeremy''s chest, cold as ice.


    "Rest assured, I''m alright now." Jeremy pulled Emma into his embrace, gently patting her back, soothing her emotions.


    This incident was a lesson for Jeremy. He knew he could not afford to recklessly put himself in danger anymore.


    He was no longer the lone mercenary of his past life but now had friends, family, and loved ones. Although he was lucky to survive this time, he might not be so fortunate next time.


    If he had truly died this time...


    Not to mention anything else, Emma probably would have found it very hard to go on.


    Outside the hospital room.


    ire, holding a cup of hot water, slowly withdrew her hand from the doorknob.


    With aplex expression, she nced at the hospital room but chose not to disturb them at this moment.

 Chapter 45: Surge in Strength, Beyond Mortal Bounds

    In the hospital room, under Jeremy''sforting embrace, Emma quickly calmed down.


    From her, Jeremy learned about the events that had transpired afterward.


    It was then he realized that it was Benjamin and Howard who had saved him.


    Benjamin hardly needed an introduction.As the mayor of Moonlight City, Jeremy naturally knew him. As for Howard, Jeremy had some recollection as well.


    The guy''s level had soared swiftly at the beginning, trailing just behind Jeremy.


    However, Howard hadter fallen off the leaderboard.


    Jeremy hadn''t expected him to be a federal major general,manding tens of thousands of soldiers.


    In the post-apocalyptic world, Howard''s military strength was more than enough to dere himself king.


    Jeremy could guess the motives behind their rescue.


    In a world where power reigned supreme, the potential he had shown was enough to attract attention.


    If Jeremy were in their shoes, he likely would have done the same.


    What surprised Jeremy was that four days had passed since he went to rescue ire.


    Now, only two days remain until the end of the Sun Chase event.


    Jeremy checked the level leaderboard.


    Discovered that the top spot was now upied by someone he didn''t remember.


    This person, named Kean, had reached level 28.


    Following him, other yers had also reached level 27, pushing Jeremy''s ranking out of the top hundred once again.


    What surprised Jeremy was that his own level had reached 25.


    He remembered being only level 19 before.


    It was only after Emma exined that Jeremy realized his frenzied spree had killed a multitude of monsters, catapulting his level far ahead of many yers. Thus, even after four days, he hadn''t fallen too far behind the others.


    Jeremy reviewed his character panel.


    [Name]: Jeremy


    [Level]: lv25


    [ss]: sphemer


    [Titles]: Pathfinder, World''s First yer


    [Ability]: The Eye of Omniscience (SSS)


    [Attributes]: Strength 1440, Spirit 2420, Stamina 770, Agility 825


    [Skills]: Lawbreaker lv2, Seven Sins - Wrath lv1, Seven Sins - Gluttony lv1, Sword of Judgment lv1, gue Curse lv1, Catastrophe de lv5, Sinme lv1, Shadowstep lv10, Gale sh lv10, Stealth (equipment), Pathfinder (title), Windrider (equipment)¡­


    [Equipment]: ze de (Gold), Stealth Mask (Gold), Frostwind de (Gold), Windrider Boots (ck Iron)¡­


    [Items]: Resurrection Coin *1, Awakening Gem *1¡­


    Even during his time in the spirit realm, he had begun to suspect as much.


    However, seeing his Spirit attribute surpass his Strength by a whopping 1000 points still left Jeremy in astonishment.


    His gains from the time spent in the spirit realm were indeed monumental!


    Jeremy then reviewed his other attributes.


    After reaching level 25, all his attributes had seen a significant increase.


    His Strength had gone up by about 300 points, while his Agility and Stamina had each increased by approximately 160 points.


    In addition to this, he had 210 free attribute points to allocate.


    Since reaching level 20, for every level up, Jeremy now gained 40 points in fixed Strength and Spirit attributes, 20 points in Stamina and Agility, and 30 free attribute points.


    As levels increased, the fixed and free attribute points awarded to yers continued to rise.


    Besides the boost in attributes, Jeremy had also acquired three new skills.


    [Skill]:Sword of Judgment


    [Level]:lv1


    [Tier]:High


    [Type]:Attack (Active)


    [Description]:Upon activation, the yer summons a Sword of Judgment, dealing 300% physical damage to the target, with a cooldown of 15 minutes.


    ...


    [Skill]:gue Curse


    [Level]:lv1


    [Tier]:High


    [Type]:Attack (Active)


    [Description]:Upon activation, the yer afflicts the target with a gue Curse, reducing their damage, attributes, and defense by 20%, and randomly inflicting negative statuses such as Bubonic gue, Smallpox, Cholera, or ck Death,sting 15 minutes, with a cooldown of 3 hours.


    ...


    [Skill]:Seven Sins - Gluttony


    [Level]:lv1


    [Tier]:Super


    [Type]:Amplification (Passive)


    [Description]:Upon ying a monster, the yer can devour its soul essence, randomly acquiring certain attributes based on the level and tier of the in target, with no cooldown.


    ...


    The first two skills are high-level abilities. "Sword of Judgment" is a single-target damage skill that can inflict significant damage on the target.


    "gue Curse," on the other hand, is a curse skill that can not only weaken the opponent''s attribute defense but also afflict the target with negative statuses.


    As monsters be higher level, such skills will undoubtedly y a significant role in future battles.


    "Sword of Judgment" and "gue Curse" are skills Jeremy acquired after reaching level 20. It''smon for yers to gain new skills every 10 levels, so there''s nothing surprising there.


    What did catch Jeremy slightly off guard was the skill "Seven Sins - Gluttony."


    It grants random attributes with each enemy killed!


    While contemting the skill description of "Seven Sins - Gluttony," a thoughtful expression appeared in Jeremy''s eyes.


    His mind shed back to the moment in the spirit world when the purple orb from the Devouring Tyrant merged into his body, granting him the "Devour" ability.


    If someone were to say that the Devouring Tyrant and the sphemers were unrted, he would definitely not believe it.


    From the words of [the world], it''s not hard to see that there is some connection between the sphemers and the Apocalypse Game.


    However,Jeremywasstillunclearaboutwhatthesplexthreadsconcealed.


    Hispowerwasn''tsufficienttotouchuponthatlevelyet.


    ButsinceheencounteredtheDevouringTyrantinMoonlightCity,hemightmeetsimrcreaturesinthefuture.


    Perhapsthen,hecouldobtainmoreusefulinformation.


    Suppressingtherestlessnessinhisheart,Jeremycheckedthetitlesandrewardshehadreceived.


    [Title]World''sFirstyer


    [Type]Special


    [Effect]Attributes+120,Damage+10%


    [Skill]DeadlyStrike(Passive)


    [Description]Theyer''sattackshavea5%chancetotriggeralethttack.Ifattackingthetarget''svitalweakpoint,theskill''striggerchanceincreasesto50%.Thegreatertheleveldifferencebetweentheyerandthetarget,thelowertheprobabilityoftriggering,withnocooldown.


    ...


    [Item]ResurrectionCoin


    [Type]Consumable


    [Tier]Orange(Rare)


    [Description]Upondeath,theyerreceivesachancetoresurrectonthespot,withacooldownof3days.


    ...


    Theattributesandskillsof"World''sFirstyer"werequitedecent.


    Theskill"DeadlyStrike"isactuallymoresuitedforprofessionswithhighattackfrequency.


    Forinstance,archersorgunners.


    However, Jeremy possesses the Eye of Omniscience, which allows him to discern the weaknesses of monsters. Lethal attacks are easier for him to execute, making this skill potentially devastating against high-level monsters.


    After equipping the "World''s First Kill" title, Jeremy saw an increase of 120 points across his attributes.


    Titles are a type of special gear that yers can equip multiple of, so he didn''t need to rece his "Pioneer" title.


    However, more than the "World''s First Kill" and "Lethal Strike," Jeremy''s attention was primarily captured by the "Resurrection Coin" item.


    Astonishingly, it was a precious resurrection item that, aside from a cooldown period, had almost no conditions for use!


    The rarity of such an item goes without saying, and even Jeremy was somewhat thrilled by it.


    In the face of an irresistible crisis, this Resurrection Coin could spare him from death once. Essentially, it was as if he had one more life than others!


    Jeremy calmed the excitement in his heart and proceeded to inspect the equipment he had acquired from the Skyrakers.


    [Equipment]RingoftheSky


    [Type]essory


    [Level]Silver


    [Quality]Orange(Rare)


    [Attributes]Attributes+40,Flightspeed+20%


    [Skill]WingsoftheSky


    [Description]Uponusingthisskill,theyerobtainsapairofwingsandgainstemporaryflightabilitstingfor15minutes,withacooldownof3hours.


    ...


    Uponseeingthequalityoftheequipment,Jeremyfeltastirinhisheart.


    Thiswasthefirsttimehehadobtainedequipmentoforangequality.


    AlthoughtheRingoftheSkyisonlyofSilverlevel,theskillitprovides,"WingsoftheSky,"isincrediblypowerful.


    Comparedtotheskill"Windriding"fromtheWindriderBoots,the"WingsoftheSky"skilloftheRingoftheSkyoffersgenuineflightability,whichcouldsignificantlpensateforhisweaknessesinaeriabat.


    By now, Jeremy had pretty much gone through all the new items he had acquired.


    He decided to save the 210 free attribute points for when he might need themter.


    Unfortunately, he hadn''t had time to pick up the items dropped by the Devouring Tyrant, leaving them in themercial square.


    However, ording to Emma, ire was holding onto them for him temporarily.


    This news was a relief to Jeremy.


    He was genuinely worried that the fruits of his hard-won battle might end up in someone else''s hands. Let alone anything else, just the high-level skill book alone was worth a lot.


    Next, Jeremy nned to upgrade his skill levels, only to awkwardly find that he only had 1st and 2nd tier energy crystals at hand, he had used up all his 3rd and 4th tier energy crystals previously.


    Jeremy didn''t have much time to collect energy crystals in themercial square, and now the thought pained him.


    But there was nothing he could do about it. Energy crystals were noparison to his life.


    Since these lower-tier energy crystals were of little use left, Jeremy decided to use them all to enhance his attributes.


    In the end, he gained about 130 points in random attributes.


    After putting onthe Ring of the Firmament,his attributes increased by 40 points across the board, then he nced at his stat panel.


    His strength attribute had reached 1632 points, and his agility had broken through 1000 points, reaching 1029 points.


    Jeremy clenched his fist, feeling a surge in his strength.


    He estimated that bullets probably posed no threat to him now.


    But Jeremy knew this was just the beginning of being superhuman.


    As yers leveled up, they could one day possess the power to destroy heavens and earth, just like the gods of legend!


    That would truly be superhuman, truly transcending the ordinary!

 Chapter 46: Black Dragon Team, Jeremys Memorial Service

    Just as Jeremy''s emotions were running high.


    There were suddenly a lot of urgent footsteps outside the ward.


    Immediately, the door of the ward was pushed open by someone.


    ire, Benjamin, Bonnie, and others appeared outside the door with a group of doctors.


    Some of them were in disarray, obviously rushing over after receiving the news.


    "I knew you wouldn''t be okay, you really..." Benjamin''s excited voice came in before he even entered the room.


    But halfway through his sentence, he saw the two people embracing in the room, and his words suddenly stopped.


    Jeremy looked at everyone with surprise.


    He had guessed that someone woulde, but he didn''t expect so many people.


    Benjamin cleared his throat awkwardly, "It looks like we came at the wrong time. Why don''t you guys continue, and we''lle backter?"


    Wain and the other doctors looked at each other, all feeling a bit embarrassed, clearly overthinking things.


    Emma blushed and hurriedly broke free from Jeremy''s embrace, stuttering, "You... you guys talk, I''ll go get some water."


    Without waiting for anyone to respond, Emma hurriedly lowered her head and left the ward.


    "Asshole!" Bonnie muttered with a red face, looking at Jeremy as if he were a beast.


    "Thank you all for your concern.I''m fine now." Jeremy remained calm as if he hadn''t heard anything.


    After all, it was these guys who had overreacted, he hadn''t done anything.


    ire nced at him but didn''t say anything.


    The group tacitly moved on from the situation.


    After that, Wain and a group of doctors examined Jeremy.


    They found that Jeremy''s body was very healthy.


    The doctors couldn''t help but marvel at it.


    Wain shook his head and sighed, "Even though there were no brainwaves, he managed to wake up. This is truly... a medical miracle!"


    The other doctors agreed.


    After the heart stops beating, brainwaves can continue for several hours, and there are medical cases of peopleing back to life.


    But they had never heard of anyoneing back to life after brain death.


    If this case had happened in peacetime, it would have caused a sensation in the medicalmunity.


    Jeremy looked strangely at them.


    So, when he entered the spirit world, he didn''t even have brainwaves?


    This spirit world... truly is a mysterious ce.


    After the examination, Wain and the doctors left.


    In the room, only Benjamin, Bonnie, ire, and Jeremy were left.


    ire noticed that Benjamin seemed to have something to say, so she said, "I''ll go out for a while, you guys talk."


    With that, she left the ward.


    "You should go too." Benjamin gestured to Bonnie.


    Bonnie pursed her lips but obediently walked out.


    It wasn''t a secret that Bonnie was the mayor''s daughter, many people in the school knew.


    In the same ss, Jeremy naturally heard about it, but he didn''t pay much attention.


    After all, to him, Bonnie, even if she was the daughter of the federal leader, had nothing to do with him.


    Jeremy looked at Benjamin and said bluntly, "Mr. Mayor, I cannot repay the life-saving favor this time. If you have anything to say, just speak up. I will not refuse if it''s within my power."


    Although Jeremy wasn''t exactly a good person, he always believed in repaying kindness as well as avenging wrongs.


    Regardless of Benjamin and Howard''s motives, the fact that they saved him remained.


    Therefore, as long as the request wasn''t too outrageous, Jeremy wouldn''t refuse it.


    A smile appeared on Benjamin''s face, knowing he hadn''t misjudged Jeremy just from that response.


    Benjamin smiled and said, "I saved you because it was an order from above. You don''t need to thank me. Moreover, my main reason foring here is to tell you that the federal leader values you highly and has sent the strongest special forces team from the capital, the ''ck Dragon Squad,'' wanting to take you to the capital."


    Jeremy was somewhat surprised but not overly so.


    With the potential he had shown, it was normal to be noticed. He just hadn''t expected the federal leader to send someone specifically.


    It seemed Benjamin had more to say, Jeremy didn''t speak.


    Sure enough, after a pause, Benjamin sighed and said, "Due to some reasons, there are individuals within the ''ck Dragon Squad'' arriving who hold significant grievances against you. If they act disrespectfully, I hope you won''t take it to heart."


    The "ck Dragon Squad" representedthe pinnacle of the federation''s special forces, with each member being an elite picked from tens of thousands of soldiers.


    In times of peace, they embodiedthe strongest individualbat capabilities of the federation!


    Even though it''s now the apocalypse and many people possessedsupernatural abilities, this does not mean the "ck Dragon Squad" couldbe provoked.


    On the contrary, theywere even more formidable!


    After all, they too were yers who couldlevel up, awakenednew abilities, and changedtheir ss.


    While Benjamin hadconfidence in Jeremy''s strength and talent, believing it won''t take long for him to surpass these individuals.


    Jeremy was still too young. Benjamin doesn''t want Jeremy to offend these formidable figures.


    Jeremy smiled and said, "As long as they don''t go too far, I won''t mind."


    Jeremy had never heard of the "ck Dragon Squad" before, but from Benjamin''s words, he guessed these were specially trained super soldiers for executing special missions.


    In his past life, Jeremy had encountered such individuals,each was extremely difficult to deal with but posed no threat to him.


    As long as they didn''t provoke him, Jeremy wouldn''t bother with them either.


    "That''s good to hear." Benjamin said, relieved, thinking Jeremy understood his point.


    After chatting for a while longer, Emma returned with a kettle.


    Not wanting to impose any further on the young couple, Benjamin stood up and advised, "Although the doctor said you''re alright, you should still rest well. If you''re interested tomorrow, you could join us in exploring a newly discovered low-level dungeon. The ck Dragon Squad is preparing to enter, and Howard is currently guarding it. He also wants to have a chat with you."


    "Thank you, Sir." Jeremy nodded, watching Benjamin leave.


    He had never seen a dungeon before. Now with the opportunity, he naturally wanted to check it out.


    However, Jeremy''s idea of "checking it out" differed from Benjamin''s,he nned to actually enter the dungeon.


    Jeremy was well aware of his physical condition and knew he was fine, especially after absorbing a significant amount of spirit bodies in the spirit realm, which seemed to have cured his postbat syndrome.


    With two days left in the daily activity, he couldn''t afford to waste time in the hospital.


    Although the dungeon was fraught with danger, clearing it would yield a bounty of experience points. With the double experience event ongoing daily, Jeremy stood a real chance of overtaking thepetition to im the top spot.


    He had been coveting the artifact awarded for the first-ce prize for some time. Given the opportunity to obtain it, he wasn''t about to let it slip through his fingers.


    "Have some water." Emma poured Jeremy a cup of hot water, carefully blew on it to cool it down, and then handed it to him.


    Her eyes were as tender as water, reflecting the emotional rollercoaster this ordeal had put her through. It also made her cherish their rtionship even more.


    The tender moment between the two didn''tst long before ire walked in.


    Seeing this scene, her expression didn''t change. She simply asked Jeremy, "Are you nning to enter the dungeon?"


    With ire''s mental strength, overhearing conversations in the room was effortless.


    Given her understanding of Jeremy, she could easily guess what he was nning to do.


    Upon seeing ire, Emma''s demeanor also remained unchanged. She even smiled at ire.


    The two seemed to share a very delicate rtionship, and Jeremy, caught in the middle, was naturally pleased with this but didn''t point it out.


    He nodded and said, "Yes, and you both will be joining me."


    While Jeremy was eager to level up, elevating Emma and ire''s levels to ensure they could protect themselves was more important to him.


    Moreover, once their levels increased, the speed at which they could clear dungeons might also improve.


    After all, both Emma and ire had exceptional talents.


    "We''re going too?" Emma and ire were somewhat surprised.


    The monsters in the low-level dungeon were at least level 20. Even though both had gained some experience previously at themercial za, ire was only at level 14, and Emma was at level 11.


    And althoughboth had already changed sses, their current levels wouldn''t be of any help to Jeremy.They would only hold him back.


    Jeremy reassured them with a smile, "Don''t worry, I wouldn''t take you on an adventure if I wasn''t confident."


    If it were a mid-level dungeon, Jeremy might feel some pressure, but he didn''t take a low-level dungeon seriously.


    His attributes were already more than five times that of a regr yer. With his richbat experience, a low-level dungeon wouldn''t pose much of a challenge, even if he brought a few people along.


    Thinking this, Jeremy suddenly remembered Ritchie.


    Where was that guy?


    After asking ire, Jeremy found out.


    She had already notified Ritchie, but there was no answer on his phone.


    "Where did that damn guy run off to?" Jeremy wondered.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the Moonlight City Funeral Home.


    "Oh..Jeremy..." Suddenly, mournful howls erupted in the eerily dark funeral home, carrying far into the night.


    In the spacious and bright memorial hall, severalrge wreaths and a coffin were ced, with solemn requiems ying through the speakers.


    On the long table in front of the coffin was a... portrait with the name "Jeremy" on it?


    "Jeremy...my bestfriend...how could you just leave us...you hadn''t even introduced me to a girlfriend yet..." Ritchie wailed heartbreakingly on top of the coffin, tears streaming down his face.


    The thought that he had lost not only his best friend but also his girlfriend...


    This made him cry even harder and louder.

 Chapter 47: The Tyrants Heart, Just Kill the Damn Thing

    Jeremy was still oblivious to the fact that Ritchie had gone to hold a memorial service for him.


    At this moment, he was alone in the quiet ward.


    Emma and ire hadn''t been resting well these past few days, and with a dungeon run scheduled for tomorrow, Jeremy had insisted they get some rest first.


    Before leaving, ire returned the equipment and items that had dropped from the Tyrant to Jeremy.


    These included a piece of equipment, two items, and a 6th-tier energy crystal.


    Among the items was a high-tier skill book.


    Jeremy examined their attributes one by one.


    [Equipment]: Tyrant''s Armor


    [Type]: Armor


    [Grade]: tinum


    [Quality]: Purple (Rare)


    [Attributes]: Strength +200, Stamina +200, Defense +1000, Damage Reduction 15%


    [Skill]: Blood of the Tyrant (Active)


    [Description]: Upon activation, strength and stamina are boosted by 20%. Recovers 1% of health and stamina every second for 3 minutes. Cooldown: 24 hours.


    ...


    [Item]: Tyrant''s Heart


    [Type]: Material


    [Quality]: Orange (Precious)


    [Description]: The heart of a Tyrant, a precious material. High-tier alchemists and cksmiths have a chance to refine it into a diamond-level item, imbuing it with some of the Tyrant''s characteristics.


    ...


    [Item]: High-tier Random Skill Book


    [Quality]: Purple (Rare)


    [Description]: Grants a random high-tier skill upon use.


    [Tip]: Run 100 kilometers before use to obtain a super-tier utility skill.


    ...


    Jeremy was somewhat surprised as he looked at the "Tyrant''s Armor" and "Tyrant''s Heart".


    He hadn''t expected, aside from the high-tier skill book, to gain such significant loot.


    The "Tyrant''s Armor" was rare tinum-grade equipment, offering extremely powerful attributes and skills that greatly enhance a yer''s defense and survival abilities.


    The "Tyrant''s Heart" was an extraordinary material, which, whether given to an alchemist or a cksmith, had a high chance of producing a diamond-level item.


    But for now, itwaspointless to even consider it. High-level cksmiths and alchemists, let alone now, were expected to be exceedingly rare even in theter stages of the game, ording to Jeremy''s estimation..


    This was because leveling up in life professions relies not on experience, but on proficiency. Reaching a high level requireda substantial investment of resources and wealth, something beyond the reach of average yers.


    Jeremy stored the "Tyrant''s Heart" in his storage space and donned the Tyrant''s Armor.


    It was a full-body ck armor adorned with some blood-red patterns, giving it a somewhat sinister and fierce appearance.


    After putting it on, Jeremy''s strength and stamina increased by 200 points, with his strength reaching 1832.


    His stamina breaking through 1000 points to 1155.


    Clenching his fists, he immediately felt a significant increase in his sense of security.


    What remained was the high-tier skill book.


    Guided by the Eye of Omniscience, this high-tier skill book could bestow a super-tier utility skill.


    Although it wasn''t an offensive skill, Jeremy was already more than satisfied. After all, he only possessed two super-tier skills up to now.


    He would be eager for a utility or even a support skill.


    To unlock the hidden mechanism of this high-tier skill book, he would need to run 100 kilometers.


    Fortunately, it wasn''t crawling 100 kilometers.Jeremy could ept this challenge. With his current physical condition, running 100 kilometers wouldn''t take too long.


    To avoid disturbing others, Jeremy quietly jumped out of the window.


    He then silently slipped out of the hospital and started sprinting towards the outskirts under the cover of night.


    In today''s Moonlight City, abandoned cars and ruins were everywhere. Although these had not been cleared yet, the monsters within the city had been mostly dealt with by Howard and his army.


    As he moved swiftly, Jeremy''s figure grew distant, and soon he reached the outskirts.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    Even from afar, he could see the battlefield at the city''s edge, filled with continuous gunfire and explosions.


    Even at night, Howard and his army were still clearing out monsters. Presumably, they also knew that now was the best opportunity to eliminate the monsters.


    Now, relying on firearms and various heavy weapons, humanity could still contend with monsters, marking the best chance to reim their territory.


    Once the monsters fully grew, even nuclear bombs would be useless.


    At that point, reiming thesends would cost ten or even a hundred times more.


    Jeremy nced over and then redirected his focus, continuing to run.


    Along the way, he hardly encountered any monsters. The few that did appear within his perception were easily dealt with by him.


    Professional athletes need about 40 minutes to run 10 kilometers.


    With Jeremy''s current physical condition, he easily met the 100 kilometers trigger condition in less than half an hour, not even running at full speed.


    Thisparison highlighted the terrifying nature of yers, who could no longer be judged by the standards of normal people.


    Jeremy stopped near a cemetery on the outskirts.


    He took out the high-tier skill book and used it.


    "Swoosh!"


    The skill book lit up with a blinding white light in the darkness, then transformed into a stream of light that surged into Jeremy''s body.


    Immediately after, a notification appeared before him.


    [Ding! You have used the High-tier Random Skill Book and triggered the hidden mechanism!]


    [You have obtained the super-tier skill "Instant Teleportation!"]


    Jeremy was stunned for a moment, then blurted out, "Holly shit."


    Instant Teleportation?!


    Although he had hoped for a stroke of incredible luck, he never really thought he would obtain such a legendary skill!


    Jeremy clenched his fists, feeling a surge of excitement.


    Instant Teleportation!


    This was a capability many could only dream of!


    And now, ity before him.


    Jeremy checked the skill attributes.


    [Skill]: Instant Teleportation


    [Level]: lv1


    [Tier]: Super-tier Skill


    [Type]: Support (Active)


    [Description]: Upon use, the yer can teleport within a 10-meter range, with a cooldown of 15 minutes.


    Jeremy was pleasantly surprised by the attributes of "Instant Teleportation."


    The ability was stronger than he had anticipated.


    He had thought teleportation would only cover a meter or two, but the range was actually 10 meters, and with only a 15-minute cooldown.


    Now, "Instant Teleportation" was only a level 1 skill. When it reached its full level, the cooldown might reduce to under 5 minutes, and the range could expand several times over. By then, the skill''s effect would undoubtedly be even more formidable!


    Jeremy suppressed the excitement in his heart, ready to give it a try.


    Conveniently, there was a funeral home nearby.


    After approaching the funeral home, with a thought, Jeremy''s figure instantly vanished from his original spot.


    His vision blurred for a moment, and when it cleared, he found himself inside the mourning hall of the funeral home, somber and solemn requiems ringing in his ears.


    Jeremy was taken aback.


    Sote and there was still a memorial service happening?


    Before he could ponder further, a familiar voice reached his ears.


    "Jeremy...You died so tragically..." Ritchie remained lying on the coffin, sobbing bitterly, asionally sniffling, and did not notice Jeremy who appeared beside him.


    Seeing Ritchie sprawled on the coffin, grief-stricken, Jeremy''s expression stiffened. He had just spotted his own abstract "memorial photo."


    This idiot...


    Jeremy''s fists clenched with a crackling sound, almost wishing he could toss Ritchie into the coffin and bury him.


    Suddenly, Ritchie shivered.


    "Why does it feel so chilly behind me?" He stopped crying, turning his tear-streaked face around.


    Then, he saw Jeremy''s face, livid with anger.


    Ritchie froze for a moment, rubbed his eyes, making sure he wasn''t seeing things.


    "Ghost!!!" A high-pitched, ear-piercing scream immediately echoed throughout the entire funeral home.


    Before Jeremy could even speak, Ritchie''s eyes rolled back, and he fainted cleanly on the spot. He was actually scared into unconsciousness!


    Jeremy''s mouth twitched slightly, thinking to himself, this guy really is something else!


    ...


    In the Moonlight Grace Hospital.


    When Ritchie came to, dawn was breaking.


    "Don''t kill me, Jeremy!" With a cry of rm, Ritchie leapt from the bed, ready to flee.


    It was then he shockingly realizedthat,


    he wasn''t in a funeral home, but in a hospital.


    Ritchie paused for a moment, then let out a long sigh of relief.


    Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he said, "So it was all just a dream, I knew it..."


    Just then, the door to the ward suddenly opened.


    Jeremy calmly said, "Let''s go. It''s time to leave."


    Ritchie''s face, just as he turned, instantly paled to an extreme degree.


    His legs gave out, nearly causing him to kneel on the spot.


    Ritchie wailed, "Jeremy, I know I was wrong. I won''t tell anyone about you secretly training, nor will I mention you watching porn. Please, don''te after me again..."


    Jeremy''s breathing hitched, the murderous intent that had just settled ring up once again.


    Indeed, this damned thing should be killed. Keeping it around was just a curse.!


    "What are you guys doing?" Emma and ire, hearing themotion, came over.


    Looking at Ritchie, who was trembling all over on the ground, and then at Jeremy, who had already drawn his ze Knife, both were somewhat puzzled.

 Chapter 48: Striking Suddenly, As If You Stand a Chance

    Once the whole story and sequence of events were clear, ire and Emma couldn''t help butugh and cry at the same time.


    After a lengthy exnation, they finally made Ritchie understand that Jeremy hadn''t actually died.


    It wasn''t long before Benjamin and Bonnie came to invite them to join them on a trip to a factory on the outskirts.


    By the time Jeremy and the others arrived at the factory in the outskirts by car, the military had already sealed the ce tight.


    Just by entering, they had already passed through three security checkpoints.


    Beyond the checkpoints, what came into view was an abandoned processing nt.


    The faded walls of the workshops revealed that the ce had been deste for quite some years.


    The spacious cement ground was overgrown with withered weeds, and the machinery outside was already covered in rust.


    Now, this small, dpidated processing nt was packed inside and out with people.


    A group of fully armed soldiers, holding firearms, had serious expressions on their faces.


    As soon as Jeremy and his group entered, countless gazesnded on them.


    Jeremy could feel that, hundreds of meters away on a residential building, several snipers were targeting his vital points.


    He had no doubt that if he made any overt moves, they would pull the trigger.


    It was evident that Howard and Benjamin ced great importance on this low-level copy.


    After all, it was the first instance discovered in Moonlight City.


    "This is the entrance to the instance. Beyond this door lies another world." Benjamin exined, pointing to a blue light gate about three to four meters high in the middle of the area. "Our team has already checked it out. There''s a vast grasnd inside. But due to the dangers within the instance, they haven''t had the chance to explore further."


    Bonnie, ire, and the others were somewhat shocked looking at the blue light gate.


    It was hard to imagine that behind this seemingly small doory a vast grasnd!


    Jeremy, however, appeared unfazed.


    He knew that many high-level instances were evenrger, some being as boundless as worlds themselves, which was even more astonishing.


    Now, there were already many people around the light gate.


    Jeremy looked around and saw that there were quite a few people who hade, easily numbering over a hundred, many of whom were soldiers.


    The most conspicuous among them was a burly man in military attire at the forefront.


    Dressed in blood-stained military clothes, with a cigarette in his mouth, a beard-stubbled face, and somewhat unkempt. But his body was incredibly muscr, his muscles bulging prominently, making him stand out among the soldiers.


    "Here theye!" Seeing Benjamin and the others, Howard called out, then turned his gaze to Jeremy andughed, "Well done, kid. I knew you wouldn''t go down that easily."


    Jeremy didn''t need anyone to introduce him. He knew who he was.


    He gratefully said, "I owe you my life, Mr.Howard."


    Whether in his past life or now, Jeremy held a deep respect for soldiers like Howard.


    He was keenly aware of the horrors of war and knew that it was because of people like Howard that peaceful and tranquil lives were possible.


    Howard pped Jeremy on the shoulder, squinting and smiling, "If you''re truly grateful, kid, join my team and be one of my soldiers."


    Howard''s words were half-joking, half-serious.


    He genuinely admired Jeremy and if Jeremy was willing to join his team, Howard would definitely spare no effort in training him.


    The others also picked up on his particr regard for Jeremy, giving the young man a few more curious nces.


    Some couldn''t understand why this handsome youth had caught Howard''s special attention.


    "Thank you, Mr.Howard, but I..." Jeremy disliked being constrained and wasn''t really considering joining the military.


    He was about to politely decline when a cold female voice suddenly interrupted him.


    She said calmly, "Mr.Howard, Jeremy is specifically requested by themander. Are you sure you want topete with us for him?"


    Jeremy''s gaze shifted, turning towards the source of the voice.


    He saw a woman of delicate features and a cool demeanor, approaching with four others.


    These individuals were dressed in specialbat uniforms, and even from a distance, one could feel the aura of lethality around them.


    Jeremy could sense a familiar vibe from them. They must be from the ck Dragon squad.


    Their identities weren''t hard to guess. Benjamin had introduced them to Jeremy on the way here.


    The silver-haired woman leading the group is the captain of the ck Dragon Squad, named "E," whose profession is "Gunmage."


    The handsome young man beside her is the vice-captain of the ck Dragon Squad, named "Kelvin," with the profession of "Thunder Mage."


    The woman with a seductive figure behind them is named "Rafael," a "Holy Light Priest."


    The man holding an axe is called "Ramone," his profession being a "Berserker Warrior."


    Thest one, an average-looking young man named ''Tre,'' is an "Assassin."


    Although the highest level among the ck Dragon Squad members is only 18, they are all superb soldiers meticulously selected from the capital, exceptional among yers.


    The captain, E, and the vice-captain, Kelvin, both have S-level abilities, while the other three members possess A-level abilities, each with their own specialties.


    Jeremy''s gaze primarily lingered on Captain E.


    This woman appeared no older than twenty, yet she had a head of silver-white hair as pristine as snow.


    Her features were delicate, her demeanor cold, carrying a modified sniper rifle on her back that seemed somewhat disproportionate to her slender frame.


    She was tall, with straight long legs, and as she walked, her silver hair shimmered under the sunlight with an eye-catching luster.


    Coupled with her expressionless beautiful face, she exuded a sharp, cold aura that was hard to ignore.


    Noticing Jeremy''s unabashed stare, E couldn''t help but frown, immediately lowering her opinion of him.


    The others were also sizing up Jeremy.


    Had it not been for the appearance of a low-level dungeon, they might have already left the Moonlight City.


    Unexpectedly, right before their departure, Jeremy hade back to life.


    Hearing E''s words, Howard remainedposed, chuckling, "Captain E, don''t be so sure. Maybe Jeremy doesn''t want to go to the capital with you. You can''t possibly intend to take him back by force, can you?"


    E remained silent.


    The vice-captain Kelvin, holding a staff, gave Jeremy a cold nce, saying, "Indeed, we can''t be so certain. After all, whether we take him back with us is still up in the air."


    As his voice fell, his staff suddenly lit up with a purple glow.


    A bolt of purple lightning emerged out of thin air, shooting towards Jeremy like lightning! Everyone''s expression changed, and anger was even more evident on Benjamin''s face.


    This guy, daring to make a move directly?!


    A cold light shed in Jeremy''s eyes, instantly filled with killing intent.


    He initially didn''t want to bother with these people, but they were asking for it!


    Before Jeremy could react, Howard stepped forward, positioning himself in front of him.


    Without any noticeable movement, a two-meter-long broadsword appeared in Howard''s hand.


    He lifted the broadsword with one hand and swung it down fiercely.


    "Bang!"


    The purple lightning struck the broadsword, exploding on impact.


    Numerous fine arcs of electricity danced around Howard, his expression darkening as he felt waves of numbness.


    "Have you lost your minds? Why attack Jeremy!" Emma,ing to her senses, showed anger on her face, and the expressions of the others were also unsightly.


    ire''s eyes glowed with a purple light, ready to act at any moment.


    They all witnessed the terrifying power of the strike. If it were an ordinary person, he would probably be killed on the spot.


    Benjamin, furious to the point ofughter, said, "As expected of the ck Dragon Squad, truly impressive! I will report this matter to the chief and have him properly discipline your team!"


    "Click!"


    Simultaneously, the sound of firearms being cocked filled the abandoned factory, with every gun aimed at the ck Dragon Squad.


    Those standing here were the elite trained by Howard, their loyalty to Howard even surpassing that to the federation.


    Witnessing this scene, a chill shed in the eyes of the ck Dragon Squad members.


    A cold smile appeared on Aaron''s beautiful face as she said icily, "We just wanted to test his strength, and you point guns at your own brethren? Howard, are you attempting a rebellion?!" Howard''s face turned from pale to flushed with anger at her words.


    He knew Aaron was provoking him, yet he was unable to retort.


    His soldiers'' actions had indeed crossed a line with the federation.


    With a stern face, he waved his hand, "Everyone stand down!"


    At hismand, the soldiers holstered their weapons.


    The expressions of the ck Dragon Squad members softened slightly.


    E spoke calmly, "It''s about time. Mr.Howard, if there''s nothing else, we will enter the instance now."


    ncing at Jeremy, she added coldly, "If you wish to enjoy the federation''s resources, prove your worth. The federation does not shelter the useless."


    After speaking, E gestured, and the other four members followed her towards the instance portal.


    They didn''t even spare Jeremy a nce, tantly ignoring him.


    The crowd was seething with anger but dared not speak out.


    The ck Dragon Squad represented the federation''s dignity, to act against them meant


    The ck Dragon Squad represents the dignity of the federation. When considering taking action against them, the first thing to consider is not their strength, but the consequences of taking action!


    This is why even Howard and Benjamin did not dare to offend them, as it would be too easy for political enemies to use such actions against them.


    Everyone was inwardly fuming but powerless to do anything.


    Just as the group was about to enter the dungeon, a calm voice made everyone on the scene shudder.


    Jeremy spoke calmly, "How dare you worthless beings even discuss value with me?"


    The members of the ck Dragon Squad stopped in their tracks.


    In an instant, the room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.

 Chapter 49: Captain Ella, The Plains of Death

    "Do you have a death wish?" E slowly turned to look at Jeremy, her beautiful eyes filled with coldness.


    The other four also directed their unfriendly gazes towards Jeremy.


    Since joining the ck Dragon Squad, Jeremy was the first to speak to them in such a manner.


    The atmosphere outside the factory was somewhat oppressive, and many felt their hearts tighten.


    Yet Jeremy seemed oblivious.


    He calmly stated, "You could try and see if you''re capable."


    Had these people spoken nicely from the start, he wouldn''t have sought trouble with them.


    But now that they had made their move, Jeremy, not one to have a good temper to begin with, naturally would not tolerate it.


    Moreover, his boldness stemmed from hisck of fear towards them.


    Upon activating The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy could see the information of the individuals before him.


    [Name]: E


    [Level]: 18


    [upation]: Gunner (Common)


    [Ability]: Death Lock (S-rank)


    [Note]: Proficient inmand and long-rangebat, with strong burst and suppression capabilities. Slightly stronger in closebat, average speed, and defense.


    ...


    [Name]: Kelvin


    [Level]: 17


    [upation]: Thunder Mage (Rare)


    [Ability]: Lightning Mastery (S-rank)


    [Note]: Excel in burst damage and control, with extremely strong attack damage. Average in closebat, slightly weaker in defense and speed.


    ...


    [Name]: Ramone


    [Level]: 17


    [upation]: Berserker Bear Warrior (Rare)


    [Ability]: Grow Stronger as the Battle Progresses (A-rank)


    [Note]: Specializes in closebat, very strong in defense and strength. Slightly stronger in closebat, weaker in speed and mental strength.


    ...


    Jeremy, already more powerful than these individuals and aware of their weaknesses in advance. If he wanted to kill this five people, he wouldn''t even need to exert much effort.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, E''s expression remained unchanged.


    However, the faces of the four ck Dragon Squad members darkened significantly.


    The tension was palpable.


    ire and Emma stayed silent.


    No matter who the opponent was, they firmly stood by Jeremy.


    Ritchie seemed excited, already warming up for the confrontation.


    Bonnie simply red at Jeremy.


    This guy really had a knack for finding trouble,did he think the ck Dragon Squad members were so easily provoked?


    Howard nced at the ck Dragon Squad and then at Jeremy, suddenly grinning.


    This kid really suited his style!


    Benjamin knew this couldn''t go on.


    He stepped forward, stating in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, this is not the ce for a fight. Your strength would be better spent on monsters and dungeons."


    The ck Dragon Squad held a higher status in the federation than Jeremy had imagined, and Benjamin didn''t want him to offend them. It wouldn''t be beneficial for him.


    The members of the ck Dragon Squad didn''t speak, their gazes shifting to their leader, Captain E.


    Despite Benjamin''s significant status, it held little sway over them, as the ck Dragon Squad only followed their captain''s orders.


    "I hope you can surprise me when we meet in the dungeon." E said, giving Jeremy a deep look, choosing not to engage here.


    She wasn''t overly concerned about Jeremy''s arrogance. The federation was never short of arrogant folks, and E had encountered many more arrogant than Jeremy.


    But those who had survived till now did so because they had the means to back up their arrogance. If Jeremy had the skills, that was fine. But if he was the type who couldn''t recognize his own limits, E felt it was even less worthwhile to waste time on him.


    Whether he was all talk or not would be clear once they entered the dungeon. If Jeremy didn''t even dare to enter, then killing him out of spiteter would not be toote.


    After speaking, E turned and walked towards the dungeon entrance.


    The others gave Jeremy a cold nce and followed her.


    The blue portal rippled as the figures of the five disappeared.


    Benjamin apologized to Jeremy, "Sorry, I wanted you toe here to rx. But I didn''t expect this to happen."


    Jeremyughed, "It''s fine.I''m not taking it to heart."


    Howarughed heartily upon hearing this, "I really admire your fearless nature!"


    After a pause, he became more serious, "However, the ck Dragon Squad is not as simple as you think."


    Jeremy looked puzzled, "What do you mean?"


    Benjamin sighed, "The ck Dragon Squad holds a special status in the federation, entangled with manyplexities. For instance, E is the eldest daughter of theE''sfamily, one of the five major families in the Imperial City. You should know her fiance, Kean, who is currently ranked first in the level rankings.


    Hees from another of the Imperial City''s five major families, and is hailed as the federation''s top genius. He is also the first person to have cleared a beginner dungeon."


    "E is a daughter of a major family?" Jeremy was surprised.


    He was aware that there were certainly influential families within the Federation that had be too powerful to control, but he never expected that E was the heiress of one such family, and even more surprisingly, the fiancee of Kean.


    But why would such a favored daughter of heaven join the ck Dragon Squad, a department fraught with danger?


    Jeremy was even more puzzled.


    Howard exined, "Not just E, the others alsoe from notable backgrounds. The reason the ck Dragon Squad is known as the strongest team in the Federation is that its members are top talents selected from various powerful factions.Each of them represents a major power, including intelligence agencies, the military, families, and so on.


    This is precisely why the ck Dragon Squad can act without any concerns, instilling fear in many."


    Jeremy understood. No wonder he felt that these people were somewhat unusual, different from the super soldiers he had encountered before. So there were so manyplexities involved.


    However, Jeremy didn''t care about this. After the apocalypse, the global order had been reshuffled, and those major forces probably had their hands full just trying to survive, let alone bother with him.


    Both sighed upon seeing this, realizing that Jeremy simply didn''t care and decided not to say more.


    Once he reached the capital, he would understand the prowess of these people.


    Letting this young man suffer a bit isn''t necessarily a bad thing.


    The sun was high in the sky, and it was gettingte.


    Howard, along with over a hundred soldiers, prepared to enter the dungeon.


    Jeremy seized the opportunity to ask, "Can we go in and have a look too?"


    "Are you sure your body can handle it? And the ck Dragon Squad..." Benjamin hesitated, worried that the ck Dragon Squad might seek revenge on Jeremy.


    Howard, however, smiled and said, "Don''t worry. With me around, they''ll think twice."


    Seeing Howard speak up, Benjamin didn''t say anything more.


    And so, it was settled.


    Worth mentioning, Bonnie also prepared to enter the dungeon with them.


    Benjamin couldn''t persuade her otherwise. So he could only ask Jeremy and Howard to take good care of her.


    This made Bonnie quite dissatisfied, feeling underestimated by her father.


    Then, Jeremy and the others followed Howard''s troops through the dungeon portal.


    The moment Jeremy stepped through the portal, it felt like passing through a curtain of water.


    When he opened his eyes again, the scene had changed from the abandoned factory to a lush green meadow.


    Under the clear blue sky, the vast meadow stretched as far as the eye could see.


    A gentle breeze stirred waves of ripples across the grass.


    Around them, various animals and nts could be seen.


    Meadow giants as big as cars,man-eating flowers taller than a man,emaciated ghouls wielding various weapons, and so on.


    These monsters roamed the meadow. Although not numerous, their levels were all above 20, including many elite monsters.


    As they entered the dungeon, a prompt appeared in front of everyone.


    [Ding! You have entered the low-level dungeon "Death Meadow"!]


    [Rmended Level: 20-30]


    Unlike the others, Jeremy received an additional prompt.


    [Tip: In the core area of "Death Meadow," "Ghoul Tribe," there is an altar. Using the Ghoul Tribe chieftain''s head for a sacrifice can awaken the hidden BOSS "Ghoul High Priest".]


    "A hidden BOSS!" Jeremy''s heart stirred, his eyes instantly zing with excitement.


    Hidden BOSSes were monsters that existed only within dungeons, and defeating them would surely yield precious equipment and items!


    A smile appeared on Jeremy''s face. He hadn''t expected to receive such a great surprise just after entering the dungeon, thanks to The Eye of Omniscience!


    However, the Ghoul Tribe in the core area of Death Meadow couldn''t be reached in a short time.So Jeremy had to suppress the excitement in his heart.


    This was a good opportunity for him to level up with Emma and ire.


    Jeremy looked towards Howard and the others, noticing that under Howard''s leadership, the hundred-plus soldiers had formed teams of five and had already begun exploring the edges of Death Meadow.


    These soldiers were clearly carefully selected by Howard, each team having a standard yer groupposition with DPS, support, and tank roles.


    Jeremy retracted his gaze and went to form a team with ire, Bonnie, and Emma.


    Despite Bonnie''s ims of wanting to rely on herself.


    When Jeremy sent her the invitation, she epted it straightforwardly.


    "You seem to be saying one thing but feeling another, Captain." Jeremy thought to himself, not voicing it out loud, for fear that Bonnie might turn on him right there and then.


    After the team was sessfully formed, a green team member icon appeared above everyone''s head.


    Jeremy''s icon was slightly different, adorned with a small crown.


    Indicating he was the team leader, with the authority to freely distribute the loot dropped by monsters.


    Then, Jeremy went to find Howard to convey their wish to split from the main group.


    Knowing Jeremy''s capabilities, Howard didn''t object, merely cautioning them to be extra careful.


    With a smile and a nod, Jeremy waved goodbye to Howard and the others.


    Then, the small group headed deeper into Death Meadow.


    Jeremy frowned, puzzled.


    He couldn''t shake the feeling that he had forgotten something.

 Chapter 50: Corpse-Stained Shirt, You Could Ask Them

    Just then, a piercing scream suddenly tore through the sky.


    "Jeremy, help! Help me!" Ritchie''s loud plea for help came from not too far away.


    Turning towards the source of the noise, Jeremy''s face darkened instantly.


    Ritchie was halfway inside the mouth of a man-eating nt, with only his legs kicking frantically outside.


    His cries wereing from within the nt itself.


    [Man-Eating nt (Common)[


    [Level]:lv21


    [Attack]:1277-1316


    [Defense]:273


    [Skills]:Swallow, Digest...


    [Note]:Weak defense, very slow speed.


    Jeremy didn''t have time to ponder why Ritchie had been devoured by the man-eating nt.


    He quickly pulled out the ze Knife from his storage space, his figure swift as lightning, and charged forward. With a swift sh at the stem of the man-eating nt, he hastily rescued Ritchie from its maw.


    "Ah, gross! It stinks!" Ritchie climbed out of the carnivorous nt''s mouth, looking utterly frantic.


    He wasn''t injured, just covered in a sticky yellow liquid, emanating a foul, pungent odor all over him.


    "How did you end up inside a monster''s belly?" Jeremy pinched his nose, his face full of disgust.


    Right now, Ritchie looked as if he had just been fished out of a sewage pit.


    "I thought it looked so cute, so I wanted to touch it. Who knew it would just swallow me in one bite." Ritchie said furiously, adding, "If I ever encounter it again, I swear I''ll pluck its leaves out!"


    The rest of the group struggled to find words.


    This guy''s sense of beauty was seriously questionable.


    The man-eating nt was a dull yellow with its petals covered in dark brown spots. They couldn''t see anything remotely cute about it.


    Jeremy massaged his temples.


    Ritchie had been somewhat normal before, but ever since his awakening, he had be increasingly reckless.


    Especially a few days ago, during his job change, he had somehow lucked into obtaining a rare profession called "Shadow Assassin."


    This profession not only allowed him to manipte shadows to attack but also to transform his body into a shadow, bing immune to various kinds of damage.


    Since then, Ritchie had been more unruly than ever.


    Shaking his head, Jeremy, no longer willing to deal with this fool, tightened his grip on his knife and alerted the others, "Stay sharp, the monsters areing."


    The noise Ritchie had made attracted the attention of some nearby cannibal ghouls. These lean figures were already approaching them greedily, stone spears in hand.


    Among them, Jeremy spotted an elite cannibal ghoul.


    [Cannibal Ghoul Warrior (Elite)[


    [Level]:lv25


    [Attack]:2297-2363


    [Defense]:773


    [Skills]:Charge, Swing, Throw...


    [Note]:Average strength, rtively fast, weak spot is the head.


    This cannibal ghoul was muscr and wielded a stone club wrapped in bandages. It stood over 2 meters tall, with bulging muscles, significantlyrger and obviously tougher than the average cannibal ghoul.


    Hearing this, ire and the other women drew their weapons.


    With vignt faces, they watched the approaching monsters, ready to fight at any moment.


    All three women were of rare professions, each wielding a magic staff.


    ire''s profession was that of a control ss called "Mind Maniptor."


    Emma belonged to the support ss, known as the "Life Shepherd."


    Bonnie, on the other hand, was an offensive ss called "Frost Elf."


    A yer''s ability usually determines their profession, with talented yers typically not ending up with poor professions.


    However, this wasn''t absolute. Some yers with average abilities and professions could still transition into rare professions, much like Ritchie.


    "Roar!!!"


    At that moment, four cannibal ghouls charged towards them, baring their fangs and ws.


    "You guys go ahead." Jeremy didn''t rush to act but decided to first observe the others''bat.


    As a support, Emma naturally stayed protected behind the rest.


    She waved her staff, surrounding everyone with a green aura of life energy that significantly boosted their stamina.


    ire stood at the forefront.


    Her eyes shimmered with a purple glow as she used her formidable mental strength to conjure a transparent shield in front of her, blocking the monsters'' attacks while simultaneously assaulting and controlling the cannibal ghouls with her psychic powers.


    Bonnie stood beside ire.


    Her ice-blue hair moved as though caught in a breeze, her presence emanating cold. With a wave of her staff, she sent a flurry of glowing white snowkes towards the monsters.


    These seemingly gentle snowkes cut through the monsters like sharp knives, leaving wounds behind.


    Ritchie was more cunning.


    He hid within the shadows of the monsters, asionally striking with his knife or even manipting their shadows to backstab them.


    After watching for a while, Jeremy gained a general understanding of their strengths.


    He figured that once their levels increased a bit more, he wouldn''t need to apany them for leveling up.


    However, they were still incapable of dealing with elite monsters on their own and needed his intervention.


    With that assessment in mind, Jeremy turned his attention towards the cannibal ghoul warrior.


    To him, this elite monster was no different from the regr ones.


    "Disaster de!"


    With a thought, his ze Knife instantly turned a dark red, and a violent aura erupted from him.


    "Boom!"


    Jeremy burst forward, the ground beneath his feet exploding.


    His figure, like lightning, appeared in front of the cannibal ghoul warrior in the blink of an eye.


    His long de trailed phantoms in the air as he swung it towards the neck of the ghoul.


    ck blood spurted as a head wasunched into the air!


    The cannibal ghoul warrior''s eyes still held confusion.


    It didn''t even have time to react before Jeremy decapitated it with a single strike!


    Bonnie stared at the scene, her beautiful eyes filled with shock.


    She knew Jeremy was strong, but she hadn''t expected him to be this powerful.


    This was a level 25 elite monster!


    And he had killed it with a single blow?!


    Looking at the ordinary cannibal ghouls shehad struggled to kill, Bonnie''s previously good mood soured.


    The expressions of the other three didn''t change much.


    ire had always been aware of Jeremy''s strength.


    Emma thought this was to be expected.


    As for Ritchie, he simply didn''t care.


    [You have killed a Level 25 Cannibal Ghoul Warrior (Elite), gaining 21,079 experience points!]


    The kill notification appeared before everyone, but the experience gained varied among them.


    This was because the experience from monsters wasn''t evenly distributed but calcted based on the damage and contribution each yer made within the team. The yer whonded the killing blow would receive the most experience.


    Simultaneously, Jeremy''s passive skill "Seven Sins - Gluttony" activated.


    A white light orb drifted up from the corpse of the Cannibal Ghoul Warrior and merged into Jeremy''s body.


    [Passive Skill ''Seven Sins - Gluttony'' Activated!]


    [You have randomly gained 3 points of Strength attribute!]


    Although it was only 3 points, Jeremy was quite satisfied.


    His skill hadn''t leveled up yet, and given the monster''s low level, the small attribute gain was expected. Besides, the Tier 6 energy crystal was too precious, and Jeremy didn''t want to use it to level up his skill.


    After Jeremy killed the Cannibal Ghoul Warrior, the group of ordinary cannibal ghouls all stopped in their tracks, their eyes clearing significantly.


    The greed vanished from their eyes, reced by deep fear and awe.


    Fear of the strong wasn''t exclusive to humans, monsters felt it too.


    Some of the ghouls began to retreat, attempting to flee.


    Of course, Jeremy wasn''t about to give them that chance.


    A pale blue glow emerged around him, and his speed instantly surged.


    "Shadow Step!"


    Jeremy''s figure suddenly vanished.


    What followed for those ghouls was a massacre.


    [You have killed a Level 21 Cannibal Ghoul Archer (Common), gaining 2,840 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 22 Cannibal Ghoul Assassin (Common), gaining 3,291 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 24 Cannibal Ghoul Hunter (Common), gaining 3,973 experience points!]


    ...


    Kill notifications appeared one after another, and Emma and the others were illuminated by the glow of leveling up.


    Jeremy didn''t kill all the monsters himself but left them nearly dead for the four to finish off.


    This way, both Jeremy and the others gained a substantial amount of experience.


    By the time Jeremy finished off all the monsters, ire had reached Level 17, Emma and Bonnie had reached Level 16, and only Ritchie was at Level 14.


    Having not really farmed monsters before.


    Jeremy shook his head, picking up all the dropped items.


    To his surprise, this time there was even a Silver-grade piece of equipment among them.


    [Equipment]:Corpse Cloth Tunic


    [Type]:Armor


    [Grade]:Silver


    [Quality]:Blue (Common)


    [Attributes]:Spirit +30, Stamina +30


    Jeremy nced at the equipment''s attributes and tossed it to Ritchie.


    "Why give this to me? This equipment isn''t suited for me!" Ritchie was bewildered.


    The equipment''s attributes clearly favored mages, so why give it to an assassin?


    Jeremy casually replied, "You can ask them if they want it."


    Ritchie, puzzled, passed it to Emma and the other two.


    After a brief inspection of the tattered, brownish-yellow tunic, all three decisively shook their heads.


    "It''s hideous. You keep it." Bonnie said with disgust.


    Ritchie: "???"

 Chapter 51: Fiance Kean and the Ghoul Tribe

    " Haha!"


    Jeremy couldn''t help butugh out loud as he looked at Ritchie, who was wearing a decayed corpse''s top.


    The outfit,bined with Ritchie''s stench, made him look more like a ghoul than the actual ghouls.


    "Hey, I kind of look like I''m cosying." Ritchie remarked, unfazed and even finding it amusing.


    Without lingering, the group continued deeper into the Death ins.


    Jeremy had already reached level 25, but needed nearly 210,000 experience points to level up further. The monsters on the outskirts of the Death ins provided too little experience. His target was the hidden boss in the core area, the only one that could give him a significant boost.


    At the moment, Kean, who topped the level leaderboard, had reached level 29, a full four levels ahead of Jeremy.


    Jeremy estimated that Kean would soon reach level 30. If Kean didn''t waste time on the second sschange, he could even reach level 32 by the end of the Sunseeker event.


    Jeremy also had to deal with the sschange goddess Janna during his second sschange, and he had no idea what trials she might set up for him.


    Therefore, he not only needed to surpass Kean in a short time but also leave some buffer for the second sschange.


    Fortunately, yers could still gain experience from killing monsters even if they couldn''t level up due to not yetpleting a sschange.


    This meant he still had a chance!


    ...


    Meanwhile, a few kilometers away from Jeremy and his group, on a hilltop.


    E and Kelvin''s team of five were besieging a level 25 elite Thorn Serpent.


    Kelvin, surrounded by lightning, swung his staff, sending a bolt of lightning crashing onto the massive body of the Thorn Serpent, shattering arge patch of its scales.


    The Thorn Serpent hissed in pain, its massive body writhing and rolling, sending dirt and grass flying everywhere, but unable to harm any of them.


    E, standing at the highest point of the hill, her silver-white hair flowing in the wind, aimed her massive sniper rifle, arcs of red electricity dancing on it. Through her blue virtual sses, a red dot moved over the Thorn Serpent''s body.


    Atst, her pupils contracted, and the red dot locked onto the serpent''s head.


    Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger.


    The sniper rifle''s muzzle erupted with a blend of lightning and me, sending a red energy beam as thick as an adult''s arm barreling out.


    "Boom!!!"


    The energy beam pierced through the Thorn Serpent''s head and even sted a terrifying crater into the hill behind it.


    The serpent copsed, and the group was enveloped in the glow of leveling up.


    Meanwhile, Tre, who was on lookout duty, witnessed Jeremy''s battle with the ghoul warriors through his binocrs.


    Lowering the binocrs, he remarked in surprise, "No wonder this kid is so cocky. He''s got some skills."


    They had just experienced the strength of an elite monster themselves. Although it wasn''t too difficult to deal with, taking one down as cleanly and efficiently as Jeremy did wasn''t easy even for them.


    Kelvin said calmly, "If I remember correctly, Jeremy is already level 25. If we were the same level as him, it wouldn''t take much effort for us to kill that monster either."


    Rafael held ady''s cigarette between his slender fingers and frowned. "If it weren''t for that guy, our levels wouldn''t be so low."


    "Captain, should I go teach them a lesson?" Ramone''s eyes gleamed with a fierce fighting spirit.


    He loved battling strong opponents, and Jeremy''s skills had earned his respect.


    Rafaelscoffed. "Even though I don''t like the guy, he did manage to surpass the captain''s fianceand top the leaderboard. He must have some skills. Be careful, or he might chop you up."


    At the mention of E''s fiance, Kean, a look of apprehension shed in Kelvin and the others'' eyes.


    Kean''s name was almost universally known in the capital, not just because he was the heir to the Kean''s family, but also due to his notoriously violent temperament. Anything that displeased him would invoke his wrathful vengeance.


    When the apocalypse struck, many thought they''d have a chance to get back at Kean.


    But no one had expected that he would awaken a terrifying SS-level ability and obtain a hidden ss, bing the strongest recognized genius among the yers.


    A few days ago, Kean had even soloed a beginner dungeon, bing the first yer in the apocalypse game to clear a dungeon.


    Those who had hoped to take revenge on him were shocked to find that the gap between them and Kean had only grownrger.


    Hearing Kean''s name, E''s expression shifted slightly, but she said nothing more. She turned and started walking deeper into the ins, saying calmly, "Forget him. The most important thing now is to level up. We''ve wasted too much time these past few days."


    The other four nodded in agreement.


    Their main goal in entering the dungeon was to quickly level up. Anyway, Jeremy couldn''t run away.


    Ultimately, aside from the Federation leaders and a few others like Benjamin, no one really took this young man seriously.


    In fact, whenever E thought about how these people had ced all their bets on Jeremy, she considered them insane.


    No matter how talented a young man might be, what the Federation and humanity needed was a hero who could bring hope.


    Even Kean, her fiancewhom she greatly disliked, seemed a hundred times more capable than Jeremy.


    It wasn''t that E wanted to belittle Jeremy.


    It''s just that an eighteen-year-old boy, no matter how remarkable or impressive, he couldn''t bear such a heavy burden.


    E shook her head.


    Instead of wasting time and resources on this boy, it would be better to find other solutions.


    That way, humanity might still have a chance to survive the increasingly brutal apocalypse.


    ...


    Meanwhile, on the Death ins.


    Adark red figure bulldozed through waves of monsters, rapidly advancing towards the core area. Behind him, Emma and the others struggled to keep up.


    Jeremy''s pupils had turned dark red, and he was enveloped in a shroud of sin mes, exuding an overwhelmingly terrifying aura.


    Moving swiftly among the monsters, his dual des cut through them like the scythes of the Grim Reaper, each strike iming a life.


    [You have killed a level 25 Terror Blossom (Normal), gaining 4519 experience points!]


    [You have killed a level 24 ins Great Wolf (Normal), gaining 4038 experience points!]


    [You have killed a level 26 Thorn Serpent (Elite), gaining 26160 experience points!]


    As a series of kill notifications appeared, Jeremy''s experience points rapidly increased, and it didn''t take long for him to reach level 26.


    Emma and the others were also leveling up quickly, with one of them glowing with golden light every so often.


    Despite being mentally prepared, it was only when Jeremy got serious that they truly understood just how terrifying his strength was.


    The path they had traversed was now littered with blood and monster corpses. Jeremy''s figure darted among the dense swarm of creatures like a phantom, each strike of his de efficiently iming the lives of one or even several monsters.


    The monsters that required theirbined effort to defeat seemed like paper under Jeremy''s dark red de, easily torn apart.


    They struggled to even track his movements, only able to see shes of his de dancing through the monsters.


    Watching Jeremy gracefully weave through the horde, they felt like they were witnessing a breathtaking stage performance.


    Jeremy''s mental strength had doubled aftering out of the Spirit World.


    This not only enhanced his skills but also greatly improved his observational and self-control abilities, allowing him to manage his power with perfect efficiency, wasting not a single ounce of energy.


    This improvement was monumental, significantly boosting Jeremy''s stamina and making his attacks faster, fiercer, and more precise.


    Jeremy understood that in battle, simple and effective moves were often more practical than shy techniques. He abandonedplicated attacks in favor of basic shes, chops, sweeps, and stabs.


    This approach greatly increased his efficiency in killing monsters.


    While the others were starting to feel the strain in their hands and feet from finishing off the monsters, Jeremy remained as energetic as ever.


    Ritchiemented, "The gap is just too wide!"


    Emma and the other two nodded silently.


    Jeremy was like a monster!


    Their abilities and sses were already considered top-notch among yers, even genius-level.


    But next to Jeremy, they felt no different from ordinary people.


    The disparity was so vast it was almost despair-inducing.


    Bonnie finally had a clear understanding of Jeremy''s capabilities and stopped deluding herself into thinking she could surpass him in the future.


    As more monsters fell, Jeremy''s body glowed with golden light once again.


    [You have reached level 27, gaining 30 free attribute points!]


    [You have gained fixed ss attributes: Strength +40, Spirit +40, Stamina +20, Agility +20!]


    At the same time, Jeremy''s movements began to slow down. It wasn''t because he was tired, but because arge stone-built settlement had appeared not far ahead.


    The Ghoul Tribe!

 Chapter 52: Decimating the Ghoul Tribe, Bone Spear!

    The ghoul tribeseemed norger than a small vige,prised of stone-built houses.


    Numerous ghoulsentinels wielding bone knives patrolled the area, most of them above level 25.


    From a distance, Jeremy could see the altar at the tribe''s center.


    His eyes flickered with determination.


    The hidden boss must be inside that altar. If he could defeat this hidden boss, his level would likely catch up.


    However, to trigger the hidden boss, he needed the head of the ghoulchieftain. So, Jeremy had to find that creature first.


    "Finally... stopped!" Richie bent over, gasping for breath, sweat pouring down his forehead.


    His stamina was alreadycking, and he wasn''t good atbat. So even finishing off enemies had exhausted him.


    Emma and the other two women let out sighs of relief when they saw Jeremy stop.


    The way he mowed down monsters was a bit terrifying, reminding them of his berserk state a few days ago.


    Jeremy turned to Emma and the other three and said, "You guys stay here and level up. I''m going in."


    At this point, they had all surpassed level 20, so with theirbined strength, leveling up here wasn''t an issue. Following him into the core area, however, would only increase the likelihood of encountering danger.


    Emma and the others could see that Jeremy was aiming for the top of the leaderboard and didn''t want to be a burden. They all nodded in agreement.


    "Be careful." Emma advised.


    Jeremy smiled, "You all be careful too."


    He then broke away from the group and swiftly approached the ghoultribe.


    Two ghoulssentinels were chatting at the tribegate.


    Suddenly, they saw a human rushing towards them.


    The two ghouls were momentarily stunned but quickly became excited, shouting,.


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!"


    Seeing Jeremy charge at them, their faces lit up with excitement.


    They couldn''t believe their luck¡ªencountering a human walking right into theirterritory!


    But their joy didn''tst long. They soon realized something was off.


    This human was incredibly fast!


    "Boom!"


    Jeremy''s figure was like a dark red lightning bolt, whipping up a strong gust of wind as he charged into the ghoultribe.


    By the time the two ghoulsentinels reacted, Jeremy was already upon them.


    In their stunned gazes, Jeremy''s face was cold and stern.


    With a flick of his wrist, the two dark red long knives in his hands shed through their bodies like lightning.


    "Whoosh!"


    The sh of the des was fleeting.


    Without pausing for a second, Jeremy passed through the two ghoulsentinels and rushed into the tribe.


    Outside the tribegate, the bodies of the two ghouls stood rigid.


    A light breeze blew past.


    Their heads slid off their necks, thudding heavily to the ground.


    [You have killed a level 26 ghoulsentinel (normal), gaining 5079 experience points!]


    [You have killed a level 27 ghoulsentinel (normal), gaining 5736 experience points!]


    At this moment, the other ghouls in the tribenoticed the uninvited guest, Jeremy.


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!"


    A horde of ghoulsimmediately grabbed their weapons and charged at him.


    Their numbers reaching well over a hundred, and their aggression palpable.


    Jeremy''s expression remained calm, but a dark red me ignited in his eyes.


    "Sinfire!"


    In the next instant, countless dark red fireballs descended from the sky like meteors.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!!"


    Deafening explosions erupted, mes shot skyward, and flesh and stone fragments flew in all directions.


    The agonized screams of the ghouls echoed as the raging mes engulfed them in the blink of an eye.


    [You have killed a level 26 ghoulwarrior (normal), gaining 5130 experience points!]


    [You have killed a level 28 ghoulguard (normal), gaining 6461 experience points!]


    [You have killed a level 29 ghoulelite (elite), gaining 31479 experience points!]


    ...


    Jeremy''s experience points surged wildly, and his attributes increased by 23 points.


    With just a single skill, he had in dozens of monsters!


    Emma and the others outside held their breath as they witnessed the scene, their eyes wide with astonishment.


    They had already thought Jeremy was powerful before, but now they realized that had only been a fraction of his true strength!


    As he gazed at the ghoultribeengulfed in mes, Ritchie swallowed hard and muttered, "This guy... has he been secretly training again?"


    Emma and the others remained silent.


    Their previous impression of Jeremy was still stuck back at the shopping mall.


    It wasn''t until they saw him effortlessly kill dozens of monsters with a mere wave of his hand that they truly understood the terrifying extent of Jeremy''s power!


    Inside the ghoultribe, Jeremy appeared unfazed.


    Mental strength not only enhanced a yer''s perception and control but also significantly boosted their spell damage.


    His mental attributes were over a thousand points higher than his strength attributes, making such an attack oue quite normal. However, the monsters he had encountered before were only a few or a dozen at most. There had been no need forrge-scale spell skills.


    Jeremy scanned his surroundings, finishing off a few dying ghouls, then proceeded deeper into the tribe.


    This ghoultribewasn''trge, about the size of a vige. The ce where Jeremy had been was merely the outskirts. The ghoulchieftain was likely at the very center of the tribe.


    The other ghouls in the tribe, alerted by themotion, emerged from their stone huts. Many had witnessed the terrifying scene just moments ago.


    As they saw Jeremy approaching, some looked furious and drew their weapons.


    While others were filled with fear, their small bodies trembling uncontrobly.


    If anyone else had seen this, they would have found it unbelievable.


    Monsters were actually afraid of a human!


    "Roar!"


    At that moment, an angry roar suddenly erupted from behind the group of ghouls.


    Following the roar, a towering figure strode forward.


    Standing a full four to five meters tall with a robust build, it wore a ne of human skulls around its neck and held a menacing bone spear in its hand.


    The other ghouls quickly made way for it.


    "St!"


    An ghottempting to flee was impaled through the chest by the chieftain''s sharp bone spear, lifted high, and then hurled violently at Jeremy.


    Jeremy''s expression remained unchanged. He sidestepped effortlessly.


    "Boom!"


    The thrown ghoulcrashed into a stone hut. The impact so powerful that cracks appeared on the hut''s walls, and the ghoul''s body exploded into a heap of flesh.


    The burly ghoulchieftain pointed its bone spear at Jeremy, letting out a guttural roar.


    The surrounding ghouls, seemingly inspired, all began to howl angrily at Jeremy.


    To their surprise, the human wielding the sword not only didn''t show any fear but even smiled. Jeremy chuckled, "I didn''t expect you''de right to me."


    [ghoulChieftain (Lord)]


    [Level]: LV30


    [Attack]: 7799-7875


    [Defense]: 893


    [Skills]: Roar, Multi-sh, Thrust...


    [Hint]: High perception, average strength, and speed, weak defense.


    As he looked at the information before him, Jeremy''s eyes gleamed like fire.


    As he finished speaking, a burst of silver and deep blue light intertwined and radiated from his body.


    "Shadow Step!" "Advance!"


    Jeremy''s speed surged dramatically!


    Every muscle in his body tensed as he pushed off the ground forcefully.


    "Boom!"


    Dirt flew in all directions, and the ground shattered!


    He shot toward the ghoulchieftain like a cannonball, his terrifying speed creating a whooshing sound in the air!


    Giving the chieftain no chance to react, Jeremy appeared before it in the blink of an eye.


    His gaze was as cold as ice, and a greenish de light emerged from his long sword.


    "Gale sh!"


    Without hesitation, Jeremy swung his long sword down fiercely!


    A wind de several meters long flew out, slicing through the ghoulchieftain''s neck in an instant.


    "St!"


    Under the horrified gazes of all the ghouls, the chieftain''s head, still wearing a bewildered expression, flew into the air!


    [Ding! You have triggered a lethal strike!]


    [You have in a Level 30 ghoulChieftain (Lord), gaining 167,000 experience points!]


    ["Seven Sins - Gluttony" activated! You randomly gained 30 strength points!]


    As the kill notification appeared, a white orb of light formed over the ghoulchieftain''s headless corpse.


    At the same time, a golden light indicating a level-up glowed around Jeremy.


    [Your level has reached 28, gaining 30 free attribute points!]


    [You have received ss-specific attributes: Strength +40, Spirit +40, Stamina +20, Agility +20!]


    Jeremy reached out and caught the ghoulchieftain''s bloodied head, then stepped forward to pick up the white orb.


    Instantly, a menacing bone spear appeared in his hand.


    [Equipment]: Bone Spear


    [Type]: Weapon


    [Level]: tinum


    [Quality]: Purple (Rare)


    [Attributes]: Strength +200, Stamina +200


    [Skill]: Bone Wrath (Passive)


    [Description]: The yer''s attacks can ignore 20% of the target''s defense.


    "Not bad attributes!" Jeremy raised an eyebrow. The weapon''s attributes were as good as both of his long swordsbined.


    The skill was also impressive, allowing him to ignore monster defenses, effectively increasing his damage by 20% against high-defense monsters.


    Looks like the ze Knife and Frostwind de could retire now.


    Jeremy sheathed his two long swords and equipped the bone spear, boosting both his strength and stamina by 140 points.


    "Whoosh!"


    He gripped the spear''s shaft, his wrist applying a slight force. The bone spear spun gracefully in his hand before the tip lunged out like a viper, piercing through an elite ghoul''s head that was still in a daze.


    The elite ghoul''s head exploded, sttering red and white brain matter onto the faces of nearby ghouls.


    "Nice feel." Jeremy nodded slightly.

 Chapter 53: Awakening the ghoul High Priest, Mental Attack?

    "Roar!!!"


    Terrified howls echoed throughout the ghoul tribe .


    Only then did the other ghouls realize what was happening. Their hearts were immediately filled with fear. They scrambled to escape in a panic.


    With so much experience and attributes at stake, Jeremy certainly wouldn''t let them get away.


    Blue light flickered in his eyes, and a chill spread around him, causing the temperature to plummet suddenly.


    "Ice Arrow Barrage!"


    Silvery snowkes drifted down as ice arrows formed in the air.


    In an instant, the sky was densely packed with ice arrows.


    The countless arrow tips gleamed dangerously in the sunlight.


    With a thought, Jeremy directed all the ice arrows toward the fleeing ghouls.


    The ghouls were instantly terrified, wishing they had more legs to run faster.


    Jeremy snapped his fingers softly.


    The next moment, the ice arrows rained down from the sky!


    "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"


    Despite their frantic dodging and even hiding behind cover, the ice arrows seemed to have eyes, avoiding obstacles and finding their targets.


    The ice arrows pierced precisely through each ghoul''s body, filling the ghoul tribe with countless agonizing wails.


    [You have killed a Level 21 ghoul(Normal), gaining 3,017 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 25 ghoulArcher (Normal), gaining 4,631 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 27 ghoulElder (Elite), gaining 26,919 experience points!]


    ...


    In just a moment, Jeremy had killed over a hundred ghouls!


    The entire ghoul tribe was littered with corpses, the ground stained red with blood, and the stench of death filled the air, making it nauseating.


    Jeremy felt nothing about it.


    Having endured the trials of the battlefield, he was long ustomed to blood and corpses.


    Moreover, Jeremy sensed that there were still many ghouls hiding in the shadows within the tribe.


    But time was limited, and Jeremy had no time to hunt them down individually.


    He picked up the ghoulchieftain''s head and strode toward the altar at the center of the tribe.


    It was a stone-built altar, circr in shape with three levels. At the center of the top level was a cylindrical sacrificial tform covered with obscure and intricate patterns.


    Jeremy nced at it and found the patterns looked like childish doodles, abstract yet exuding a mysterious aura, reminiscent of the Stone Age.


    He stepped forward and ced the still-bleeding ghoulchieftain''s head on the sacrificial tform.


    Ten seconds passed, and everything remained calm...


    Thirty seconds passed, and still, nothing happened...


    "Did I remember it wrong?" Jeremy wondered, just about to step forward and adjust the head.


    "Boom!"


    Suddenly, a fierce wind erupted around him, and thick ck smoke rose from the sacrificial tform, surging straight into the sky!


    The sky filled with turbulent clouds, and the sun was obscured by dark clouds.


    The world plunged into darkness.


    An immensely powerful aura descended upon the altar!


    At the same time, a notification appeared before all yers in the instance.


    [yer "Jeremy" has triggered a hidden mechanism, summoning the hidden BOSS "GhoulHigh Priest"!]


    Everyone was taken aback and turned their gaze toward the rising ck smoke.


    Ritchie eximed in shock, "Since when did Jeremy get this kind of dumb luck, running into a hidden BOSS?"


    "Yeah, that jerk doesn''t exactly strike me as a lucky guy!" Bonnie added, equally puzzled.


    "You two..." Emma shot them a re, clearly displeased with their backhandedments about Jeremy while he wasn''t around.


    Then, with a hint of worry, Emma said, "A hidden BOSS isn''t easy to deal with. Do you think Jeremy might be in danger?"


    "Let''s go help him!" Ritchie suggested eagerly, his face lighting up with excitement.


    Bonnie looked at him in surprise.


    This guy was usually the first to run away. So why was he so enthusiastic this time?


    ire retracted her gaze and said calmly, "Let''s keep leveling up. We don''t need to worry about him. If Jeremy can''t handle it, going over there would just be suicide for us."


    That made sense. After all, the four of them together probably couldn''t even take on Jeremy with one hand tied behind his back.


    Ritchie felt a bit regretful.


    He was hoping to go over and snatch the hidden BOSS from Jeremy.


    ...


    On the other side of the Death ins'' core area.


    The ck Dragon Squad, currently besieging a giant wolf, also saw the notification about the hidden BOSS being triggered.


    Tre dodged the wolf''s ws and eximed, "That guy''s luck is unbelievable, running into a hidden BOSS!"


    "I want to fight him!" Ramone, who had transformed into a ck bear, said excitedly as he fended off the wolf''s attacks.


    "If I remember correctly, this should be the first hidden BOSS of this apocalypse game. If we kill it, we might get titles and rewards." Kelvin reminded as he cast his lightning spells.


    From the back, Rafael looked at E and asked, "Should we go over and steal it? It could also teach that arrogant guy a lesson."


    E thought for a moment before making a decision.


    She said calmly, "A hidden BOSS isn''t easy to deal with. Let''s kill this wolf king first, then go for the hidden BOSS. If we kill two BOSSes in a row and add the first-clear reward for the instance, our levels should shoot up to the top tier."


    The ck Dragon Squad was quite lucky; the monster they were currently besieging was the Death ins'' instance BOSS, the "Death Wolf King."


    The others naturally had no objection to E''s decision.


    The thought of not only returning to the top tier of yers but also having a chance to im the first-kill reward for the hidden BOSS excited them, and they immediately intensified their attacks.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Howard and his team, who were advancing toward the core area, also saw the notification.


    Carrying a giant sword, Howard smiled, "Jeremy''s luck really isn''t ordinary. He just walks into an instance and runs into a hidden BOSS."


    His lieutenant, knowing how much Howard valued Jeremy, chimed in, "General, should we go help? It''s not going to be easy for Jeremy to im the first kill on the hidden BOSS. Not only is there the question of whether he can defeat it, but the ck Dragon Squad won''t just sit back and do nothing."


    Howard thought for a moment and nodded, "It took a lot to get that kid to wake up. We can''t let the ck Dragon Squad mess with him. Pass on my orders: everyone, pick up the pace."


    "Yes, sir!" The lieutenant took the order and left.


    Soon, Howard''s hundred-man squad began to swiftly advance towards the core area of the Death ins.


    ...


    In the ghoul tribe , thick ck smoke enveloped the entire altar.


    "£¤%£¤#@#£¤%..."


    From within the ck mist, an eerie sound emerged, as if someone was whispering or chanting a spell, making it hard to distinguish.


    Shortly after, under Jeremy''s watchful gaze, the ck mist began to coalesce.


    In no time, the dense ck fog formed into a small figure in mid-air.


    [GhoulHigh Priest (Hidden BOSS)]


    [Level]: lv35


    [Attack]: 34,938-35,779


    [Defense]: 3,410


    [Skills]: Necromantic Curse, Wraith Spear, Summon Undead...


    [Note]: Strong mental attacks, fast speed, average strength and defense. Light-type skills can deal extra damage to it.


    The GhoulHigh Priest was small and hunched, d in a wizard''s ck robe. Its face was gaunt and ghastly, somewhat resembling an ghoul.


    Holding a bone staff, it floated in the air, surrounded by tendrils of ck aura, with faint wails of tormented souls. It exuded an overwhelmingly malevolent presence.


    ring at the ghoulchieftain''s head on the altar, the GhoulHigh Priest''s face twisted with anger.


    "%£¤#£¤#@..."


    It looked up at Jeremy, its eyes filled with malice, muttering words that Jeremy couldn''t understand.


    Listening for a while and realizing he couldn''t make sense of it, Jeremy lost interest in what it was saying.


    "Light-type skills can deal extra damage..." he muttered, his eyes flickering as he considered the hint from The Eye of Omniscience.


    He did have a light-type skill, though he wasn''t sure if a physical attack would work...


    "Screech!!!"


    Seeing Jeremy ignore it, the GhoulHigh Priest''s wrinkled face twisted with rage. It let out a sharp, piercing roar.


    It pointed its staff at Jeremy, and the ck mist around it surged, releasing a powerful burst of mental energy.


    A ck spear, enveloped in dark aura, materialized in front of it.


    "Wraith Spear!"


    The spear''s tip was aimed at Jeremy, radiating intense malice.


    "Mental attack?" Jeremy couldn''t help butugh as he sensed the GhoulHigh Priest''s mental energy.


    His mental strength had undergone a transformation in the spiritual world.


    This level of mental attack wouldn''t even tickle him.


    Seeing Jeremy still able tough, the GhoulHigh Priest''s eyes burned with fury.


    This arrogant human would soon pay for his insolence!


    With a vicious gaze, the ghoulHigh Priest swung its staff down fiercely.


    "Whoosh!"


    The Wraith Spear shot out like lightning, aiming straight for Jeremy''s head.


    However, Jeremy didn''t even flinch, letting the ck spear strike his forehead.


    Seeing Jeremy hit by the Wraith Spear, the GhoulHigh Priest let out a horrifyingugh.


    It envisioned the scene of Jeremy bleeding from his eyes, nose, and mouth, writhing in agony.


    But in the next moment, the GhoulHigh Priest''s expression froze.


    "Boom!"


    The moment the Wraith Spear touched Jeremy''s forehead, an unparalleled surge of terrifying mental energy erupted from him!


    The sheer force of this mental power was so overwhelming that even the GhoulHigh Priest felt a moment of suffocation!


    How is this possible!!


    Staring at Jeremy, now enveloped in a massive, towering mental force, the GhoulHigh Priest''s eyes were filled with utter disbelief.

 Chapter 54: First Kill of the Hidden Boss, Substitute Puppet!

    Under the terrifying mental force of Jeremy, the Evil Spirit Spear in front of his forehead couldn''t advance even a fraction.


    Next, the ck spear began to fracture inch by inch.


    Finally, it exploded into pieces and vanished into the air!


    "#£¤@%!%!"


    The Ghoul High Priest''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    How could this human possibly possess such powerful mental strength!


    This mental force is even several levels stronger than its own!


    Impossible, absolutely impossible!


    It must be hallucinating after being in slumber for too long!


    the Ghoul High Priest tried tofort itself, unable to ept the reality.


    Jeremy couldn''t care less what it thought.


    A brilliant golden light suddenly shone in his eyes.


    "Boom!"


    In the next moment, a powerful holy aura erupted from his body!


    Golden light rapidly gathered in the sky.


    In the blink of an eye, a magnificent golden giant sword, over twenty meters tall, appeared in mid-air!


    "Sword of Judgment!"


    The Sword of Judgment hovered above the Ghoul High Priest''s head, emitting a dazzling golden light under the dark sky.


    The overwhelming holy aura swept across the entire ghoul tribe, as if this sword alone could suppress all sins!


    the Ghoul High Priest stiffly raised its head to look at the Sword of Judgment in the sky, its eyes filled with astonishment and fear.


    The terrifying power of light even caused the ck mist around its body to show signs of melting.


    Fear shed in the Ghoul High Priest''s eyes.


    This human not only possessed terrifying mental strength but also had the power of light that restrained it!


    Jeremy''s thoughts moved.


    The Sword of Judgment in the sky came crashing down!


    "Boom!"


    The golden light pierced through the heavens and the earth, the enormous roar echoing across the Death ins, causing the ground to tremble!


    The holy aura enveloped the entire tribe, the terrifying force swept through, causing all the stone huts near the altar to copse!


    Outside, Ritchie and the others even thought an earthquake was happening, all their eyes turning towards Jeremy''s direction.


    All they saw was a golden giant sword over twenty meters tall, standing straight in the center of the ghoul tribe, towering like a mountain!


    The four were utterly shocked!


    Because they knew, this was caused by Jeremy!


    "This is... the power Jeremy possesses?!" Bonnie''s beautiful eyes stared unblinkingly at the golden giant sword, her heart filled with indescribable shock.


    Only now did Bonnie understand why her father and the federal leaders ced so much importance on Jeremy.


    A person like Jeremy, even in the apocalypse, could radiate an incredibly brilliant light!


    ire and Emma felt both happiness for Jeremy and a sense of crisis in their hearts.


    They already felt that the gap between themselves and Jeremy was growingrger andrger, and they were drifting further and further away from him.


    Ritchie, however, was carefree.


    He akimboed his hips andughed proudly, "Hahaha, I''d like to see who dares to bully me now!"


    ¡­


    In the ghoul tribe.


    As the dust settled, the original altar had been split in half by the Sword of Judgment.


    To Jeremy''s surprise, the Ghoul High Priest wasn''t dead!


    "Argh!!"


    The Ghoul High Priest knelt on the ground, letting out a piercing scream.


    Half of its body had disappeared, and through the wound, one could clearly see its rotten and ckened internal organs.


    "You are quite resilient." Jeremy chuckled lightly.


    Although it was unclear what skill the Ghoul High Priest used to dodge the Sword of Judgment at the critical moment.


    It didn''t matter much.


    Jeremy''s eyes gleamed with killing intent as he lifted his bone spear and stepped forward.


    Even if the gods themselves descended today, the Ghoul High Priest would die here!


    Seeing Jeremy approaching with the spear, the Ghoul High Priest''s face was filled with terror.


    Thick ck smoke roiled around it, seemingly trying to repair its body.


    However, the wound was coated with a dense golden light, pulsating with holy energy. Whenever the ck smoke touched this goldenyer, sizzling sounds erupted, rendering the smoke useless in healing its injuries.


    Jeremy''s footsteps seemed to tread directly on the Ghoul High Priest''s heart, enveloping it in the shadow of death.


    Fear filled the Ghoul High Priest''s eyes.


    Dragging its mutted body, it retreated continuously, mumbling incoherent pleas, "S-s-spare me¡­ spare my life¡­"


    Jeremy paused for a moment, speechless. "You can speak humannguage, can''t you? Why were you talking gibberish before?"


    The Ghoul High Priest was on the verge of tears.


    The problem was, that was the only phrase it knew in humannguage!


    Before it could say anything else, Jeremy''s wrist flicked, and the spear in his hand pierced through the Ghoul High Priest''s skull like a sharp sword.


    ck blood sprayed everywhere as the Ghoul High Priest''s body convulsed twice before its eyes lost their unwilling light and it died.


    [You have killed Level 35 Ghoul High Priest (Hidden Boss), gaining 680,000 experience points!]


    ["Seven Sins - Gluttony" activated! You randomly gain 100 points in Mental Attribute!]


    As the massive influx of experience surged through him, two golden lights also shed around Jeremy.


    [Your level has reached 29, gaining 30 free attribute points!]


    [Your level has reached 30, gaining 30 free attribute points!]


    [Ding! Your level has reached 30, initiating your second sschange!]


    [You cannot continue leveling up until you sessfully change sses.]


    At the same time, a notification appeared in front of all yers worldwide.


    [Congrattions to yer "Jeremy" for being the first to kill a Hidden Boss in this Apocalypse Game!]


    On the Death ins, Howard and his team came to an abrupt halt.


    "That little rascal, ying tricks on me!" Howard couldn''t help but curse when he saw the notification.


    But a smile spread across his face.


    Jeremy, that kid, always knew how to bring surprises!


    "General, should we still head over?" The deputy beside him was also baffled. Jeremy had actually managed to kill a Hidden Boss, leaving him momentarily stunned.


    They had to work together just to take down an elite monster, and here Jeremy had taken out a Hidden Boss!


    These young people nowadays really made the soldiers feel a bit ashamed.


    "Go over for what? We might as well level up quickly while we have the time." Howard waved his hand, signaling everyone to grind monsters on the spot.


    Then he nced at the level rankings.


    Only to find that Jeremy had already reached level 30, sitting at the top of the leaderboard!


    Even the yer universally acknowledged as the number one genius, Kean, had been left behind! And this was all in less than a day!


    Howard shook his head with a wry smile, "Looks like the ck Dragon Squad is in for a big fall this time."


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, the Death ins echoed with continuous roars.


    The Death Wolf King, moving like lightning, relentlessly attacked the members of the ck Dragon Squad.


    [Congrattions to yer "Jeremy" for being the first to kill a Hidden Boss in this Apocalypse Game!]


    The sudden notification left the squad momentarily stunned and bewildered.


    They hadn''t even finished their dungeon boss, and Jeremy had already taken down a Hidden Boss?! How much time had passed?!


    "Howl!!"


    The Death Wolf King howled, seizing the opportunity to suddenly increase its speed, nearly injuring Ramone severely with a swipe.


    Thankfully, Rafael''s timely healing intervention stabilized the situation.


    "Could Howard be helping him? Weren''t they together?" Tre spected.


    The others nodded in agreement, thinking it was the most usible scenario. Only with Howard and over a hundred soldiers helping could Jeremy have killed a Hidden Boss in such a short time.


    Otherwise, it didn''t make sense.


    "Forget about him, focus on killing the Death Wolf King first!" E quickly calmed herself and made the most urate judgment.


    Regardless of how Jeremy managed to kill the Hidden Boss, it was more important for them to take down the monster in front of them.


    Hearing this, the others also regained their focus.


    Perhaps spurred on by Jeremy''s achievement, the ck Dragon Squad''s attack frequency increased once more.


    Under their fierce assault, the Death Wolf King''s vitality rapidly waned.


    ¡­


    At the same time, a notification appeared before Jeremy at the ghoul tribe''s central altar.


    [Congrattions on being the first yer to kill a Hidden Boss in this Apocalypse Game!]


    [Reward: Special Item - Substitute Puppet (Rare)]


    "First kill of a Hidden Boss?" Jeremy was somewhat surprised. He had thought this first kill would have been long gone.


    But on second thought, it made sense.


    Without the Eye of Omniscience''s guidance, he wouldn''t have known how to trigger the Hidden Boss.


    Other yers would have to rely on luck to find it. So it was actually quite normal that the first kill was still avable.


    Jeremy then took out the newly obtained reward from his storage space.


    It was a palm-sized wooden doll, looking much like those sold in stores, except for a strange blue-glowing rune on its forehead.


    Jeremy checked its attributes.


    [Item]: Substitute Puppet


    [Type]: Special Item


    [Grade]: Orange (Rare)


    [Description]: Upon use, the yerscan summon a Substitute Puppet of themselves. The Substitute Puppet possesses half the yer''s strength but can use all of the yer''s ss skills and is fully controlled by the yer''s consciousness.


    [Note]: yers can bind the Substitute Puppet with their mental strength. Each puppet can only be bound to one yer. If the yer dies, the puppet also dies.


    Seeing the attribute description, Jeremy''s eyes lit up.


    This was essentially a clone!

 Chapter 55: Skull Staff, Kean Will Chop You Up and Feed You to the Dogs

    Although the Substitute Puppet only had half of his strength, it could use all of his skills, making it the best possible assistant.


    Jeremy didn''t hesitate and began the process of binding the puppet.


    He closed his eyes and extended his mental energy towards the Substitute Puppet in his hand.


    In an instant, the rune on the Substitute Puppet''s forehead erupted with a blinding blue light,pletely enveloping Jeremy.


    He could feel a strange connection forming between himself and the Substitute Puppet.


    Before long, the blue light gradually faded away, leaving the space clear once more.


    In its ce, there now stood two identical Jeremys. The only difference was that one of them waspletely naked, devoid of any clothing, and his eyes were vacant,cking any spark of life or intelligence.


    Jeremy took a moment to scrutinize his doppelganger closely.


    He had to admit, the Substitute Puppet was astonishingly simr to him. There was virtually no difference, even their height and size matched perfectly, down to the smallest detail.


    With a single thought, Jeremy activated his will.


    Instantly, the Substitute Puppet''s eyes lit up with a vivid blue glow.


    It moved its body slightly. Feeling it out, and then Jeremy rubbed his chin, saying, "Feels almost the same as my original body, just a bit weaker in strength and mental power."


    Jeremy tested a few skills. Though they could be used, their effectiveness was significantly reduced.


    He also tried to let the Substitute Puppet think independently but found it impossible.


    The puppet had to be controlled by his own consciousness.


    "Unable to think independently is fine." Jeremy nodded. This avoids the danger of the clone recing the real one. Otherwise, he wouldn''t dare to use such self-aware puppets.


    After dressing the Substitute Puppet, Jeremy stored it back in his inventory space. He then picked up all the equipment and items dropped by the Ghoul High Priest and other ghouls.


    The Ghoul High Priest had dropped two pieces of equipment, one item, and two 6th-tier energy crystals.


    Jeremy examined their attributes.


    [Equipment]: Skull Staff


    [Type]: Weapon[Grade]: Diamond


    [Quality]: Orange (Rare)


    [Attributes]: +450 Mental Attribute, +10% Skill Attack, -10% Skill Cooldown


    [Skill 1]: Corpse Summon (Active)


    [Description]: Summon a lord-level undead creature to fight for you for 10 minutes. Cooldown: 6 hours.


    [Skill 2]: Wraith (Active)


    [Description]: Temporarily turn into a ghost, bing immune to physical and magical attacks but taking double mental damage. Duration: 3 seconds. Cooldown: 48 hours.


    ¡­


    [Equipment]: Soul Ne


    [Type]: essory


    [Grade]: Diamond


    [Quality]: Purple (Rare)


    [Attributes]: +300 Mental Attribute, -5% Skill Cooldown


    [Skill]: Soul Guard (Passive)


    [Description]: Grants a mental shield that blocks enemy attacks and prevents enemy detection.


    The shieldsts until broken. Cooldown: 24 hours.


    ¡­


    [Item]: Skill Book "Soul Roar"


    [Tier]: High


    [Quality]: Purple (Rare)


    [Description]: Grants the high-tier skill "Soul Roar" upon use.


    ¡­


    "Well, not bad for a hidden BOSS!" Jeremy eximed as he reviewed the descriptions of the three pieces of equipment.


    Both pieces of equipment were diamond-level and top-tier for magic users. In terms of both skills and attributes, they were the best among all his gear. Especially the "Specter" skill of the Skeleton Staff, which could turn the yer into a ghostly state, making them immune to both physical and magical attacks from enemies. This skill could be a lifesaver in critical moments.


    "The Soul Ne" was a rare essory-type equipment. Although its skill "Soul Guard" wasn''t very effective for a yer like Jeremy, who possessed immense mental power, its advantagey in its persistent presence as long as it was not broken.


    On the other hand, "Soul Roar" was evidently a mental-type skill, which was exactly what Jeremy needs at the moment. Despite having immense mental power, hecked any mental attack skills. "Soul Roar" perfectlypensated for this shoring.


    Despite his formidable mental power, hecked any mental attack skills, and "Soul Roar" filled this gap perfectly.


    After using the skill book, the skill description for "Soul Roar" appeared in front of Jeremy.


    [Skill]: Soul Roar


    [Level]: lv1


    [Tier]: High


    [Type]: Mental Attack


    [Description]: Deals 150% mental damage to surrounding targets. Targets with weaker mental power than the yer will be stunned for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 1 hour.


    To Jeremy''s surprise, "Soul Roar" was also a crowd control skill.


    Mental skills were already rare, and mental control skills were even rarer. This discovery made him feel like he had struck gold.


    In addition to these three items, Jeremy also obtained two 6th-tier energy crystals. Each crystal could increase a yer''s random attribute by 200 points, but their primary use was for opening chests and upgrading skill levels.


    Jeremy then reviewed his other loot.


    Including what he had previously collected from the Death ins, he had a total of 5 pieces of equipment, 12 material items, 63 3rd-tier energy crystals, 24 4th-tier energy crystals, and 5 5th-tier energy crystals.


    The five pieces of equipment were all silver and gold-tier items, mostly white and blue in quality, with mediocre attributes. Jeremy nced at them and then tossed them into his storage space.


    The 12 items consisted of 7 extraordinary materials, 3 healing potions, and 2 enhancement potions¡ªnothing particrly exceptional.


    Jeremy packed these items into his storage space, keeping only the two enhancement potions.


    After using them, he gained 50 agility points and 50 mental attribute points.


    Jeremy used all the 3rd-tier energy crystals to increase his attributes.


    After absorbing them, he gained a total of 630 random attribute points, averaging over 100 points per attribute.


    Including the 210 free attribute points he had previously umted, he now had 360 free attribute points.


    Jeremy checked his stats and noticed his agility and stamina were somewhatcking, so he distributed the points evenly between these two attributes.


    After equipping himself, he took another look at his current attribute panel.


    [Name]: Jeremy


    [Level]: lv30


    [ss]: sphemer


    [Title]: Pioneer, World''s First Kill


    [Ability]: The Eye of Omniscience (SSS)


    [Attributes]: Strength 2401, Mental Power 4745, Stamina 1519, Agility 1543


    [Skills]: The Lawless lv2, Seven Sins - Wrath lv1, Seven Sins - Gluttony lv1, Sword of Judgment lv1, gue Curse lv1, Soul Roar lv1, Disaster de lv5, Sin Fire lv1, Shadow Step lv10, Gale sh lv10, Ice Arrow Rain lv10, Pioneer (Title), Critical Strike (Title), Blood of the Tyrant (Equipment), Wings of the Sky (Equipment), Bone Sorrow (Equipment), Corpse Summon (Equipment), Wraith (Equipment), Soul Guard (Equipment) ...


    ...


    Seeing his mental attribute being twice as high as his strength, Jeremy couldn''t help but feel a mix of amusement and helplessness.If he learned a few more mage skills, he could easily masquerade as a mage, and no one would suspect a thing.


    Jeremy used all the energy crystals above 4th-tier, except for one 6th-tier crystal he kept in reserve, to upgrade his skill levels.


    [Ding! You used a 4th-tier energy crystal, "Sin Fire" skill level has increased to level 2!]


    [Ding! You used a 5th-tier energy crystal, "Disaster de" skill level has increased to level 8!]


    [Ding! You used a 6th-tier energy crystal, "The Lawless" skill level has increased to level 6!]


    ...


    As Jeremy continued to use one energy crystal after another, his skill levels began to soar at an astonishing pace.


    By the time he had exhausted his entire supply of energy crystals, Jeremy''s "Unstoppable" skill had reached level 8, while his "Sin Fire," "Cmity de," "Soul Roar," and "Judgment Sword" skills had all ascended to the impressive level of 10.


    Each of these skills now boasted significantly enhanced effects, and Jeremy''s overall power had more than doubled as a result.


    Indeed, upgrading skills proved to be the most efficient and rapid method for a yer to enhance their strength.


    Unfortunately, energy crystals were extremely rare. Sometimes, it took five or six monsters to drop just one crystal. Without the assistance of The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy couldn''t imagine how long it would have taken him to max out his skills.


    The other yers'' situation was even worse.Jeremy had seen the prices in the world marketce: a rare-quality gold-tier item sold for only one 4th-tier energy crystal, and even then, there were nobuyers. This scarcity highlighted just how precious energy crystals were.


    After organizing his loot, Jeremy scanned the battlefield to ensure he hadn''t missed any items andthen left the ghoul tribe.


    Time was of the essence, and Jeremy nned to kill the dungeon BOSS and then return for his second ss change.


    Completing the second ss change would not only grant him new ss skills but also break the level cap on his existing skills, allowing further improvement. His strength would undergo another significant leap.


    As for how to deal with the ss Change Goddess, Janna, Jeremy already had some ns.


    "Jeremy, over here!" Emma was the first to notice him emerging from the tribe and waved.


    ire and the other two, who were busy fighting monsters, also turned to look at Jeremy, their expressionsplicated. ire, in particr, looked worried.


    "What''s with those faces?" Jeremy asked as he approached, puzzled.


    "Seriously, you''re asking us?" Ritchie eximed excitedly. "Did you see the world chat? Kean called you out there. He said if you dare topete with him for the top spot in the event, he''ll chop you up and feed you to the dogs!!"

 Chapter 56: Death Wolf King, Boss Fight

    After speaking, Ritchie gesticted wildly for emphasis.


    Bonnie crossed her arms and added gleefully, "Kean is the heir to the Lannisters in the Imperial Capital, known for his violent temper. If you offend him, Jeremy, you''re dead meat!"


    Although she couldn''t beat Jeremy herself, she''d love to see someone else do it.


    Seeing the thrilled expressions on their faces, Jeremy sighed, "Never mind Kean. Why are you two so excited?"


    He had skimmed the world channel earlier and found nothing of value, so he hadn''t paid much attention to it since.


    As for Kean''s threats, Jeremy couldn''t care less.


    "Threatening me because he can''t beat me? Not even worth considering." Jeremy thought. If the opportunity arose, he wouldn''t hesitate to teach Kean a lesson about not wasting words when you could take action.


    Noticing that Jeremy wasn''t taking it seriously, ire cautioned, "This guy isn''t simple. You should be careful."


    Emma added worriedly, "It''s said that Kean''s level increased so quickly because he monopolized a instance, not allowing any yers to enter. Many who challenged him were killed on the spot. He''s very tyrannical."


    Information about Kean wasn''t exactly a secret. They had learned from the world channel that he was arrogant, vindictive, and ruthless¡ªa formidable adversary.


    Seeing ire and Emma''s concern, Jeremy reassured them, "Don''t worry, he''s just an heir to a family."


    Jeremy didn''t even regard the heads of top families as a threat.


    In his previous life, he had killed plenty of such people. With his increased power post-apocalypse, dealing with them would be even easier.


    Not seeing any signs of anger, frustration, or fear on Jeremy''s face, Bonnie was dissatisfied.


    She snorted, "Tough talk. Let''s see if you don''t cry when you meet Kean."


    Jeremy nced at her calmly, "I don''t know if he''ll make me cry. But if you keep this up, I can strip you and throw you into a ghoul nest."


    Bonnie''s face turned crimson with rage, and she muttered angrily, "Pervert!"


    Jeremy''s expression darkened, and he took a step forward as if he really intended to act.


    "Jeremy, you bastard!" Bonnie screamed, her face pale with fear, and she quickly hid behind Emma.


    Emma and ire couldn''t help butugh at the situation.


    If you can''t beat him, why provoke him?


    Jeremy had a Boss to find, so he didn''t linger. After exchanging a few more words with the group, he left.


    He had expected the search for the Boss to take some time.


    To Jeremy''s surprise, it wasn''t long before he spotted the dungeon Boss, the Death Wolf King, by a riverbank.


    Alongside the Boss, Jeremy also noticed the five members of the ck Dragon Squad.


    [Death Wolf King (Dungeon Boss)]


    [Level]:30


    [Attack]:21689-22199


    [Defense]:2573


    [Skills]:Death Shadow, Death w, Shadow Assault...


    [Note]:In a weakened state. Weak point is the abdomen. Killing it guarantees a 7th-tier energy crystal.


    ¡­


    "Roar!"


    The Death Wolf King''s fur was a dark gray, and its massive body was asrge as a giant truck. Originally awe-inspiring, its frame was now covered in numerous wounds and scorch marks, with blood staining the riverbank red.


    The battle was fierce. The Death Wolf King, already severely wounded and driven to madness,unched relentless attacks. The ck Dragon Squad was too focused on the fight to notice someone nearby.


    Seeing this, Jeremy''s lips curled into a slight smile.


    Talk about a narrow escape.


    He would feel like he was letting himself down if he didn''t snatch this BOSS.


    Jeremy observed the ck Dragon Squad''s battle.


    He nced briefly at most of the members but lingered on two specific individuals.


    The first was E, a gunner with the S-ss ability "Death Lock."


    This ability ensured her attacks never missed, making it almost perfectlypatible with her gunner profession. She was the squad leader and the strongest member of the team.


    The other person who caught Jeremy''s attention wasn''t Kelvin, who also had an S-ss ability, but rather the weakest member, Rafael.


    Rafael was a Holy Light Priest, a typical support role. Her timing in casting skills was impable. Whenever a teammate was in danger, Rafael would preemptively cast her skills on them.


    What intrigued Jeremy wasn''t her timing but her ability, "Light of Resurrection."


    Although it was only an A-ss ability, it was an exceedingly rare resurrection skill.


    After using it, Rafael could revive someone who had been dead for up to one minute. While the revived person''s attributes would drop by 30% and the ability had a three-day cooldown, it was still incredibly powerful.


    At this moment, the battle had reached its climax.


    Feeling that the time was right, Jeremy withdrew his gaze and focused his mind. A faint ghostly light appeared around him.


    In an instant, he blended into the surrounding environment and vanished.


    "Invisibility!"


    As soon as Jeremy disappeared, E, who was attacking the Death Wolf King, suddenly turned her head in his direction. However, she saw nothing.


    Her brows furrowed.


    Just now, E had a sudden premonition, as if something terrifying was watching her.


    She initially thought a monster was preparing to ambush them but saw nothing.


    Rafael, standing nearby, asked, "What''s wrong, Captain?"


    "Nothing." E shook her head, not borating. Instead, she ordered the others, "Everyone, speed up the attack. The Death Wolf King has entered a berserk state. It won''tst much longer."


    Despite seeing nothing, E couldn''t shake the bad feeling in her heart.


    To prevent any idents, it was best to end the fight quickly.


    "Sharp senses." Jeremy thought, not far from E, with a smile.


    This kind of intuition wasn''t due to strong mental power but was honed on the battlefield. It was like an animal''s instinct to sense danger¡ªa kind of sixth sense.


    Many people had it, but the degree of sensitivity varied. E was clearly among the best.


    "But still too inexperienced." Jeremy thought, shaking his head slightly as he watched the ck Dragon Squad ramp up their attack pace.


    If it were him, the moment he sensed something was wrong, he would have ordered the team to stop attacking and stay on alert.


    He trusted his instincts more than his eyes.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!!"


    A series of explosions echoed across the death ins. Under the ck Dragon Squad''s fierce assault, the Death Wolf King was quickly reaching its limit.


    "Howl!!"


    In its final moments, the blood-soaked Death Wolf King lifted its head to the sky and let out a furious, sorrowful howl.


    A ck mist began to envelop the Death Wolf King, and its speed surged dramatically!


    "Death Shadow!"


    With a powerful push from its limbs, the Death Wolf King transformed into a ck lightning bolt, instantly bypassing Tre and Ramone, charging ferociously towards the furthest targets, Rafael and E!


    "Watch out!" Tre and Ramone shouted simultaneously.


    The Death Wolf King''s dying burst of speed was too fast for them to intercept.


    "Thunder Arrow!"


    Kelvin quickly raised his staff, casting a lightning arrow in an attempt to slow down the Death Wolf King. However, he soon realized that the arrow couldn''t hit its target¡ªthe beast was too fast.


    As the Death Wolf King hurtled towards them, a crisis loomed. In that critical moment, a red gleam shed in E''s eyes.


    "Death Lock!"


    Her silver hair billowed as she lifted her sniper rifle. Without even aiming, she pulled the trigger.


    "Bang!"


    A thunderous roar erupted as the sniper rifle spat fire.


    The bullet sliced through the air, speeding towards the Death Wolf King''s head.


    Joy flickered in the eyes of her teammates.


    Given its current state, the Death Wolf King couldn''t possibly withstand E''s bullet.


    But then, everyone''s pupils contracted sharply.


    What is he doing here?!


    Between the bullet and the Death Wolf King, a figure they knew all too well suddenly appeared¡ªJeremy!


    Jeremy materialized like a ghost. With the iing bullet, he remained calm. A twist of his wrist, and his spear shot out like lightning, striking E''s high-speed bullet with precision.


    "ng!"


    Sparks flew as a crisp metallic sound echoed in their ears.


    The five members were stunned, unable to believe their eyes.


    Jeremy had deflected E''s sniper bullet with a single spear strike!


    "Boom!"


    The deflected bullet sshed into the river, exploding into a shower of water droplets.


    At this very moment, the frenzied Death Wolf King had already closed in on Jeremy from behind.


    Its eyes were filled with savage fury as it opened its massive, bloodthirsty jaws, lunging toward Jeremy''s head with terrifying speed, seemingly intent on devouring it in one brutal bite.


    Without turning around, Jeremy deftly twirled his spear in a fluid motion, adjusting his grip on the weapon. Then, with a slight shift of his body, he channeled all his strength into a sudden, forceful twist of his wrist.


    The skeletal spear suddenly thrust backward with a swift and forceful motion!


    The Death Wolf King''s ferocious forward lunge came to an abrupt and rigid halt as Jeremy''s spear prated its open maw, driving through to its brain.


    Blood erupted in a violent spray, and the Death Wolf King copsed lifelessly on the spot, in instantly!

 Chapter 57: Trial Invitation, Crushing the Black Dragon Squad

    [You have in the Level 30 Death Wolf King (Dungeon BOSS) and gained 454,000 experience points!]


    ["Seven Sins - Gluttony" activated! You randomly gained 80 agility points!]


    [You have notpleted your second ss change and cannot level up.]


    [Congrattions on clearing the low-level dungeon "Death ins" for the first time!]


    [Special Reward: Intermediate Trial Invitation, 100 cubic meters of storage space, 660,000 experience points!]


    "An invitation to a trial, huh?" Jeremy was somewhat surprised.


    The trial invitation allows yers to enter a trial instance, where they can earn rewards based on their performance.


    For ordinary yers, it might not be of much use. But for someone like him, whose strength far exceeds that of other yers at his level, it was more valuable than any equipment or items.


    In addition to the trial invitation, Jeremy also gained 100 cubic meters of storage space.


    His storage space had long been filled to the brim with misceneous items. Jeremy had been considering visiting the market to find storage-rted equipment, but now he could save a considerable amount of money.


    The Death Wolf King also dropped two pieces of equipment, which Jeremy promptly stored in his newly expanded storage space.


    "Not bad at all." Jeremy said with a satisfied smile.


    In stark contrast, the expressions on the faces of the five members of the ck Dragon Squad were frozen in disbelief.


    [Congrattions to yer "Jeremy" for clearing the low-level dungeon "Death ins" for the first time!]


    "Did we just get our BOSS stolen after all that effort?" The ck Dragon Squad was on the verge of passing out from frustration.


    After tirelessly battling the BOSS down to itsst bit of health, it had been snatched away¡ªby Jeremy, no less!


    "Jeremy, do you really think we won''t kill you?" E''s chest heaved with fury as she red at Jeremy, who was calmly withdrawing his spear, anger shing in her eyes.


    Their levels were alreadygging because of Jeremy. Now he had the audacity to steal their BOSS?


    The other squad members red at Jeremy as though they wanted to tear him apart.


    "I''ve said it before. You can always try." Jeremy replied nonchntly, clearly not taking the ck Dragon Squad seriously.


    Seeing this, the veins on the foreheads of the ck Dragon Squad members bulged. Their faces contorted with anger.


    They had witnessed Jeremy''s arrogance outside. But now they realized that he had actually been holding back.


    "You brought this on yourself!" E''s face turned icy as she aimed her sniper rifle squarely at Jeremy''s head.


    As soon as she spoke, the rest of the ck Dragon Squad sprang into action.


    "Let me take a crack at you!" Ramone, who was built like a ck ape, couldn''t wait any longer.


    With a powerful push, the ground beneath Ramone''s feet exploded as heunched himself over ten meters, rocketing towards Jeremy like a cannonball.


    Kelvin''s staff danced in his hands, his face cold as lightning crackled around him.


    A lightning serpent as thick as a wrist formed in mid-air before shooting out like an arrow.


    Tre''s figure appeared behind Jeremy, moving like a phantom.


    The dagger in his hand emitted a faint green glow, slicing through the air with a sharp glint as it aimed directly for his neck.


    Facing the fierce assault from the crowd, Jeremy''s expression remained unchanged.


    A powerful surge of mental energy radiated from his body.


    Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted from within him.


    "Roar!!!"


    The terrifying sound wave quickly spread like ripples, enveloping everyone in its wake.


    "Soul Roar!"


    Hearing this roar, the attackers felt a sharp, needle-like pain in their brains, causing their movements to halt simultaneously.


    Tre and Ramone, who were closest to Jeremy, instantly experienced the devastating impact of the mental energy, bleeding from their orifices.


    They clutched their heads in agony, feeling as though their skulls were about to split open.


    The ck Dragon Squad''s ferocious offensive was abruptly interrupted by Jeremy, with four members falling into a three-second-long unconsciousness.


    Even E and Kelvin were not spared. Only Rafael managed to narrowly avoid disaster thanks to her passive skill.


    "How do you possess such immense mental power?!" Rafael stared at Jeremy in shock, understanding the terrifying magnitude of Jeremy''s mental energy, given her own experience as a magic-based profession.


    Jeremy did not respond. Instead, a mix of azure and silver light enveloped his body, causing his speed to skyrocket suddenly.


    "Phantom Step! Vanguard!"


    The ground beneath his feet shattered as he shot forward like lightning, heading straight for the dazed E.


    Rafael reacted swiftly, waving her staff to cast a spell.


    A white light instantly surrounded E.


    "Purification!"


    E''s stunned state was immediately dispelled.


    The moment she regained her senses, she saw Jeremy hurtling towards her at an incredible speed.


    Her pupils contracted sharply.


    This guy is even faster than the Death Wolf King!


    No time to think further, Jeremy was in front of her in the blink of an eye.


    Gritting her teeth, E decisively abandoned her sniper rifle. A golden pistol materialized in her hand.


    Without aiming, she squeezed the trigger repeatedly at the approaching Jeremy.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"


    Sparks flew from the muzzle, and several enhanced bullets sped towards Jeremy.


    But then somethingsurprised E and Rafael happened.


    A blue light shed across Jeremy''s body, causing him to be ethereal.


    The bullets passed right through him!


    "Spectral Form!"


    Her deadly urate shots had missed once again. Before E couldunch another counterattack, Jeremy was already upon her.


    His expression was icy, and he thrust his spear forward with unstoppable force.


    "Captain!" Rafael cried out in rm.


    E tried to fight back.


    But just as her finger reached the trigger, the tip of Jeremy''s skeletal spear was already touching her forehead.


    A sharp pain ensued.


    A stream of blood trickled down E''s forehead.


    The gale lifted her silvery hair, and the spear halted just a hair''s breadth from piercing her skull.


    Jeremy''s gaze fell, knowing that if it weren''t for the risk of endangering Benjamin and Howard, he would have driven the spear through without hesitation.


    Staring at the spear in front of her, E''s expression was a mix of disbelief and confusion.


    She had lost, and to Jeremy, a person she had always looked down upon!


    Tre and the other two woke up to this scene.


    They all shuddered, unable to believe their eyes.


    Kelvin''s face twisted with anger as he shouted, "Jeremy, let go of the captain!"


    The rest of the team shared his anger but dared not make a move.


    Jeremy''s spear was pressed against E''s forehead, a slight force would be enough to pierce through her skull.


    To everyone''s astonishment, Jeremy actually nodded at Kelvin''s words.


    With a slight chuckle, Jeremy said, "Since you want to y the hero, I''ll give you the chance. Kneel and apologize, and I''ll let her go."


    The words hung in the air, causing a brief moment of stunned silence.


    Then, anger and humiliation spread across their faces.


    Forcing Kelvin to kneel and apologize was akin to pping the face of the ck Dragon Squad. If Kelvin really did it, how could the ck Dragon Squad still call itself the Federation''s top special forces unit?


    "You bastard!" Kelvin''s eyes burned with humiliation, his hand gripping his staff trembling uncontrobly.


    In all his years with the ck Dragon Squad, he had never been so humiliated.


    "Don''t worry about me. Just kill him together!" E''s face was frosty as she spoke, raising her gun towards Jeremy.


    With Rafael''s abilities, even if Jeremy killed her, it would be in vain.


    But if Jeremy died, he would truly be dead.


    Hearing Kelvin''s words, the others were jolted back to their senses, remembering Rafael.


    With newfound resolve, they charged at Jeremy once more.


    They didn''t realize that Jeremy was fully aware of their ace in the hole.


    He let out a derisiveugh, saying nothing more, just casting a knowing nce at E.


    E frowned, sensing something was amiss, but she brushed it off.


    What could a dying man possibly do?


    With an icy expression, E decisively pulled the trigger.


    "Bang!"


    The gunshot rang out once again.


    Yet, the anticipated scene of Jeremy''s head exploding did not ur.


    As E fired, a silver light shed in Jeremy''s eyes, and he vanished.


    "Teleportation!"


    E''s eyes widened in shock.


    He had another trick up his sleeve!


    When Jeremy reappeared, he was already behind Rafael.


    Due to the death lock, the bullet E had fired altered its trajectory mid-air, heading straight for Rafael.


    E''s face turned pale as she urgently shouted, "Move out of the way!"


    Despite Rafael sensing something was wrong, it was toote.


    Jeremy grabbed her slender, white neck, lifting her up and using her as a shield.


    "Thud!"


    Blood sttered everywhere.


    Rafael looked down at her chest in disbelief.


    There was a ckened bullet hole, gushing blood.


    To Jeremy''s surprise, E had not aimed for his head or heart; otherwise, Rafael would have been dead on the spot.


    Jeremy''s eyes showed a hint of regret.


    What a pity.


    Seeing Rafael bleeding from the chest and being held by Jeremy, panic spread across the faces of the ck Dragon Squad members.


    E urgently pleaded, "Jeremy, let her go! We can settle this peacefully!"


    In response, Jeremy let out a coldugh.


    Not only did he not release her, but his grip tightened even further.


    The immense pressure made Rafael''s neck bones creak, as if they might snap at any moment.


    Rafael struggled to breathe, her lips trembling and her face turning pale.


    Blood from her chest spread rapidly, and her life force was visibly waning.


    The squad members were a mix of rage and helplessness.

 Chapter 58: Water of Life, The Sacred Artifact is Mine Alone

    E clenched her fists tightly.


    Initially, she believed that Jeremy would be wary of them. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have spared her life earlier.


    However, Jeremy''s recent actions made E sense his murderous intent.


    This made E understand that Jeremy was not really afraid to kill them.


    If they provoked him, none of them might leave this ce alive.


    After all, if everyone were dead, no one would be left to know that Jeremy was behind it.


    His strength was more than sufficient to ensure no witnesses.


    Understanding their precarious situation, E softened her tone and ceased threatening the madman in front of her.


    She asked in a somber voice, "Jeremy, what exactly do you want?"


    "You catch on quickly." Jeremy nced at her and chuckled lightly. "As for what I want, didn''t I just say it? I want that so-called hero to kneel and apologize to me!"


    As soon as he finished speaking, everyone''s eyes turned toward Kelvin.


    "You!" Kelvin''s face flushed with anger, and he couldn''t help but take a step forward, ready to confront Jeremy head-on.


    But he had barely taken two steps before E''s sharp voice stopped him in his tracks.


    "Do you want everyone to die here?" she scolded.


    Her words were like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads, bringing the members of the ck Dragon Squad back to their senses.


    They looked at Jeremy''s calm expression and were suddenly reminded.


    The young man before them was no longer the yer they once knew, elevated by Benjamin''s support.


    He had be a powerful monster capable of trapping them all in this instance!


    For a moment, silence enveloped the scene.


    Kelvin''s body trembled, his face a mixture of anger and inner conflict.


    As a former top federal agent and the vice captain of the ck Dragon Squad, the idea of kneeling and apologizing to an eighteen-year-old boy was a fate worse than death.


    Seeing Kelvin''s hesitation, Jeremy''s voice remained calm. "Your time is running out. Make a decision quickly."


    At this moment, Rafael had already fainted.


    Jeremy loosened his grip slightly, ensuring he didn''t identally strangle the beautiful woman. After all, he was known for his chivalry and appreciation of beauty.


    E suddenly stepped forward with a resolute expression. "I will apologize on their behalf!"


    "You?" Jeremy was taken aback for a moment, not having expected this.


    But before he could refuse, E bit her lip, bent her knees, and knelt down on the ground.


    A gentle breeze swept across the in, making her silver hair dance in the wind.


    In a solemn tone, E said, "Jeremy, as the captain of the ck Dragon Squad, I sincerely apologize for our offenses. Please, spare Rafael."


    After speaking, she pressed her lips tightly together, closed her eyes, and bowed her head to the ground in a full kowtow.


    "Captain!" Ramone and Tre''s eyes reddened at the sight.


    As a noble heiress and the captain of the ck Dragon Squad, E had never knelt and apologized to anyone before.


    Kelvin opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.


    His eyes shed with guilt, and the anger in his gaze toward Jeremy grew even more intense.


    That bastard!


    If it weren''t for him, the captain would never have been forced into such a humiliating position!


    Jeremy nced at E, somewhat surprised by her unexpected gesture.


    He nodded slightly and said, "At least you have some backbone."


    Without any intention of tormenting them further, Jeremy released his grip on Rafael''s neck. Rafael copsed to the ground, nearly lifeless.


    She was barely clinging to life, on the brink of death.


    Ignoring everything else, E rushed forward to support Rafael and administered a recovery potion.


    Only after Rafael''s breathing stabilized did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.


    When E looked up again, Jeremy''s figure had already vanished without a trace.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the inner city of the imperial capital.


    Night had fallen, and the city lights were just beginning to shine.


    Bodyguards in ck suits stood rigidly, surrounding a luxurious hotel and making it imprable.


    asionally, passersby would cast curious nces.


    Upon noticing the Lannisters insignia on the bodyguards, they would quickly lower their heads and hasten their steps.


    In the opulent hotel lobby, an instance entrance stood quietly.


    Suddenly, the intrance shimmered with blue light.


    A cold-eyed, blond young man emerged.


    Handsome and tall, he wore an imposing suit of silver armor and wielded an ornate golden longsword. His expression was shadowed with a hint of menace, and his entire presence was cloaked in a palpable aura of hostility.


    The people in the hotel lobby looked at him with a mixture of awe and fear.


    This was the heir of the Lannisters.


    Kean!


    A middle-aged butler who had been waiting outside stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Mr.Kean, we''ve found information on Jeremy. He is a senior student at Moonlight City High School, an orphan with no notable background."


    At the mention of Jeremy''s name, a dark look shed in Kean''s eyes.


    Before entering the instance, he had given Jeremy explicit instructions. But not only did Jeremy ignore them, his level had now surpassed Kean''s.


    This filled Kean with a seething rage.


    He despised those who didn''t know their ce!


    With a voice as cold as ice, Kean said, "From now on, I don''t want to hear the name ''Jeremy'' ever again."


    The middle-aged butler immediately understood and bowed his head. "I will arrange for him to be taken care of."


    Kean nodded, then asked, "How is the preparation of the other instanceing along?"


    As yers leveled up, the experience needed for further advancement grew exponentially. If Kean wanted to im first ce in the uing event, relying on just one instance wouldn''t suffice.


    Thus, the Lannister had leveraged its resources to secure another instance for Kean. They even stationed trained yers within it to clear monsters, preparing the instance for Kean to harvest experience.


    Although this strategy consumed significant resources and risked offending other factions, the reward for the event¡ªa sacred artifact¡ªwas worth any cost.


    "It''s all set, just waiting for you, Mr.Kean." the middle-aged butler replied with a deep bow.


    "Good." Kean''s eyes gleamed with a cold light.


    No matter what, that sacred artifact would be his, and nothing could be allowed to go wrong!


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the Moonlight City.


    Jeremy also emerged from the instance entrance.


    He looked up at the sky. It was already nearing nightfall, and there was less than a day left until the event ended. It seemed they had spent a long time in the instance.


    In the abandoned factory, only a few soldiers were standing guard. Naturally, Benjamin couldn''t wait here the whole time, but he had left Dana behind to keep watch.


    Seeing Jeremye out alone, Dana was taken aback.


    He asked in confusion, "Why are you the only oneing out? Where are the others?"


    "They''re still inside farming monsters. I just came out for some fresh air." Jeremy lied casually to brush off the question. He then left the abandoned factory, nning to find a ce for his second sschange.


    He wasn''t sure if the area where he originally lived had been cleared of monsters. So he didn''t n on going back there. Instead, he headed straight to the army''s encampment, the safest ce in the Moonlight City at the moment.


    The army''s encampment wasn''t far from the abandoned factory, and Jeremy arrived shortly after.


    This was a residential area that had been cleared, with soldiers patrolling frequently and strict defenses in ce.


    Most of the high-ranking officers in the army knew Jeremy and were aware of Howard''s regard for him. When they heard that Jeremy wanted to rest there, the logistics officer immediately arranged for him to stay in the room next to Howard''s.


    Jeremy followed a soldier into the room.


    The room was clean and tidy, with the bedding neatly folded, saving him a lot of trouble.


    After the soldier left, Jeremy sat on the bed and checked the equipment and items he had obtained from the Death Wolf King.


    [Equipment]: Ring of Metamorphosis


    [Type]: essory


    [Level]: tinum


    [Quality]: Orange (Rare)


    [Attributes]: All Attributes +200, Skill Attack +5%


    [Skill]: Metamorphosis (Active)


    [Description]: After using the skill, the yer can mimic the appearance of any person, with no cooldown time.


    ...


    [Item]: Water of Life


    [Rank]: High


    [Quality]: Orange (Rare)


    [Description]: After use, the yer can restore 100% of their state.


    ...


    [Item]: Energy Crystal


    [Level]: Tier 7


    [Description]: After use, increases 300 random attribute points.


    [Tip]: Leapfrogging 1000 meters can gain 300 free attribute points.


    ...


    Both pieces of equipment dropped by the Death Wolf King were orange items. After all, it was the first kill of an instance BOSS. The drop rate and quality were much higher than ordinary monsters. Jeremy wasn''t surprised.


    The skill of the "Ring of Metamorphosis" was somewhat niche, rarely useful in most situations.But the equipment''s attributes were quite good, not only adding 200 points to all attributes but also increasing skill attack power by 5%.


    The "Water of Life" was a typical super recovery item. As long as a yer still had a breath left, using the "Water of Life" would fully revive them. Though it wasn''t as good as a resurrection coin, it was still a precious life-saving item.


    Jeremy decided to hold onto the Tier 7 Energy Crystal for now. He might use it to open a treasure chest in the future.


    That was, as long as his second sschange went smoothly.


    Jeremy took a deep breath, steadied his mind, and prepared himself.


    A prompt appeared before him.


    [Do you want to proceed with your second job change now?]


    Without hesitation, Jeremy selected "Confirm."

 Chapter 59: Second Class Change - The Goddess Was Right, This Guy Truly Deserves to Die

    Just like the first time he changed sses, a white light appeared in front of him.


    In the next instant, Jeremy''s figure vanished from the room.


    When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in the ssChange za.


    Unlikest time, the surroundings were no longer grasnds but an endless expanse of blue ocean. The ssChange za now resembled a small ind floating on the sea.


    Jeremy took a look around and noticed that the statue of the goddess Janna in the center of the za was gone. Instead, there was a grand and exquisitely crafted pce at the far end. It seemed that this second sschange was taking ce in a different location from the first.


    [Please proceed to the Job Change Temple for your second ss change!]


    A prompt appeared in front of Jeremy.


    After waiting for a moment and seeing no other movement, Jeremy finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    It seemed Janna hadn''t noticed him.


    Jeremy didn''t rush to proceed with the job change. Instead, he took out a Substitute Puppet from his storage space.


    Looking at the puppet, which resembled him exactly but had a somewhat vacant expression, Jeremy prayed in his heart.


    Whether he could escape this ordeal depended on whether this Substitute Puppet could fool Janna.


    The idea seemed a bit naive, considering that Janna, as the goddess overseeing job changes, would likely see through the puppet at a nce.


    However, Jeremy knew that Janna wouldn''t be manifesting in her true form.


    Otherwise, she would have thrown him into the All-Spirits Prisonst time, and he wouldn''t have a second chance at a sschange.


    So, he might still have a chance.


    Just to be safe, Jeremy first used a Concealment Mask to hide his aura, and then used the Ring of Transformation to change his face to Ritchie''s.


    Thus, the ssChange za now had Jeremy and his good friendRitchie.


    "This should do it." Jeremy nodded in satisfaction.


    After ensuring everything was in ce, he walked straight toward the ssChange Temple.


    The temple had an architectural style reminiscent of ancient Greece, with towering columns and intricately carved beams, exuding an aura of antiquity polished by time. Who knew how long it had stood there?


    Upon entering the temple, a sense of solemnity and grandeur hit him.


    The opulent main hall of the temple came into view, with statues representing various professions standing silently around the spacious hall, like dutiful sentinels.


    At the far end of the hall stood an even more exquisite statue of the goddess Janna, looking incredibly sacred.


    As soon as Jeremy entered the temple, the statue began to emit a faint glow.


    [Wee to the ssChange Temple.]


    [Please stand in the magic circle in the center of the hall. I will proceed with your second sschange.]


    Janna''s gentle voice reached Jeremy''s ears, just likest time.


    Though the voice was pleasant, its tone was unchanging, indicating ack of personal consciousness.


    The second sschange didn''t require any special conditions. One just needed to reach level 30. The real challenge woulde at level 50 when yers had to undergo a moreplex job awakening.


    Without much hesitation, Jeremy stood in the magic circle in the center of the hall, together with the Substitute Puppet.


    Then, a glimmer appeared in the eyes of the statue of Janna.


    "Buzz!"


    The magic circle activated instantly, with the radiant patterns swirling on it.


    A white light emanated from the circle, enveloping Jeremy.


    Soon, Jeremy felt a wave of heat coursing through his body. His skin turned red, and sweat beaded on his forehead.


    He could sense something unlocking within him.


    The next moment, a surge of violent, malevolent dark red energy erupted from his body.


    "Boom!"


    The dark red energy broke free from the temple''s confines, shooting straight into the sky!


    In an instant, the sky was covered with dark clouds!


    ck clouds roiled, thunder and lightning shed, and fierce winds arose. The sea surged and roared.


    The once bright temple was plunged into darkness, like the arrival of doomsday.


    In the ssChange Temple, only the statue of Janna and Jeremy emitted a faint glow.


    With his eyes closed, Jeremy could feel a transformation urring within his power. The energypressed, bing denser and denser until it broke through a critical point.


    "Boom!"


    An overwhelming surge of dark red energy erupted from within him again, bathing the entire temple in a dark red hue!


    [Ding! Congrattions onpleting your second sschange!]


    [Your attributes have been enhanced!]


    [You have acquired the super-tier skill "Seven Sins - Envy"!]


    [You have acquired the high-tier skill "Abyssal Summon"!]


    [You have acquired the high-tier skill "Cmity Wind"!]


    ...


    A series of notifications appeared before Jeremy.


    Simultaneously, several golden lights shone upon him.


    [Your level has increased to 32, and you have gained 40 free attribute points!]


    [You have acquired fixed ss attributes: Strength +50, Spirit +50, Stamina +25, Agility +25!]


    At this moment, Jeremy was enveloped in a fiery dark red glow, exuding a powerful and ferocious aura.


    It was simr to when he used the skill "Seven Sins - Wrath".But now Jeremy''s mind was exceptionally clear.


    He clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within him.


    Afterpleting the second job change, his strength had significantly increased again. Jeremy estimated that even without the Sword of Judgment, he could now instantly defeat the ghoul high priest.


    Jeremy exhaled, suppressing his excitement.


    He was about to check his stats and skills.


    Suddenly, a powerful energy wave emanated from the statue of the goddess Janna.


    The statue''s eyes began to shine, as if about to open.


    "She''sing!" Jeremy''s heart skipped a beat.


    He quickly stepped out of the magic circle.


    Barely had he prepared himself when a terrifying divine power erupted from the statue!


    "Boom!"


    Blinding light pierced through the darkness, dispelling the dark clouds in the sky in an instant.


    An overpowering aura swept across the entire ssChange Temple.


    Jeremy felt like an infantpared to this immense power.


    Then, Janna''s coldughter echoed through the ssChange Temple.


    "I''ve finally caught you!" The expression and eyes of the statue became more animated.


    She wore a sinister smile, her beautiful eyes filled with hatred as she stared at Jeremy... or rather, his Substitute Puppet.


    As for Jeremy, who wore Ritchie''s face, shepletely ignored him.


    "Did it work?" Jeremy''s heart stirred, and he nced at the goddess Janna, bringing up her information.


    [Name]: Goddess Janna (Descended)


    [Level]: 120


    [Rank]: Deity


    [Health]: ???


    [Attack]: ???


    [Defense]: ???


    [Skills]: ???


    [Note]: The ancient goddess in charge of sschanges, currently descended with a fragment of her divine consciousness.


    Jeremy''s eyes flickered as he looked at the panel.


    This time, the goddess Janna was clearly different from before.


    Although most of her attributes were still question marks, the Eye of Omniscience provided a bit more information.


    Most importantly, Janna hadn''t realized it was just his substitute.


    Jeremy let out a long sigh of relief.


    Judging by Janna''s expression, she hadn''t forgotten what happenedst time. In fact, she seemed to have been holding a grudge. Thankfully, this sschange goddess wasn''t particrly bright.Otherwise, he would have been done for today.


    "Despicable human, I told you that you would pay for offending a deity, and I meant it." Seeing the puppet''s silent fear, Janna assumed Jeremy was too scared to speak.


    She looked smug, finally able to vent her long-held anger, making her descent from the All-Spirits Realm worthwhile.


    Jeremy blinked, prompting his puppet to show a fearful expression.


    The puppet immediately looked terrified, trembling as it stammered, "I know I was wrong. Please, Goddess, spare me this once!"


    Janna raised her chin, prideful, "Now you know fear, but it''s toote! For the sphemy of offending a deity, you must pay the price!"


    With that, Janna''s divine light intensified.


    In front of Jeremy''s puppet appeared a ck door, firmly locked with two iron chains.


    With a wave of Janna''s hand, the chains loosened. The ck door slowly opened, revealing a deste, lifeless world beyond.


    The dark, void-like sky was filled with bizarre monsters.


    An ancient, deste aura emanated from it, making Jeremy''s heart race.


    "So, this is the All-Spirits Prison?" Jeremy was astonished as he looked at the dark sky of the prison.


    It seemed simr to the spirit realms he had seen before. He wondered if there was any connection between the two.


    "nk, nk!"


    Suddenly, the chains from the ck door flew out, wrapping around the puppet.


    Jeremy could feel an overwhelming, inescapable force in the chains.


    Then, his puppet was pulled directly into the ck door.


    "Bang!"


    The ck door shut instantly and slowly vanished, severing Jeremy''s connection with the puppet.


    He felt a pang of regret, as he hadn''t used the puppet much.


    Noticing Jeremy, Janna sneered, her tone a mix of warning and gloating, "This is the fate of those who dare to offend a deity!"


    "The Goddess is right. Such sphemers truly deserve to die!" Jeremy nodded repeatedly, his face full of agreement.

 Chapter 60: The Fool Appears, Where is the Class Change Statue?

    Janna looked at him with a puzzled expression and frowned, "Why does your voice sound... familiar?"


    Jeremy''s heart skipped a beat.


    He had already altered his voice. How could this woman still recognize it?!


    Jeremy''s mind raced as he tried to think of a way to cover it up.


    "Boom!"


    Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the sky, and the world seemed to tremble.


    A deep and powerful voice resounded throughout the realm.


    "Janna, you have overstepped your bounds!"


    The goddess Janna''s expression changed upon hearing the voice.


    She quickly looked up at the sky, her pupils shrinking rapidly.


    "The Fool?!" Janna eximed in shock.


    Jeremy shuddered at the words and also looked outside the temple.


    He saw the once clear blue sky being forcibly torn apart.


    Two towering, majestic figures appeared out of nowhere, distorting the space around them. They emitted dazzling divine light, like two suns hanging high in the sky, resembling deities.


    Using The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy barely managed to make out their forms...


    One of them was dressed in a ck tailcoat and held a silver-handled cane, exuding an aura as vast and continuous as a flowing river.


    Underneath his gentleman''s hat, his otherwise ordinary face bore a cold smile, and he looked at Janna with a teasing gaze.


    The other figure wore a luxurious ck robe covered inplex and obscure runes. His face was shrouded in ayer of mist. Countless stars twinkled around him, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle.


    Their auras were terrifying and vast, making the entire world tremble. The mere pressure they emitted felt like a mountain pressing down on Jeremy, causing his bones to creak and making it nearly impossible to breathe.


    [Prompt: The Fool ???]


    [Prompt: The Magician ???]


    Seeing the prompts from The Eye of Omniscience and the two terrifying figures in the sky, Jeremy felt a storm of emotions surge within him.


    So these are the Fool and the Magician, the architects of the apocalypse game?!


    At this moment, he finally understood the kind of adversaries humanity was up against!


    As Jeremy''s gaze fell upon the two figures, the terrifying ck-robed figure seemed to notice something and slightly lowered his head, casting a nce at him.


    "Boom!"


    In that instant, Jeremy felt as if he were staring into two incredibly scorching stars. An overwhelmingly terrifying force surged at him like a tsunami, engulfing him in the blink of an eye.


    In his final moments, Jeremy heard the figure''s indifferent words.


    "sphemer, you deserve to die."


    The terrifying energy crashed over him like a tidal wave, instantly pulverizing Jeremy into nothing, leaving not even a trace behind.


    Jeremy was killed on the spot!


    "Ding!"


    At that moment, a golden coin suddenly appeared where Jeremy had been, then exploded with a bang.


    "A resurrection coin?" The Fool in the sky let out a surprised sound, seeming somewhat taken aback.


    The Magician beside him frowned and asked, "Do you need me to take care of him?"


    The Fool shook his head slightly and said calmly, "Just an ant, let him be. We have more important matters to attend to."


    With that, his gaze shifted to Janna inside the ss Change Temple.


    Inside the temple.


    Janna''s expression turned stiff.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the Moonlight City.


    The sun was high in the sky, the day already bright.


    In a room at the military district''s base, a burst of light flickered.


    Jeremy''s figure appeared in the room.


    He stumbled and copsed directly onto the bed.


    "That was close..." Jeremy panted heavily, still shaken.


    He never expected to encounter the Fool and the Magician in the ss Change Temple!


    If not for the resurrection coin, Jeremy would be dead by now.


    Damn those guys!


    Jeremy''s chest heaved, his fists clenched tightly, and his eyes burned with intense anger.


    One day, he vowed, they would pay for this!


    After a long while, Jeremy finally calmed down.


    He checked the time and realized that more than half a day had passed since he entered the ss Change Temple.


    There were only a few hours left until the end of the "Chasing the Sun" event.


    Jeremy had reached level 32 while in the ss Change Temple.


    Kean had leveled up to 30, and the top ten yers were also around level 30.


    Barring any surprises, he should secure the top spot in this event.


    However, he couldn''t afford to becent. This was the final stretch, and anything could happen.


    Jeremy then opened his status panel and took a look.


    [Name]: Jeremy


    [Level]: lv32


    [ss]: sphemer


    [Titles]: Pioneer, World''s First Kill


    [Abilities]: The Eye of Omniscience (SSS)


    [Attributes]: Strength 3081, Spirit 5345, Stamina 2119, Agility 2143


    [Skills]: Lawless lv8, Seven Sins - Wrath lv1, Seven Sins - Gluttony lv1, Seven Sins - Envy lv1, Abyss Summon lv1, Cmity Wind lv1, gue Curse lv1, Judgment Sword lv10, Soul Roar lv10, Cmity de lv10, Sin me lv10, Extreme Step lv10, Gale sh lv10, Ice Arrow Rain lv10...


    ...


    Afterpleting his second ss change, each of Jeremy''s attributes increased by roughly 300 points.


    More importantly, he had acquired three new skills.


    [Skill]: Seven Sins - Envy


    [Level]: lv1


    [Tier]: Ultra


    [Type]: Utility


    [Description]: Upon activation, the yer can copy the target''s skill. The copied skill will be at level 1,sting for 3 minutes, with a cooldown of 3 hours.


    ...


    [Skill]: Abyss Summon


    [Level]: lv1


    [Tier]: High


    [Type]: Summon


    [Description]: Upon activation, the yer can randomly summon one creature of the same tier from the Exiled Abyss. The yer can also form a contract with the creature for specified summons. The summonsts for 10 minutes, with a cooldown of 3 hours.


    ...


    [Skill]: Cmity Wind


    [Level]: lv1


    [Tier]: High


    [Type]: Offensive


    [Description]: Upon activation, the yer can summon a Cmity Wind to deal 180% magic damage to the target, with a 20% chance to inflict a random negative status effect. Cooldown: 30 minutes.


    ...


    "Copy skills?" Jeremy''s eyes lit up.


    Although "Seven Sins - Envy" can only copy level 1 skills andsts for just 5 minutes, it''s still incredibly powerful.


    For instance, he could copy Ritchie''s "Shadow Stealth" at a critical moment and enter the shadow world to evade danger. Or he could copy Rafael''s "Light of Resurrection" to revive a teammate.


    "Abyss Summon" is a summoning skill that allows for both random and specified summons. With the skeleton staff in his hand also capable of summoning a creature, he wouldn''t have to grind monsters tirelessly anymore.


    "Cmity Wind" seems like an area-of-effect skill that can inflict group negative effects, making it highly effective againstrge numbers of monsters.


    Jeremy then closed his status panel and started to head out.


    Now that he was in the final stage of the event, he couldn''t afford to be careless. Otherwise, he might end up losing the top spot to someone else in the end.


    Besides, the boost from the second ss change was enormous. He was eager to test his current strength against some monsters.


    ...


    In the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, inside an instance.


    A row of near-dead monsters lined up neatly in front of Kean.


    Kean, dressed in silver armor and wielding a golden longsword, methodically killed each monster, like an emotionless killing machine.


    He had already reached level 30, but Kean wasn''t in a hurry to undergo his second ss change. He wanted to ensure that afterpleting it, he could surpass Jeremy and im the top spot on the leaderboard.


    "A powerless student. What do you have topete with me?" Kean sneered, as if he could already see the look of shock on Jeremy''s face.


    At that moment, his butler, Farmer, hurried over.


    Bowing, he reported, "Mr. Kean, Jeremy haspleted his second ss change and has reached level 32."


    "Level 32?" Kean''s raised longsword paused for a moment.


    Then he let out a coldugh and swung the sword down forcefully.


    "sh!"


    An elite monster''s head was severed.


    Kean wiped his longsword and said coldly, "Let him enjoy his moment for now!"


    ording to the family''s calctions, at his current pace, he would umte enough experience to reach level 35 before the event ended.


    By then, he would show Jeremy just how vast the gap between them truly was.


    Butler Farmer hesitated for a moment before smiling wryly, "Mr. Kean, the family head and the upper echelons have issued an order. They want you toplete your second ss change and secure the top spot on the leaderboard first to avoid any unforeseen incidents."


    Kean frowned, somewhat displeased, but he nodded and said, "I understand."


    After all, he was not yet the head of the Lannisters. He could not openly defy the family''s orders.


    After clearing out all the monsters, Kean left the instance and headed to a specially prepared training room.


    The training room was very quiet, and there were guards posted outside to ensure that Kean would not be disturbed by anyone.


    After getting himself into the right state of mind, Kean focused his thoughts and vanished from the training room.


    A salty sea breeze gently blew by.


    Kean opened his eyes and looked around. As expected, what greeted his sight was a vast expanse of blue ocean.


    He was standing on thess change za, with a grand and solemn temple before him.


    Wasting no time, Kean walked straight into the temple.


    Three minutester.


    Kean looked around the empty temple hall, bewildered, and said, "Where''s the ss change statue?"

 Chapter 61: This Game Has Bugs?

    The statues in the ss Change Templehad all mysteriously disappeared.


    Now, the temple hall was littered with rubble.


    Kean began to suspect he might havee to the wrong ce.


    He scanned his surroundings carefully, searching for any clue.


    Finally, his gaze fixed on the debris scattered on the ground.


    The more he looked, the more familiar it seemed.


    Then he spotted a half-destroyed face of a ss changestatue.


    "The ss changestatue... it''s broken?!" Kean was stunned.


    Could this thing really break?


    His face was full of disbelief.


    The problem was, without changing his ss, he couldn''t level up. All the effort he and the Lannisters had put in would be wasted!


    Looking at the ranking leaderboard, Kean was so furious that his eyes turned red.


    If no one could change their sses, he could grudgingly ept it.


    But why could Jeremy do it?!


    Likewise, other yers who had reached level 30 encountered the same issue.


    They came to the ss changeza full of hope, entered the temple joyfully, ready toplete their secondss.


    But when they looked up.


    The ss changestatue was gone.


    "Damn!" A group of yers exploded in frustration.


    How were they supposed to level up now?!


    News of the broken ss changestatue spread quickly.


    Soon, many yers were aware of the situation.


    The world channel erupted, with messages flooding in like snowkes.


    LV30Nancy: "I can''t believe it, this apocalypse game has bugs?!"


    LV30Faas: "I''ve spent so much money hiring people to level up, and now, just as the event is about to end, you''re telling me I can''t change my ss? Damn it, what a garbage game, give me a refund!"


    LV24Icey: "So, without the ss changestatue, does this mean we can''t change sses in the future?"


    LV30Tristones: "Probably not. I saw that Jeremy is already level 32."


    Jeremy is level 32?


    Seeing this message, many yers were taken aback. They quickly opened the leaderboard to check.


    All they saw were yers at level 30.


    Jeremy is the only one at level 32, standing out from the crowd and being extremely conspicuous.


    A group of yers immediately went mad with envy.


    LV30Faas: "Damn it, why can Jeremy change his ss? This is unfair!!"


    LV24Icey: "Maybe Jeremy broke the ss changestatue so no one else couldpete for the top spot."


    LV30Tristones: "Whether he did it or not, Jeremy was the first toplete the secondss. He must know something."


    LV30Martita: "Does anyone know Jeremy? Contact him for me, and I''ll give you a Tier 4 Energy Crystal as a reward."


    LV27Quin: "A Tier 4 Energy Crystal? As expected of the eldest son of the Smithfamily, such a rich guy!"


    Seeing this, Ritchie, who had been lurking, perked up.


    Could there really be such a good deal in the world?!


    He immediately sent a message.


    LV25Ritchie: "Me! Me! Me! I''m from theMoonlight City, and I''m Jeremy''s ssmate!"


    Hearing this, most of the yers believed him.


    After all, most of them had investigated Jeremy and knew he was indeed from the Moonlight City. However, to be cautious, they still asked Ritchie some detailed questions.


    They found that Ritchie''s information matched what they already knew, and was even more detailed.


    The top yers were relieved, thinking Ritchie wouldn''t dare to deceive them. They then started sending private messages to him.


    LV30Martita: "I''ll give you 2 Tier 4 Energy Crystals. Find out how Jeremy managed to change his ss."


    [yer "Martita" has mailed you 2 Tier 4 Energy Crystals!]


    LV30Faas: "Tell me Jeremy''s location."


    [yer "Faas" has mailed you 1 Tier 4 Energy Crystal!]


    LV30Nancy: "2 Tier 3 Energy Crystals for detailed information on Jeremy."


    ...


    One by one, the Energy Crystals were mailed over, and Ritchie happily epted them all.


    He quickly closed the chat window, cklisted everyone, and logged off at lightning speed.


    The whole process was smooth and seamless.


    A few minutester...


    The world channel was flooded with bounties for Ritchie.


    Someone even offered a high price of 1 Tier 5 Energy Crystal, determined to get Ritchie''s head.


    ...


    Jeremy rarely checked the world channel and had no idea what was happening.


    After leaving the military base, he headed out of the city to continue leveling up.


    He didn''t go to an instance because of the rule that "yer level cannot exceed instance level." So, Jeremy had to find monsters on his own.


    Unfortunately, the monsters in the city had mostly been cleared out by Howard and his troops.


    Left with no choice, he decided to try his luck outside the city.


    After wandering around for a while, he didn''t find many monsters but dide across a tinum treasure chest.


    [Item]: tinum Treasure Chest


    [Grade]: tinum


    [Description]: Opening the chest requires 10 Tier 4 Energy Crystals or 1 Tier 5 Energy Crystal.


    [Hint]: Using a Tier 5 Energy Crystal guarantees obtaining a high-tier rare item.


    Jeremy looked at the prompt, feeling a bit helpless.


    He had used up his Tier 5 Energy Crystals in the instance.


    Fortunately, getting a Tier 5 Energy Crystal wasn''t too difficult for him now.


    He still needed to find some monsters first.


    Lighting a cigarette, Jeremy frowned in thought.


    Where could he find monsters?


    Hunting them in the wild was too slow, and Moonlight City''s monsters had almost been wiped out. He couldn''t just fly to another city to hunt...


    Suddenly, Jeremy''s eyes lit up.


    If there were no monsters on the ground, he could look for monsters in the sky!


    He immediately thought of the Skyrakers.


    They had caused him a lot of troublest time, and now he could take this opportunity to deal with them.


    Once he made up his mind, Jeremy focused his thoughts.


    The Sky Ring on his hand emitted a sh of white light.


    Immediately, a pair of pristine wings unfurled behind him.


    "Sky Wings!"


    This was his first time flying, and it felt quite novel.


    Jeremy tried pping his wings a couple of times.


    "Whoosh!"


    The wings stirred up a gust of wind, sending dust swirling from the ground.


    He lifted off effortlessly.


    Even though it was his first time using the wings, Jeremy didn''t feel awkward or struggle to control them. They felt as natural to him as his own arms, responding to his everymand.


    After getting the hang of it, Jeremy gave a powerful p of his wings.


    He shot into the sky like an arrow.


    The wind howled as he ascended rapidly.


    When he finally stopped, he found himself amidst a vast sea of clouds.


    The sun zed overhead.


    Its rays piercing through the cloud cover to touch the earth below.


    The once towering skyscrapers nowy in ruins, and the bustling streets were nearly deserted, giving the whole city a deste and eerie feel.


    From his high vantage point, Jeremy gazed down at the Moonlight City, feeling a sense of poignant nostalgia.


    Shaking his head slightly, he began to search for his target.


    His eyes finally settled on the tallest TV tower in the Moonlight City.


    From a distance, he could see it swarming with Skyrakers.


    They hung upside down like oversized bats, thousands of them!


    These creatures had made the TV tower their nest!


    "This time, I''ll wipe you all out!" Jeremy''s eyes glinted with cold determination. Without hesitation, he pped his wings forcefully and shot towards the tower like a missile.


    As Jeremy closed in, the Skyrakers on the tower noticed him.


    A sharp, piercing cry echoed as the Skyrakers swarmed up from the tower like a dark cloud, hurtling towards Jeremy with terrifying momentum.


    Jeremy remained unfazed, his gaze fixed on the leading Skyraker.


    This one was encased in bone armor, towering at four to five meters tall, wielding a white bone spear. Its size and aura were several times more intimidating than the ones Jeremy had fought before.


    [Skyrakers (BOSS)]


    [Level]: Lv30


    [Attack]: 18767-19138


    [Defense]: 3288


    [Skills]: Bone Spear, Flight, Bone Arrow...


    [Hint]: Rtively weak. Defeating it will yield a tinum-level item.


    ...


    "A BOSS!" Jeremy was slightly surprised.


    Looks like his luck was good this time.


    At that moment, the Sky ughterer let out a deafening roar.


    "Roar!!!"


    Behind him, threemander-level Skyrakers received the order and immediately lunged at Jeremy. The other elite-level Skyrakers were also on the move.


    They pped their wings, sending sharp wind des shing toward Jeremy¡ªthere were easily over a hundred of them!


    However, Jeremy didn''t even spare a nce at the iing wind des.


    He retrieved the Necromancer''s Staff from his storage space, his eyes glowing with an icy blue light.


    "Boom!"


    A chilling aura erupted from his body, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet. Snowkes began to form in the sky.


    At the same time, crystalline ice arrows started to materialize behind Jeremy.


    "Ice Arrow Rain!"


    The ice arrows Jeremy conjured this time were several times more numerous than before!


    A dense array of arrows filled the sky, making one''s scalp tingle with fear.


    By this point, the wind des were almost upon him.


    Jeremy didn''t dodge.He let the wind des strike his body.


    Just as they made contact,afaint purple shield suddenly appeared around him.


    "Soul Guardian!"

 Chapter 62: The Sun-Chasing Event Ends, Jeremy Played Dirty!

    Dozens of wind des struck the shield, exploding one after another, but none managed to harm Jeremy.


    Although the Soul Guardian''s defensive capabilities weren''t particrly strong, they were more than enough to handle low-level wind des.


    At the same time, Jeremy focused his thoughts.


    "Swish, swish, swish!!!"


    The countless ice arrows obeyed hismand and shot toward the Skyrakers in unison.


    The three leading Skyrakers let out angry roars and raised their bone shields in an attempt to block the attack.


    However, the moment the ice arrows collided with their bone shields, the three Skyrakers immediately regretted their decision.


    "Bang, bang, bang!!!"


    The bone shields instantly shattered into pieces!


    The supposedly sturdy bone shields were like paper in the face of Jeremy''s ice arrows, easily pierced and broken!


    With their shields destroyed, the three Skyrakers were leftpletely exposed, with no protection whatsoever.


    As they looked at the overwhelming barrage of ice arrows shooting toward them, their eyes were filled with shock.


    They hadn''t expected their shields to fail so miserably.


    Before the three Skyrakers could react further, countless ice arrows reached them.


    Blood sttered everywhere as the sound of flesh being pierced echoed repeatedly!


    In just a blink of an eye, the three Skyrakers were turned into pincushions by the ice arrows and fell from the sky.


    By this time, the rain of ice arrows had also reached the other Skyrakers.


    "Bang, bang, bang!!!"


    The sky was filled with the sound of ice shards exploding.


    As the icy fragments scattered, the Skyrakers fell from the sky like rain!


    [You have killed a Level 24 Skyraker (Normal), gaining 4,031 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 26 Skyraker Warrior (Elite), gaining 21,919 experience points!]


    [You have killed a Level 29 Skyraker (Commander), gaining 121,000 experience points!]


    ...


    [Skill "Seven Sins - Gluttony" activated! You have gained 442 random attribute points!]


    A series of kill notifications appeared.


    As a massive amount of experience flooded into his body, Jeremy''s body began to glow with a golden light.


    [Your level has increased to 33. You have gained 40 free attribute points!]


    [You have gained ss-specific attributes: Strength +50, Spirit +50, Stamina +25, Agility +25!]


    Meanwhile, seeing the heavy casualties among his minions, the Skyraker Lord couldn''t sit idly by any longer.


    "Roar!"


    Letting out an angry roar at Jeremy, it wielded its bone spear, pped its wings fiercely, and turned into a streak of light, charging swiftly toward him!


    Facing the ferocious charge of the Skyraker Lord, Jeremy remained cold and stern, a dark gleam shing in his eyes.


    In the next moment, a violent wind arose!


    "Whoosh!"


    A fierce ck hurricane suddenly appeared in the sky!


    "Wind of Cmity!"


    The ck wind howled past, like a ck sandstorm, enveloping the Skyraker Lord and all the Skyrakers in the sky!


    The sharp, agonized screams echoed above the Moonlight City.


    In just a blink of an eye, the Skyrakers caught in the Wind of Cmity had their skin suddenly wither and wrinkle, as if something had drained them dry.


    Even the Skyraker Lord, as a BOSS, was affected. Both its movements and reactions had noticeably slowed.


    Skyrakers fell from the sky one after another; the effect of the Wind of Cmity was even better than Jeremy had anticipated.


    Seizing this golden opportunity, Jeremy wouldn''t let it slip away.


    While the Skyraker Lord was still under the negative effects, Jeremy waved his staff.


    A dark red me appeared in the air.


    The me quickly expanded, forming a dark red fire serpent, several meters long, which ferociously shot toward the Skyraker Lord.


    "Boom!!!"


    Dark red mes shot up into the sky, a deafening roar echoing through the air, and the terrifying power even distorted the atmosphere.


    In just the blink of an eye, the Skyraker Lord waspletely consumed by the raging mes of sin and vanished without a trace.


    [You have killed a Level 30 Skyraker Lord (BOSS), gaining 458,000 experience points!]


    ["Seven Sins - Gluttony" activated! You have gained 100 points in Constitution!]


    Seeing their leader in by Jeremy, the remaining Skyrakers let out panicked cries.


    Some of them pped their wings and fled, showing remarkable familiarity with this scenario¡ªit seemed they had encountered Jeremy before.


    But this time, Jeremy wouldn''t let them escape so easily.


    His eyes glowed with a dark red light, and a scorching me burst skyward.


    "mes of Sin!"


    Suddenly, the Moonlight City was bathed in a dark red hue.


    Everyone looked up at the sky in astonishment, their eyes widening in shock.


    Meteor-like fireballs streaked across the sky, hurtling toward the Moonlight City tower with fierce momentum!


    "Boom, boom, boom!!!"


    A series of explosions erupted, painting the sky in dark red mes!


    In an instant, the Moonlight City tower became a sea of fire, and both the tower and the Skyrakers were immted by Jeremy''s ze.


    Waves of experience poured into his body. Despite the Skyrakers'' lower levels, their sheer numbers made up for it.


    Before long, Jeremy''s body glowed with golden light once again.


    [Your level has increased to 34. You have gained 40 free attribute points!]


    At the same time, tiny sparks of light flowed into his body.


    Granting him nearly 300 random attribute points.


    Jeremy put away his staff and picked up all the equipment, items, and energy crystals dropped by the monsters.


    Most of the gear was ordinary, except for a pair of tinum-level boots dropped by the Skyraker Lord.


    [Item]: Skeletal Boots


    [Type]: Boots


    [Level]: tinum


    [Quality]: Blue (Common)


    [Attributes]: Agility +250, Agility +10%


    Though the bootscked any special skills, the 250 agility points and 10% agility boost were quite impressive.


    Jeremy equipped the boots, increasing his agility by over 400 points.


    While the equipment drops weren''t abundant, the energy crystals were plentiful.


    He collected seven Tier 5 energy crystals and one Tier 6 energy crystal from the Skyraker Lord alone.


    Jeremy kept one Tier 5 energy crystal for himself and stored the rest in his inventory.


    Next, he took out a tinum treasure chest and opened it directly.


    [Ding! You have opened a tinum treasure chest!]


    [You have triggered a hidden mechanism!]


    [Rewards obtained: Awakening Scroll*1, Tier 6 Energy Crystal*1!]


    ...


    "An Awakening Scroll?!" Jeremy rarely showed such surprise on his face.


    When yers reach level 50, they face the opportunity for a ss awakening.


    This awakening can fully unlock the potential of their ss, marking a significant leap in their power. Many ordinary yers catch up to the extraordinary ones during this phase.


    However, the difficulty of awakening is quite high.


    Reaching level 50 alone isn''t enough,yers must meet two additional conditions.


    First, they need to max out all their skill levels. Second, they must undertake the Awakening Trial.


    The ticket to this trial is the Awakening Scroll.


    The main bottleneck for yers attempting to awaken lies in the scarcity of these scrolls.


    They can only be obtained through treasure chests, with no other means avable.


    This also means that those who pass the Awakening Trial are either the lucky ones or the big spenders.


    "Clearly, I''m one of the lucky ones!" Jeremy thought gleefully as he looked at the ck scroll in his hand.


    With his leveling speed, reaching level 50 wouldn''t take long.


    After all, he still had an intermediate trial invitation, which would yield a substantial amount of experience.


    The only slight hassle would be gathering enough energy crystals. However, with The Eye of Omniscience, maxing out his skills was just a matter of time.


    Jeremy could hardly wait to see how much the hidden ss, sphemer, would improve after awakening.


    Just as Jeremy was lost in these thoughts, a sudden bell chime echoed through the sky.


    Jeremy''s heart skipped a beat. He realized it was already noon.


    The event was about to end!


    Looking up, he saw that the sun in the sky had inexplicably turned red.


    The ck pointer on the sun''s face now pointed to the second rune!


    Simultaneously, a notification appeared before yers worldwide.


    [Ding! The "Sun-Chasing" event has ended!]


    [Congrattions to yer "Jeremy" for being the winner of this event!]


    [Ding! The "Sun-Chasing" event has ended!]


    [Congrattions to yer "Jeremy" for being the winner of this event!]...


    [Ding! The "Sun-Chasing" event has ended!]


    The notifications kepting, and every level 30 yer''s face turned grim.


    Because up until now, they still hadn''tpleted their secondss.


    Someone couldn''t help but exim, "Jeremy really ys dirty!"


    By now, everyone was convinced that the shattered ss ChangeStatue was definitely rted to Jeremy.


    Otherwise, why would the statue break right after Jeremypleted his ss change?


    It was obvious¡ªthis guy broke it on purpose to secure his spot as the top-level yer!


    Thinking of this, a group of level 30 yers was infuriated.


    However, these yers were somewhat resigned.


    Because they knew that even if they had managed toplete their secondss, they wouldn''t have a shot at being the top-level yer.


    The most enraged, however, was Kean.


    When Kean saw the event notification, his eyes turned red with fury.


    If he had no chance to im the top spot, that would have been one thing.


    But Kean firmly believed that if it weren''t for the inability toplete his ss change, he could have easily surpassed Jeremy!


    And now, he could only watch helplessly as Jeremy enjoyed the fruits of victory that should have been his!


    This overwhelming sense of disparity was something he couldn''t ept.


    With a twisted expression and seething with murderous intent, Kean snarled, "Jeremy, I''ll make you hand over the divine artifact willingly! What belongs to me,no one can takeaway!"


    He had already dispatched arge number of people to theMoonlight City.


    Kean intended to have them bring back both Jeremy''s head and the divine artifact!

 Chapter 63: Time Pocket Watch, Global Large-scale Instance "Land of Eternal Night"!

    Meanwhile, Jeremy also received a notification indicating the event had ended.


    [Ding! Congrattions on bing the winner of the "Sun Chaser" event!]


    [You have received a special reward: Time Pocket Watch (Divine Artifact)!]


    [You have received a special title: Light Chaser (Title)!]


    Right after, a sh of golden light appeared and disappeared.


    In Jeremy''s hand materialized an ancient-looking golden pocket watch.


    The watch seemed old, with a golden light flowing over its surface adorned with intricate carvings. The dial disyed 12 peculiar runes, identical to those on the sun, exuding an aura of ancient and eternal power.


    At that moment, Jeremy felt as if the air around him had slowed down!


    [Equipment]: Time Pocket Watch


    [Holder]: Jeremy


    [Level]: 34


    [Type]: Divine Artifact (Unique)


    [Quality]: Gold (Perfect)


    [Attributes]: Skill Attack Power +62%, All Attributes +51%, Skill Cooldown Time -25%, Stamina Recovery Speed +240%, Mental Recovery Speed +240%...


    [Skill 1]: Rewind


    [Description]: After using the skill, the yer''s state and skills will be restored to their peak condition. Cooldown time: 12 hours.


    [Skill 2]: Foresight


    [Description]: After using the skill, the yer can foresee all actions of the target within the next 3 seconds,sting for 3 minutes. Cooldown time: 6 hours.


    [Skill 3]: Stasis


    [Description]: After using the skill, the yer can pause the target''s time for 1 second. This skill has no cooldown time, but the yer''s lifespan will be affected depending on the target''s strength.


    [Skill 4]: yer level is insufficient, skill not yet unlocked.


    ...


    "Such powerful attributes and skills!!" Jeremy''s heart pounded as he read the descriptions.


    The Time Pocket Watch was overwhelmingly powerful in both attributes and skills! Not only did it provide incredibly strong attribute enhancements, but all three skills¡ªRewind, Foresight, and Stasis¡ªwere god-tier skills!


    "Rewind" could help him restore his state at crucial moments, "Foresight" could give him a tactical advantage in battle. While "Stasis" had a significant downside, it was undeniably a powerful trump card!


    Pausing time for 1 second,bined with the explosive power of "Seven Sins - Wrath," would allow Jeremy to unleash strength far beyond his level in an instant, potentially turning the tide in critical situations!


    Moreover, the Time Pocket Watch was a growth-type equipment. Its abilities would scale with the yer''s level, and Jeremy could hardly imagine how terrifying this artifact would be in the future!


    "Truly worthy of being called a divine artifact!" Jeremy clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with excitement.


    All his hard work had paid off,the Time Pocket Watch had not disappointed him!


    In addition, Jeremy also received a special title, "Sun Chaser."


    Just as Jeremy was about to check the title''s attributes, a notification appeared before him.


    [End of the "Sun Chaser" event!]


    [The second Doomsday game event, "Dawn Break," is now officially starting!]


    [Event Introduction: To enhance yers'' gaming experience, the first globalrge-scale instance "Land of Eternal Night" will beunched. One hundred million yers worldwide will be randomly selected to enter the instance. Other yers who wish to enter can voluntarily sign up. There is no limit to the number of participants for this event.]


    [Event Rules: In the core area of the "Land of Eternal Night," there is an "Exile Tower." The first yer to reach the top of the "Exile Tower" will be the winner of this event. If no yer reaches the top within a month, all yers will be trapped in the "Land of Eternal Night."]


    [Game nner: TheSun]


    [Time remaining until entry into the "Land of Eternal Night": 29 minutes and 59 seconds!]


    As soon as the event notification appeared, a scene manifested before all yers worldwide.


    In the dark, deste void, a vast and barren continent floated, with majestic cities rising from the ground like colossal beasts.


    A towering ck spire stood tall in the city, piercing the clouds. The dazzling sun hung high above the tower, emitting an incredibly bright and scorching light, illuminating the dark city as if it were daytime.


    "What is this?!" Jeremy''s heart skipped a beat as he looked at the scene on the screen.


    The Land of Eternal Night looked almost identical to the world he had seen during his second ss change!


    This time, however, Jeremy saw it more clearly.


    He even noticed the presence of white, spiritual light points in the dark, lifeless void.


    At that moment, Jeremy realized that the All-Spirit Prison,the Land of Eternal Night, and the void world he had entered were all the same ce!


    A fervent excitement shed in Jeremy''s eyes.


    Thest time he was in the void spirit world, he absorbed arge number of spiritual light points, causing his mental power to surge!


    Jeremy had always wondered how he could return there, and now the opportunity had presented itself!


    Without any hesitation, he decisively chose to sign up for the event.


    [Ding! You have voluntarily signed up for the "Dawn Break" event!]


    [Time remaining until entry into the "Land of Eternal Night": 27 minutes and 34 seconds!]


    ...


    At the same time, an inconspicuous message floated across the global chat channel.


    [Congrattions to yer "Jeremy" for being the first to sign up for the "Dawn Break" event!]


    Seeing this notification, the global chat fell silent for a moment before exploding with activity.


    [LV24Icey]: "Holy crap, Jeremy''s lost it! He actually signed up for the instance voluntarily?!"


    [LV30Tristones]:"I can''t decide whether to call him brave or reckless."


    [LV25Quin]: "Probably just overconfident because he just got a divine artifact."


    [LV30Martita]: "It''s a good thing, though. The more top-tier yers we have, the better our chances of getting out of the instance."


    [LV30Faas]:"Let''s hope the instance isn''t unbeatable, or he might end up trapped in there forever."


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the Presidential Pce in the imperial capital.


    Aspacious conference room was filled with President Edgarand a dozen of the highest-ranking officials of the Federation.


    "This game isn''t giving us any chance of survival!" Edgar''s knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists, gritting his teeth in frustration as he looked at the notification before him.


    After the apocalypse struck, social order copsed. The Federation paid a tremendous price to barely stabilize the situation. And now, those bastards who triggered the apocalypse want to throw a hundred million people into an instance at the same time, clearly aiming to extinguish the fledgling spark of humanity.


    If these hundred million people can''t make it out of the instance, the fragile stability the Federation has fought so hard to maintain willpletely fall apart. The entire Federation will plunge back into chaos, and it will be beyond salvation!


    In the conference room, many people clenched their fists, feeling a deep sense of helplessness. Against such a formidable force, they didn''t even have a chance to resist.


    Zachary, the head of the White Family, spoke bitterly, "Our only hope now is that someone among these hundred million yers can clear the instance. At least that would buy us some breathing room. Otherwise..."


    He sighed and didn''t finish his sentence.


    But everyone understood what he meant.


    If no one can clear this instance, the entire human race might face utter annihtion!


    The atmosphere in the conference room grew heavy and silent as everyone fell into deep thought. They knew that since the enemy intended to crush their hope, the difficulty of this instance would likely be beyond anyone''s imagination. Clearing it would be an almost impossible task!


    Just then, someone suddenly received the news that Jeremy had voluntarily joined the event.


    A look of joy spread across his face as he excitedly announced to the room, "Good news, everyone! Just now, Jeremy signed up for the instance voluntarily!"


    "What?!" Everyone in the conference room was stunned.


    Jeremy had voluntarily joined the instance?


    A wave of relief washed over their faces.


    Jeremy was arguably the highest-level yer among humans. Even if his top rank might be somewhat inted, his presence carried significant weight.


    No matter what happens next, his decision to enter the instance at this critical moment would undoubtedly boost morale.


    "Haha! As expected of our human genius, he truly has the courage!" Edgarpreviously weary eyes lit up with renewed vigor, and he couldn''t help butugh heartily.


    Whether or not Jeremy can clear the instance, his actions alone have given everyone a much-needed morale boost.


    The people in the conference room began to perk up.


    If a young man like Jeremy dared to voluntarily enter the "Land of Eternal Night," how could they, the older generation, afford to be discouraged?


    Edgarimmediately issued an order, "Release an announcement, contact all top-tier yers, and ask if any of them are willing to enter the instance voluntarily. The more strong yers we have, the greater our hope!"


    Everyone in the conference room stood up to carry out the order.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Jeremy had no idea that the Federation officials saw him as a brave and fearless young hero.


    With about twenty minutes left before the instance began, he took the opportunity to call Emma and the others.


    He urged them to be prepared and to contact him immediately if they were unlucky enough to be selected for the instance.


    While he was concerned for everyone, his main worry was Emma.


    As a support yer, she had very littlebat capability and could easily find herself in danger inside the instance.


    "I understand. You be careful too." Emma''s sweet voice came through the phone.


    Jeremy reassured her with a fewforting words and told her not to worry, then ended the call.


    Afterward, Jeremy decided to check the title he had acquired earlier.


    [Title]: Light Chaser


    [Type]: Special


    [Effect]: All attributes +155, Attack Speed +15%, Critical Rate +10%


    [Skill]: Light Chase (Active)


    [Description]: Upon activation, the yer''s attack speed increases by 50% for 5 minutes. Cooldown time is 3 hours.

 Chapter 64: Death Desert, Gluttony Unleashed!

    The attributes of the "Light Chaser"were quite impressive, equivalent to a piece of diamond-grade equipment.


    After Jeremy equipped it, he retrieved the energy crystals he had obtained from Skyrakers from his storage space.


    He intended to maximize his power before entering the instance, as he had no idea what to expect inside.


    Jeremy used all the low-level energy crystals to boost his attributes.


    As he absorbed each crystal, he gained approximately 300 points in random attributes.


    For energy crystals of level 3 and above, he focused on enhancing his skills.


    [Ding! You have used a Tier 4 energy crystal, leveling up the "Abyssal Summon" skill to level 1!]


    [Ding! You have used a Tier 5 energy crystal, leveling up the "gue Curse" skill to level 5!]


    [Ding! You have used a Tier 6 energy crystal, leveling up the "Uwful Being" skill to level 10!]


    ...


    A series of notifications appeared. Fortunately, the energy crystals Jeremy had acquired from Skyrakers were ample, allowing him to upgrade his high-tier skills and "Uwful Being" to level 10.


    At level 10, the damage of "Uwful Being" increased by 34%, the range of "Teleportation" expanded to 100 meters, and its cooldown was halved.


    The effects of other high-tier skills also saw significant improvements.


    However, when it came to super-tier skills, Jeremy was at a loss.


    He simply didn''t have enough high-tier energy crystals.


    After yersplete their second ss, skill levels can be raised to level 20.


    To awaken, he had to max out all his skills, which required a vast number of high-tier energy crystals. To ensure his skills didn''t hold him back, he needed to find a way to acquire more energy crystals.


    But now wasn''t the time to dwell on that.


    There were less than 5 minutes left before entering the instance.


    Jeremy opened his attribute panel for a quick look.


    [Name]: Jeremy


    [Level]: lv34


    [ss]: sphemer


    [Titles]: Pioneer, World''s First Kill, Light Chaser


    [Abilities]: The Eye of Omniscience (SSS)


    [Attributes]: Strength 5534, Spirit 8433, Stamina 3837, Agility 4219


    [Damage]: Physical 214%, Magical 214%


    [Special]: Crit 33%, Attack Speed 26%, Explosive Rate 35%, Cooldown Reduction 40%


    [Skills]: Uwful Being lv10, Seven Sins ¨C Wrath lv1, Seven Sins ¨C Gluttony lv1, Seven Sins ¨C Envy lv1, Abyssal Summon lv10, Wind of Cmity lv10, Teleportation lv10, gue Curse lv10, Judgment Sword lv10, Soul Roar lv10, mes of Sin lv10, Disaster de lv10, Shadow Step lv10


    Seeing his panel, Jeremy felt much more assured.


    With his current strength, even without using "Seven Sins ¨C Wrath" and the "Time Stopwatch," he could probably take down a level 40 BOSS with ease.


    However, Jeremy remained vignt.


    The time he was instantly killed by a mere nce from the Fool in the sschange area had made him keenly aware of his own vulnerability.


    Weakness itself is an original sin.


    Just like this event, the Apocalypse Game forcibly dragged 100 million yers into the instance, without any regard for their willingness. The game developers didn''t care if yers wanted to participate or not.


    The weak have no right to choose. This world only listens to the strong, and only the strong have the right to speak reason.


    If Jeremy wanted to survive in this apocalypse and protect those around him, he needed to be strong enough.


    "I hope the final result won''t disappoint me." Jeremy muttered, watching the countdown with a fire zing in his eyes.


    Once the "Sun Chaser" event ended, the double experience bonus would be over, and the rate of leveling up would drastically decrease.


    If Jeremy wanted to continue rapidly increasing his strength, aside from obtaining the divine artifact from the event rewards, the only other option he could think of was the Soul Essence from the Void Spirit Realm.


    The Land of Eternal Night met both conditions, which was the main reason he chose to participate in the event.


    Time flew by, and soon there were only 3 minutes left before entering the instance.


    Jeremyposed himself, ready for action.


    yers worldwide were also nervously watching the countdown, praying they wouldn''t be chosen.


    Finally, under everyone''s watchful eyes, the final countdown began.


    [Time left to enter the "Land of Eternal Night": 3 seconds!]


    [Time left to enter the "Land of Eternal Night": 2 seconds!]


    [Time left to enter the "Land of Eternal Night": 1 second]


    The next moment, time hit zero!


    "Boom!!!"


    In the sky, a massive, pitch-ck gate that blotted out the sun suddenly opened with a thunderous roar!


    A barren, lifeless world devoid of any vitality appeared before everyone''s eyes!


    "It''s really here!" Jeremy clenched his fist, his eyes burning with excitement as he looked at the world beyond the ck gate.


    He felt a certain desire stirring within him.


    Thest time Jeremy felt this way was when he had been unconscious.


    He knew this was the desire of "Gluttony"!


    If he could return from the Land of Eternal Night, he would be reborn!


    Before Jeremy could think further,ablinding white light enveloped him.


    Simultaneously, over 100 million yers around the world were also engulfed in white light.


    One by one, beams of white light shot up from all corners of the globe!


    All the yers soared like meteors, heading straight for the ck gate in the sky!


    "Pleasee back safely!" Many prayed in their hearts as they watched the beams of light shoot towards the sky.


    ...


    [You have entered the global instance "Land of Eternal Night"!]


    [Notice: You have entered the outer area of the "Land of Eternal Night" known as the "Death Desert"! Rmended Level: 30-50!]


    As The Eye of Omniscience''s notification appeared, the blinding white light before Jeremy gradually faded.


    The first thing that greeted his eyes was a vast, endless gray desert.


    Under the dim sky, towering dunes rolled endlessly, stretching as far as the eye could see.


    The howling winds whipped up sand and gravel, stinging his skin like knives.


    The gray desert was almost devoid of any flora or fauna. All Jeremy could see was an expanse of gray and white sand, barren and devoid of life.


    Surveying his surroundings, Jeremy noticed about a dozen other yers had also appeared in the desert.


    This group of people includes both the old and the young, with varying expressions. Most of them have pale faces and look flustered.


    A in-looking middle-aged woman trembled, her face contorted with fear as she cried out, "Why, why was I chosen? Why me? I don''t want to die!"


    "I don''t want to stay here!I want to go home..." whimpered a petite girl, crouching on the ground with her head buried in her arms, sobbing softly.


    "It''s over, everything''s over! My wife is still pregnant!" A bespectacled man, pale and weak, nearly copsed on the spot, teetering on the brink of a breakdown.


    The spread of fear and despair was rapid, quickly infecting those who had initially managed to stay rtively calm.


    The cries and wails echoed through the desert, causing several people to frown.


    "Damn it!It''s bad enough to be chosen, but to end up with a bunch of rookies? Unbelievable!." cursed a red-haired young man with a neck tattoo.


    Beside him, aposed woman with short hair and a sharp demeanor calmly said, "Stopining. There''s strength in numbers. Let''s work together to get out of here."


    The others also expressed their agreement.


    After that, they began organizing efforts to calm the other yers.


    Watching this, Jeremy shook his head slightly.


    The highest-level yer among them was only level 23, while the Death Desert was a level 30-50 zone. Leading such a group through the desert would be extremely challenging for them.


    Jeremy had no intention of joining them.


    With his strength, traversing the Death Desert alone wouldn''t be difficult, and he''d have more freedom of movement.


    At that moment, Jeremy felt an increasing restlessness within himself.


    He looked up at the sky.


    The sky was dim and murky, as if shrouded by a gray veil. Through this veil, he could faintly see the dark, lifeless void beyond and some barely discernible faint specks of light.


    Upon entering the Land of Eternal Night, Jeremy had felt a surge of intense hunger.


    He didn''t suppress this desire, allowing it to swell within him.


    As the desire within him grew stronger, a purple vortex gradually appeared in Jeremy''s eyes.


    "Seven Sins ¨C Gluttony, activate!"


    In the next moment, tiny particles of light, barely visible to the naked eye, seemed to be drawn by an unseen force, raining down from the sky and merging into Jeremy''s body.


    Jeremy felt a warm sensation throughout his body, as if he were soaking in a hot spring¡ªextremelyfortable.


    Before long, a prompt appeared before him.


    [Prompt: You have devouredsoul essences, gaining 1 point in the mental attribute!]


    "Just as I thought,ing here was the right decision." Jeremy''s eyes gleamed with excitement.


    The reason he hade here was that this ce could rapidly boost his power.


    And the Land of Eternal Night did not disappoint him.


    In just a few minutes, he had already gained 1 point in the mental attribute.


    Even if he did nothing else all day, he could still gain attributes equivalent to leveling up by two levels.


    At this rate of attribute growth,bined with the experience from monster hunting, his power would increase even faster than during double experience periods!


    But that wasn''t all. Jeremy could faintly sense that the closer he got to the core area of the Land of Eternal Night, the denser the soul essences became.


    If he could absorb soul essences in such a ce, his attribute growth rate might multiply several times over!

 Chapter 65: Solo Action, Soul Crystal

    Although he didn''t know why the soul essence was so dense in that area.


    Jeremy guessed that it must be the location of the Tower of Exile. He believed that the Death Desert where he currently stood was on the outermost edge of the Land of Eternal Night.


    The closer one got to the edge of the Land of Eternal Night, the darker it became. Conversely, the nearer one got to the core, the brighter it was. This deduction came from his observations of light intensity and the information he had gathered from previous activities.


    Jeremy gazed intently towards the core of the Land of Eternal Night.


    Whether it was toplete the mission or to obtain more soul essence, he had to go and see for himself.


    Just then, Jeremy had caused quite amotion, and even now, white light points were still cascading down onto him from the sky. However, the other yers seemed unable to see these soul essences and showed no reaction.


    Jeremy was about to leave.


    Just then, a red-haired young man and a short-haired woman suddenly approached him.


    The red-haired young man, Marshall, had a cigarette dangling from his mouth. He nced at Jeremy briefly and then shook his head.


    "This kid is too young. Probably hasn''t even finished high school. Even if he has somebat ability, hecks experience and can''t be that strong." he thought.


    The short-haired woman, Agnes, didn''t mind these details. She introduced herself, "I''m Agnes, a level 23 assassin. This is Marshall, a level 21 berserker. We''re forming a team to break out of here. Do you want to join us?"


    Jeremy looked behind them


    Then saw that everyone else had already joined Agnes and Marshall''s team, leaving him as the only one not in a group.


    Jeremy didn''t hesitate and shook his head. "Thanks for the offer, but I n to go solo."


    With his strength, he didn''t need to team up with others. He could move faster alone.


    Besides, Jeremy doubted this team would make it out of the Death Desert.


    While Agnes and Marshall seemed capable, the otherscked the necessary strength and mindset. One wrong move, and they could drag the entire group into the abyss. Jeremy doesn''t want to clean up their messes after them.


    "Solo action?" Both Agnes and Marshall were taken aback by his response.


    Marshall''s voice turned cold. "Kid, are you insane? Do you know what solo action means here?"


    In an instance like this, going solo was practically a death sentence.


    Agnes frowned as well.


    The young man seemed tall and handsome, but apparently, he had a few screws loose.


    She said earnestly, "You might want to reconsider. This is no joke."


    Their intentions were clear, but to their dismay, Jeremy still shook his head.


    "Idiot!" Marshall sneered, turning away in disdain.


    Agnes could only sigh, "Good luck, then."


    "Same to you." Jeremy nodded slightly.


    He doesn''t have much of a grudge against the two. In a situation like this, someone who still thinks about taking others out must have good character.


    As Marshall and Agnes''s group gradually moved away.


    Jeremy refocused. He turned and headed towards the outskirts of the Death Desert.


    Despite his favorable impression of them, he had his own agenda and no time to worry about others'' survival.


    A blue glow enveloped Jeremy''s body as he activated Extreme Shadow Step, swiftly moving towards the edge of the Death Desert.


    At this point, his agility stat had surpassed 4000. When he moved at full speed, his figure was like a bolt of lightning, kicking up a massive dust cloud on the gray-white desert, resembling a sandstorm.


    Themotion immediately caught the attention of Marshall and Agnes''s group.


    When they saw Jeremy bulldozing through the terrain and disappearing in the blink of an eye, everyone was left dumbfounded.


    Marshall eximed in shock, "Damn, is this kid really that strong?"


    Agnes, standing beside him, said nothing but had the same look of astonishment in her eyes.


    Both were seasoned yers and could instantly see the disparity between themselves and Jeremy. This made it all the more unbelievable.


    Jeremy looked no older than seventeen or eighteen, yet his power was astonishing.


    Who exactly was this guy?


    They were filled with questions.


    Such a powerful individual couldn''t possibly be unknown, yet they couldn''t recall anyone of his age being so formidable.


    A female yer nearby seemed to have a sudden realization and her expression turned odd.


    After a moment of hesitation, she said, "Could he be, Jeremy?"


    Both Marshall and Agnes perked up, thinking of the same person.


    A young and powerful yer, the only one who fit that description was the top-ranked Jeremy.


    After a long silence, neither spoke.


    Marshall lit a cigarette and said self-mockingly, "No wonder he dares to act alone. I thought it was just youthful recklessness, but he actually has the capability."


    ...


    Meanwhile, as Jeremy ventured deeper into the Land of Eternal Night, the Death Desert was no longer a barren wastnd. The surrounding flora and fauna became more abundant, with poisonous insects and sand rats appearing every now and then.


    Jeremy slowed his pace after a short distance, finally setting his sights on a massive sand rat.


    [Desert Giant Rat (Elite)]


    [Level]: lv33


    [Attack]: 7537-7619


    [Defense]: 698


    [Skills]: Earth Spike, Gnaw, Sand Burrow...


    [Note]: A giant sand rat at the bottom of the Death Desert''s food chain. Killing it can yield a "Soul Crystal."


    "Soul Crystal? What''s that?" Jeremy wondered upon seeing the note.


    He had initially thought it might be an energy crystal, which was why he had stopped, but it seemed he was mistaken.


    He searched his memory but couldn''t find any information on Soul Crystals.


    Deciding not to dwell on it, he figured he would find out once he defeated the creature.


    "Squeak, squeak¡ª"


    The Desert Giant Rat had also spotted Jeremy and let out excited squeaks.


    Its short limbs suddenly pushed off the ground, propelling it towards Jeremy like a truck.


    Facing the charging Desert Giant Rat, Jeremy''s expression remained unchanged.


    He flipped his hand, and a white bone spear appeared.


    "Bonespear!"


    By then, the Desert Giant Rat had reached Jeremy.


    It opened its maw, lined with sharp fangs, aiming for Jeremy''s head.


    However, from Jeremy''s perspective, the rat''s speed seemed like slow motion.


    Mental attributes could enhance a yer''s reaction and cognitive abilities. Jeremy''s mental attributes had already reached over eight thousand, allowing his agile mind to perceive the creature''s movements as if in slow motion.


    "Boom!"


    The Desert Giant Ratnded with a thunderous crash, sending gray sand flying everywhere.


    Jeremy easily dodged its attack.


    Before it could make another move, his eyes turned cold. The spear in his hand glowed dark red, like a venomous snake, and swiftly plunged towards the rat''s head.


    Brain matter sttered everywhere.


    The Desert Giant Rat''s body stiffened instantly, unable to resist. Jeremy''s spear pierced right through its skull.


    [You have killed a level 33 Desert Giant Rat (Normal), gaining 14,763 experience points!]


    The kill notification appeared as the Desert Giant Rat copsed to the ground.


    Jeremy walked over and rummaged through its body, finally extracting a fingernail-sized, translucent white crystal from its stomach. It looked like a beautiful snowke.


    "So this is a Soul Crystal?" Jeremy examined the crystal for a while, but no item description appeared. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation.


    He frowned, and brilliant starlight appeared in his eyes.


    "The Eye of Omniscience, activate!"


    The next moment, The Eye of Omniscience provided an insight.


    [Hint: Soul Crystal, condensed from soul essence, a unique extraordinary material found in the Land of Eternal Night. Using it can increase the user''s soul power, but it can only be used by certain special entities.]


    Jeremy was initially surprised by the description. A crystal formed from soul essence was bound to contain immense soul power.


    However, as he read further, disappointment filled his eyes. If he couldn''t absorb it, the crystal was just a useless rock, no matter how powerful the soul energy within it might be.


    Jeremy was still a bit unwilling to give up.


    He tried to mobilize the power of gluttony, attempting to forcibly devour the soul crystal.


    However, in the next moment, Jeremy''s expression changed.


    He felt the soul crystal in his hand suddenly be unstable, and cracks began to appear on its surface. An incredibly violent force was about to erupt!


    Something went wrong!


    At the critical moment, Jeremy reacted quickly and threw the soul crystal away.


    "Boom!!!"


    A dazzling burst of soul energy erupted, and the deafening roar echoed through the sky.


    Jeremy was blown away by the immense force.


    More importantly, the energy not only attacked his body but also his consciousness.


    At that moment, even with his mental strength, Jeremy felt he was about to pass out.


    When the energy from the soul crystal dissipated, all that was left at the site of the explosion was a massive crater, dozens of meters wide.


    The surrounding sand and rocks were pulverized into dust by the terrifying energy, falling like snowkes from the sky.


    Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Jeremy couldn''t help but curse.


    "Why didn''t The Eye of Omniscience mention that this thing could explode?"

 Chapter 66: Desert Worms, Gluttony Enhancement

    "And the power was just too terrifying!" Jeremy shuddered at the thought.


    If it had exploded in his hand, he would likely have been obliterated by that monstrous force.


    He could hardly imagine what could possibly absorb such energy.


    Once he calmed himself, Jeremy continued his journey out of the Death Desert.


    Along the way, he collected several more soul crystals.


    Learning from his earlier mistake, he refrained from absorbing their power this time.


    However, he still collected all these soul crystals. Even if he couldn''t absorb them, using them as bombs wouldn''t be a bad idea.


    As Jeremy pressed forward, he noticed that the closer he got to the edge of the Death Desert, the stronger and more numerous the monsters became. The sky gradually brightened, mirroring his progress.


    Jeremy could clearly feel that the soul essence around him had increased significantlypared to before, and the rate at which his attributes were growing had also elerated. This confirmed that his earlier assumptions were correct.


    With this rapid rate of leveling up, Jeremy''s experience points soared.


    Before long, he received a notification of his level-up.


    [Your level has increased to 34. You have gained 40 free attribute points!]


    [You have received ss-specific attributes: Strength +50, Spirit +50, Stamina +25, Agility +25!]


    Additionally, Jeremy encountered quite a few yers along the way, and he even saved a few in passing.


    Many of them were left utterly astonished by his overwhelming and aggressive tactics as he bulldozed through obstacles.


    "Holy crap, did he just one-shot a level 30 elite monster? Did I see that right?" one stammered in disbelief.


    Another, mouth agape, added, "Who is this guy? He''s insane!"


    The Death Desert was a map designated for levels 30-50. Many yers in their twenties, even when grouped together, couldn''t advance as quickly as Jeremy did. This led many yers to start questioning their own abilities.


    Soon, a sense of curiosity arose in their hearts.


    Who exactly is this person?


    Jeremy''s identity was not hard to uncover; many had already investigated him.


    Soon, word of his exploits in the Death Desert reached other yers.


    When Martita, Faas, Nancy, and others heard the news, they clenched their fists in excitement.


    Although they mysteriouslypleted their second ss change after entering the instance, this didn''t mean the matter was simply forgotten.


    Now, the fact that they were swindled out of their energy crystals by a con artist named Ritchie had be a hot topic among yers, marking a stain in their lives.


    While the loss of the energy crystals was trivial, the disgrace was not. They med Jeremy for their embarrassment, as it was his fault they were in that situation.


    They even nned to team up and give Jeremy a good beating at the Exiled Tower to vent their frustration.


    At this moment, Jeremy had no idea that he was already being targeted.


    Across the ashen-grey Death Desert, a figure was speeding along with lightning speed.


    Behind him, countless monsters were in mad pursuit, forming a dark, ominous mass. As they galloped, they kicked up clouds of dust, creating a terrifying spectacle.


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!!!"


    These monsters asionally let out angry roars, and some of the faster, high-level ones could even keep up with Jeremy''s speed.


    Jeremy didn''t show any mercy towards the monsters that came rushing towards him. He danced his spear tightly, and some of the prey who wanted to surround him were often pierced through the head by the tip of the spear before they had a chance to attack.


    Jeremy navigated the chase with ease.


    He was used to it.


    While others preferred to fight monsters one by one, Jeremy always liked to tackle them in groups.


    ncing back at the relentless horde, Jeremy decided it was time.


    He retrieved a soul crystal, replicating the earlier technique to make the energy inside it extremely vtile, then threw it into the midst of the monsters.


    "Boom!!!"


    The deafening explosion rang out once again in the Desert of Death. The desert was filled with towering sand, as if a bomb had been thrown into a calmke.


    Just in the blink of an eye, the dazzling white light devoured all the monsters, and the terrifying energy directly shattered a group of monsters.


    [You have in a Level 37 Desert Sand Wolf (Normal), gaining 15,771 experience points!]


    [You have in a Level 40 Red-Tailed Scorpion (Normal), gaining 22,735 experience points!]


    [You have in a Level 42 Desert Worm (Elite), gaining 93,000 experience points!]


    ...


    A series of kill notifications appeared, and Jeremy''s experience points skyrocketed at a terrifying rate.


    Before long, a golden light signifying a level-up enveloped him, raising his level to 35.


    [Your level has increased to 35. You have gained 40 free attribute points!]


    [You have received ss-specific attributes: Strength +50, Spirit +50, Stamina +25, Agility +25!]


    Jeremy stopped, turned back, and began picking up the equipment dropped by the monsters with practiced ease.


    It was clear he had used this tactic before.


    The soul crystals had indeed saved him a lot of time.


    After gathering all the loot, Jeremy looked up at the sky, noting that the horizon was already tinged with the pale light of dawn.


    He was close to the edge of the Death Desert,just a bit more effort and he would be out.


    At that moment, Jeremy''s brows furrowed, and his eyes glowed with a silver light. His figure instantly vanished from where he stood.


    "Teleport!"


    As Jeremy''s figure disappeared, the sand beneath him exploded!


    "Boom!"


    A massive, tooth-ridden maw burst from the ground, snapping at the spot where Jeremy had just been. Unfortunately for the creature, Jeremy had already teleported to another location.


    Jeremy''s eyes turned cold as he looked at the monster before him.


    It was a desert worm towering over ten meters high. Its skin was covered in wrinkles, and it had a terrifying maw filled with rows upon rows of sharp, backward-facing barbs.


    The creature was currently chewing on sand, its numerous barbs moving rhythmically, making one''s scalp tingle just to watch.


    [Desert Worm (Lord)


    [Level]: lv41


    [Attack]: 233,000 - 241,000


    [Defense]: 35,891


    [Skills]: Stealth, Devour, Acid, Sonic Wave...


    [Note]: Extremely powerful, high defense, weak point in its internal organs. Killing it will guarantee 1 Tier-7 Energy Crystal.]


    ...


    "Tier 7 Energy Crystal?" Jeremy squinted at the notification before him.


    This was the second Tier 7 Energy Crystal he had encountered,he had been reluctant to use the other one.


    A single Tier 7 Energy Crystal could elevate a super skill to level 5, an irresistible temptation for Jeremy.


    "Screech¡ª"


    At this moment, the Desert Worm, after hours of burrowing, finally reacted.


    It spat out the dirt from its mouth, nced around, and then emitted a sharp, ear-piercing roar in Jeremy''s direction.


    "Soundwave!"


    The deafening soundwave rippled through the Death Desert, distorting the very air.


    Unfortunately for the Desert Worm, Jeremy''s Soul Ne shield was highly effective against such attacks.


    The soundwave struck the shield, causing only minor ripples.


    With an unwavering expression, Jeremy suddenly summoned a skeletal staff.


    His eyes gleamed with a golden light.


    "Sword of Judgment!"


    Golden light coalesced into a magnificent giant sword, dozens of meters long, appearing above the Desert Worm''s head.


    The creature stiffened and slowly looked up.


    The Sword of Judgment descended with unstoppable force!


    "Boom!!"


    The golden sword pierced the ground, green blood sttering everywhere!


    The colossal body of the Desert Worm was cleaved in two by the Sword of Judgment.


    Killing it instantly.


    [You have in a level 40 Desert Worm (Lord), gaining 373,000 experience points!]


    Jeremy stepped forward, collecting the loot and energy crystal dropped by the monster.


    [Item]: Desert Worm''s Inner Lining


    [Type]: Material


    [Grade]: Diamond


    [Quality]: Purple (Rare)


    [Description]: Can be used to craft special anti-poison potions, granting yers high immunity to toxins.


    ...


    Jeremy nced at the item before storing it away.


    Extraordinary materials weren''t of much use to him at the moment, especially without high-level alchemists or cksmiths.


    The Tyrant''s Heart he had obtained was still sitting unused in his storage space.


    Jeremy then turned his attention to the Tier 7 Energy Crystal and used it immediately.


    This time, he didn''t choose to upgrade "Uwful Being" but decided to enhance "Gluttony" instead.


    "Uwful Being"was already at level 10, and upgrading it further would require exponentially more resources.


    "Gluttony," on the other hand, was crucial for his current power enhancement and needed its level raised.


    [Ding! You have used a Tier 7 Energy Crystal. The skill "Seven Sins ¨C Gluttony" has been upgraded to level 10!]


    Jeremy opened his status panel and noticed changes in the "Gluttony" skill.


    [Skill]: Seven Sins ¨C Gluttony


    [Level]: lv10


    [Tier]: Super


    [Type]: Functional (Active)


    [Description]: Upon ying the monster, the yer will consume its soul essence. This will randomly grant the yer certain attributes. Additionally, the yer can choose to actively devour a target, with a chance to acquire one of its traits. This ability has a cooldown period of 24 hours.

 Chapter 67: Keans Revenge, Entering the Sunrise Mountains

    After reaching level 10 with the "Gluttony" skill, an active devouring effect was unlocked.


    If Jeremy actively devours an enemy, there''s a chance he will acquire a certain trait from them.


    Moreover, Jeremy could clearly feel that his rate of absorbing soul essence had increased significantly.


    At his current absorption rate, he could enhance his mental attributes by at least 300 points per day!


    If others knew about this, their jaws would drop.


    Because this is almost equivalent to a piece of tinum-grade equipment of blue quality!


    In other words, staying here for a day was like obtaining a piece of tinum-grade equipment.


    And this enhancement continued to increase as he got closer to the core of the Land of Death!


    Jeremy closed the interface and gazed into the distance.


    The sky was dimly lit, and through the edge of the Death Desert, a vast, majestic mountain range could be faintly seen.


    Rays of light emanated from behind the mountains, making it seem like another worldpared to the darkness of the Death Desert.


    As Jeremy looked towards the mountains, a notification from The Eye of Omniscience appeared before him.


    [Note: Sunrise Mountains, Rmended Level: 40-60!]


    There was still some distance to the Sunrise Mountains.


    Jeremy didn''t waste any time and quickened his pace.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the Imperial Capital Presidential Pce.


    The meeting room was considerably more crowded than before.


    Not only had the heads of major departments arrived, but even the military marshal, Daniel, was present.


    Matters concerning the lives of one billion people were at stake, and everyone''s expressions were extremely solemn.


    At this moment, everyone was watching the messages being ryed back from those who had entered the Land of Eternal Night.


    As each piece of information was projected onto the screen, the faces of Edgar and the others grew increasingly grave.


    The environment in the instance was extremely harsh. Out of the one thousand federal official yers, at least three hundred had lost contact within 24 hours of entering the instance.


    It''s important to note that these were not ordinary yers but elite members of the Federation who had undergone rigorous training and selection.


    It hadn''t been long, yet a third of them were already dead.


    Despite their worst-case scenario nning, the difficulty of the instance exceeded their expectations.


    Zachary set down the organized information and sighed, "It''s only the first day of the event, and so many have already died. I''m afraid normal yers won''tst 10 days."


    Zachary was Benjamin''s sibling from the same mother. He was not only the head of the White Family but also the Director of the Intelligence Bureau.


    Marshal Daniel, who was standing nearby, frowned and said, "The main reason for such severe casualties is that the monster levels in the Land of Deathare too high. The lowest level is 20, and in some areas, monsters reach level 50. This is beyond what ordinary yers can handle."


    The expressions on everyone''s faces were heavy.


    The average yer level was still below 20. Aside from some higher-level yers, it was nearly impossible for ordinary yers to survive against these monsters.


    Daniel sighed, "We can only hope that someone among them clears the instance soon. Otherwise, many people will likely be trapped there forever."


    Even as he said this, everyone knew in their hearts that the chances were very slim.


    Surviving in the Death Desert is already a challenge, let alone venturing into the core of the Land of Death and clearing the Tower of Exile.


    For a moment, the meeting room fell silent, and a heavy weight seemed to press down on everyone''s hearts.


    Just then, new information was transmitted from the instance.


    [Jeremy has passed through the Death Desert and reached level 35!]


    This brief message sent a shockwave through everyone in the room!


    Excitement spread across their faces.


    Jeremy had actually made it through the Death Desert?!


    Someone eximed, "Good boy, we didn''t misjudge him. He crossed the Death Desert so quickly!"


    Edgar, ted, added, "If he can maintain this pace, he might actually have a chance to clear it within 10 days."


    Hope ignited in everyone''s hearts.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the Lannisters'' mansion in the Imperial Capital, Kean also received news about Jeremy.


    "Damn it!" He gripped his teacup tightly, his expression turning incredibly grim.


    If Jeremy hadn''t seized the divine artifact from him, he wouldn''t have such terrifying power.


    Originally, Kean had ns to reim the divine artifact from Jeremy.


    Now that Jeremy had entered the Land of Eternal Night, even if Kean wanted to make a move, he couldn''t.


    This left Kean feeling extremely frustrated.


    The exquisite teacup in his hand shattered.


    Kean''s eyes were filled with murderous intent, his expression icy as he muttered, "You think entering the instance means I can''t get to you?"


    Immediately, Kean called for his butler, Farmer, and ordered, "Find out if Jeremy has any family or friends in the Moonlight City. Locate them!"


    ...


    In the Land of Death, as Jeremy quickened his pace, he drew closer to the Sunrise Mountains.


    A swift figure darted across the Death Desert.


    The surrounding monsters didn''t even have time to react before the figure had already left them far behind.


    The Sunrise Mountains, although appearing close, were actually quite distant.


    Even at Jeremy''s full speed, it took him several hours to reach them.


    As he approached the Sunrise Mountains, Jeremy finally realized their immense scale.


    The vast, majestic mountain range stood tall in the desert, resembling a colossal beast ready to devour anyone, blocking all sunlight outside its bounds.


    Within the mountains, lush trees soared into the sky, asionally punctuated by the roars of beasts from the forest.


    The dim forest seemed like a gaping maw of the abyss, instilling fear in the hearts of onlookers.


    When Jeremy reached the foot of the Sunrise Mountains, he sensed a noticeable increase in his soul essence absorption rate, gaining more mental attributes than before.


    Gazing at the dark forest ahead, Jeremy drew out his Bone spear and, without hesitation, stepped inside.


    Upon entering the mountains, the howling wind vanished instantly.


    The entire forest was eerily silent and incredibly dark, resembling the night, with only vague outlines of trees and rocks visible.


    Jeremy raised his eyes to survey his surroundings.


    The Sunrise Mountains were a level 40-60 instance, with some monsters that even he couldn''t easily handle, requiring utmost vignce.


    As he walked through the shadowy forest, Jeremy could feel his presence attracting the attention of several monsters.


    Their crimson eyes, filled with hunger and greed, slowly approached him.


    Jeremy''s expression remained unchanged, as if he waspletely unaware.


    Sensing no immediate danger from Jeremy, some of the monsters started to get restless.


    "Swish!"


    Before Jeremy had walked much further, he suddenly felt a malicious wind at his back.


    A massive ck python, over ten meters long, descended from the trees like a lightning bolt, its gaping maw aiming for Jeremy''s neck!


    "Can''t wait for it?" Jeremy sneered. As the ck python lunged at him, his spear emitted a dark red glow, and a violent aura burst forth.


    " Disaster de!"


    Facing the ambush from behind, Jeremy shifted slightly, twirling his spear and thrusting with tremendous force.


    The Bone spear cut a cold, white arc through the darkness, striking the ck python behind him.


    " Poof!"


    Foul-smelling blood sprayed everywhere!


    Jeremy stood tall, his spear impaling the terrifying ck python!


    The massive snake, over ten meters long, had been killed instantly by Jeremy''s single strike through its head!


    [You have in level 43 "ck-Scaled Python" and gained 32,849 experience points!]


    Jeremy flicked his spear, sending the python''s corpse flying into the darkness.


    "Boom!"


    In the silent forest, a deafening crash echoed as a massive tree was instantly shattered.


    Amidst the flying wood chips, a three-eyed ck panther, poised for an ambush, was revealed behind the fallen tree.


    It hadn''t anticipated Jeremy''s sudden strike and, caughtpletely off guard, was sent flying by the tremendous force.


    [Three-Eyed ck Panther (Elite)]


    [Level]: LV45


    [Attack]: 113,000 - 118,000


    [Defense]: 12,736


    [Skills]: Assassination, Stealth, Steel de...


    [Note]: High speed, low defense, excels in stealth attacks. Weak point is the eyes. Killing it will yield a piece of diamond-grade equipment.


    "Roar!"


    The three-eyed ck panther got up and roared angrily at Jeremy.


    Baring its cold, sharp teeth, it charged at Jeremy with powerful strides.


    Jeremy remained calm as the panther rushed toward him.


    With a thought, a skeletal staffappeared in his other hand.


    The next moment, a torrent of fiery serpents roared toward the ck panther!


    "Boom!"


    A thunderous explosion echoed through the forest.


    In an instant, the ferocious dark red mes engulfed the three-eyed ck panther.


    "Roar!!!"


    The three-eyed ck panther let out a piercing wail, but no matter how much it thrashed about, the mes of Sin clung to it like an unshakable curse, relentlessly scorching its body.


    [You have in level 45 "ck-Scaled Python" and gained 88,000 experience points!]


    The smell of burnt flesh filled the forest.


    At the same time, a golden light of leveling up enveloped Jeremy, raising him to level 36.


    [You have reached level 36 and gained 40 free attribute points!]


    [You have gained fixed ss attributes: Strength +50, Spirit +50, Stamina +25, Agility +25!]

 Chapter 68: Sinner, You Should Just Die

    Amidst a sea of dark red mes, Jeremy stepped forward and picked up the fallen equipment.


    [Equipment]: Shadow Belt


    [Type]: Armor


    [Level]: Diamond


    [Quality]: Blue (Common)


    [Attributes]: Constitution +180, Agility +180


    [Skill]: Assassinate (Passive)


    [Description]: When ambushing an enemy, your damage increases by 10%.


    The belt''s attributes were fairly ordinary but significantly better than the golden belt Jeremy was currently using.


    He immediately swapped it out, boosting his Constitution and Agility by 180 points each.


    ncing at his status panel, Jeremy allocated all his free attribute points to Spirit, pushing his Spirit attribute past the 9000 mark.


    Magic attacks were Jeremy''s strongest offensive means at the moment, far surpassing his melee attacks.


    Given this, he naturally wanted to stack as much Spirit as possible.


    Then, Jeremy turned his head to look into the darkness.


    Pairs of blood-red, violent eyes were fixed on him and the corpse of the three-eyed ck panther. Jeremy gave them only a fleeting nce before looking away.


    Gathering strength in his legs, he leaped onto a giant tree and agilely moved deeper into the Sunrise Mountains.


    Themotion he had caused had attracted many monsters, making it dangerous to linger. Otherwise, he could easily find himself surrounded.


    Farming monsters here wasn''t his goal, so there was no need to waste time.


    Soon, Jeremy had left the pack of monsters far behind.


    However, after traveling for a while, Jeremy sensed something was amiss.


    Shortly after entering the forest, he had felt as though something was watching him.


    Initially, he thought it was the monsters.


    But even after shaking them off, he still felt that creeping sense of being watched.


    And as he ventured deeper into the mountains, the feeling of being watched grew stronger.


    But whenever he looked around, all he saw was darkness¡ªhe couldn''t make out anything in his surroundings.


    "What is it?" Jeremy frowned.


    With his current level of Spirit, this feeling was unlikely to be wrong.


    He knew there must be something around him.


    Without stopping, he focused his senses.


    asional rustling sounds from the leaves could be heard, but nothing else.


    "Too quiet!" Jeremy frowned, sensing something was off.


    Even if nocturnal monsters preferred silence, there should at least be the sounds of insects and birds.


    At that moment, the feeling of being watched returned.


    Jeremy nced in that direction without revealing any signs of suspicion, but he saw nothing.


    This time, instead of looking away, he activated The Eye of Omniscience.


    A glimmer of starlight shed in Jeremy''s eyes.


    The next moment, a prompt from The Eye of Omniscience appeared before him.


    [Note: You are being watched by four sinners from the Land of Eternal Night. They are wary of your strength and have not made a move, but these sinners will not let you go easily.]


    "Sinners?" Jeremy''s eyes flickered with a hint of intrigue.


    No wonder they could evade his detection¡ªit turned out to be humans.


    Jeremy didn''t rush to take action.


    His expression remained unchanged as he continued walking, as if he hadn''t noticed anything.


    Meanwhile, not far from Jeremy, four creatures with animal heads and human bodies weremunicating silently.


    A young man with a snake''s head and human body spoke gravely, "Boss, should we give up? I sense a very dangerous auraing from him. He might be tough to deal with."


    A young man with a wolf''s head and human body also frowned and said, "That''s right. That three-eyed ck panther wasn''t weak, yet he killed it easily. This guy is clearly not an ordinary yer."


    A burly man with a bear''s head and human body scoffed, "You two are getting more cowardly as time goes on. He''s just a yer. How strong can he be?"


    The leader, a man with a tiger''s head and human body, said in a deep voice, "Don''t forget why we''re here. Since this yer is so strong, he''s definitely worth a lot of points. Right now, the highest level among them is probably only around 40. With our strength, dealing with him is easy. If we wait until their levels are higher, we won''t have such a good opportunity to kill these yers."


    Hearing this, the snake-man and wolf-man fell silent.


    These four sinners were here to ambush yers.


    They were former yers who had failed to clear the Land of Eternal Night and were now stuck here.


    This wasn''t unique to this ce, Death Desert and other areas also had many sinners.


    They riskeding to the Sunrise Mountains to kill yers and gather points.


    If they amassed 9999 points, they could leave the Land of Eternal Night.


    If they gave up now, their trip to the Sunrise Mountains would be meaningless.


    This might be their only chance to leave the Land of Eternal Night.


    Who knew when the next group of yers would arrive?


    The snake-man and wolf-man exchanged determined nces.


    The snake-man immediately said, "I''ll control himter. You all attack together and take him out quickly. Don''t let him throw out that me again."


    The others nodded, ready to strike.


    However, when they looked back at Jeremy, they were stunned.


    "Where did he go?" they wondered, bewildered.


    In the dark forest, Jeremy''s figure had vanished without a trace.


    While they searched frantically.


    Acold voice suddenly echoed in their ears.


    "Are you looking for me?" Jeremy stood on a tree branch, looking down at them with a cold gaze.


    Hearing Jeremy''s voice, the four sinners froze and quickly looked up at him.


    "When did he get there?" they thought, shocked.


    However, they quicklyposed themselves. With their strength, Jeremy posed no threat to them.


    "You''re courting death!" The bear-man''s initial surprise turned into a sinister grin.


    He pulled out a massive axe and sneered, "We didn''t even have toe to you. You came to us. I don''t know if I should call you brave or foolish."


    At that moment, the other three sinners snapped out of their shock and drew their weapons.


    The tiger-headed leader''s face lit up with excitement, as if Jeremy had already be their points.


    Jeremy didn''t say a word. He merely nced at them.


    In the next instant, a ck gale suddenly appeared behind him.


    "Wind of Cmity!"


    With a sweep of his staff, the ck gale enveloped all four sinners in an instant.


    Agonizing screams echoed through the forest.


    The bodies of the four sinners began to wither at a visible pace.


    In the blink of an eye, the Wind of Cmity had drained a significant portion of their vitality.


    Seizing the moment, Jeremy leaped down from the treetop, his spear aimed straight at the tiger-headed leader.


    The tiger-man''s face filled with terror as a metallic sheen covered his body. He extended his ws in an attempt to block the attack.


    In the next moment, Jeremy''s eyes burst with a dazzling golden light.


    "Ray of Pursuit!"


    The spear in his hand turned golden, its speed increasing dramatically.


    The bone spear became a streak of golden lightning, piercing through the tiger-man''s arms and striking his forehead with pinpoint uracy.


    "Poof!"


    Brain matter sttered as the tiger-man''s head was impaled.


    Jeremy swiftly withdrew his spear and, with a flick of his arm, hurled it towards the snake-man.


    The snake-man''s pupils contracted as he felt a fierce wind approaching.


    Without hesitation, he retracted his head into his body.


    The bear-man beside him had his head shattered by Jeremy''s spear, blood and brain matter sttering everywhere.


    The bear-man''s massive frame remained rigid in ce, but his head was nowhere to be seen.


    One-hit kill!


    The sheer power left everyone breathless.


    "How is this possible!" The wolf-man was stunned beyond words.


    He had been a yer before and knew that at Jeremy''s level, such terrifying strength shouldn''t be possible.


    But Jeremy had no intention of letting the snake-man go.


    mes of Sin ignited in his hand, and he hurled them at the snake-man.


    Piercing screams echoed through the Sunrise Mountains.


    In just a few moments, three of the four sinners were dead, leaving only the wolf-man.


    "Monster!" The wolf-man shouted, his eyes filled with unbridled terror, his body trembling.


    He had sensed something different about this yer earlier.


    He never imagined Jeremy''s strength would be this overwhelming.


    Given their levels, they were all at least level 45 yers.


    Yet three of them had been instantly killed by Jeremy, leaving him in utter despair.


    Jeremy twirled his spear, flicking off the blood, and looked calmly at the wolf-man.


    Without thinking, the wolf-man dropped to his knees, pleading, "Don''t kill me! I''ve been in the Land of Eternal Night for a long time. I know many things. I can tell you everything!"


    Jeremy seemed genuinely interested.


    He put away his spear and nodded slightly. "Go on. If what you say is useful, I might spare your life."


    The wolf-man breathed a long sigh of relief but feared Jeremy might go back on his word.


    Bracing himself, he said, "You have to promise to let me go once I tell you everything."


    Jeremy''s eyes lowered. "I''ve suddenly lost interest. You should just die."


    With that, he raised his spear.


    The wolf-man was dumbfounded.


    Damn, why was this person not following the usual pattern? Even if he wasto lie to me, it would be fine!

 Chapter 69: Crossing the Mountains, the Talking Hippo

    Seeing that Jeremy was about to make a move, the wolf-man quickly interjected, "Wait, wait, I''ll talk! I''ll talk!"


    Jeremy shrugged, squinting with a smile, "That''s more like it. Spill it, and I might spare you. Otherwise, you''ll be monster fodder here."


    The wolf-man wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, knowing Jeremy wasn''t someone easily fooled. He didn''t dare hesitate and promptly revealed everything he knew.


    Jeremy learned about their identities.


    It turned out that the apocalypse game wasn''t being held for the first time. The sinners of the Land of Eternal Night were former yers who had been stranded there.


    They ambushed other yers because they wanted a way out.


    "Making old yers kill new ones¡ªthis game designer sure has a twisted sense of humor." Jeremy''s eyes flickered as he asked the wolf-man, "Anything else?"


    The wolf-man thought for a moment and said, "It''s no big secret. The manager of the Land of Eternal Night is one of the game designers, known as the Sun. The glowing orb atop the Tower of Exile is his true form, and he''s the one who designed this event."


    He paused, then added bitterly, "Also, just so you know, no one has everpleted this event in all these years. Every yer who enters the Land of Eternal Night is doomed never to leave!"


    Jeremy''s heart skipped a beat at this revtion.


    The manager of the Land of Eternal Night is the Sun?


    And once you enter, you can never leave?


    This was something he hadn''t anticipated.


    Although Jeremy had suspected that this ce could be very dangerous, he didn''t expect a designer to be guarding it.


    As for how he would get out, Jeremy wasn''t overly concerned.


    With the abilities of The Eye of Omniscience and the sphemer, it was just a matter of time.


    However, he wouldn''t take the wolf-man''s word at face value.


    After all, the wolf-man could have fabricated this story to save his life.


    Jeremy would need to verify it himselfter.


    "That''s all you''ve got? That''s not worth your life." Jeremy said, his expression unchanging, while pondering if he could extract more information.


    The wolf-man was at his wit''s end. After a long pause, he hesitated and said, "I don''t know much more, but I did hear something from a madman who has been around for centuries. He said the Sun is a liar and never intended for yers to clear the Land of Eternal Night."


    A look of fear crossed the wolf-man''s eyes as he continued, "And he said it''s not that no one has ever reached the top of the tower. It''s that everyone who did was eaten by the Sun!"


    "The Sun ate everyone who reached the top?" Jeremy frowned. This information came from a mad old man, and even the wolf-man couldn''t guarantee its uracy, making it even harder for Jeremy to discern.


    Noticing Jeremy''s dissatisfaction.


    The wolf-man urgently added, "I can''t vouch for the truth of this information. But that old madman is in the City of Eternal Night. He knows more. If you have any questions, you can ask him."


    The wolf-man looked at Jeremy pleadingly, "I''ve told you everything I know. Can you let me go now?"


    Jeremy nced at him and then put away his spear, saying calmly, "Leave your belongings and get lost. I''m in a good mood today. If I see you again, you might not be so lucky."


    "Thank you, thank you!" The wolf-man, feeling like he''d been granted a reprieve, hurriedly took everything from his storage space and handed it all to Jeremy before running off into the forest without looking back.


    Jeremy watched him go but didn''t strike him down.


    He collected the items from the other sinners and then turned, heading deeper into the Sunrise Mountains.


    Jeremy wouldn''t trust the wolf-man based on a couple of sentences.


    He had his own ways to verify the information.


    First, he needed to cross the Sunrise Mountains and reach the summit.


    In the dim forest.


    Jeremy''s figure moved swiftly among the trees, heading towards the mountain peak.


    As he delved deeper into the Sunrise Mountains, the level and number of monsters increased rapidly.


    By a waterfall, he even saw two level-60 lord-tier white tigers.


    Their bodies crackled with lightning, exuding an incredibly terrifying aura. Within dozens of miles, there were no other creatures¡ªthese tigers were clearly the overlords of this area.


    Jeremy didn''t want to waste time on such high-level monsters that he couldn''t easily defeat.


    He suppressed his aura, used his stealth skills, and silently passed through their territory.


    He encountered a few more high-level monsters, but with the guidance of The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy easily evaded their detection and continued his way up the mountain.


    The Sunrise Mountains were muchrger than he had anticipated. Dense forests and continuous mountain ranges filled the area, with towering peaks that even blocked out the sunlight.


    In this vastndscape, Jeremy felt like an ant, climbing bit by bit towards the highest peak.


    Time flew by, and Jeremy had no idea how long he had been traversing the Sunrise Mountains.


    He only noticed that the surrounding light was getting brighter, and the soul essences were bing more abundant. Unbeknownst to him, his level had already risen to 39.


    He finally stopped when he neared the summit of the Sunrise Mountains.


    At the same time, bright points of light from the sky continuously merged into Jeremy''s forehead, significantly elerating the growth of his mental attributes.


    [Note: You have absorbed soul essence, gaining 3 points in mental attributes!]


    Jeremy nced at the notification, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.


    At this rate, it wouldn''t be long before his mental attributes surpassed 10,000 points, and his strength would undoubtedly take another leap forward!


    As he got closer to the summit, the surrounding light grew even brighter.


    Jeremy looked up to see golden rays of light emanating from behind the peak, making it seem like a celestial paradise.


    Unfortunately, all the light was blocked by the peak, and he couldn''t see beyond it.


    Taking a deep breath, Jeremy continued his ascent toward the summit.


    At the moment he stepped onto the mountain peak, the dazzling glow of the sunset filled his eyes, causing Jeremy, who had been ustomed to the darkness, to instinctively close his eyes.


    Once he adjusted to the light and reopened his eyes.


    The first thing he saw was a vast, clear blue sky.


    A gentle breeze rustled through, making the clouds driftzily across the sky.


    Below his feety a dense forest.


    In the distance, he spotted an expansive green in with what appeared to be small towns scattered across it.


    Farther away stood the ck tower he had seen in the event''s images!


    The Tower of Exile!


    On the boundless continent, the ck tower stood upright like a sharp sword piercing the sky. Its ck body extended through the clouds, making the top invisible at a nce.


    Jeremy looked up, following the tower''s body all the way to the top.


    Finally, at the summit of the Tower of Exile, he saw a zing sun.


    The golden sun hung high atop the tower, radiating dazzling and blinding light that dispelled the endless darkness while scorching the barrennd below.


    At the same moment Jeremy saw the sun, a notification from The Eye of Omniscience appeared before him.


    [Note: Overseer of the Land of Eternal Night¡ªThe Sun!]


    The moment he saw the notification, Jeremy''s fist clenched tightly.


    The wolf-man had been telling the truth!


    The game designer was indeed here!


    Quickly, Jeremy averted his gaze to avoid the Sun from detecting his sphemer''s scrutiny.


    Dying once more was not an option, as he didn''t have any revival coins left.


    Simultaneously, a sense of heaviness settled in Jeremy''s heart.


    If no one could ever leave the Land of Eternal Night, then what was the point of this event?


    Was it simply to trap them here?


    Jeremy couldn''t believe that such powerful beings would engage in something meaningless.


    He furrowed his brow in thought, recalling the massive golden w he had seen in the Void Realm. The terrifying sounds of chewing seemed to echo in his ears again.


    Could the purpose of the Apocalypse Game be to provide food for that monster?


    As this thought crossed Jeremy''s mind, he looked up at the sun hovering in the sky, feeling as if it was a giant mawughing menacingly at him.


    Jeremy shook his head slightly.


    He didn''t know what the game designers were nning, and even if he did, it wasn''t something he could stop.


    For now, the most important thing was to increase his own strength.


    Power was the only fundamental truth.


    Pulling his thoughts back, Jeremy gazed at the distant ins, noticing many monsters roaming around.


    [Note: Sunset ins, rmended level: 50-70!]


    Jeremy was currently only at level 38. To level up efficiently in the Sunset ins, he needed to reach at least level 40. Otherwise, the grinding would be painfully slow.


    Fortunately, the monsters in the Sunrise Mountains weren''t too high-level, making it the perfect ce for him to level up.


    With a powerful push off the ground, Jeremy''s body soared like a bird, descending rapidly towards the forest below.


    Just before he hit the ground, the Celestial Ring on his hand glowed with a silver light, and a pair of white wings appeared behind him, cushioning his fall. Hended gracefully on the ground.


    Jeremy surveyed his surroundings and noticed a nearbyke shimmering with crystal-clear light under the sun.


    He stood by theke, surrounded by towering trees.


    Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.


    After Jeremynded, a hippo bathing in theke noticed his presence.


    Instead of attacking him, the hippo gave Jeremy a once-over.


    With a hint of surprise, it asked, "Are you a yer from the Death Desert?"


    Jeremy was taken aback by the question. A talking hippo?

 Chapter 70: Sinner Heber

    The moment Jeremy saw the hippo, he activated The Eye of Omniscience.


    In the next second, a prompt from The Eye of Omniscience appeared before Jeremy''s eyes.


    [Note: Sinner Heber, mild-mannered and fond of trading, is a seasoned gem merchant with a particr affection for gems that emit a magnificent glow.]


    A sharp glint shed in Jeremy''s eyes. "Sinner!"


    Without hesitation, Jeremy drew the Bone Spear from his storage space, his face filled with cautious vignce as he confronted the peculiar hippo.


    Seeing this, the hippo hurriedly waved its hands repeatedly, trying its best to appear harmless and innocent. With a smile, it said, "Don''t be afraid, young man. I''m just a wandering merchant with no ill intentions."


    As if to prove its sincerity, the Sinner named Heber somehow produced a Tier-2 energy crystal and tossed it to Jeremy from a distance.


    With a cheerful tone, Heber said, "Young man, this is a gift for our first meeting. Please ept it."


    The Tier-2 energy crystal traced a parabolic arc as it flew toward Jeremy.


    With a casual wave of his hand, Jeremy effortlessly caught the crystal.


    He activated The Eye of Omniscience once more, and finding no abnormalities, he let his guard down slightly.


    Observing the intense aura emanating from Jeremy, Heber couldn''t help but admire him inwardly. "This young man is extraordinary! If only I could recruit him into my trading caravan."


    Don''t be mistaken into thinking that Death Desert is not terrifying just because Jeremy crossed it so quickly.


    In reality, many Sinners at levels forty and fifty have met their end in Death Desert.


    For Jeremy, whose level was clearly below forty, to traverse Death Desert unscathed was no simple feat.


    Heber nodded to himself, his desire to recruit Jeremy growing stronger with each passing moment.


    Seeing that Jeremy remained at a cautious distance, not showing any intention ofing closer, Heber understood that Jeremy had likely encountered other Sinners before.


    Maintaining his pleasant smile, Heber said, "Don''t misunderstand, young man. Not all Sinners are out to hunt yers. Many of us just want to lead a peaceful and stable life."


    "Allow me to introduce myself. I am a wandering merchant, Heber. If you have any shiny little treasures, please do sell them to me."


    Jeremy swiftly stored the Bone Spear back into his storage space, showing no intention of talking to Heber, and turned to leave.


    Since Heber didn''t harbor any ill intentions toward him, Jeremy naturally saw no reason to take action.


    However, while Jeremy had no interest in engaging with Heber, Heber was determined to recruit Jeremy into his caravan.


    As Jeremy turned to leave, Heber grew anxious. "Young man, don''t go."


    Jeremy paused mid-turn, looked back, and asked, "What do you want?"


    Rubbing his hands together, Heber smiled and said, "Young man, are you interested in joining my trading caravan? "


    "The benefits are excellent, and we offer weekends off."


    Jeremy''s eye twitched twice, he hadn''t expected to be offered a job in this destend.


    He simply replied, "Not interested," and walked away without looking back.


    Unwilling to give up on such a promising talent, Heber started following him.


    Keeping a respectful distance, Heber continued to chatter persistently.


    "Young man, you probably don''t know this, but this so-called Lightless Land is nothing but an borate scam." Heber said.


    "It''s a total scam to say that reaching the top of the tower will let you out."


    "We Sinners are not all from the same batch of yers. The first batch reportedly died of old age long ago."


    "I am from the seventh batch, and you guys are the ninth."


    "Each batch consists of a hundred million yers. Out of eight hundred million, not a single yer has seeded. You guys won''t be the exception either."


    "You''d be better off joining me and living a good life. If youe, you''ll get eight days off every month, and your sry will be twice that of others!"


    "So, what do you say? Join my caravan. I wouldn''t have made this offer if you weren''t such a good-looking young man!"


    Jeremy listened with a headache, feeling an urge to turn around and give this chatterbox a hard punch.


    However, Jeremy did gain something from Heber''s words. He once again heard statements simr to those from another Sinner before.


    Clearly, there was a great crisis in this ce of eternal darkness.


    Unbeknownst to them, Jeremy and Heber had already moved far away from theke.


    In the distance, a caravanposed of several gigantic creatures, each over three meters tall, stood quietly by the roadside.


    Though these towering creatures appeared formidable, each one was dragging a massive cart behind it.


    Evidently, these seemingly dangerous beasts were the pack animals of this darknd.


    Next to the caravan, a few other beast-headed, human-bodied individuals watched Jeremy warily.


    Jeremy ignored thempletely and sped past the caravan.


    As he brushed past the caravan, Jeremy suddenly sensed a familiar aura emanating from one of the carts.


    In an instant, a sharp glint shed in Jeremy''s eyes. This aura was Bonnie''s!


    Without any warning, Jeremy came to an abrupt halt.


    ncing at the caravan members, who showed no signs of bloodthirstiness, Jeremy walked straight to one of the carts as if no one else was around.


    It wasn''t until Jeremy reached the cart that the others realized what was happening.


    "What do you think you''re doing? We belong to Lord Heber''s caravan. If you know what''s good for you, you''d better leave!"


    Jeremy''s face darkened, and a chilling aura emanated from him as he ignored them and lifted the curtain made of some unknown fabric covering the cart.


    Jeremy''s action instantly caused the caravan members to draw their weapons.


    In no time, the sound of weapons being unsheathed rang out in unison.


    Clearly, they mistook Jeremy for some kind of robber.


    From a distance, the bted Heber saw this scene and shouted anxiously, "Stop! We''re all friends here! Friends!"


    Heber''s voice made the caravan guards breathe a sigh of relief.


    Seeing Jeremy''s speed, they knew they were no match for this stranger. Avoiding a fight was definitely the best option.


    Jeremy paid no attention to them and lifted the curtain.


    Inside, sure enough, was Bonnie!


    Bonnie''s condition was dire. Her clothes were torn and tattered, exposing her inappropriately, and her body was covered in blood. Her left foot was swollen like arge bun, exuding a faintly fishy-sweet odor.


    Her face was flushed, her eyes tightly shut, and her body drenched in sweat. Even her breathing had be weak.


    It was clear she had been poisoned!


    A sh of anger crossed Jeremy''s eyes. No matter what, this foolish woman had been with him since the beginning of the apocalypse. Anyone who dared harm her would face his wrath!


    With a sh of bone-white light, the Bone Spear reappeared in Jeremy''s hand.


    Jeremy coldly red at Heber in the distance and shouted, "Hand over the antidote, and I''ll spare your life!"


    The bone-chilling killing intent was so palpable that Heber immediately raised his hands.


    "Young man, don''t be rash. This is all a misunderstanding!"


    Jeremy snorted coldly, not believing a word Heber said. With a slight bend of his knees, he shot towards Heber like a bolt of lightning.


    Although Heber was a seasoned Sinner, his strength paled inparison to his age.


    Heber couldn''t react in time to Jeremy''s sudden move.


    Just as Jeremy was about to reach Heber, a gem emitting a magnificent glow flew out from Heber''s body, blocking Jeremy''s path.


    With the sound of crystals clinking, the seemingly ordinary gem instantly expanded into a shimmering, multicolored barrier.


    With this gem barrier, Heber seemed to regain some confidence and spoke with a hint of anger, "Young man, I''ve traveled far and wide for many years. I''m no pushover!"


    "If there''s a misunderstanding, let''s sit down and talk it out. No need to resort to violence."


    Jeremy sneered, "Talk? What is there to talk about? You poisoned my friend, and you call that a misunderstanding!"


    Though this gem barrier looked imprable, clearly a high-level artifact.


    Jeremy had ways to deal with it.


    He then activated The Eye of Omniscience.


    Instantly, a prompt about the gem barrier appeared before Jeremy''s eyes.


    [Note: A unique magic controlled by the gem merchant Heber, forming a physical barrier through gem magic. It can block most frontal damage. Weakness: A strong magical attack to the center on the top can break the gem barrier.]


    Jeremy''s eyes narrowed as he pulled out the skeletal staff.


    Seeing this, Heber, who had intended to say more, widened his eyes in shock.


    "You... you can use magic skills?"


    Jeremy paid no attention to Heber, his lips forming two cold, cutting words: "Sin Fire..."


    In an instant, a surging serpent of mes shot out from Jeremy''s hand.


    The violent, dark red fire, seeming almost sentient, coiled directly above Heber''s head.


    With a sharp "crack," the once-imprable gem barrier shattered in an instant.

 Chapter 71: Encounter with Bandits

    With a series of continuous cracking sounds, the gem barrier shattered into pieces on the ground.


    Heber''s eyes filled with disbelief. "How did this guy know the weak point of my gem barrier?"


    There was no time to ponder. Frantically, Heber reached for something at his waist.


    But Jeremy wasn''t about to let Heber act freely.


    In a sh, Jeremy''s figure blurred, and in the next moment, he was standing right in front of Heber.


    Heber wanted to say something, but Jeremy didn''t give him the chance.


    With one swift motion, Jeremy''s hand mped down firmly on Heber''s thick neck.


    Heber, built like a hippopotamus, naturally had ayer of thick, tough skin like natural armor.


    The moment Jeremy''s fingers tightened around Heber''s neck, the sensation surprised him for a second.


    However, as Jeremy instinctively applied more force, a grating sound, like "creak, creak," emanated from his grip, making one''s teeth ache just hearing it.


    At first, Heber seemed unfazed by the chokehold, but as Jeremy''s grip tightened, Heber''s face gradually turned pale.


    Only then did the caravan''s guards react, hastily brandishing their weapons and rushing toward Jeremy.


    A wolf-headed Sinner wielding a heavy hammer shouted, "Stop! Our boss is a good man!"


    Another Sinner, with the head of a bull and the body of a man, echoed, "Let go of our boss!"


    ...


    The cacophony of disparate sounds made Jeremy feel as if a migraine was beginning to take hold.


    Casting a cold, sweeping gaze over the assembly, Jeremy dered, "Take one more step forward, and I''ll crush your boss''s neck!"


    In an instant, the bizarre-looking Sinners recoiled in terror, each one shuddering and too frightened to advance.


    At this very moment, Heber was already deprived of any semnce of air, his survival instinctspelling him to feebly p at Jeremy''s arm while weakly gasping, "Let... let go! I can''t breathe."


    Observing that Heber''s breath was bing increasinglybored and his body starting to struggle involuntarily, Jeremy slightly eased the pressure of his grip.


    Immediately, Heber, sensing the slight alleviation around his neck, began to greedily gulp in precious air.


    Staring intently into Heber''s eyes, Jeremy said, "I won''t say it again. Hand over the antidote, or don''t me me for what happens next."


    Heber''srge hippo-like face was full of grievance. "Sir! You need to tell me what antidote you''re talking about!"


    Jeremy''s brow furrowed as he spoke, "Don''t y dumb. Wasn''t it you who poisoned the girl in that carriage?"


    Upon hearing this, Heber immediately protested his innocence, eximing, "Young man, that girl wasn''t poisoned by me! I found her on the road!"


    Seeing Heber''s face full of grievances, Jeremy was momentarily taken aback. "What did you say? You found her on the road?"


    Heber nodded vehemently. "That''s right. I discovered the girl not long ago at the edge of Death Desert."


    "If it weren''t for my emergency treatment, she would have sumbed to the poison right then and there."


    It was only then that Jeremy recalled seeing signs of medical intervention on Bonnie''s body earlier.


    At that moment, Jeremy fully realized that he had indeed wronged an innocent person.


    Awkwardly chuckling twice, Jeremy set Heber down and patted off imaginary dust from Heber''s clothes. "A misunderstanding, it was all just a misunderstanding, haha," Jeremy said.


    Heber stared at Jeremy with a face full of grievance, saying nothing.


    Scratching his head, Jeremy pulled out a Tier-4 energy crystal from his storage space and said, "I apologize for startling you, Mr. Heber. Please ept this as a token of my regret."


    After a moment, Heber sighed and said, "Forget it. It''s normal to be cautious when you''re new to a ce."


    Waving his hand dismissively, Heber didn''t take the energy crystal from Jeremy. As he walked back to the carriage, he said, "You seem to care a lot about that girl. Is she perhaps your lover?"


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy waved his hand and said, " Mr. Heber, you''ve misunderstood. She''s not my... lover."


    Jeremy paused slightly when he got to the awkward word "lover."


    Heber looked a bit surprised and asked, "If this girl isn''t your lover, then why did you rescue her?"


    A slightly gossipy smile appeared on Heber''s face as he continued, "Could it be that you''re pursuing this girl?"


    But the next moment, Jeremy''s words made the gossiping expression on Heber''s face freeze.


    Jeremy said, "It''s not thatplicated. Her family is wealthy.


    The atmosphere went silent for a moment.


    Heber seemed at a loss for words.


    After a brief pause, Heber''s face showed a trace of concern. "The poison in that girl''s body is not ordinary. Only a rare-grade antidote can cure her."


    "I do know a high-level alchemist. Considering our friendship, I can introduce you to him. However, without the rare-grade antidote materials, the alchemist won''t help."


    "The ingredients for a high-grade antidote are hard toe by. You need at least materials from a lord-level monster with detoxification properties as the main ingredient."


    "Lord-level monster materials are rare enough, not to mention those with detoxification properties."


    "Bro, I''m afraid there''s little hope..."


    Jeremy was silent for a moment, then pulled out the desert worm''s inner core he had recently acquired from his storage space.


    "Mr. Heber, will this work?"


    Upon hearing this, Heber casually turned his head to nce at the item in Jeremy''s hand.


    Heber didn''t believe that Jeremy could possibly have the materials from such a powerful creature and tried to console him, "Brother, don''t be too upset. At worst, I''ll just... "


    In an instant, Heber''s eyes widened, and he couldn''t finish his sentence. The faintly glowing, purple-tinged desert worm core in Jeremy''s hand left him speechless.


    In a sh, Heber reached out and snatched the desert worm core from Jeremy''s hand, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets.


    After meticulously examining it from every angle for quite some time, Heber finally spoke, "If I''m not mistaken, this core has reached diamond level, and its quality is rare. This is more than enough, absolutely sufficient!"


    Sizing up Jeremy, Heber patted him on the shoulder and remarked, "Bro, you really have some incredible luck."


    Then, Heber hesitated for a moment and said, "However, this main ingredient is so good that the resulting potion could permanently increase poison resistance. Using it just for an antidote would be a waste."


    Jeremy showed no hesitation on his face. "There''s nothing wasteful about saving a life. That''s the most important thing."


    Jeremy''s attitude instantly made Heber feel a sense of admiration.


    In the Land of Eternal Night, for most people, enhancing their own power is the most important thing. Everything else, likepanions or lovers, takes a back seat, especially when the girl in question has no significant rtionship with Jeremy.


    Jeremy''s immediate willingness to give up such a precious material without hesitation filled Heber with admiration.


    Heber patted his chest and said, "Bro, with this main ingredient, the remaining materials will be easy to find. Leave the alchemist to me."


    Jeremy replied, "Mr. Heber, my name is Jeremy. Thank you for your help. If there''s anything you need assistance with, just let me know. I''ll do whatever I can."


    Heber, smiling warmly, said, "It''s nothing, really. If you could join my caravan, that would be even better."


    Hearing this, Jeremy looked troubled. Just because others couldn''t find a way out of the Land of Eternal Night didn''t mean Jeremy couldn''t.


    A momentter, Jeremy shook his head. "Mr. Heber, I''m afraid I can''t do that."


    Heber nodded understandingly. "I get it. Until the very end, you yers won''t give up hope. But, Jeremy, promise me this: if you do decide to give up trying to escape the Land of Eternal Night, consider joining my caravan first!"


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    Afterward, Jeremy followed Heber''s caravan, setting off on the road to Dawn City.


    With so many Sinners residing in the Land of Eternal Night, towns naturally formed over time. Dawn City is one of thergest in the Land of Eternal Night.


    On the way, Heber introduced Jeremy to the city. "Rest assured, Jeremy. Dawn City has strict rules and prohibits private fights. Most of the residents, like me, are Sinners who don''t want to engage in constant battles."


    "Additionally, every batch of Sinnerses from different worlds, so Dawn City is a melting pot with all kinds of treasures!"


    "Back in the day, I struck gold by spotting a hidden gem at a flea market, which gave me my first pot of gold..."


    Listening to Heber''s incessant chatter, Jeremy didn''t find him annoying for the first time.


    Jeremy''s eyes lit up, and he thought to himself, "A flea market, huh? Sounds like a great ce!"


    With The Eye of Omniscience, no treasure could escape his notice. Jeremy wasn''t about to miss such an opportunity!


    Before they knew it, Heber''s caravan entered a forested area.


    Just as the caravan was steadily advancing toward Dawn City, a steel arrow suddenly shot out from the shadows, embedding itself in the ground ahead of the caravan.


    "Robbery, leave your valuables and women behind!"

 Chapter 72: Explosive Killing!

    With a loud, rough voice echoing through the forest, a figure over two meters tall emerged. This individual, with the head of a crocodile and the body of a man, carried a long spear that shimmered faintly with a purple glow.


    Holding the spear horizontally, the crocodile-headed bandit blocked the road ahead of the caravanpletely.


    Upon seeing the caravan''s g, a vicious and greedy light flickered in the bandit''s beady eyes. "Gem merchants? Haha, this is a big score!"


    Inside the carriage, the moment Heber saw the crocodile-headed Sinner, his small eyes widened in shock.


    A voice filled with despair and regret escaped Heber''s lips in a groan, "The Crocodile Gang, Crocodile Zack! Jeremy, we''re doomed. This is an awakened Sinner!"


    With a loud p, Heber struck his own face, filled with regret. "If I''d known we would encounter Crocodile Zack, I would have listened to you, Jeremy!"


    ...


    In fact, shortly after Heber''s caravan entered this dense forest, Jeremy sensed something was amiss.


    The forest was thick and lush, with verdant foliage on either side of the road stretching as far as the eye could see, making it an ideal ce for an ambush.


    As the caravan ventured deeper into the forest, Jeremy once again felt the unsettling sensation of being watched, a feeling he''d experienced not long ago.


    As Jeremy''s spiritual awareness approached a significant milestone, his perception had be extraordinarily sharp, almost like the proverbial "The cicada senses the change before the autumn wind stirs.."


    As the caravan continued to delve into the forest, Jeremy''s sense of being watched grew stronger, and he could feel a palpable malice from the unseen observer.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Jeremy spoke to Heber, who was in the same carriage, "It seems someone is following us."


    Heber dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand, "Just some petty bandits. In the Land of Eternal Night, small-time crooks are everywhere. No need to worry, Jeremy."


    Jeremy shook his head, his tone bing serious, "I don''t think those following us are just petty crooks."


    Heberughed heartily, "Jeremy, don''t underestimate my guards. While they may not be as strong as you, their average level is over 40. Apart from someone of your caliber, there''s no real danger."


    Seeing that Jeremy wanted to say more, Heber patted his shoulder, "Rx, old friend. I''ve traveled far and wide for years and have never encountered any real danger."


    Heber then pointed to Bonnie, who was not far away.


    "Besides, taking this route is the quickest way to Dawn City, and the poison in this youngdy can''t be dyed."


    Outside the carriage, a cheerful voice from a dog-headed guard rang out, "Mr. Jeremy, don''t worry. We''ve traveled this road many times and know it well. There won''t be any surprises."


    Another rabbit-headed guard added in a slightly low voice, "And even if there are any surprises, isn''t Mr. Jeremy here with us?"


    Hearing this, Jeremy nodded and said no more.


    ...


    Beside Heber, Jeremy had already used The Eye of Omniscience on Crocodile Zack blocking their path.


    [Note: Sinner Zack, Awakened ss: Storm Striker, Level 55. Weakness: Interrupting Crocodile Zack''s skill casting deals 300% damage and puts him in a stunned state for 3 seconds.]


    This was Jeremy''s first encounter with an enemy of an awakened ss.


    Moreover, given Zack''s weakness, this battle looked winnable!


    At the same time, the caravan guards seemed to recognize the intruder as well, their faces mirroring the same despair.


    It was clear that the so-called Crocodile Gang, and especially Crocodile Zack, had a fearsome reputation among these Sinners.


    In a state of panic, the dog-headed Sinner driving the carriage instinctivelyshed out with a fierce whip on the beast of burden.


    Instantly, the colossal creature let out a thunderous roar and charged forward uncontrobly.


    While generally docile, the three-meter-tall beast of burden, coupled with the massive carriage it hauled, evoked the image of a runaway juggernaut from another realm.


    As the ground trembled and the mountains quaked, the beast of burden barreled directly towards Crocodile Zack.


    In that moment of sudden upheaval, Heber and the others'' faces lit up with joy, "Crush him to death!"


    To their astonishment, Crocodile Zack, facing the unstoppable beast of burden, remained unmoving and unflinching.


    With a contemptuous smile, he abruptly raised his spear, as thick as an average person''s wrist, and pointed it at the charging beast of burden.


    Crocodile Zack softly uttered, "Thunderous Wind Piercer!"


    In an instant, threads of purple lightning as thick as fingers and visible gusts of wind appeared out of nowhere, enveloping Zack''s spear.


    With a "crackle," a sh of lightning blinded everyone, and Crocodile Zack''s spear vanished.


    Immediately after, the massive beast of burden copsed with a thud, as if a towering mountain had fallen.


    Upon closer inspection, a fist-sized charred and bloody hole had appeared on the beast of burden''s forehead.


    Through the hole, one could see the gaping chest of the dog-headed Sinner and the shattered remains of the carriage.


    With just a single strike, Crocodile Zack had snuffed out the hope that had just ignited in Heber and the others.


    "Boss is invincible! Boss is invincible!"


    Arge group of varied Sinners, brandishing their weapons, charged out from the dense forest, surrounding Heber''s caravan.


    In a panic, Heber muttered, "It''s over. The entire Crocodile Gang is here. We''re finished."


    Jeremy picked at his ear, looking exasperated.


    "Just forty or fifty Sinners, and Heber''s already given up." he thought, shaking his head.


    Jeremy reached into his storage space and retrieved a Bone Spear.


    Heber, astonished that this newly acquainted yer would dare to act after witnessing Crocodile Zack''s power, hesitated for a moment and then grabbed Jeremy''s arm.


    "Jeremy, this is all my fault for dragging you into this. But don''t act rashly, I do have a way out."


    With a pained expression, Heber pulled a small, clear, and colorless gem from a pouch at his waist.


    He thrust the gem into Jeremy''s hand. "Jeremy, take this Chaos Teleportation Gem. It will help you and your friend escape."


    Startled, Jeremy instinctively used The Eye of Omniscience to examine the gem in Heber''s hand.


    [Note: Chaos Teleportation Gem: Upon use, randomly teleports the user 500 meters in any direction. Possibility of teleportation to underground, high altitudes, or other hazardous locations. Tip: Reciting "up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, B, A" before use allows direction specification.]


    Jeremy''s eyes lit up, and he swiftly grabbed the Chaos Teleportation Gem.


    Heber, suppressing his look of immense pain, pulled out another Chaos Teleportation Gem from his waist pouch and said, "Brother Jeremy, when you manage to escape, remember to find me in Dawn City."


    Jeremy was taken aback and then replied, "Escape? When did I ever say I was going to run?"


    With that, Jeremy flicked open the carriage door with his Bone Spear and stepped out.


    Heber stood there, dumbfounded, watching Jeremy as he exited the carriage.


    Outside, the caravan guards gripped their weapons tightly, facing the Crocodile Gang with expressions of despair.


    However, judging by their trembling, it was clear that relying on them was futile.


    Without wasting any words, Jeremy pulled out his Skeletal Staff. With a wave, he shouted coldly at the minions, "Wind of Cmity!"


    "Whoosh!"


    A violent ck whirlwind materialized out of thin air, stirring up a storm of dust.


    In an instant, the ck whirlwind grewrger, creating the impression of covering the entire sky.


    With a mere thought, Jeremy controlled the massive ck whirlwind, which seemed to possess a life of its own, avoiding Heber''s guards and enveloping the surrounding Sinners, who were barely level thirty.


    Countless horrific screams filled the air instantly.


    In just a brief moment, the screams grew faint and then vanished entirely.


    With another wave of his staff, the ck whirlwind dissipated as abruptly as it had appeared.


    Everyone looked back at the once-arrogant Crocodile Gang minions.


    Now, where the ck whirlwind had passed, not a single living being remained.


    Each bandit, resembling a withered mummy, stood frozen in ce with expressions of utmost agony, as if everything within them had been hollowed out.


    Someone swallowed hard and muttered, "So...so powerful!"


    Meanwhile, Jeremy, the instigator of this devastation, calmly put his Skeletal Staff back into his storage space.


    Crocodile Zack, witnessing the scene, red fiercely, his eyes burning with rage.


    "You bastard! You dare to kill my men? You have quite the guts!"


    Crocodile Zack slightly bent his body, his back arching, exuding an aura of savage brutality.


    "Go ti the devil!"


    "Domain of the Storm!"


    With a furious shout, a light cyan storm burst forth from Zack''s body. Beneath his feet, a circle adorned with wind patterns flickered into existence, gradually growing brighter.


    Crocodile Zack sneered, "Kid, today I''ll show you what an awakened ss truly means!"


    Heber snapped out of his daze and said anxiously, "Jeremy, run! Years ago, during the Crocodile Gang''s sh with the ck Cloak Society, Crocodile Zack used this Domain of the Storm to kill over a hundred Sinners, all above level forty! Its power is unimaginable!"

 Chapter 73: Dawn City

    Suddenly, Heber tore the small pouch from his waist and flung it far toward Crocodile Zack.


    "Boss Zack, this is everything I own. Take it all, but please let us go!"


    Crocodile Zack''s feet were still aglow with intricate patterns, and he sneered at Heber''s plea, "Begging for mercy now? Toote!"


    "Prepare to meet your end!"


    With a thunderous shout, Crocodile Zack began to glow, signaling the imminent release of his skill.


    At that precise moment, Jeremy''s eyes shed with determination. The Bone Spear in his hand trembled violently as he roared, "Seven Sins - Wrath!"


    Instantly, an overwhelmingly fierce and terrifying aura erupted from Jeremy, so intense that even Crocodile Zack felt a profound fear welling up from deep within.


    Before Crocodile Zack could react, Jeremy''s figure blurred and vanished into thin air.


    In the next instant, the Bone Spear, enveloped in a dark red glow, pierced through Crocodile Zack from behind.


    With an emotionless expression, Jeremy coldly uttered two words, "Disaster de!"


    The bone spear disregarded the swirling currents around Crocodile Zack, piercing a gaping hole right through his chest.


    The skill casting was interrupted, and Crocodile Zack''s weak point was instantly exploited.


    This strike delivered an astronomical amount of damage!


    Crocodile Zack''s eyes bulged with disbelief and rage as he struggled to turn around, his gaze locking onto Jeremy, who had inexplicably appeared behind him. His eyes were filled with utter incredulity.


    "This is impossible... How can your damage be this high?"


    With his weak point exploited, Crocodile Zack was now paralyzed, caught in a state of rigidity.


    Seizing the moment when the enemy is at their weakest.


    Jeremy had no interest in battlefield chit-chat.


    "Whirlwind sh!"


    "Soul Roar!"


    "Judgment de!"


    "mes of Sin!"


    ...


    A torrent of skills, as if costing nothing,pletely engulfed Crocodile Zack.


    The sky was filled with a kaleidoscope of skill lights, apanied by incessant thunderous roars.


    Feeling the ground''s continuous tremors, Heber stared at Jeremy in a daze, swallowing hard and murmuring, "So brutal."


    ...


    The relentless bombardmentsted for a full half-minute before Jeremy ceased his assault.


    It wasn''t that Jeremy didn''t want to continue. Rather, there was nothing left where Crocodile Zack once stood.


    The once mighty, level 55, ss-awakened Crocodile Zack had been utterly obliterated by a mere level 39 yer. Had Heber not witnessed it himself, he would have dismissed it as pure fantasy.


    Watching Jeremy, who had just taken Crocodile Zack''s spear and stored it in his inventory, then started walking towards him with an expressionless face, Heber made a firm decision. He absolutely had to recruit this incredibly powerful yer into his caravan!


    Amidst the awestruck and fearful gazes of the crowd, Jeremy, indifferent, entered the carriage and asked Heber, who had instinctively distanced himself, "Do you buy weapons?"


    Jeremy had scanned the so-called Crocodile Gang earlier. They were essentially a bunch of paupers, with Crocodile Zack''s spear being the only decent weapon.


    The rest were not even worth Jeremy''s attention.


    Hearing this, Heber''s eyes lit up. Casting aside his fear, he approached Jeremy eagerly, "Of course we do! Why wouldn''t we?"


    Jeremy handed the spear he had just retrieved to Heber and gestured towards the weapons left behind by the Crocodile Gang, saying, "In that case, I''ll sell all of these to you."


    Heber''s eyes sparkled with excitement. "Excellent! It''s a deal!"


    As he spoke, Heber reached out to take the long spear from Jeremy''s hand.


    This iconic weapon of Crocodile Zack had been the object of his desire for quite some time.


    Unexpectedly, despite his effort, Heber couldn''t pull the spear away from Jeremy''s grasp.


    Jeremy narrowed his eyes and fixed Heber with a steady gaze. "I expect a fair price."


    Heber immediately pounded his chest with resounding confidence. "Brother, rest assured, my business principles are rooted in absolute honesty!"


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment before finally relinquishing the spear to Heber.


    Surprisingly, after Heber had thoroughly examined and admired Crocodile Zack''s renowned weapon, he handed it back to Jeremy, much to everyone''s astonishment.


    Seeing Jeremy''s puzzled look, Heber exined, "Crocodile Zack has quite a few bounties on his head. With this weapon as proof, you can im all those rewards, Brother Jeremy."


    This turn of events made Jeremy regard the somewhat unconventional Sinner with newfound respect.


    Heber could have easily kept this information to himself and imed the bounty reward alone.


    Given that merchants often prioritize profit, it would have been understandable.


    Yet, Heber chose to forgo this easy gain, showcasing his integrity.


    Jeremy silently noted this and said nothing, storing the spear back in his inventory.


    Soon, the guards had collected all valuable items left by the Crocodile Gang.


    After a careful inspection, Heber took out three translucent purple-gold coins from a small pouch at his waist.


    With a pained expression, Heber handed the three coins to Jeremy, saying, "Jeremy, these are purple gold coins, the most widely circted currency in the Land of Eternal Night. Take them."


    Instinctively, Jeremy used The Eye of Omniscience on the three coins.


    [Tip: Three purple gold coins made by the ck Gold Tower of the Land of Eternal Night, crafted from Purple Shining Crystals, can be exchanged for three hundred gold coins. Extremely valuable.]


    Jeremy epted the three purple gold coins without a word and resumed resting with his eyes closed in the carriage.


    Seeing Jeremy ept the coins without any questions, a genuine smile appeared on Heber''s face.


    Once everything was settled, the caravan continued its journey.


    ...


    After another half day of travel, Jeremy finally saw an endless city wall ahead.


    Clearly, this massive structure was one of the top cities in the Land of Eternal Night, Dawn City.


    Seeing the city, Heber visibly rxed.


    With a thud, Hebery back, causing the carriage to shake under hisrge frame.


    Heber said to Jeremy, "Now that we''re here, we can rx. No one dares to make trouble in Dawn City. Jeremy, get some rest. Once we enter the city, I''ll take you to meet the master alchemist."


    Jeremy, still resting with his eyes closed, nodded to show he understood.


    After a short distance, a group of about a dozen cavalrymen approached at breakneck speed from afar.


    These people were all mounted on uniform ck-scaled unicorn horses. Though they numbered only a dozen or so, they exuded the imposing presence of a mighty army.


    Amid the thunderous noise, Jeremy instinctively became alert.


    In stark contrast, Heber and hispanions seemed utterly unperturbed by the rapidly approaching cavalry, and there was even a hint of excitement in the air.


    With a swift turn, Heber exined to Jeremy, "That''s the ck-Armored Patrol, a unique security force of Dawn City. Our caravan is registered with the city, so there''s no issue."


    Indeed, as the ck-Armored Patrol drew within a hundred meters of Heber''s caravan, a faint light flickered on the g bearing the emblem of a hippopotamus.


    Upon seeing this, the ck-Armored Patrol immediately ignored Jeremy and his group, continuing on their path without interruption.


    Noticing that the patrol did not harass them, Jeremy nodded silently in approval.


    As Heber and his party drew closer to Dawn City, the traffic on the road gradually increased.


    Seeing the g of Heber''s caravan, many recognized Heber, the Sinner, and greeted him from afar.


    Most of these individuals, like Heber, had the heads of beasts on human bodies, clearly indicating they belonged to the same race.


    Heber, brimming with pride, stood up and began boasting to the crowd about how they had just vanquished the Crocodile Gang.


    Jeremy, feeling the curious nces directed at him, clenched his teeth, thinking, "This bbermouth never knows when to shut up!"


    Sensing the cold aura emanating from Jeremy, Heber gave an awkward smile and gradually fell silent.


    Finally, they arrived at the gates of Dawn City.


    Now up close, the grandeur of Dawn City was clear to Jeremy.


    The towering gray-white city walls of Dawn City stand over thirty meters high, and its ck iron gates, each more than ten meters tall, resemble a giant mouth, continuously swallowing and disgorging streams of people..


    This gray-white dragon stretched across the Sunset ins, effectively keeping the wild and dangerous elements at bay.


    At this moment, a seemingly endless queue was waiting to be inspected.


    Fortunately, Heber''s registered caravan had a separatene.


    The line for registered caravans was rtively short, and soon it was Jeremy''s group''s turn.


    A squad of soldiers, d in teal heavy armor and wielding standard-issue spears, blocked Heber''s caravan.


    A captain-like figure stepped forward and addressed Jeremy''s party, "Halt! Present your guild documents and trade permits."


    With a smile, Heber retrieved two small booklets from his waist pouch and respectfully handed them to the captain.


    As the captain scrutinized the booklets, he instructed his subordinates, "Search them. Make sure they aren''t carrying any contraband."


    Two soldiers stepped forward, holding mirror-like devices, and scanned Heber''s goods.


    "Captain, everything''s clear." one of them reported.


    With the inspectionpleted, Jeremy and his party were finally allowed to enter Dawn City.

 Chapter 74: Master Bard

    The Prison of All Souls.


    High above, the darkness seemed almost tangible, roiling like ceaseless waves in an ever-churning sea.


    The once-vibrant earth below had turned an ashen, lifeless expanse, with destion and death as the only prevailing themes of this forsaken world.


    Countless grotesque and bizarre creatures, each more sinister and malevolent than thest, ceaselessly fixed their eerie gazes upon a singr point of light.


    This faintly glowing beacon illuminated a figure thaty prone upon the ground, exuding an air of sanctity despite the chains wrapped tightly around her form, which hinted at her recent struggles.


    This figure, unmistakably, was none other than the Goddess of ss Change, Janna!


    At this moment, Janna''s once borate and ornate divine robes were torn in many ces, exposing her snow-white skin. Even the pink buds of her chest were faintly visible through the gaps, a sight of such beauty, yet there was no one to admire it.


    Not far away, a figure nearly identical to Jeremyy unconscious on the ground, simrly bound by chains.


    Finally, after an indeterminate amount of time, a faint moan escaped from Janna''s cherry lips, and her eyes fluttered open.


    In that instant, two beams of divine light pierced through her gaze, akin to supreme swords, instantly tearing asunder the monstrous entities lurking in the sky.


    A vast, oceanic aura erupted forth, causing even the undting darkness to momentarily waver.


    s, such a phenomenon was but a fleeting glimpse.


    The next moment, a pained groan slipped from Janna''s lips as she appeared to struggle to rise.


    However, after a long moment, Janna couldn''t even move a single finger.


    Janna cursed angrily, "Damn the Fool! Damn the Magician! Two against one and you lock me in the Prison of All Souls, have you no shame! Just let me out, and I will make sure you pay dearly!"


    After venting her anger, Janna noticed the boy who had dared to insult her statue lying not far from her.


    She snorted coldly, intending to say something to "Jeremy," but the puppet seemed to reach its limit, emitting a barely audible cracking sound as its aura suddenly changed.


    Janna''s mouth opened slightly, staring intently at the puppet gradually revealing its true form, unable to believe that she, a dignified goddess, had been tricked by a mere mortal!


    After a while, Janna''s eyes reddened, her voice tinged with a hint of sobbing, "Even you are bullying me..."


    ...


    Meanwhile, Jeremy finally stepped into Dawn City.


    Upon entering Dawn City, Jeremy''s eyes were immediately drawn to the absurdly wide streets teeming with a bustling crowd.


    Contrary to his medieval expectations, the streets were impably clean, devoid of the ubiquitous filth he had anticipated.


    Individuals, all neatly attired and brimming with vitality, moved back and forth in a constant stream.


    However, these "people" were an assortment of bizarre creatures.


    The half-beast, half-human hybrids were among the more conventional sights, Jeremy even spotted a Slime dressed in a business suit.


    Lining both sides of the street were numerous shops with wooden signboards: tailor shops, bakeries, cksmiths, herbalists--everything one could possibly need.


    And, of course, the ubiquitous presence of various brothels was unmistakable.


    On the main street, scantily d beast-women openly solicited clients, making Heber a bit restless.


    Despite their differences from male Sinners like Heber, these beast-women had only slight beastly features, with faces and figures more akin to humans.


    To someone, the beast ears were the very charm of these exotic women.


    Even Jeremy, with his discerning taste, found them intriguingly exotic.


    But at this moment, Jeremy had little interest in exploring the differences between these beast-women and human women.


    Inside the carriage, Bonnie''s condition was worsening.


    What started as a swollen ankle had now spread, swelling her entire left leg to three times its normal size.


    Her face was turning a deeper shade of purple-ck, and even her faint breaths carried a faintly sweet, metallic scent.


    If not for Heber''s extensive experience and the practical antidotes he carried, Bonnie wouldn''t havested this long.


    Knowing the urgency, Heber reluctantly tore his gaze away from a scantily d beast-woman with small horns and ample, exposed skin.


    Resolutely, he turned and led Jeremy toward a more secluded part of the city.


    Along the way, Heber reassured Jeremy, "Bro, don''t worry. Master Bard is a highly experienced alchemist. With that desert worm''s galldder you have, this girl will be fine!"


    Jeremy nodded in response but said nothing.


    After navigating through a maze of twisting alleys, they finally arrived at a dpidated house.


    Above the door, a precariously hanging sign boldly read "Bard''s Crucible Cottage."


    However, it seemed that Bard, the esteemed alchemist, was not home today.


    The equally dpidated door was tightly shut, and no sound emanated from within.


    Heber, seemingly ustomed to this scenario, ignored the firmly closed door and gave it a shove.


    With a grating creak, the door swung open.


    In the sunlight filtering through, Jeremy could see that the interior was cluttered with various sundries, leaving barely any room to step.


    Heber motioned for Jeremy to follow, then proceeded to stride into the room.


    Astonishingly, Heber''s massive frame navigated through the cramped space with remarkable agility, not disturbing a single item as he made his way to the back of the house.


    Jeremy wrinkled his brow as the damp, musty odor of decay wafted through the air. "Is there really a master alchemist living here?" he questioned.


    In his mind, an alchemist of such high regard should be a distinguished guest in the homes of the elite, not residing in such a dpidated ce.


    Shaking his head but cing his trust in Heber, Jeremy carefully stepped into the house, cradling Bonnie in his arms.


    "Desperate times call for desperate measures." he muttered to himself.


    As soon as Jeremy crossed the threshold, the door mmed shut with a resounding "thud."


    Clearly, this seemingly shabby and untidy cottage held secrets yet to be revealed.


    Following Heber''s lead, Jeremy walked for a good ten minutes before they reached the end of the room.


    Heber fiddled with something, and a hidden passageway suddenly appeared in the room.


    Heber took the lead, entering the passageway, with Jeremy closely behind. Soon, they arrived at a spacious tunnel.


    This was evidently the true residence of Master Alchemist Bard.


    Heber knocked on the door and shouted, "Master Bard, we need help!"


    Soon, an impatient voice came from within, "Come in, Heber."


    Heber quickly led Jeremy inside.


    Master Bard was in the first room at the tunnel''s entrance.


    As Bard pushed the door open, Jeremy saw a small, dwarf-like old man standing on a stool, stirring something in a huge cauldron.


    Master Bard, with his white hair, was fervently working on arge pot of purple potion.


    With each stir from Master Bard, a pungent odor spread through the air. As Heber was about to say something, the smell hit his nose and mouth directly.


    Instantly, Heber''s face turned pale, and he dropped to the ground, dry-heaving.


    The smell was so overpowering it nearly knocked Heber out, and even Jeremy couldn''t help but furrow his brows.


    The odor... wasn''t much different from socks that hadn''t been washed in weeks.


    Master Bard disdainfully nced at Heber, who was kneeling and retching, and said dismissively, "Alright, alright, look at you. Just a mere aphrodisiac potion, and you can''t handle it?"


    Hearing this, Heber''s eyes lit up. Ignoring his retching, he struggled to straighten up and said, "Master Bard, make sure to save me a few doses of that potion!"


    Master Bard rolled his eyes and ignored Heber.


    Then, Master Bard looked at Jeremy, a hint of surprise shing in his eyes, "A new yer?"


    Jeremy nodded, "Yes, I''m the new yer you mentioned."


    Bard pondered, "To cross the Death Desert and find this ce so quickly, you''re quite something."


    Jeremy didn''t have time for pleasantries. Holding Bonnie, he said, "We can talkter. Master, please, I need you to make a high-level antidote."


    Master Bard stroked his beard and said, "If Heber brought you here, you can''t be bad."


    "Alright, I''ll make you a high-level antidote."


    "But, while I have the other ingredients for the antidote, you''ll need to find the main ingredient yourself."


    After a moment, Master Bard looked at Bonnie, who was barely clinging to life, his expression softening with a touch of pity. "Unless you have the main ingredient with you right now, this girl won''t make it."


    To Master Bard''s surprise, Jeremy showed no sign of panic. Instead, he reached into his spatial storage and retrieved an inner core that shimmered with a faint purple light.


    Jeremy extended the desert worm''s inner core in front of Master Bard and asked, "Master Bard, will this do?"


    Seeing Jeremy effortlessly produce the main ingredient for a high-level antidote, Master Bard''s eyes widened in surprise.


    However, he didn''t dwell on it. He simply took the desert worm''s inner core and said, "It seems this girl''s fate isn''t sealed just yet."

 Chapter 75: The Requiem of Life

    Seeing Master Bard ept the desert worm''s innerr, Jeremy breathed a sigh of relief.


    With a sly grin, Master Bard looked at Jeremy and said, "Young man, don''t get too excited just yet. While we have the main ingredient for the high-level antidote, the other auxiliary ingredients and my fee still need to be ounted for."


    "Let me be clear, my services don''te cheap."


    Hearing this, Jeremy first took a steady look at Bonnie in his arms, then turned to Master Bard and said, "No problem. However, could you issue me an invoice? Something akin to a receipt?"


    Heber gave Jeremy a peculiar look, recalling Jeremy''s earlierment about the poisoned girl being very wealthy. Suddenly, he understood what Jeremy meant.


    It seemed that Master Bard had never encountered such a request before, causing him to momentarily falter.


    After a brief pause, Master Bard replied, "If it''s just a receipt, that''s not a problem."


    Jeremy nodded and asked, "What kind ofpensation do you require, Master? Would purple gold coins suffice?"


    Master Bard shook his head and said, "Such items could never match the worth of my services. When ites to crafting potions, I exclusively ept energy crystals as payment!"


    Hearing this, Jeremy felt relieved. He didn''t have much of other valuables, but he did have plenty of energy crystals in his storage space.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy took out a handful of energy crystals from his storage.


    The crystals varied in grade, ranging from third to fourth tier, and they glittered brilliantly.


    For a moment, Heber and Master Bard were both mesmerized by the sight of the glowing crystals.


    Heber grabbed Jeremy and eximed, "Bro, how do you have so many energy crystals?"


    Typically, both Sinners and yers alike find energy crystals to be a scarce resource. Most people would use them immediately to enhance their power.


    Someone like Jeremy, who could nonchntly produce so many energy crystals, was a rare sight.


    Jeremy shrugged and said, "Maybe I''m just lucky."


    However, at that moment, Master Bard, with a sly smile, added, "Oh, I forgot to mention, the energy crystals need to be at least fifth tier. Also, to make one potion, I require ten fifth-tier energy crystals!"


    Heber screamed in protest, "Bard, you old thief, that''s daylight robbery!"


    As he spoke, Heber tried to drag Jeremy towards the door, muttering, "Brother Jeremy, let''s go. This old man is trying to fleece us. We shouldn''t fall for it."


    Heber''srge hand gripped Jeremy''s arm, but surprisingly, he couldn''t budge him.


    Jeremy''s eyes were fixed on the increasingly fragile Bonnie in his arms, and he was about to speak.


    Unexpectedly, at that very moment, Jeremy noticed Heber''s beady eyes frantically winking at him. A sudden realization dawned upon him, prompting him to immediately take a step forward.


    Seeing this, Bard became visibly agitated. In a manner that defied the limitations of his bulky frame, he leaped off the stool with surprising speed and positioned himself directly in front of Jeremy, blocking his path.


    Bard pointed at Heber, jumping up and down as he yelled, "Robbery? What robbery? Do you think the auxiliary ingredients for a high-level antidote are free? Do you think my services as a master alchemiste cheap? Listen, you fat fool, stop ndering me!"


    Heber rolled his eyes and said, "Come on, do you think I don''t know the market rates? Master Mike only charges three fifth-tier energy crystals per potion, and Master Adam only requires two!"


    Bard snorted disdainfully and said, "Don''tpare me to those two hacks. Their sess rate for high-level potions is only thirty percent, while mine is seventy! Naturally, my fees are higher."


    Seeing Heber''s unwavering expression, Bard''s features twisted slightly. He knew just how difficult this fat man could be.


    After a brief pause, Master Bard, looking reluctant and pained, said, "Fine, five crystals. Just five fifth-tier energy crystals, and I''ll make the potion. That''s my lowest offer."


    Heber was about to argue further, but Jeremy swiftly produced five fifth-tier energy crystals and said, "Deal. Let''s get started, Master."


    Bard''s eyes lit up at the sight of the crystals. In the blink of an eye, before Jeremy could react, Bard had snatched the five crystals from his hand.


    "Choosing me, you won''t regret it!"


    Subsequently, Bard quickly rummaged through a small cab not far behind him, searching frantically for something.


    As he sifted through the contents, he muttered to himself, "Wolfbane, Golden Jade Herb..."


    Before long, he had extracted a handful of various medicinal herbs from the cab.


    With a solemn expression, Bard then picked up the desert worm''s inner membrane that belonged to Jeremy. Right in front of Jeremy and Heber, he began to meticulously craft the high-level antidote.


    After tossing all the prepared ingredients into a fresh cauldron, Bard exhaled deeply.


    Facing the expectant gazes of Heber and Jeremy, Bard said, "Alright, the hardest part is done. Now we just wait an hour, and the high-level antidote will be ready!"


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Taking advantage of having such a skilled alchemist on hand, Jeremy began pulling out various high-grade materials from his storage space, one after another, for Master Bard to inspect and see if any could be made into potions.


    Bard, delighted to see such a rare big spender, patiently examined each item Jeremy produced, even though most of them were unsuitable for alchemy.


    However, when Jeremy took out a heart the size of a regr person''s half-head, Bard jumped up from his chair.


    With trembling fingers and a voice full of disbelief, Bard eximed, "An... an orange boss material?!"


    What Jeremy had taken out was the heart of the Tyrant, the first boss he had ever defeated.


    [Item]: Heart of the Tyrant


    [Type]: Material


    [Quality]: Orange (Rare)


    [Description]: The heart of the Tyrant, a rare material. High-level alchemists and cksmiths have a chance to forge it into a diamond-tier item, imbued with some of the Tyrant''s traits.


    Reading the item''s description, Jeremy remembered he still had this treasure.


    Jeremy asked, "Master Bard, can this [Heart of the Tyrant] be used to create a high-level potion?"


    With an almost reverent demeanor, Bard carefully epted the Heart of the Tyrant and said, "Why wouldn''t it be possible? With a material of this caliber, I could potentially concoct an ultra-tier potion!"


    Fearing that Jeremy might hesitate to let him use the Heart of the Tyrant, Bard''s face lit up with a nearly obsequious grin. "Mr. Jeremy, what kind of potion would you like to craft with this orange-tier material?"


    Jeremy inquired, "What kinds of potions can be crafted from this material?"


    While caressing the Heart of the Tyrant with almost nauseating affection, Bard exined, "Materials dropped by bosses of this level have a vast range of applications. This Heart of the Tyrant, for instance, is suitable for any potion rted to health."


    "Potions such as the [Hymn of Life], which permanently increases health points; [Light of Redemption], which instantly restores all health; and [Elixir of Immortality], which significantly boosts temporary health and recovery rate--these can all be crafted using the Heart of the Tyrant as the primary ingredient."


    The more Jeremy listened, the brighter his eyes shone. He was eager to have all of these incredibly potent-sounding potions made.


    Regrettably, the Heart of the Tyrant was a singr item, and Jeremy had to choose one potion to craft.


    After a moment''s contemtion, Jeremy decided on the [Hymn of Life], after all, one can never have too much health points.


    However, just as Jeremy was about to voice his decision, Bard, with a sly smile, interjected, "Of course, these potions are excellent, but I would rmend crafting the [Requiem of Life]."


    Jeremy, filled with anticipation, repeated, "[Requiem of Life]? What does it do?"


    Bard, with an air of mystery, said, "The [Requiem of Life] has a singr effect: bloodlocking."


    "No matter the attack, as long as [Requiem of Life] is consumed an hour prior, it will forcibly retain a single drop of health."


    "Of course, this effect can only be triggered once."


    Instantly, Jeremy''s eyes turned red with excitement. Without any hesitation, he said, "Master, please craft the [Requiem of Life]!"


    Bard, rubbing his hands together, asked, "And the payment?"


    Jeremy, brimming with generosity, pulled out five more fifth-tier energy crystals from his storage space.


    Bard, beaming with joy, epted the five fifth-tier energy crystals.


    After receiving the Heart of the Tyrant, Bard''s demeanor shifted abruptly. He coldly ushered Heber and Jeremy out of his alchemy room.


    Clearly, Bard intended to get serious this time, and having Jeremy and Heber around would be inappropriate.


    With a parting remark to return in three hours, Bard firmly shut the door.


    Heber shrugged and then invited Jeremy and Bonnie to stay at his tradingpany.


    Jeremy thought it over but ultimately declined. Not wanting to get too entangled with Heber''s caravan, he decided to maintain some distance.


    Finding a nearby inn, Jeremy settled Bonnie in and then stepped outside.


    Earlier, he had noticed arge open-air market just a street away, bustling with countless people setting up stalls.

 Chapter 76: The Unexpected Find

    A few minutester, Jeremy stepped out of the inn and made his way to the market known as Dawn Bazaar.


    At the entrance of the Dawn Bazaar, more than a dozen people equipped identically to the city gate guards were on high alert.


    The Dawn Bazaar is one of thergest retail markets in Dawn City, providing a tremendous amount of tax revenue to the city every day. Naturally, Dawn City ces great importance on it.


    Jeremy''s appearance caused a minor stir almost immediately.


    The reason was simple: in Dawn City, and indeed throughout the Land of Eternal Night, the mostmon type of sinner was the beast-headed, human-bodied creature Jeremy had encountered along his journey.


    Humans with Jeremy''s appearance --pletely human without any trace of beastly features -- were quite rare.


    To the sinners of the Land of Eternal Night, Jeremy''s appearance had a special term: "God-Touched." It was believed that only deities bore such characteristics.


    Fortunately, the Land of Eternal Night is home to countless races, each more bizarre than thest, so Jeremy didn''t stand out too much.


    Before long, Jeremy blended into the crowd, following the flow of people to the entrance of Dawn Bazaar.


    After undergoing a routine inspection, he finally stepped inside.


    Within the bazaar, a myriad of oddly-shaped sinners bustled about. Rows of small shops lined the streets, densely packed together.


    Individual vendors also abounded, each with a simple clothid out on the ground, disying a variety of goods.


    "Come and see! Come and see! Rod''s Apothecary offers beginner-level health potions and antidotes. High quality and fair prices for all!"


    "Graybeard''s Forge, taking orders for equipment forging and repairs!"


    "Henry''s Leather Shop, buying leather materials in bulk. The more you sell, the better the price!"


    ...


    The shouts of vendors filled the air, but Jeremy remained unfazed.


    He wasn''t here for ordinary items.


    First, he found a money changer and, after paying a small fee, exchanged his three purple gold coins for smaller denominations.


    With a small pouch of currency, he began to wander around.


    He casually bought a few beginner-level potions, then strolled through the market like a leisurely old man, asionally ncing at the vendors'' wares.


    Despite his rxed demeanor, Jeremy''s Eye of Omniscience was constantly at work, scanning the surroundings.


    Countless notification messages flowed past his vision like a tidal wave:


    [Note: An ordinary wild boar hide of low quality. Crafting it into a belt will result in a health-boosting item.]


    [Note: Damaged weapon from an ancient battlefield. Smelting it will yield a blue-grade material.]


    ...


    After a while, Jeremy''s eyes began to strain from the constant influx of information. Rubbing his eyes, he muttered in frustration, "Not a single good find."


    ncing at the time, he realized that over two hours had passed. In just a few more minutes, Master Bard''s two potions would be ready.


    Jeremy shrugged and turned towards the exit of Dawn Bazaar.


    With such arge market at his disposal, he could always returnter.


    As he walked, he habitually employed the Eye of Omniscience.


    Just as he neared the exit, a notification popped into his view:


    [Note: Soul Fruit, an extraordinary fruit. Consuming it whole will significantly enhance mental perception and attributes.]


    Instantly, Jeremy''s previously leisurely steps came to an abrupt halt.


    Upon closer inspection, Jeremy saw that the so-called extraordinary fruit, the Soul Fruit, was nestled among a heap of roots and weeds on a nearby small stall.


    The stall had a modest sign that read "Wade''s Herbs."


    A middle-aged man with a horse''s head, looking utterly rxed, lounged on a recliner behind the stall,zily chatting with customers who paused at his stand.


    Carefully examining each herbid out by the horse-headed sinner using the Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy realized that there were indeed quite a few valuable items among the offerings.


    Among them, aside from the Soul Fruit, the most valuable was an herb that appeared to be nothing more thanmon grass.


    [White Dewgrass: Medicinal Herb. Note: A mutated variant within the White Dewgrass species, Golden Veined White Dewgrass, is a blue-grade material.]


    Of course, other than the extraordinary Soul Fruit, these were just minor finds, not worth much attention.


    Jeremy casually stood in front of the Sinner stall, randomly picking a few items. He selected several herbs that were deemed decent by The Eye of Omniscience, then casually ced the Soul Fruit among them.


    "Boss, how much for these herbs?" he asked.


    The horse-headed sinner barely nced at the selection before saying, "Nine silver coins."


    The most expensive item on the stall was worth just one silver coin at best.


    Jeremy had only picked five herbs, yet the horse-headed sinner dared to ask for nine silver coins, clearly trying to swindle him.


    Witnessing this, a bystander couldn''t stay silent and questioned the horse-headed sinner, "Old Wade, isn''t this daylight robbery? How can these herbs be worth nine silver coins?"


    The horse-headed sinner snorted, ring with hisrge eyes, and retorted, "These are my goods. I can price them however I want! It''s none of your business!"


    The deer-headed sinner, who had spoken up, was immediately incensed. "You beast! You''re scamming people! It''s sellers like you that ruin the reputation of Dawn Bazaar!"


    He then reached out to Jeremy, saying, "Young man,e with me. This old guy is cheating you. I''ll take you to a better ce!"


    The horse-headed sinner immediately grew anxious. He had seen that Jeremy had already shown some interest and was clearly about to take out his money! But now, with this deer-headed sinner causing amotion, the business deal was definitely falling apart.


    Just as the horse-headed sinner was about to angrily berate the deer-headed sinner, Jeremy suddenly raised a hand, stepping between the two.


    Without a word, Jeremy pulled out nine silver coins from his pouch and handed them to the horse-headed sinner. "Nine silver coins it is. I''ll take these."


    He tossed the coins to the horse-headed sinner.


    Immediately burst intoughter, catching the coins with a triumphant look at the deer-headed sinner.


    The deer-headed sinner was stunned, unable to believe someone would willingly be cheated.


    With a broad smile, the horse-headed sinner said to Jeremy, "Thank you for your business! Come again!"


    Yet beneath that smile was a hint of contempt, as if to say, "Spending so much on these worthless items? What a fool."


    The deer-headed sinner opened his mouth to speak, but Jeremy stopped him, effectively ending the conversation.


    Casually tossing the other herbs, excluding the Soul Fruit, to the deer-headed sinner, Jeremy remarked, "It''s just a purchase, no big deal. Consider these a gift."


    Without lingering, Jeremy strode away.


    The deer-headed sinner watched Jeremy''s departing figure, words caught in his throat.


    The horse-headed sinner, his face contorted in a mocking grin, sneered at the deer-headed sinner, "Ha! Look at you, always sticking your nose where it doesn''t belong. He didn''t even appreciate it!"


    The deer-headed sinner shook his head, on the verge of retorting, when he noticed a faint golden glimmer among the herbs Jeremy had handed him.


    Startled, he quickly brought the herbs closer for a more detailed inspection.


    As Jeremy was nearly out of Dawn Bazaar, the deer-headed sinner''s voice, filled with excitement, echoed behind him, "Blue-grade material... Golden Veined White Dewgrass!"


    The onlookers, who had witnessed the entire scene, began to p, with one of them even eximing, "Good deeds are always rewarded!"


    The horse-headed sinner stared in disbelief at the herb in the deer-headed sinner''s hand, his expression one of utter shock.


    ...


    After exiting Dawn Bazaar, Jeremy didn''t head back to the inn. Instead, he made his way directly to Master Bard''s apothecary.


    His timing was impable. He arrived exactly three hourster.


    Pushing open the creaky door, Jeremy navigated through the cramped, cluttered rooms until he reached Master Bard''s alchemy chamber.


    From a distance, he could already catch a whiff of the medicinal aroma.


    As Jeremy opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of the diminutive Master Bard, whoy sprawled on the floor in a disheveled state, his graying hair and beard drenched in sweat.


    Not far from the copsed Master Bard, a blue and a red potion sat quietly on the table.


    Almost instinctively, Jeremy employed The Eye of Omniscience on the two potions.


    [High-Level Antidote]


    [Grade: Advanced]


    [Quality: Purple (Rare)]


    [Description: A high-level antidote crafted by Master Alchemist Bard using the desert worm''s innards as the main ingredient. It can neutralize most toxins and permanently increase poison resistance by 50 points.]


    [Requiem of Life]


    [Grade: Extraordinary]


    [Quality: Gold (Precious)]


    [Description: Crafted by Master Alchemist Bard using the tyrant''s heart as the main ingredient, this potion ensures that for one hour after consumption, no matter the damage taken, the user will retain 1 point of health.]


    Although Jeremy had already foreseen the oue, the sight of the two potions before him filled him with an uncontroble surge of excitement.


    Following Bard''s subtle gesture, Jeremy meticulously secured the potions and, with aposed demeanor, turned to depart.

 Chapter 77: A Mental Transformation

    Nearly a full day had passed since Bonnie had been poisoned.


    Despite Heber''s emergency treatment, Bonnie''s condition had significantly worsened.


    By the time Jeremy returned to the inn, Bonnie''s lips had already turned a dark shade of ck, and her breath carried a sickly sweet metallic scent.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Jeremy took out a high-level antidote, intending to pour it into Bonnie''s mouth.


    However, Bonnie''s body was stiff, and her teeth were clenched tightly, making it impossible for Jeremy to administer the antidote directly.


    Left with no other option, Jeremy hesitated briefly before cing the high-level antidote in his own mouth. He then leaned down and pressed his lips against Bonnie''s.


    The instant their lips touched, Jeremy felt the softness and delicate fragrance of Bonnie''s lips.


    Almost instinctively, Jeremy''s tongue moved, seeking entry into Bonnie''s mouth.


    Seemingly sensing something, the unconscious Bonnie suddenly rxed her clenched teeth.


    Her small, delicate tongue involuntarily extended, searching for the life-saving elixir.


    In an instant, their tongues intertwined, entangling with one another.


    After a while, when Bonnie''s breathing began to quicken, Jeremy finally snapped back to reality.


    That kiss had almost suffocated the inexperienced Bonnie!


    Straightening up abruptly, Jeremy looked at Bonnie with aplicated expression.


    That kiss wasn''t intentional on his part. It was aplete ident, an unnned consequence.


    Although Bonnie was beautiful and had a good figure, Jeremy had always preferred more mature women.


    Bonnie was entirely not his type.


    Moreover, knowing Bonnie''s personality, if she found out that her first kiss had been taken so haphazardly by Jeremy, she would definitely not let it go.


    Feeling somewhat guilty, Jeremy subconsciously wiped the corner of his mouth.


    Turning his attention back to Bonnie, he saw that the high-level antidote was indeed living up to its name.


    In just a few seconds after ingestion, a faint green glow appeared on her fair skin.


    As the soft green glow emerged, Bonnie''s condition visibly improved.


    The purplish-ck hue on her face dissipated instantly, and her paleplexion began to turn rosy. The gentle green light, almost as if it had a life of its own, gathered towards her left foot.


    A refreshing scent of herbs emanated from Bonnie, dispelling the previously sickly sweet odor.


    Momentster, Bonnie''s left leg, which had been swollen threefold, returned to normal, leaving only two teeth marks on her ankle as evidence of the poisoning she endured.


    Once the high-level antidote had fully taken effect, Bonnie was no longer in danger.


    However, possibly due to the potent nature of the poison, even after the antidote had worked, Bonnie remained unconscious.


    After giving Bonnie some water, Jeremy exited her room.


    Unbeknownst to Jeremy, just as he closed the door to Bonnie''s room, her previously unconscious eyshes fluttered slightly, and a blush crept up her cheeks.


    Returning to his own room, Jeremy checked his status panel.


    Unbeknownst to him, his mental attribute had nearly reached the 9500 threshold.


    In just a few days, his mental attribute would be the first to break the 10,000 mark.


    However, Jeremy was not inclined to wait any longer.


    Taking out a Soul Fruit the size of a grown man''s fist from his storage space, Jeremy opened his mouth wide and swallowed the extraordinary fruit whole.


    The Eye of Omniscience had already informed Jeremy that to fully harness the power of the Soul Fruit, it needed to be swallowed whole.


    As soon as the Soul Fruit reached Jeremy''s stomach, a refreshing sensation spread from his lower abdomen throughout his entire body.


    It felt as invigorating as taking a cold shower on a hot summer day.


    At the same time, Jeremy noticed his mental attributes skyrocketing!


    "9556!"


    "9725!"


    "9963!"


    "10203!"


    ...


    In a matter of mere seconds, Jeremy''s mental attribute officially surpassed the 10,000 mark!


    Moreover, even after breaking through this significant threshold, the potency of the Soul Fruit had not been entirely depleted. Jeremy''s mental attribute continued to rise.


    Curiously, for some inexplicable reason, once his mental attribute exceeded 10,000, the consumption of the Soul Fruit''s efficacy increased dramatically.


    Initially, the leap from around 9500 to 10,000 had only consumed approximately thirty percent of the fruit''s potency.


    The remaining 70%, based on the previous trend, should have boosted Jeremy''s mental attributes by an additional 1000 points or more.


    However, after surpassing 10,000, the remaining 70% only increased Jeremy''s mental attributes to 10,565 before beingpletely exhausted.


    At this moment, however, Jeremy paid no heed to this anomaly.


    The instant his mental attribute soared past the 10,000-point threshold, it felt as though he had been struck by a bolt of lightning, causing his entire body to tremble uncontrobly.


    Jeremy was undergoing a profound transformation in his mental transformation!


    Even with his eyes tightly shut at this very moment, Jeremy could still perceive everything around him with an astonishing degree of rity.


    Moreover, this heightened sense of awareness was exceptionally vivid and precise.


    The subtle creaking of the bedframe under his weight, the gentle rustling of butterflies fluttering outside the window, the soft sound of leaves slowly drifting from trees andnding on the shoulders of passersby on the neighboring street...


    All of these sensations imprinted themselves vividly in Jeremy''s mind.


    It was as if he had been observing the world through an opaque lens all his life, and now, that veil had finally been lifted!


    Moreover, Jeremy''s perceptual range had expanded tenfold, from the original ten meters to a staggering hundred meters!


    As Jeremy gradually withdrew his consciousness from this kaleidoscopic new world, he suddenly sensed a faint, almost imperceptible, mental connection calling out to him.


    This mental link was familiar. It was the connection between him and the Substitute Puppet.


    Previously, Jeremy hadn''t noticed this connection due to his lower mental transformation.


    But now, after his mental transformation, he finally sensed its presence.


    After a brief hesitation, Jeremy focused his mind and engaged with the mental link.


    Meanwhile, in The Prison of All Souls, Janna was gritting her teeth, using thest of her divine power to heal her injuries.


    Unfortunately, the damage inflicted by the Fool prated deep into the soul. Even the remnants of divine power that Janna retained were of no avail.


    "Damn the Fool! Damn the Magician! Don''t let me get out of here! If I do, you''ll regret it!" she eximed in a fit of anger, her voiceced with frustration.


    After venting her rage, Janna''s gaze shifted towards Jeremy''s Substitute Puppet, which was not far away.


    The humiliation of being toyed with by a mere mortal surged within her once more, causing her breathing to be erratic. The rapid rise and fall of her chest entuated the agitation, making her bosom heave with each breath.


    Through the tattered parts of Janna''s divine robe, her pink nipples asionally peeked through.


    "It all started with that Jeremy! He''s the true culprit behind my imprisonment in this wretched ce!"


    As Janna continued to curse, Jeremy''s Substitute Puppet suddenly trembled violently as if struck by lightning.


    In the next moment, the puppet, which had its eyes tightly shut, suddenly opened them!


    With a sharp, alert gaze, Jeremy scanned his surroundings before swiftly rising to take in every detail of The Prison of All Souls. Only then did his attention shift to the ss-change goddess, Janna, lying not far from him.


    At that instant, Janna realized that Jeremy had once again taken control of the Substitute Puppet!


    The sheer magnitude of this realization was beyond Janna''sprehension!


    This was The Prison of All Souls, a ce where ancient gods, and even "that one," were confined.


    How could a mere mortal enter at will?


    Moreover, The Prison of All Souls resided in the void spiritual realm, separated from Jeremy''s world by the membrane of existence itself. How had Jeremy''s mental power managed to traverse such a distance?


    For a moment, Janna felt utterly bewildered.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy''s wariness surged to its peak the instant he saw Janna.


    This was, after all, a goddess!


    Although he had pped her idol ny-nine times before, it was merely an idol. The real Janna was right in front of him!


    Without hesitation, Jeremy controlled the Substitute Puppet to flee.


    Despite possessing only half of Jeremy''s strength, the puppet''s speed was still lightning-fast.


    In just a blink of an eye, Jeremy had already covered dozens of meters.


    Aheady an expanse of tangible, roiling darkness. Below, Janna''s divine light flickered intermittently, and it seemed that if Jeremy could just enter that ink-like darkness, he would escape entirely.


    However, Jeremy frowned deeply.


    His newly heightened mental perception was screaming warnings at him: "Danger, danger, danger! Do not proceed!"


    Just as he was about to take the final step, Jeremy halted.


    Simultaneously, Janna, still lying on the ground, spoke in an exasperated tone, "Jeremy, if you seek death, don''t me me."


    Jeremy stood there for a moment, staring at the ominous darkness just within reach, before turning and walking back toward Janna.


    After all this time, Janna remained motionless on the ground, clearly indicating she currentlycked the ability to kill him.

 Chapter 78: The Goddess Humiliated

    Having confirmed that Janna was currently incapable of taking any action, Jeremy naturally had no reason to fear her.


    Moreover, if any danger were to arise, he could easily sever the mental link and abandon the Substitute Puppet without hesitation.


    Though it would be a pity to dispose of the Puppet, it was already trapped within the Prison of All Souls, and Jeremy, with his current abilities, had no means of retrieving it.


    With this realization, Jeremy felt a newfound sense of confidence.


    He leisurely strolled over to Janna, fixing his gaze on the tantalizing glimpses of her exposed skin beneath her tattered divine robe,his eyes filled with amusement.


    At this moment, Jeremy''srge foot was nearly pressed against Janna''s cheek.


    The sight of such an odorous foot so close to her face nearly drove Janna mad with rage.


    Coupled with Jeremy''s piercing stare, her fury only intensified.


    She resolved to muster her divine power to teach this audacious mortal a lesson about the consequences of offending a deity.


    With eyes burning with hatred, Janna shouted, "Jeremy, for daring to insult me in such a manner, I will make you pay dearly!"


    A denseyer of divine light instantly emanated from Janna''s hand.


    Startled, Jeremy immediately prepared to sever his link with the Substitute Puppet.


    However, in the next moment, the divine light in Janna''s hand flickered and extinguished, like a faulty light bulb.


    The wind howled through the tense silence, leaving the situation awkward.


    Janna herself seemed taken aback by this turn of events. Their gazes locked, and under Jeremy''s mocking stare, she felt an indescribable mix of shame and anger welling up inside her.


    In the end, Janna, overwhelmed with humiliation, spat out a mouthful of golden blood and feigned unconsciousness.


    Jeremy, smirking, looked at the goddess lying on the ground with her eyes shut and said, "Goddess Janna, where is the price I am supposed to pay? I don''t see it anywhere!"


    Janna''s face flushed even redder with embarrassment, but she continued to feign unconsciousness, avoiding Jeremy''s eyes at all costs.


    Jeremy clicked his tongue twice, stroking his chin as he muttered to himself, "Unconscious, are we? Well, I haven''t had the chance to experience what a goddess feels like."


    As he crouched down, he caught sight of a dazzling sh of white, realizing for the first time that Janna''s divine robe was riddled with holes.


    Janna, initially confused by Jeremy''s words.


    However, when Janna followed Jeremy''s gaze and noticed her own barely concealed bosom, her mind went nk, and a single thought echoed in her head: "W-what is he looking at?!"


    A piercing scream echoed through the air as a surge of divine power erupted from Janna, sending Jeremy''s Substitute Puppet flying.


    After being propelled dozens of meters, the Puppet finally hit the ground with a thud.


    Fortunately, the Substitute Puppet had inherited half of Jeremy''s strength and wasn''t severely damaged.


    Otherwise, Jeremy would have been inconsble.


    Climbing to his feet and rubbing his nose, Jeremy felt a pang of awkwardness.


    His intention had not been to molest Janna,her exposed state, her helplessness, and their antagonistic history had allbined to make him momentarily lose control and steal a few nces.


    Meanwhile, Janna was on the verge of copse.


    For countless millennia since her creation, Janna had never experienced such an invasion of her privacy.


    The realization that her most intimate parts had been seen by a member of the opposite sex made her feel utterly defiled.


    A solitary tear, imbued with divine light, slowly trickled down her cheek.


    The ss change goddess was actually crying!


    As Jeremy once again approached her, Janna felt a tumultuous mix of anger and fear. "What does this demon want now? Could he really be nning to... take advantage of me?" she thought in terror.


    Having expended all her strength in that earlier outburst, Janna now found herself utterly powerless. If Jeremy truly intended to do something unspeakable, she would be unable to resist.


    An overwhelming sense of dread crept across her face.


    At this moment, Janna resembled less a ss change goddess and more a terrified young girl about to be victimized by a viin.


    Seeing Jeremy draw closer, a determined glint shed in Janna''s eyes. "Jeremy, I warn you, if youe any closer, I... I will self-destruct!"


    Jeremy let out a bitter chuckle and said, "Don''t misunderstand me. I''m not someone who takes advantage of others'' misfortunes. It was all a misunderstanding earlier. There''s no need to be so tense."


    Janna''s voice, tinged with both anger and a hint of tears, retorted, "A misunderstanding? Can a misunderstanding exin your actions just now? Ever since I had the misfortune of encountering you, nothing good has happened! If it weren''t for you, how could I have ended up trapped in The Prison of All Souls by the Fool? If it weren''t for you, how could I have fallen to such a wretched state!"


    Jeremy, feeling indignant, replied, "Isn''t that because you''re narrow-minded? A goddess chasing after a mere mortal like me, and you got caught by the Fool¡ªhow is that my fault? I''m a victim here too!"


    All of this clearly started because Jeremy insulted her idol, and yet Jeremy had the audacity to call her petty!


    Staring at the shameless Jeremy in utter disbelief, Janna was at a loss for words. She red at him, her face full of incredulity: "You... you..."


    "You, you," she stammered, unable to form aplete sentence before spitting out a small mouthful of blood.


    Seeing the divine blood, Jeremy felt a pang of heartache. This was the blood of a goddess,who knew what kind of rare material it might be?


    If he weren''t afraid of driving Janna to her death, he would have collected it.


    After all, Jeremy had already figured it out: since he could control the Substitute Puppet again, the Prison of All Souls and the Land of Eternal Night must not be far apart.


    The "Dawn Break" event was shrouded in mystery, and he might need the help of this ss change goddess to get out of there.


    Pausing for a moment, Jeremy waited for Janna to catch her breath before saying, "Alright, alright, let''s say it''s all my fault. Goddess, please calm down."


    "The most important thing now is to escape this damned ce. Do you have any good ideas?"


    Surprisingly, after hearing Jeremy''s half-hearted apology, the fire of Janna''s anger inexplicably subsided.


    Moreover, what Jeremy suggested was precisely what Janna most desired at this moment.


    As long as she could restore her strength and escape this cursed ce, dealing with Jeremy, a mere mortal, would be a trivial task for her.


    With a delicate snort, Janna replied, somewhat dejectedly, "If I were in my prime, it wouldn''t be a problem. But the issue is that I''ve been severely injured by the Fool. Forget escaping the Prison of All Souls. I can''t even move right now."


    Jeremy pondered for a moment and asked, "Is there no way to recover? I have some healing potions here."


    As he spoke, Jeremy brought out all his healing potions, including the Water of Life.


    To his surprise, Janna didn''t even nce at them.


    With a tone of frustration, Janna said, "Do you think the Fool''s attacks are that simple? If it were just a matter of health, I wouldn''t need your help.I could recover on my own."


    "The reason I''m gravely injured now is due to severe soul damage. Unless there''s something that can significantly restore my spiritual essence, even a century wouldn''t be enough to heal."


    By the end, Janna''s voice carried a tinge of bitterness.


    Jeremy could sense that Janna was bordering on despair.


    Soul-rted items are top-tier treasures no matter where you are. It wasn''t that Janna underestimated Jeremy,she genuinely believed that someone like him couldn''t possibly possess such a rare item.


    However, Jeremy suddenly had a sh of inspiration. He retrieved a fingernail-sized, snowke-like, translucent white crystal from his storage space. This crystal was none other than a Soul Crystal.


    Holding the Soul Crystal before Janna, Jeremy asked, "Can this Soul Crystal heal your soul damage?"


    The moment she heard the words "Soul Crystal," Janna''s eyes lit up.


    Afraid she had misheard, she quickly looked at the crystal between Jeremy''s fingers and eximed, "It can be used,Soul Crystals are exactly what we used to use."


    Hearing this, Jeremy mused, "So the special existence mentioned in The Eye of Omniscience''s prompt referred to deities."


    Without further ado, Jeremy felt a lightness in his fingers and turned his head to see the Soul Crystal dissolve into a brilliant ray of light, which Janna eagerly absorbed.


    Instantly, herplexion improved ever so slightly.


    Janna sighed, "Unfortunately, such a small amount of Soul Crystal is insignificant,it barely makes a difference."


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy didn''t waste any more words. He took out all the Soul Crystals from his storage space.


    Seeing the growing number of Soul Crystals in Jeremy''s hand, Janna''s eyes began to sparkle with hope. "This... this many? Jeremy, how do you have so many Soul Crystals?"


    Jeremy shrugged and said, "I obtained them by defeating monsters along the way. So, is it enough?"


    The joy on Janna''s face grew even more pronounced. "Just by killing monsters, you have this many? It''s different from our era."


    After shaking her head, Janna added, "Although these Soul Crystals are numerous, they can only heal about one-thousandth of my injuries."


    Jeremy''s expression froze. "One-thousandth?"

 Chapter 79: The Dawn Arena

    By the time Jeremy opened his eyes again, more than half the day had unknowingly passed.


    As he looked at the familiar ceiling of the inn, Jeremy''s face was filled with mncholy.


    Earlier, in The Prison of All Souls, Jeremy had used a considerable number of soul crystals, but they could only heal a thousandth of Janna''s injuries.


    To fully recover Janna''s wounds would require an astronomical number of soul crystals.


    Relying on Jeremy alone to farm for them was absolutely unrealistic.


    After some thought, Jeremy sighed and muttered to himself, "It seems I''ll have to trouble old Heber again."


    If farming couldn''t gather the necessary soul crystals for Janna, then buying them was the only option.


    In this regard, Heber was an expert.


    Jeremy stood up, stretched his long-sitting muscles, and walked out of the room.


    As he passed Bonnie''s room, Jeremy naturally pushed open the door and nced at Bonnie, who was still lying on the bed.


    At this moment, Bonnie''s body seemed to have fully recovered. Even the once ck and purple wound on her left ankle had reduced to just a red mark.


    However, Bonnie still had her eyes closed, resembling a sleeping beauty in a deep slumber, lying quietly on the bed.


    Jeremy approached and checked her condition, finding that Bonnie was almost fully restored with no negative status effects. She really did seem to be merely sleeping, which put his mind at ease.


    Heber''s tradingpany was not far from the inn where Jeremy was staying. A short whileter, Jeremy spotted a g with a grinning hippo''s face pping in the wind.


    Clearly, this was Heber''s tradingpany.


    However, it seemed that Heber''spany was currently facing some issues.


    Arge group of intimidating sinners were gathered at the entrance of Heber''spany. Even from a distance, Jeremy could hear the noisymotion loud and clear.


    "Heber, we heard you''ve encountered the new yer this season. Where is he? Bring him out so we can have a look!"


    "Heber, stop hiding him. Hand over the new yer from this season!"


    "That''s right, don''t think about hogging all the good stuff. Any intel you have should be shared with everyone."


    ...


    Most of this group of people were actually here for Jeremy.


    Seeing the undisguised malice on their faces, it was clear that if Jeremy fell into their hands, he would be in a living hell.


    Heber, on the other hand, was genuinely loyal.


    Even though he was sweating profusely from being surrounded, he still stood at the entrance of the tradingpany, angrily shouting, "This is Dawn City! What do you think you''re doing? Murdering someone in broad daylight?"


    "Let me tell you, even if that new yer were here, I, Heber, would never hand him over!"


    A sinner with a tiger''s head and a broad-ded knife in his arms sneered at Heber, "Heber, I advise you to be sensible. If you don''t want to leave the starting cage, don''t hold us back. Hand over that new yer, or don''t me me for being rude!"


    "If you don''t hand him over today, then we''ll settle this in the Dawn Arena!"


    Upon hearing this, Heber''s face turned deathly pale.


    To survive this long in the Land of Eternal Night, these sinners had obviously waded through rivers of blood and mountains of corpses.


    Although Dawn City was a haven for sinners longing for a peaceful life.


    However those who had emerged from such brutal conditions inevitably had fiery tempers and were sometimes forced to resort to violence.


    The Dawn Arena was specifically established for such situations.


    ording to Dawn City''s rules: disputes could be resolved through duels in the Dawn Arena.


    The challenger had to bet their entire fortune to issue a challenge, and the challenged could not refuse.


    Of course, to prevent the arena from being misused, Dawn City imposed certain restrictions on challenges.


    Restriction one: the level difference between the challenger and the challenged could not exceed five levels. If the level difference was too great, both parties could find someone else to fight on their behalf.


    Restriction two: Each person can only be challenged once per month.


    At this moment, the tiger-headed sinner, with a bloodthirsty look and a mocking smile, tilted his head and looked at Heber, "So, fatso, if you don''t hand over that yer, don''t me me for being ruthless."


    "And don''t say I''m bullying you, you useless fatso. After all these years, I bet you''re still at level fifty and haven''t awakened your profession, right? Let my manck Tiger Davidy with you."


    "Heber, are you scared?"


    This tiger-headed sinner was no ordinary figure; he made a living off the Dawn Arena. Over the years, he had umted a sizeable fortune solely from the arena.


    As he spoke, a cold, murderous intent began to emanate from the tiger-headed sinner.


    ck Tiger David was his top lieutenant over the years.


    Although David was only at level 40, rumors had it that he once hunted down a level 52, profession-awakenedexpert!


    Even though that expert was severely injured at the time and far from full strength, the gap between a profession-awakened person and someone who hadn''t awakened was like night and day!


    Killing a profession-awakened person at level 40 made ck Tiger David famous overnight.


    Upon hearing this, Heber''s pupils contracted, and his body began to tremble.


    After all these years, ck Tiger David had undoubtedly gained more levels. Heber had no confidence in defeating David at level 40, let alone now.


    For a moment, those who had cooperated with Heber and knew his character well began to advise him.


    "Heber, it''s not worth risking your life for aplete stranger. Listen to me and hand him over."


    "Heber, I''m not trying to scare you, but I''ve heard that ck Tiger David is currently on the verge of a profession awakening. You can''t beat him."


    "It''s not worth losing everything for a stranger."


    ...


    The tiger-headed sinner crossed his arms and looked at Heber with disdain, "I''m telling you, fatso, don''t mistake my patience for weakness!"


    Originally, Heber''s face showed signs of wavering under the crowd''s persuasion. But after hearing the tiger-headed sinner''s words, a determined light shed in his small eyes.


    Pushing aside those blocking his path, Heber stared directly at the tiger-headed sinner and said, "I''ve always lived by the principles of integrity and loyalty. Betraying a friend is out of the question!"


    "If ites to it, then so be it¡ªfight it is!"


    This deration silenced those who had been chattering incessantly.


    At this moment, the crowd''s gaze towards Heber was filled with a mix of disdain, confusion, admiration, and pity...


    Some even felt indignant on Heber''s behalf, though they didn''t dare to badmouth Blood Tiger Hansen. Instead, they directed their ire towards Jeremy, who had yet to appear.


    "Where''s that yer? Just hiding and letting Heber take the fall¡ªwhat a coward!"


    "Such a cowardly disy. This batch of yers is really disappointing."


    "Pathetic. Heber, you''re pathetic for still being at level 50 after all these years, and that yer is even worse! He doesn''t even dare to show his face!"


    ...


    Hearing this, the tiger-headed sinner''s expression shifted from disdain to seriousness.


    Nodding solemnly, he said, "I didn''t expect you to be a real man. Alright, I, Blood Tiger Hansen, officially challenge you!"


    As he spoke, Blood Tiger Hansen pulled out a scroll from his pocket. He bit his finger, wrote down his name, and tossed the scroll to Heber.


    Without hesitation, Heber examined the scroll to ensure there were no hidden traps, then bit his fingertip and signed his own name.


    Seeing Heber sign his name without fear, Blood Tiger Hansen''s lips curled into a grim smile. "Good, you''re straightforward. In honor of your bravery, I''ll instruct ck Tiger David to give you a swift end!"


    With that, Blood Tiger Hansen extended his hand to drag Heber to the Dawn Arena.


    Heber had no power to resist Blood Tiger Hansen''s grip and could only watch as Hansen''s hand grewrger andrger in his vision.


    A trace of despair slowly emerged in Heber''s eyes.


    At that moment, a voice, not particrly loud but somehow resonating in everyone''s hearts, broke the silence: "I say, isn''t this just bullying an honest man?"


    Following the voice, everyone turned to see a man with a distinct appearance, unlike theirs, staring coldly at Blood Tiger Hansen.


    Heber''s face showed urgency as he shouted, "Jeremy, why did youe? Leave now, don''t worry about me. As long as you''re in Dawn City, they can''t do anything to you."


    With these words and Jeremy''s unusual appearance, the crowd quickly realized that this was the legendary new yer.


    Instantly, greedy eyes turned towards Jeremy.


    This was a living source of points! umting 999 points would grant them freedom!


    Moreover, Jeremy''s value wasn''t just in the points. To the sinners, the most valuable thing about him was the intelligence he held about the new batch of yers.


    Capturing Jeremy and extracting information from him would allow them to strategically massacre the new yers!


    Blood Tiger Hansen''s eyes gleamed as he burst intoughter, "Hahaha, well, if I didn''te looking for you, you came to me! This is perfect!"


    Heber shouted desperately, "Run, Jeremy, run!"


    Seeing Heber still thinking about him in such a dire situation, Jeremy felt a warmth in his heart.


    Jeremy nodded at Heber, signaling his understanding, and then turned to Blood Tiger Hansen, saying, "An arena fight, right? I''ll take it!"

 Chapter 80: Instant Kill!

    Jeremy''s words caught everyone present by surprise.


    Everyone here had gone through the same experience and knew that upon entering the Land of Eternal Night, no one''s level would exceed 40.


    With the "Dawn Break" event having started just a few days ago, even if this new yer had been grinding non-stop, it was unlikely that his level would be much above 40.


    Meanwhile, ck Tiger David was a level 50 sinner on the cusp of a profession awakening.


    Not to mention, years ago, ck Tiger David had even fought and defeated a profession-awakened sinner of a higher level.


    Given such strength, the fact that this new yer dared to challenge him seemed nothing short of reckless.


    Only Heber, who had witnessed Jeremy nearly effortlessly kill Crocodile Zack, knew that Jeremy wasn''t being arrogant¡ªhe was genuinely confident.


    Blood Tiger Hansen shook his head and chuckled, "I thought I had captured a smart one, but it turns out you''re just a brute. Looks like I won''t be getting any useful information from you."


    "If you want to die so badly, I''ll grant your wish!" Blood Tiger Hansen then turned to Heber and said, "Five o''clock this afternoon, at the Dawn Arena. Don''t bete!"


    With that, Blood Tiger Hansen ignored the reactions of the crowd and walked away.


    The news of Blood Tiger Hansen''s impending duel with a new yer spread across the za within a few hours.


    Suddenly, undercurrents began to stir among the various factions in Dawn City.


    The reopening of the "Dawn Break" event was no secret to any sinner.


    However, unlike those desperate sinners who lived by the sword and yearned for freedom, the influential figures in Dawn City had spent centuries building their wealth and status.


    For them to abandon years of hard work and turn to ughtering others for points, only to leave the Land of Eternal Night at the cost of their umted wealth, was something they were unwilling to do.


    However, although they were unwilling to engage in ughter, they were very keen to take this opportunity to observe what kind of beings these new yers were.


    Soon, it was 5 PM.


    On a massive arena nearly 500 meters in diameter, made entirely of an unknown ck material, two figures stood facing each other¡ªone tall, one short.


    The over two-meter-tall figure, covered in short, coarse ck hair with a massive ck tiger head atop his neck and several intersecting scars on his face exuding a menacing aura, was none other than ck Tiger David.


    Opposite him, holding a stark white bone spear and with a calm expression on his fair face, stood Jeremy.


    Below the arena, it was a gathering of the city''s elite. Most of the prominent figures of Dawn City hade to witness the event!


    Even the city lord''s youngest daughter was seated in the audience.


    This youngdy, with a translucent crystal embedded in her forehead, golden hair, and golden eyes, exuding an aura of unparalleled sanctity, sat gracefully and elegantly, her curious gaze fixed on Jeremy.


    Not far from her, Blood Tiger Hansen and Heber sat stiffly under the intense scrutiny of the youngdy''s guards, not daring to make a sound.


    Joking aside, this was Nina, the city lord''s most beloved daughter. On ordinary days, not even Blood Tiger Hansen, let alone Heber, a mere wandering merchant, would have the privilege of being close to her.


    Only today, due to Jeremy, the new yer, were Blood Tiger Hansen and Heber invited to sit near Nina.


    However, at this moment, Nina''s attention was entirely focused on Jeremy on the arena, and she was temporarily ignoring Heber and Blood Tiger Hansen.


    Seeing Jeremy''s face, so different from other sinners and almost godlike as in the legends, Nina''s heart began to race.


    All her life, Nina had never seen such a person outside of the city lord''s mansion.


    For a moment, a faint blush appeared on Nina''s cheeks.


    Meanwhile, Hansen felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.


    He hadn''t expected that a mere yer, not even at level 40, would attract the attention of the city lord''s mansion.


    After hesitating for a moment, Blood Tiger Hansen spoke to Nina, "Since Miss Nina seems to favor this new yer, why don''t I just call off the duel?"


    Reluctantly pulling her gaze away from Jeremy, Nina turned to Blood Tiger Hansen, "Are you trying to make me break Dawn City''s rules and be disdained by my father?"


    In that instant, an icy and authoritative aura, belonging to the city lord''s lineage, emanated from Nina''s radiant golden eyes.


    Immediately, cold sweat began to form on Blood Tiger Hansen''s forehead, despite his level being far higher than Nina''s.


    With a thud, Hansen dropped to one knee and said to Nina, "That''s not what I meant, Miss Nina, please don''t misunderstand."


    Nina''s cold and authoritative gaze locked onto Blood Tiger Hansen, "Whether or not you meant it, if this rare new yer dies because of you, you will face punishment."


    "Aren''t you fond of the arena? After this duel, you can have a match with my chief guard."


    In an instant, Hansen''s face turned ashen.


    Even though Hansen had already awakened his profession and reached level 65, making him a formidable figure in the Land of Eternal Night, he was far from invincible.


    The rumors said that the Chief Guard of the City Lord''s Mansion was a level 70 extraordinary awakened individual. How could Blood Tiger Hansen possiblypare to such a powerhouse?


    The two levels were exactly five apart, which did not vite Dawn City''s rules.


    But in the end, the arm can''t wrestle the thigh, so Blood Tiger Hansen could only grit his teeth and nod in agreement.


    Beside him, Heber hesitated, wanting to say that his brother Jeremy might not necessarily lose to ck Tiger David, but feared that no one would believe him and he would be ridiculed.


    As he was deliberating whether to speak, Nina suddenly turned, her radiant golden eyes looking at Heber, and said, "You seem to have something to say?"


    Towards Heber, Nina''s attitude was much friendlier.


    Now, Heber''s reputation for loyalty and righteousness had already spread following the morning''s events.


    Even someone as proud as Nina admired people like Heber.


    Heber swallowed hard, hesitating before he said, "Jeremy is very strong. He might not die. Maybe... maybe he''ll even defeat ck Tiger David."


    After he said this, Nina didn''t immediately react, but Blood Tiger Hansen let out a derisive snort.


    Anyway, now that he felt his days were numbered, he couldn''t care less about other things. Hansen directly said to Heber, "Do you even know what you''re talking about? There''s a whole eleven-level difference between them! It''s a miracle if Jeremy doesn''t die, let alone win. You''re out of your mind."


    Even Nina''s expression showed clear disbelief.


    Seeing that neither of them believed him, Heber felt frustrated, but in Nina''s presence, he dared not be disrespectful. He could only silently sit back in his seat.


    On the arena, ck Tiger David stood with his arms crossed, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his arms, a faint red glow shimmering between his sharp ws. With a snort, ck Tiger David said, "Enough talk. Let''s get this started."


    Clearly, ck Tiger David did not consider Jeremy a threat.


    At the same time, Jeremy was using The Eye of Omniscience to observe ck Tiger David.


    [ck Tiger David]


    [Level: lv50]


    [ss: Blood Hunter]


    [Attack: 175,000 - 198,000]


    [Defense: 18,320]


    [Skills: Blood Mark, Lethal Ambush, Blood Feast, Shadow Assault...]


    [Note: Strong and agile, a shadow attribute sinner. Takes double damage from light attribute attacks.]


    Seeing the note from The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy''s eyes lit up instantly. "Double damage from light attribute attacks? Let''s see how many of my Judgment des you can handle!"


    Nodding slightly, Jeremy wasted no more words. He lifted his bone spear, as if saying: Bring it on.


    A vein popped on ck Tiger David''s forehead. "Shadow Assault!"


    In the next moment, dense shadows enveloped ck Tiger David.


    With a swish, the shadows dissipated like foam, and ck Tiger David vanished from Jeremy''s sight.


    What ck Tiger David didn''t know was that Jeremy''s mental attributes had already surpassed ten thousand points.


    With his mental attributes surpassing ten thousand points, Jeremy had reached a qualitative transformation.


    As long as the level difference wasn''t too vast, no one could ambush him.


    Jeremy felt a sudden shift in his thoughts, immediately sensing an influx of energy in his shadow.


    There was no need to guess. It had to be ck Tiger David.


    With a low shout, Jeremy invoked, "Judgment de!"


    In the next moment, a colossal, translucent sword, seemingly forged from pure gold, materialized out of thin air.


    The magnificent giant sword, dozens of meters long, immediately drew the attention of everyone present.


    An invisible pressure emanated from the Judgment de, causing everyone to hold their breath.


    Blood Tiger Hansen swallowed instinctively, staring up at the colossal object overhead.


    Not far away, Nina''s eyes widened, her small cherry-red mouth slightly agape, her earlier noble and authoritative demeanorpletely vanished.


    Only Heber felt a surge of tion in his chest, almost wanting to shout to the heavens.


    ck Tiger David was unaware that such a thing was hovering above his head.


    With a fierce shout, ck Tiger David''s hands emitted a crimson glow as he sprang out from the shadows beneath Jeremy''s feet.


    "Idiot, go to ... hell!." ck Tiger David snarled, his voice faltering as he saw the resplendent golden light.


    He stared wide-eyed at the giant light sword, feeling an intense aversion to the light attribute energy emanating from it.


    As ck Tiger David muttered, "What the hell is this?" Jeremy casually waved his hand.


    In the next instant, the enormous Judgment de crashed down like a mountain.


    ck Tiger David had no chance to resist, being obliterated into dust instantly.


    With a clink, the only thing left on the ground was a pair of blood-red glowing beast-skin gauntlets.


    A near-profession-awakened expert was thus effortlessly and unceremoniously annihted.

 Chapter 81: An Unexpected Surprise

    The dazzling lightsaber crashed down with a thunderous roar. Amidst the deafening noise and brilliant light, the sinners below the Dawn Arena couldn''t see what had just transpired.


    However, for Blood Tiger Hansen, a seasoned expert who had already awakened his profession, the spectacle of light and sound was fleeting.


    And precisely because of this, Blood Tiger Hansen clearly witnessed his ace fighter, a younger member of his n, being instantly killed by a yer eleven levels lower.


    Blood Tiger Hansen''s eye twitched as he gazed at the arena, his expression one of shock and despair. He knew he was finished.


    Simrly, Nina, who was nearby, stood up abruptly.


    At this moment, Nina''s eyes literally began to emit a faint glow.


    This was a significant characteristic of her family''s bloodline power. The more emotional she got, the more pronounced the bloodline power became, manifesting as glowing pupils.


    Nina tightly clenched her fingers together, shouting in her mind, "Such a powerful light element force, maybe this yer can break my father''s curse!"


    Just then, the intense light in the sky suddenly dissipated. Jeremy stood there,pletely unscathed, without even a wrinkle in his clothes, exuding an air of calm.


    Meanwhile, ck Tiger David, who had shown such formidable strength moments ago, had suddenly vanished, leaving only his famous equipment. His blood ws fell to the ground with a clink.


    Seeing this scene, the sinners couldn''t be clearer.ck Tiger David had been instantly killed by this new yer, who was eleven levels lower.


    A tremendous outcry erupted from below the Dawn Arena.


    Jeremy, who had just one-shotted ck Tiger David, acted as if nothing had happened. He calmly picked up the pair of gauntlets that ck Tiger David had dropped.


    The items were good, butpared to his Bone Spear skeletal staff, they were nothing special.


    After casually ncing at the gauntlets'' attributes, Jeremy tossed them into his storage space.


    These gauntlets might not be useful to Jeremy, but they could be sold to Heber in exchange for soul crystals.


    Seeing Jeremy acting so nonchnt, some of the sinners present were not pleased.


    Although Blood Tiger Hansen and his subordinate, ck Tiger David, were considered lowlifes by the powerful sinners, they were still sinners.


    They couldn''t allow Jeremy, a neer to the Land of Eternal Night, to act so brazenly!


    Moreover, Jeremy''s strength instilled a deep-seated fear in them.


    If Jeremy were the only one capable of such feats, they might be wary of him but wouldn''t take him too seriously.


    The real fear was that if every yer participating in the Dawn Break event was like Jeremy, it would spell disaster for the sinners.


    If all the participants in this Dawn Break event were as formidable as Jeremy, the sinners would be nothing more than fish on the chopping block, at the mercy of others.


    No matter what, they couldn''t let Jeremy leave just like that. At the very least, they needed to uncover the extent of his strength.


    Several high-ranking sinner family heads exchanged nces, each seeing the same intent in the others'' eyes: "We can''t let this kid leave so easily!"


    At that moment, an elderly sinner, who appeared frail and had the head of a lion with fur that had turned gray, stood up gracefully.


    Tapping his white ivory and gold-iid cane lightly, the lion-headed sinner, dressed in an impable suit, began to speak in a deep, authoritative voice: "Mr. Jeremy, thank you for bringing us such an exciting duel."


    "However, ck Tiger David is quite crude and unworthy of representing the strength of Dawn City."


    "Might I inquire if you, Mr. Jeremy, would be interested in a match with a member of the Golden Lion family?"


    "If Mr. Jeremy is willing to give our Golden Lion family some guidance, then we will present you with this Tier-6 Fire Element Essence."


    "Of course, we are not savages. If Mr. Jeremy declines, we will not force the matter."


    As he spoke, the so-called patriarch of the Golden Lion family flipped his hand, revealing a crimson orb that seemed to burn like a me in his palm.


    Evidently, this must be the so-called Tier-6 Fire Element Essence.


    Even without using The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy could sense a vibrant life force and intense heat emanating from the crimson orb, which was only the size of a baby''s fist.


    Instantly, Jeremy thought to himself, "Good stuff."


    Out of instinct, Jeremy activated The Eye of Omniscience to examine the Fire Element Essence more closely.


    Immediately, his body froze momentarily, and a sh of ecstatic joy erupted in his eyes.


    At the same time, several other well-dressed, imposing sinners stood up from the audience.


    Facing Jeremy''s puzzled gaze, these sinners dered, "The Blood Leopard n, the ck Sheep n, the Golden Eagle n... request a duel with Mr. Jeremy."


    A total of eight top-tier families had now issued challenges to Jeremy.


    Moreover, what was even more peculiar was that each of these family heads held an elemental essence identical to the one in the Golden Lion family patriarch''s hand.


    However, these elemental essences were not fire elements.


    In an instant, the elemental concentration around Dawn Arena surged dramatically.


    Jeremy could even sense the emergence of tiny elemental life forms.


    A few elemental crystals had altered the elemental density of the area, which was simply astonishing.


    But no matter how valuable the items were, it didn''t change the fact that they were bait.


    Almost simultaneously with these families stepping forward, Jeremy sensed a number of low-key yet highly skilled sinners emerging from behind them, subtly encircling Dawn Arena.


    In that moment, Jeremy''s eyes lowered, filled with coldness: "They intend to kill me."


    Seeing this, Nina''s eyes also filled with anger.


    Gracefully rising, Nina approached the Golden Lion family patriarch who had first stood up.


    The moment the Golden Lion patriarch saw Nina, he lowered his proud head, bowed slightly, and ced a gentle kiss on Nina''s raised hand, "Good day, Miss Nina."


    Only after the Golden Lion patriarch had finished his greeting did Nina speak, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction, "Uncle Weber, what is the meaning of this? Are you nning to break the rules set by my father?"


    The Golden Lion family patriarch Weber''s expression remained unchanged at Nina''s words. "Miss Nina, you''ve misunderstood. Neither I nor the other family heads have vited the rules set by the Lord of the City."


    "We merely wish to seek Mr. Jeremy''s guidance for our family members. If Mr. Jeremy is unwilling, we will certainly not force him."


    Nina''s heart burned with indignation as she confronted Weber''s tant denial. "Uncle Weber, you..."


    Weber lifted his gaze, his dim yellow eyes shing with a cold glint, interrupting Nina''s words directly.


    "What is it, Miss Nina? Do you thinkwe are breaking the rules?"


    The other family heads also turned their eyes towards Nina, their cold nces making her feel as if she had fallen into an icy abyss.


    Nina''s heart seethed with anger. "Fine... very well. You old scoundrels. If it weren''t for my father''s severe injury anda, how would you dare treat me like this!"


    "You wish to kill this new yer so easily? I won''t let you have your way!"


    Nina turned to Jeremy, her eyes shing with determination. "Mr. Jeremy, as the daughter of the Lord of Dawn City, I would like to invite you to the lord''s mansion tonight. Would you be willing?"


    With those words, a sudden chill of murderous intent filled the eyes of the family heads, including Weber.


    Nina ignored their hostile gazes, locking her eyes firmly on Jeremy, awaiting his response.


    If Jeremy epted Nina''s invitation, she was confident she could escort him out of Dawn Arena safely.


    In truth, Nina''s move was somewhat risky.


    With the Lord of the City unconscious and the lord''s mansion already in a precarious state, offending so many top families of Dawn City at once was indeed unwise.


    However, Nina had her own reasons.


    Today, no matter what, she would not allow Jeremy to be killed.


    Jeremy, looking at the exotic, exquisitely beautiful girl before him, felt a mixture of hope, plea, and excitement in herplex gaze. For a moment, he was at a loss.


    The only thing he could be certain of was that this girl named Nina harbored no ill will towards him.


    Heber, who was standing nearby, was almost jumping with anxiety.


    Unable to hold back, Heber shouted, "Jeremy, quickly ept Miss Nina''s invitation!"


    However, under the hopeful gazes of Nina and Heber, Jeremy slowly shook his head.


    Jeremy said, "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Nina, but I don''t have the time right now. I will definitely visit the lord''s mansion in a few days."


    In an instant, the angelic light in Nina''s eyes dimmed.


    She knew it was over. Completely over. The opportunity her father had painstakingly sought was now lost.


    Heber was so frustrated he could have pped his own thigh.


    If he weren''t no match for Jeremy, Heber would have rushed up to smack Jeremy on the head to see if he had water in his brain.


    Golden Lion Weberughed heartily, giving Jeremy no chance to rebut. He said directly, "Mr. Jeremy, you have courage. I like young people like you, full of vigor."


    Jeremy, however, paid no attention to what Golden Lion Weber was saying.


    He stared intently at the Tier-6 Fire Element Essence in Weber''s hand and said, "In that case, could you please pay me in advance, sir?"


    Weber was taken aback, a sh of disdain crossing his eyes, though he said, "Haha, of course."


    With that, Weber tossed the Tier-6 Fire Element Essence to Jeremy.


    Jeremy, staring at the Tier-6 Fire Element Essence, breathed heavily.

 Chapter 82: A Fortuitous Opportunity

    [Item Name:Tier-6 Fire Element Essence]


    [Type:Material]


    [Quality: Orange (Rare)]


    [Description: The Fire Element Essence can be used by advanced alchemists or cksmiths to create potions or equipment imbued with fire attributes.]


    [Note: Collect all Element Essences to fuse them into the Elemental Proof. Using the Elemental Proof during profession awakening grants full attribute elemental affinity, ensuring a 100% awakening of profession potential.]


    Upon utilizing the Eye of Omniscience to uncover the hidden information about the Element Essence, Jeremy found himself in an ecstatic state.


    The [sphemer] profession was already the strongest hidden profession. If he could achieve a 100% awakening of the sphemer, Jeremy''s power would undergo a monumental leap.


    What struck Jeremy as peculiar was how these family heads seemed to have coordinated in unison, each presenting a Tier-6 Element Essence.


    Moreover, each Essence had different elemental properties, as if this was orchestrated deliberately.


    Although Jeremy found this suspicious, the opportunity was too valuable to ignore. Ignoring such a temptation would be impossible for Jeremy.


    Even if there was some conspiracy behind this, Jeremy decided he would take the bait first before dealing with any potential traps.


    In truth, it wasn''t that the Golden Lion family and others had some grand scheme.


    Rather, the hidden conditions for profession awakening, unknown in Jeremy''s world, weremon knowledge among the sinners who had lived in the Land of Eternal Night for countless years.


    All sinners knew that during profession awakening, possessing an Element Essence corresponding to one''s profession could significantly enhance the potential of that profession.


    However, very few could produce a Tier-6 Fire Element Essence like the one in Weber''s hand. Collecting all the elemental essences was an even more daunting task.


    Thus, in the eyes of these seasoned individuals, this was an open and honest ploy. Anyone with sense, including Jeremy, would not pass up this opportunity, making it a fortuitous coincidence.


    Golden Lion Weber tossed the Tier-6 Fire Element Essence to Jeremy, and the other family heads followed suit, each handing over their respective Element Essences without dy.


    Golden Lion Weber slightly bowed to Jeremy. "Regardless of the oue, our Golden Lion family admires Mr. Jeremy''s courage."


    "In one day, we shall meet again in the arena."


    No matter what, Jeremy, who had in the would-be profession-awakened ck Tiger David at Level 39, was an undisputed powerhouse.


    Golden Lion Weber was willing to show respect to any strong individual, no matter who they were.


    With that, Golden Lion Weber turned around, a profound and unfathomable smile ying on his lips, ready to leave the arena. "Tomorrow, I shall see just how formidable this boy truly is."


    As Golden Lion Weber moved, arge group of lion-headed, human-bodied sinners stood up in unison, ready to follow him out.


    In an instant, the previously crowded area around the arena cleared out by a tenth.


    Nina bit down on her silver teeth, her fingers gripping so tightly that her knuckles turned white.


    This scene was a silent demonstration against the lord''s mansion!


    As for Heber and Blood Tiger Hansen, their faces turned ashen under this silent threat.


    Just then, the other family heads also prepared to leave.


    Unexpectedly, Jeremy suddenly waved his hand and said, "No need to wait until tomorrow. Let''s start now."


    Jeremy''s time was precious. He needed to quickly gather enough soul crystals to heal Janna.


    The enigmatic smile on Golden Lion Weber''s face froze instantly.


    With a stiff neck, Golden Lion Weber turned back and asked, as if he hadn''t heard clearly, "What did you say?"


    The entire Dawn Arena seemed to be paused, with everyone staring at Jeremy in stunned silence.


    Jeremy''s expression remained unchanged. "Don''t waste time. Let''s start now."


    A deep anger shed in Golden Lion Weber''s eyes. "This boy dares to belittle the Golden Lion family like this. Does he really think we''re some insignificant ck Tiger n?"


    Jeremy looked at the elderly Golden Lion, whose hair and beard had turned entirely gray, and assumed that the sinner was too old and hard of hearing. Considerately, Jeremy took out his Bone Spear from the storage space, shook it, and pointed it at the Golden Lion''s nose, saying, "I said, don''t waste my time!"


    Being so tantly disrespected, Golden Lion Weber finally reached the peak of his anger.


    Golden Lion Weber''s hair stood on end as heughed in rage. "Alright, alright! Since you''re courting death, don''t me me!"


    "Bel, you''re up!"


    As Golden Lion''s voice faded, a towering giant nearly three meters tall, with a mane of dark golden fur around his neck and a bronze-like build, emerged from the crowd, holding a long spear.


    With each of Bel''s deliberate steps, the ground beneath him trembled ever so slightly, causing the nearby sinners to gasp in awe.


    "Old Weber must be really pissed off to call out Dark Gold Bel."


    "I heard that Dark Gold Bel is Weber''s youngest son. Not only does he have the rare [Golden Lion] profession, but his gear is top-notch, with even the worst piece being tinum level!"


    "Bel is a level 50 pre-professional expert. I wonder if he can take on this Jeremy."


    "I doubt it. ck Tiger David is also a level 50 pre-professional, but he couldn''tst a single move against this new yer Jeremy. He''s just too fierce."


    "Are you seriouslyparing ck Tiger David to Dark Gold Bel? Do you even have a brain? They''re not in the same league!"


    ¡­


    As the murmurs around him continued, a bloodthirsty glint appeared in Bel''s dark yellow beastly eyes.


    With a self-deprecating smile, Bel''s deep voice resonated, "Comparing me to that ck Tiger David... It seems I''ve been out of action for so long that everyone has forgotten who I am."


    With a thunderous stomp, Bel''s massive foot created a bowl-sized crater in the ground.


    In an instant, Bel, like a looming tower, appeared in the Dawn Arena.


    Pointing his heavy spear forward, Bel''s weapon whistled through the air, creating a deep hum. "Jeremy, right? Let''s get started!"


    Just from Bel''s imposing aura alone, Jeremy realized that Bel was in apletely different leaguepared to that ck Tiger David from earlier.


    Without wasting any time, Jeremy gripped his Bone Spear and charged directly at Bel.


    Seeing Jeremy''s speed, Bel was taken aback by how fast this level 39 yer was. Still, it was a speed he could handle.


    "Well, no wonder that waste ck Tiger David got killed by you. You do have some skills, but that''s it."


    As he spoke, a faint whirlwind began to coil around Bel''s long spear, tightly wrapping it in streams of wind.


    "Storm Surge!"


    In an instant, countless spearhead shadows, entwined with fierce winds, formed a towering wall in front of Jeremy.


    Yet, Jeremy didn''t slow down; it seemed as if he hadn''t even noticed the barrier, charging straight ahead without hesitation.


    For a moment, Nina, watching from below the arena, felt her heart tighten with anxiety. "Idiot, showing off without the skills to back it up!"


    Golden Lion Weber and his entourage, on the other hand, disyed a hint of relief in their eyes. "Thank goodness, this new yer doesn''t seem overwhelmingly strong after all."


    But just then, a slight smirk appeared at the corner of Jeremy''s mouth as he softly muttered, "Shadow Step, Disaster de!"


    He activated two skills simultaneously.


    In a sh, Jeremy''s speed surged dramatically, making him as elusive as a slippery fish. In the blink of an eye, he dodged all the spear shadows and closed the distance to Bel.


    At the same time, a dark red glow enveloped Jeremy''s Bone Spear.


    The Bone Spear''s passive ability already allowed it to bypass a certain amount of defense. Now,bined with Jeremy''s own attack power and the Disaster de skill, Jeremy''s damage output skyrocketed.


    "Boom!"


    Faced with imminent danger, Bel finally reacted. For a split second, his previously narrow pupils widened in shock.


    There was no time to say anything. Bel nted his foot firmly, ready to retreat.


    But Jeremy was not about to let Bel escape!


    With a fierce strike, Jeremy''s Bone Spear crashed into Bel''s vital points.


    Under the terrifying force of the attack, specks of blood blossomed instantly, causing Bel''s towering, nearly three-meter-tall frame to stumble backward repeatedly.


    Fortunately, the impact also afforded Bel a brief moment to catch his breath.


    "Roar!"


    With a thunderous shout, Bel''s mane and beard bristled, sending ripples through the air like waves.


    Jeremy squinted his eyes. "Sonic attack?"


    The next moment, the lion''s roar reverberated heavily in Jeremy''s ears.


    His mind went nk for a second, and two streams of blood trickled from his ears like serpentine rivers.


    Jeremy nced at his health and remained unconcerned.


    Although the sonic attack seemed powerful, it actually caused minimal damage to Jeremy.


    In that brief pause, Bel, covered in bloody wounds, had his beastly eyes re up with a murderous glow.


    "zing Sun Lion Thrust!"


    Twisting his wrist, Bel spun his massive spear and thrust it forward.


    In the air, a ming lion, as if alive, pounced downward, merging with Bel''s spear.


    With a soul-shaking roar, the skill aimed straight at Jeremy''s heart.


    This was the killing move of the rare [Golden Lion] profession.


    Although Bel hadn''t fully awakened his profession, this skill could also deliver a mental shock, causing the opponent''s soul to tremble and leaving them stunned for a few seconds.


    In battle, even a moment''s distraction could be fatal, and a few seconds were more than enough for Bel to finish off his enemy.


    Bel was confident that this thrust would leave Jeremy severely injured.


    What Bel didn''t know was that just yesterday, Jeremy''s mental attributes had surpassed ten thousand, nourishing his soul.


    Jeremy''s hands didn''t falter. With a swift motion, his Bone Spear pierced through the air, directly impaling Bel''s skull.


    With a resounding "boom," it was as if a giant watermelon had exploded in mid-air.

 Chapter 83: Flee Without Fighting

    Silence, a deathly silence, once again nketed the entire Dawn Arena.


    The recent battle, which seemed to take so long to describe, in reality, urred within just a few seconds.


    Most people hadn''t even had time to react before they saw the once-arrogant, murderous Bel get his head blown off by Jeremy.


    Golden Lion Weber''s old eyes widened, and he nearly fainted on the spot.


    Bel was the most promising of all his sons, even having a chance to break through level 70!


    Yet, in just a few breaths, he was killed!


    How could Golden Lion Weber possibly endure this?


    At this moment, Nina erupted into a burst ofughter that was entirely uncharacteristic of herdylike demeanor.


    "Hahaha, excellent, truly an exciting fight."


    "Mr. Jeremy, thank you for bringing us this battle!"


    After pping her hands unceremoniously, Nina provocatively looked at Golden Lion Weber.


    With a deliberately fake smile on her face, Nina said to Weber, "In the arena, weapons have no eyes.Uncle Weber, please ept my condolences."


    Weber tightly gripped his gold-embellished ivory cane and snorted coldly, "No need for your concern, Miss."


    Meanwhile, after collecting all the items that Bel had dropped upon death, Jeremy casually nced at the other family heads.


    Being stared at so tantly by Jeremy, the once-arrogant family heads couldn''t help but lower their heads.


    Even though each of these family heads had reached over level 70 and were renowned superhuman awakeners, at this moment.


    Jeremy''s mere presence made them not dare to meet his gaze.


    Finally, a sinister-looking Sinner, with a ck goat head, stepped forward. "Hmph, no matter how strong you are, you''re just one person! Do you think you can take on all of us?"


    He pointed to a member of his n standing behind him. "Brook, you go!"


    The words of the Sinner with the ck goat head instantly lifted everyone''s spirits.


    "The old goat is right. There are so many of us. Are we really going to fear a mere level 39 yer?"


    "If that''s the case, we might as well abandon our homes and hand Dawn City over to this new batch of yers."


    "Brook? I heard he''s the only one in the old goat''s family who has had contact with a deity. How could the old goat bear to let him fight?"


    "Haha, let''s see how long this Jeremy guy can keep up his arrogance."


    Amidst the crowd''s expectant gazes, a Sinner emerged, gaunt and skeletal, leaning on a staff that appeared to be made from the spine of a giant.


    As soon as Brook appeared, an evil wind arose out of nowhere.


    As Brook walked, the people around him seemed to see something horrifying. Their faces turned pale, and they hurriedly backed away.


    The scene was like a withered bone de slicing through waves. No one could stand in its way.


    For a moment, there was even a stampede beneath the arena.


    Even Nina showed a trace of fear in her eyes as she looked at Brook.


    Jeremy, however, simply watched Brook approach him calmly.


    Having already used The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy wasn''t afraid of this seemingly eerie Sinner.


    The reason was simple: although Brook appeared powerful, he was actually a spent force, his life essencepletely drained by some unknown entity.


    ...


    [Notification: Necromancer Brook''s soul is hollow. Any soul attack will deal true damage and is guaranteed to crit.]


    ...


    Coincidentally, Jeremy had a soul attack skill, [Soul Roar].


    [Skill]: Soul Roar


    [Level]: lv10


    [Grade]: High


    [Type]: Mental Attack


    [Description]: Upon activation, this skill deals 300% mental damage to surrounding targets. Targets with lower mental strength than the user will be stunned for 5 seconds. Cooldown time: 20 minutes.


    Jeremy''s mental attribute was over 10,000. With 300%, that meant over 30,000 damage. Adding in critical hits, true damage that ignores defenses, and various damage boosts from his gear, Jeremy was confident he could instantly kill the sickly-looking Sinner in front of him with this one strike.


    Finally, under the expectant eyes of the crowd, Brook stepped onto the Dawn Arena.


    A hollow, eerie, gravelly voice, as if it were mixed with sand, came from Brook''s mouth: "Jeremy, if you hand over the information about your race, I might spare your life."


    Hearing this, Jeremy was momentarily stunned. He was exceptionally intelligent, and Brook''s words made him realize why these Sinners were targeting him so persistently.


    Seeing Jeremy''s dumbfounded look, Brook shook his head and continued in his hollow voice, "Forget it, I''ll just imprison your soul and find out everything I need to know."


    As he spoke, Brook struck the ground heavily with his staff, which looked like it was made from a giant''s spine, and a chilling voice echoed: "Wraith Torrent."


    Instantly, it was as if the sky had torn open, revealing a gray-ck passage above the Dawn Arena.


    A ghostly wind blew, and eerie, ghastlyughter began to rise.


    Below the stage, people felt as if something had suddenly appeared around them, and the temperature plummeted.


    However, upon closer inspection, there was nothing to be found.


    Jeremy, however, remained icy andposed.


    In his perception, the gray-ck hole in the sky, which looked like a segment of a pipe, was filled with countless souls.


    These souls had beast heads and human bodies, clearly the Sinners from the Land of Eternal Night.


    At this moment, these Sinners'' souls were howling in torment, twisted and numb, flooding towards Jeremy.


    Most of them were d in bup garments, looking simple and honest, just like the typical Sinner.


    Seeing the tormented expressions of these souls, it was clear that Brook had forcibly imprisoned them using his necromancer skills, making them the fuel for his evil abilities.


    Moreover, the majority of these souls were like Heber¡ªpeaceful civilians who had no desire to fight and simply wanted to live in tranquility.


    Jeremy''s Bone Spear shed in his hand, and in the next moment, the bone-white spear vanished, reced by a skeletal staff.


    Jeremy scoffed coldly, "Soul Roar!"


    Instantly, a transparent ripple appeared around Jeremy''s body.


    In the blink of an eye, the ripple swept through all the souls in the sky and over the arena, including Brook.


    As the Soul Roar ripple passed through the tormented souls in the sky, a series of faint shattering sounds echoed continuously.


    Wherever Jeremy''s gaze fell, no soul could withstand his attack.


    All of them shattered like balloons in an instant.


    When these imprisoned souls shattered, a fleeting moment of rity appeared in their once-numb eyes.


    They seemed to instantly understand their situation and cast grateful nces toward Jeremy.


    As all the souls disappeared, the gray-ck hole in the sky also dissipated into thin air.


    For a moment, the crowd below the arena looked up at the bright sky in confusion.


    "What happened? Why did Brook''s skill stop?"


    "Did Brook kill that Jeremy guy instantly?"


    ...


    Amid various spections, Brook, who had been standing still with his staff, suddenly copsed to the ground with a thud.


    Though Brook''s fall made a small sound, to the Sinners below, it was as loud as rolling thunder.


    "What happened? Why did Brook suddenly fall?"


    "Wait, why did that Jeremy guy switch weapons? A staff? Isn''t he a warrior?"


    "He''s a demon, that guy''s a demon!"


    The reactions of these ordinary Sinners were nothingpared to the expressions of the top families in Dawn City, like the Golden Lion n, who looked equally grim.


    Having lost two of their most talented heirs in session, how could they possibly ept this?


    In an instant, the other top families, who had yet to take the stage, started to reconsider their next moves.


    Jeremy showed no change in expression as he stood on the arena. He walked straight to Brook and stripped him of all his equipment.


    Seeing Jeremy, who appearedpletely unscathed and unaffected, the other families solidified their decision: "We can''t go head-to-head with this guy!"


    After collecting all of Brook''s gear and items into his inventory, Jeremy dered, "Next!"


    Hearing this casual tone, as if he were ordering food, the heads of several families pretended not to hear Jeremy and began to turn away.


    This made Jeremy anxious. "Wait, continue! Even if you don''te, you should still give me the elemental essence you promised earlier."


    Seeing this, Nina''s eyes lit up. She finally found something she could do for Jeremy.


    Stepping forward, Nina said, "You all are prominent figures. Surely, you wouldn''t think of reneging on your promise?"


    Given Nina''s status, the old foxes had no choice but to hand over the elemental essence, despite their reluctance.


    After receiving the elemental essence, Jeremy finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Then, Jeremy turned to Nina, who was about to approach him, and said, "Miss Nina, I have urgent matters to attend to. I will visit the City Lord''s Mansion another day."


    As he spoke, Jeremy walked towards Heber.


    Making his way through the crowd, Jeremy reached Heber and patted him on the arm. "Heber, I need your help with something."


    Hearing this, Heber ignored the other Sinners and hurriedly pulled Jeremy back to the merchant guild.


    Inside the guild, only a few solitary stewards and servants remained. None of the previous guards were in sight.


    Heber exined to Jeremy, "Those guards are mercenaries. They only protect me if I issue a task."


    Once inside, Heber poured Jeremy a drink that resembled coffee and then asked, "Bro, whatever you need help with, just let me know."

 Chapter 84: Large-Scale Procurement

    Jeremy hesitated for a moment before retrieving a soul crystal from his storage space.


    Handing the fingernail-sized soul crystal to Heber, Jeremy inquired, "Heber, have you ever seen a soul crystal like this?"


    To his surprise, Heber merely nced at the crystal in Jeremy''s hand without making any move to take it. With a puzzled expression, he remarked, "A soul crystal, huh? I''m very familiar with these things. How could I possibly have not seen one before?"


    Jeremy''s eyes lit up at Heber''s words. "Are soul crystals abundant in the Land of Eternal Night?"


    Heber scratched his head and said, "Soul crystals aren''t like energy crystals.They have various uses. In the Land of Eternal Night, they''re merely ornamental gems. I''m not sure what purpose you have for them, Jeremy."


    After a brief pause, Heber retrieved an identical soul crystal from a small pouch at his waist and presented it to Jeremy, saying, "Jeremy, take a look first. Is this what you''re after?"


    Jeremy didn''t need to handle it,he simply activated The Eye of Omniscience. Instantly, he confirmed that the soul crystal in Heber''s hand was exactly what he had been searching for.


    Jeremy nodded affirmatively and said, "Indeed, this is precisely what I have been seeking."


    Bursting into heartyughter, Heber reached into the small pouch at his waist and produced a generous handful of soul crystals.


    Without any hesitation, Heber shoved the entire handful into Jeremy''s hands. "You should have said so earlier! I''m a gem merchant,I may not have much of other things, but I have plenty of gems. Here, take them, Bro!"


    Heber''s broad palm held a bundle of soul crystals about the size of an average adult''s head.


    However, this quantity was merely a drop in the bucket for Jeremy.


    Jeremy didn''t take them. Instead, he solemnly asked, "Brother Heber, how many soul crystals do you have?"


    Upon realizing Jeremy''s intent, Heber was momentarily taken aback. "Aren''t these just decorative trinkets? And even with this many, it''s still not enough?"


    ncing at the remaining stock in the small pouch at his waist, Heber remarked, "I probably have around two thousand more soul crystals here."


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy frowned. "That''s a bit too few."


    Heber''s beady eyes widened in astonishment. "Brother Jeremy, the soul crystals I have here are enough to supply Dawn City for over a month. And this still isn''t enough?"


    Jeremy shook his head and said solemnly, "It''s far from enough."


    Jeremy then took out all the equipment and currency he had obtained earlier at Dawn Arena and handed them over to Heber without any hesitation or sign of reluctance. "Heber, please help me procure as many soul crystals as possible."


    The items Jeremy handed over were of significant value, including the equipment from Dark Gold Bel and everything from Blood Tiger Hansen''s stash.


    In essence, the items Jeremy presented were worth at least two to three times Heber''s entire fortune.


    Seeing the seriousness on Jeremy''s face, Heber didn''t ask any questions. He epted the items and said, "I know a few other gem merchants. Wait for my news."


    In the following days, a rumor spread through the merchant circles: Heber had gone mad!


    This seemingly honest gem merchant was now frantically buying up a gem that was good for nothing but its appearance¡ªsoul crystals.


    Every gem merchant knew that the most valuable items in their trade were not the pretty-looking gems.


    But the ones that could be embedded in equipment to enhance strength and provide various attributes.


    Yet Heber was defying market logic, sparing no expense to buy soul crystals like a madman.


    Such was Heber''s frenzy that the price of soul crystals in Dawn City doubled overnight!


    Heber ignored the gossip and rumors among his peers.


    Soon, just before he ran out of the items Jeremy had given him, Heber stopped his acquisitions.


    Because Heber had bought up every soul crystal in Dawn City!


    Of course, this was partly because soul crystals were generally undervalued, and no one had ever bothered to collect them specifically, leading to naturally low avability.


    With a bulging small pouch at his waist and a relieved expression on his face, Heber showed up at the inn where Jeremy was staying.


    Heber patted the pouch at his waist with a satisfied grin. "This much should definitely be enough forJeremy!"


    In Heber''s small waist pouch were over twenty thousand soul crystals!


    If all these soul crystals were taken out, they could fill an entire small room!


    Feeling proud of the great favor he had done for Jeremy, Heber walked into the inn with his head held high.


    At that moment, Jeremy was in Bonnie''s room, his expression somber as he looked at Bonnie lying quietly on the bed.


    Three days had passed since Bonnie had taken the high-level antidote, yet she remained unconscious!


    Had Jeremy not used The Eye of Omniscience to confirm that the deadly poison in Bonnie''s system had been neutralized and that she was out of danger, he might have sought out Bard to demand an exnation.


    After all, Bonnie was an acquaintance of Jeremy''s, and he didn''t want anything bad to happen to her.


    More importantly, Jeremy had already used a high-level antidote on her. If Bonnie were to die, he would have no recourse!


    With a troubled expression, Jeremy grabbed Bonnie''s left leg and lifted it, examining it closely.


    He intended to use The Eye of Omniscience once more to ensure there were no lingering issues.


    By now, the poison in Bonnie''s body had long been neutralized, and her injuries had mostly healed. Only two sesame-sized red dots remained on her baster-like ankle.


    The moment Jeremy''s hand came into contact with Bonnie''s skin, a sensation of smoothness immediately surged through him.


    Instinctively, Jeremy began to caress Bonnie''s skin.


    In that unintentional movement, the already torn fabric on Bonnie''s leg slipped further down her sleek, smooth skin.


    In an instant, Bonnie''s entire left leg, dazzlingly white, was fully exposed.


    For a moment, the perfect blend of slenderness and curves,bined with the wless, porcin-like quality of Bonnie''s leg, caused Jeremy''s throat to constrict involuntarily.


    Jeremy didn''t notice that the moment his hand touched Bonnie''s ankle, her face began to flush slightly.


    In fact, Bonnie had started to regain consciousness when Jeremy administered the high-level antidote.


    At that time, she had a vague sense that it was Jeremy who had saved her.


    Over the past three days, Bonnie''s consciousness had fully returned.


    However, for some inexplicable reason, although her mind was clear, she couldn''t open her eyes.


    When Jeremy entered her room, Bonnie was already aware of his presence.


    Bonnie had always hadplex feelings about Jeremy.


    On one hand, she greatly admired Jeremy''s formidable strength and reliable nature.


    On the other hand, Bonnie was utterly repulsed by Jeremy''s notoriousck of restraint.


    Though she was vaguely aware that Jeremy was her savior.


    When she sensed his intense gaze locked onto her, panic set in: "This pervert better not try anything with me!"


    The thought made Bonnie anxious. She was still a maiden and didn''t want to be taken advantage of by Jeremy in a moment of confusion.


    At the very least, shouldn''t it start with dating?


    Originally, Bonnie was straining with all her might to open her eyes.


    However, when Jeremy''srge hand grasped her ankle, a warm surge flowed into her body from his touch.


    Having never been touched so intimately by any man other than her father, Bonnie felt momentarily dazed.


    Jeremy had been in the Land of Eternal Night for some time now, and as a healthy man with normal desires, the sight of Bonnie''s beautiful leg ignited a fire within him.


    His rough, warm hand then slid from her ankle up to her plump thigh.


    Instantly, Jeremy felt as if his hand had sunk into a mound of butter.


    The sensation momentarily blurred Jeremy''s mind.


    A closer look revealed that Jeremy''s hand was now mere inches from Bonnie''s most private area!


    At that moment, Bonnie snapped fully awake!


    With a piercing scream, Bonnie''s eyes flew open.


    As soon as she opened her eyes, she tried to close her legs tightly and push away Jeremy''s intrusive hand.


    However, perhaps because her body hadn''t fully recovered, Bonnie found herself weak and powerless after opening her eyes.


    Her attempt to close her legs only ended up trapping Jeremy''s hand between them, and her feeble hands on his felt more like a tender hold than a push.


    The awkward situation left Jeremy utterly confused about Bonnie''s intentions.


    Meanwhile, Bonnie''s baster-like face flushed so deeply with embarrassment that it seemed blood might drip from it.


    Just then, Heber''s booming voice echoed from outside the room, unfiltered: "Jeremy,e quick! I''ve got the soul crystals you wanted!"


    The door creaked open, and Jeremy heard Heber entering his room.


    Clearly puzzled by Jeremy''s absence, Heber muttered to himself, "Strange, where is he?"


    After a brief pause, as if suddenly remembering something, Heber pped his forehead and said, "Oh right, he must be in that girl''s room."


    Heavy footsteps approached Bonnie''s room.


    Bonnie panicked instantly.


    "Let... let go!"

 Chapter 85: Meeting Janna Again

    The shy and bashful tone in her voice sent a ripple through Jeremy''s heart.


    Bonnie had never behaved this way in front of him before. She was always defiant and headstrong, never disying such a demure, girlish demeanor.


    If it weren''t for the wrong time and ce, Jeremy might have been tempted to tease Bonnie a bit more.


    With a slightly regretful nce at Bonnie, Jeremy exerted some force and withdrew his hand from between her legs.


    This action caused Bonnie''s heart to tremble, a sensation she couldn''t quite describe or understand rippling through her.


    Bonnie''s face turned crimson as she lowered her head and shoulders, not daring to meet Jeremy''s gaze.


    After pulling his hand away, Jeremy nonchntly helped Bonnie pull up the garment that had slipped down to her thighs, covering her fair and voluptuous leg.


    Bonnie, like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, allowed Jeremy to proceed with his actions.


    She even lifted her leg slightly to assist him as he adjusted her clothing.


    To be honest, this obedient andpliant side of Bonnie was something Jeremy had never seen before, making him feel a bit out of sorts.


    It was only then that Heber arrived outside Bonnie''s room.


    With a creaking sound, Heber pushed open the door to Bonnie''s room.


    Before he had fully entered, his heartyughter reached Jeremy''s ears: "Hahaha! Jeremy, my friend, I''ve brought you the soul crystals you asked for!"


    "I''ve never seen so many soul crystals in my life. This amount should be more than sufficient for your needs."


    As Heber stepped into the room, he was met with the sight of Bonnie staring at him wide-eyed.


    "Monster!"


    With a fierce shout, Bonnie was about to draw her weapon.


    Jeremy, irritated, gave Bonnie a light p, interrupting her aggressive stance. "Stop it. He''s your savior."


    Pointing at Heber with her delicate finger, Bonnie''s face was filled with disbelief. "I... I was saved by a monster?"


    ...


    After a moment of digesting the situation, Bonnie finally understood the full story. She offered Heber an apologetic smile and said, "Mr. Heber, thank you for saving my life. To show my gratitude, please ept this."


    As she spoke, Bonnie produced a Tier-6 energy crystal.


    Heber was taken aback. He hadn''t expected Bonnie to offer a Tier-6 energy crystal right off the bat.


    For a moment, Heber deeply understood what Jeremy had once said: "This girl is truly wealthy."


    Calmly epting the Tier-6 energy crystal from Bonnie''s hand, Heber waved his hand and said, "Miss, you shouldn''t just thank me. Jeremy here used a high-level antidote to save you."


    Although Bonnie had a vague idea that Jeremy was the one who saved her, she had no idea that he had used a high-level antidote.


    Such a high-grade potion was something even her father didn''t possess. It was unimaginable how precious that antidote must have been.


    For a moment, Bonnie turned to Jeremy with aplex look in her eyes.


    But just then, Jeremy suddenly pulled out a piece of parchment from his storage space and said, "This is the receipt, not including the cost of materials. You''ll have to pay me backter."


    Instantly, the strange feeling that had just arisen in Bonnie''s heart was snuffed out.


    Gritting her teeth so hard they made a grinding sound, Bonnie thought bitterly, "I knew it! This guy is a scumbag who will never change!"


    With a huff, Bonnieid back down and pulled the nket over her head. Her muffled voice came from beneath the covers, "Fine! I''ll have my father pay you back double when we get back!"


    Mission aplished, Jeremy casually grabbed some rations from his storage space and then left Bonnie''s room with Heber.


    Back in his own room, Heber enthusiastically handed Jeremy a small pouch from his waist.


    Jeremy took the pouch Heber handed him and peered inside.


    Immediately, Jeremy frowned, "Heber, are these all the soul crystals from DawnCity?"


    Heber was shocked, "Is this not enough?"


    Jeremy nodded, "These soul crystals are about one-tenth of what I need."


    Jeremy had taken a quick look earlier; the number of soul crystals Heber had mentioned was indeed substantial, perhaps a hundred times more than what he initially had.


    However, a hundred times one-thousandth is still just ten percent.


    The sheer number required made it seem utterly impossible to fully restore Janna.


    When Jeremy mentioned the quantity he needed, Heber''s jaw dropped. "Only one-tenth?"


    Jeremy nodded. "Heber, can we continue to procure more? Money is not an issue."


    Jeremy''s storage space was filled with all kinds of energy crystals.


    In the Land of Eternal Night, energy crystals seemed to be especially valuable. If needed, Jeremy was willing to hand over all his lower-grade energy crystals to Heber.


    And if that still wasn''t enough, Jeremy didn''t mind going out to hunt for more.


    Unfortunately, Heber quickly shook his head and said firmly, "In the short term, there''s no way Dawn City can provide such arge quantity."


    "This time, I can confidently say that I''ve already gathered the entire annual supply of DawnCity."


    Hearing this negative answer from Heber, Jeremy''s face darkened. "What should we do now?"


    Seeing Jeremy''s troubled expression, Heber looked conflicted. After a brief struggle, he said, "If worsees to worst, I''ll apany you to Nocturne City."


    Before Jeremy could ask, Heber began to exin everything he knew about Nocturne City. "Nocturne City is arguably thergest city in the entire Land of Eternal Night, located right at its center. It''s said that the city has existed since the first Sinners entered the Land of Eternal Night."


    "In Nocturne City, you''ll find the most prosperousmerce in the entire Land of Eternal Night. If there''s any ce where we might gather the number of soul crystals you need, it''s there."


    "However, Nocturne City is nothing like Dawn City. It''s not filled with rtively peaceful Sinners."


    "Nocturne City is teeming with cutthroats and ambitious individuals who thrive in a dog-eat-dog environment. Jeremy, if your identity is exposed there, you could be swarmed by attackers."


    Hearing this, Jeremy''s eyes lit up.


    The sooner Janna''s injuries could be healed, the sooner he would have the confidence to leave the Land of Eternal Night.


    No matter what, Jeremy had to go to Nocturne City!


    Seeing the worried look on Heber''s face, Jeremy patted him on the shoulder. "Bro, don''t overthink it. At worst, we''ll disguise ourselves and leave as soon as we''ve bought enough soul crystals."


    Heber sighed, "That''s our only option."


    With that, Heber left the inn, filled with worry and deep in thought.


    A trip to Nocturne City wasn''t simple.Heber needed to prepare.


    After Heber left, Jeremy shut his door and once again connected his consciousness to the mental link he shared with the Puppet.


    The next moment, when Jeremy opened his eyes, he was greeted by the unchanging darkness of The Prison of All Souls.


    Not far away, Jannay with her eyes closed, her divine aura flickering like a breath.


    Jeremy stood up and walked towards Janna.


    Instantly, Janna''s eyes flew open, filled with vignce.


    However, when she realized it was Jeremy, the wariness in her eyes lessened slightly.


    With a cold snort, Janna said, "Why aren''t you out there fighting monsters and leveling up? What are you doing here?"


    Even though The Prison of All Souls was eternally dark, Janna, being a goddess, could still sense the passage of time.


    It had been less than three days since Jeremyst entered The Prison of All Souls.


    What could Jeremy possibly have aplished in three days?


    Suddenly, a thought crossed Janna''s mind: "Could this pervert be trying to spy on me?"


    The idea quickly took root in Janna''s mind.


    Given her severe injuries, Janna couldn''t help but feel insecure. Besides, Jeremy had a track record of dubious behavior around her, so her suspicion was not entirely unfounded.


    Seeing the vignce on Janna''s face, Jeremy felt a bit annoyed.


    With a cold snort of his own, Jeremy raised the small pouch Heber had just given him, still warm from being held, and said, "I go to all this trouble to collect soul crystals for you, and this is the attitude I get?"


    Janna''s wariness didn''t diminish one bit. She scoffed, "Don''t try to fool me. How many could you possibly collect in three days?"


    "I''m warning you, if you have any bad intentions, you''d better drop them now. I''d rather self-destruct thanpromise!"


    Hearing this, Jeremy''s steps halted.


    Seeing that she had sessfully threatened Jeremy, Janna felt a sense of triumph.


    Ever since meeting Jeremy, Janna had been on the losing end. Thest encounter had been particrly humiliating. Now, making Jeremy back off was a first for her, and she savored the moment of victory.


    Just as Janna was about to say a few more words to vent her frustration, Jeremy opened the small pouch in his hand and gestured for Janna to take a look before speaking further.


    Despite her severe injuries, Janna was still a goddess and could sense the contents of the pouch even from a distance.


    Curious, she extended her soul energy into the small pouch, and suddenly, a dazzling array of lights appeared before her eyes.


    "These... Are these all soul crystals?"


    At this moment, the mighty goddess Janna could hardly believe her eyes!

 Chapter 86: The Hidden Pact

    Seeing Janna''s astonished face filled with delight, her words turning into stammers, Jeremy abruptly tightened the small pouch.


    As soon as the pouch was closed, the drooling Janna could no longer sense the immense number of soul crystals within.


    Janna had already sensed that the amount of soul crystals Jeremy had brought back this time alone was enough to heal ten percent of her injuries.


    In that instant, Janna became anxious. "Jeremy, Imand you to hand over those soul crystals immediately!"


    As she spoke, an aura of divine authority naturally emanated from Janna, making her presence intimidating without effort.


    Having been a goddess for countless years, Janna''s tone naturally carried an air of superiority andmand.


    Immediately, Jeremy felt a surge of irritation. Grinding his teeth in frustration, he thought to himself, "Does this woman still not understand that she depends entirely on me?"


    With that in mind, Jeremy took a few steps back. Not only did he not hand over the soul crystals as Janna had demanded, but he even seemed ready to turn around and leave.


    Janna was stunned.


    "How dare you, Jeremy! Imand you to hand over the soul crystals at once!"


    "Jeremy, I am a goddess! Do you intend to defy me?"


    "Jeremy, if you give me those soul crystals, I will forget all past grievances!"


    ...


    Seeing that Jeremy remained unmoved and continued to retreat slowly, Janna grew even more anxious. "This mortal! I''ve even offered to let bygones be bygones, and he still dares to act like this!"


    A wave of unprecedented grievance surged in Janna''s heart.


    After putting some distance between himself and Janna, Jeremy turned around, casually digging at his ear, and said coldly, "Janna, you still don''t get it, do you? If I don''t want to help you, there''s no way you''ll ever escape the Prison of All Souls in your lifetime!"


    "If you don''t want to ept my goodwill, then stay here by yourself. I''ll prove that I can escape this Land of Eternal Night on my own!"


    This time, Jeremy addressed her by her divine name directly, showing not a shred of reverence.


    Janna, seemingly oblivious to this disrespect, hastily said, "Jeremy, you can''t leave! If you go, you''ll never be able to return to your world!"


    "The Land of Eternal Night has long been set up as a trap by the [Sun]. There''s no way a mere mortal like you can break out of it!"


    "I can help you! I can!"


    Jeremy remained unmoved, ncing at Janna as he said, "Even if I can''t escape from the [Sun''s]trap right now, I believe that with enough power, I will be able to return someday."


    "Teaming up with a goddess whose true intentions are unknown is the real danger."


    What Jeremy said were his deepest concerns.


    After all, Janna was a goddess. If she fully regained her strength, given their history, it would be a miracle if she didn''t kill him, let alone help him escape the Land of Eternal Night.


    With that, Jeremy prepared to sever his soul connection with his Substitute Puppet.


    He had made up his mind never to return to the Prison of All Souls.


    From Jeremy''s tone, Janna could easily sense that this time, he was serious.


    Immediately, an unparalleled sense of fear enveloped Janna''s heart.


    Jeremy was right. Without his help, it would take Janna at least tens of thousands of years to recover from her injuries on her own.


    By then, the world would have changed beyond recognition, and Janna would have long lost the chance to confront her enemies after finally breaking free.


    There''s even a possibility that Janna''s enemies won''t allow her to peacefully recover within the Prison of All Souls.


    Seeing Jeremy about to sever their soul connection, Janna gritted her teeth and said, "Jeremy, don''t go. I''m willing to sign a divine pact with you, promising never to seek revenge against you from now on."


    Hearing this, Jeremy''s spirit, which was about to leave the Prison of All Souls, immediately returned to his Substitute Puppet.


    With a predictable smile on his face, Jeremy slowly turned around.


    Seeing the smile on Jeremy''s face, Janna instantly realized that Jeremy had been bluffing her all along!


    Jeremy clearly had no intention of leveling up through monster farming to escape the Land of Eternal Night on his own!


    In fact, ever since Jeremy discovered that the "Dawn Break" event was a trap set by the [Sun], he had abandoned any ns toplete the event through conventional means.


    Not to mention how much time Jeremy would need to reach the power level required to contend with the [Sun].


    The time required could be so long that Jeremy might die of old age before achieving it.


    From the numerous Sinners who had previously entered the Land of Eternal Night, it was evident that there was something fishy preventing the yers from leveling up higher.


    Even without these issues, Jeremy wouldn''t rely on the [Sun]allowing him to level up at his own pace.


    From the very beginning, the only way to escape the Land of Eternal Night was to cooperate with Janna.


    Realizing she had been outmaneuvered, Janna ground her silver teeth, her face full of unwillingness.


    However, since the conversation had reached this point, Janna knew that if she didn''t offer Jeremy some kind of assurance, he would indeed turn around and leave.


    Using the small amount of divine power she had barely restored, Janna retrieved a scroll seemingly made of gold from her storage space.


    Throwing the scroll to Jeremy, Janna closed her eyes and said, "This is a divine pact. Once it is signed, even a god cannot break it."


    "Write the terms of the contract with my blood and leave your soul imprint on it, and the contract will be sealed."


    Janna''s eyes remained tightly shut as she spoke. Being forced to sign a divine pact with a mere mortal was a first for her.


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy immediately used the Eye of Omniscience on the so-called divine pact.


    Instantly, the item''s information appeared before Jeremy''s eyes:


    [Item Name: Divine Pact]


    [Quality: Golden (Divine)]


    [Description: An artifact used for forming contracts between deities. Once signed, even gods cannot break it.]


    [Hint: Laugh heartily three times before using the Divine Pact to write a hidden use into the contract.]


    An expression of ecstatic joy shed in Jeremy''s eyes!


    For a moment, Jeremy''s fingers trembled ever so slightly as he held the [Divine Pact].


    Jeremy thought to himself, "If I can write a hidden use, then I could potentially make Janna serve me as her master!"


    The idea of having a beautiful goddess as a ve would make Jeremyugh in his sleep.


    Unfortunately, this was clearly impossible.


    It wasn''t that the contract terms couldn''t be written, but Janna''s pride was such that if she discovered she had be Jeremy''s ve, she would likely self-destruct on the spot.


    After some thought, a new idea suddenly struck Jeremy: "Wait, if the contract terms are written this way, it could work perfectly!"


    In a sh, Jeremy hade up with an almost wless n.


    Without further hesitation, Jeremy approached Janna with the Divine Pact in hand.


    Janna''s divine blood, required for writing the contract, was all over her body.


    Strangely enough, despite the unknown length of time that had passed since Janna had been injured and imprisoned in the Prison of All Souls, the divine blood on her body showed no signs of coagting.


    As Jeremy crouched down, an exquisite and enduring fragrance wafted to his nose.


    Following the scent, he realized it originated from the divine blood on Janna''s body.


    Just a single whiff invigorated him immensely.


    For a moment, Jeremy''s throat involuntarily gulped, and he felt an overwhelming urge to lick the divine blood.


    Fortunately, since his mental attributes had surpassed ten thousand, his willpower had grown significantly stronger. In just a few moments, Jeremy managed to suppress this somewhat twisted desire.


    Jeremy hesitated briefly before extending his finger to swipe some of the golden blood from Janna''s unusually fair arm.


    In the next instant, a streak of golden blood stained Jeremy''s fingertip.


    Janna''s body involuntarily shuddered.


    Never in her life had a mere mortal touched her body.


    Unfurling the Divine Pact, Jeremy quickly began to write.


    "Divine Pact use One: After the contract is signed, the goddess Janna shall not seek any form of revenge against Jeremy."


    "Divine Pact use Two: After the contract is signed, Jeremy must collect soul crystals for the goddess Janna until her injuries are fully healed."


    "Divine Pact use Three:..."


    A peculiar thing happened when Jeremy began writing the third use: each word, written in what seemed like molten gold, would vanish the moment it was inscribed.


    From time to time, Jeremy would swipe his finger over areas on Janna''s body where the divine blood was more abundant.


    Each time he did this, Janna would reflexively shudder, even though Jeremytouched were not particrly sensitive¡ªmostly arms and legs. Nheless, an indescribable sense of humiliation caused a slight blush to creep up Janna''s cheeks.


    Finally, Jeremy finished writing the contract''s terms.


    Looking at Janna, whoy there with her eyes still closed like a lifeless fish, Jeremy hesitated for a moment. Then, gritting his teeth, he quickly collected a few drops of divine blood and stored them in his storage space while Janna wasn''t paying attention.


    Clearing his throat twice, Jeremy said, "It''s done."


    Janna immediately opened her eyes and demanded, "Unroll the contract. Let me see what you''ve written."


    With a nonchnt expression, Jeremy unrolled the Divine Pact.


    Seeing the straightforward two uses written on the Divine Pact, a hint of joy appeared on Janna''s face. "Very well, let''s sign it as is!"

 Chapter 87: The Arcane Art of Mind Refinement

    Only when Janna left her spiritual imprint on the Divine Pact did Jeremy finally breathe a sigh of relief.


    In reality, the third Hidden Pact use wasn''t excessive. It simply required Janna to assist Jeremy with all her strength when he needed it.


    Even if Janna discovered this hidden use, it wouldn''t lead to a life-and-death struggle between them.


    Once the Divine Pact was signed, a brilliant light instantly appeared on the originally golden and radiant Divine Pact.


    A sh of light blinded Jeremy momentarily, and before he could react, the radiant glow split into two parts¡ªone surged towards Janna''s forehead, and the other entered Jeremy''s mind.


    Jeremy shook his head, feeling no difort, and thus paid it no further attention.


    Seeing that Jeremy, who had already signed the Divine Pact with her, was still standing there dumbfounded, Janna felt a bit annoyed.


    Rolling her eyes at Jeremy, Janna said, "The pact is signed. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and take out the soul crystals!"


    Hearing Janna''s slightly discontented voice, Jeremy wasn''t bothered. He simply extended his hand and tossed the small pouch towards Janna.


    As soon as the small pouch left Jeremy''s hand, Janna used her remaining divine power to open it.


    Instantly, a dazzling cascade of soul crystals poured out of the unremarkable pouch.


    In the melodious sound of soul crystals clinking together, countless glittering lights, resembling fireflies, were devoured by Janna.


    For a moment, the radiant light enveloped Jannapletely, making it difficult for Jeremy, standing not far away, to see her clearly.


    Simultaneously, waves of immense and majestic energy emanated from Janna, sweeping outwards in all directions.


    At that moment, Jeremy truly witnessed what it meant to be a deity.


    Even though it was just a trace of residual energy inadvertently released as Janna healed her injuries, it still had the power to alter the heavens.


    Fortunately, perhaps because of the Pact, this invisible wave of energy did not assault Jeremy. Instead, it seemed to possess a life of its own, automatically bypassing Jeremy.


    The perpetual darkness within The Prison of All Souls, ever-surging like ocean waves, was startled by this invisible force and began to recede, almost as if it were alive.


    At this moment, the darkness that had shrouded The Prison of All Souls for countless years faded away, and a thinyer of starlight was reflected in Jeremy''s eyes.


    Jeremy''s pupils contracted as he stared at the stars through a small gap, utterly astonished: "So, The Prison of All Souls is actually a!"


    In just a few minutes, Janna had absorbed all the soul crystals that could fill a small room.


    When the light finally dissipated, Janna had fully regained her mobility. She floated effortlessly in mid-air, with her previously disheveled injuries and damaged divine robe now restored to their original state.


    Janna opened her eyes, and a pair of dazzling divine lights made Jeremy''s vision momentarily bright, as if he were staring directly at the sun.


    Janna had seemingly returned to her former state of exalted, otherworldly magnificence.


    At this moment, Jeremy finally gained a true understanding of what it meant to be a deity.


    Simultaneously, a sense of dark satisfaction and security welled up in Jeremy''s heart: "So what if you''re a deity? You still fell into my trap."


    Unexpectedly, in just a brief moment, Janna deted like a punctured balloon and slowly descended.


    Jeremy approached Janna and asked, "How are your injuries? How much have you recovered?"


    Hearing Jeremy''spletely disrespectful tone, Janna clenched her fist.


    However, knowing that herplete recovery depended entirely on Jeremy, Janna forcibly ignored his tone and, biting her lower lip, replied, "Not bad, I''ve recovered about ten percent."


    This was roughly in line with Jeremy''s earlier estimates, so he merely nodded without saying anything further.


    Eagerly, Janna then said to Jeremy, "I didn''t expect you to have such skills, gathering so many soul crystals so quickly."


    "Before the fool and the sunrealize anything, you should hurry back and gather the remaining soul crystals. Once you do, I''ll take you back to your world."


    Jeremy couldn''t help but roll his eyes. "Do you think these soul crystals are asmon as cabbages? You can''t just get as many as you want."


    "The ones I brought today are all I could gather in a short period."


    "If you want to fully recover from your injuries, it''s not going to be easy."


    Hearing this, Janna became anxious. "How can it be so slow? If the Fool''s Order catches a glimpse of me, it''ll be all over."


    Jeremy shrugged his shoulders. "There''s nothing I can do. My level is only so high.I can''t ess higher-level areas."


    Pausing for a moment, a sly smile appeared on Jeremy''s face as he said to Janna, "How about you give me a few divine artifacts? Increasing my strength would benefit both of us."


    Upon hearing this, a look of struggle and hesitation appeared on Janna''s face. After a long pause, she gritted her teeth and tossed a scroll that shimmered with golden light to Jeremy.


    Confused, Jeremy caught the scroll and was about to ask what it was when Janna spoke hesitantly, "My storage space is sealed. I can only take out a few insignificant things right now."


    "Forget about potions, equipment, or items. However, I can give you the method to absorb soul crystals."


    Jeremy''s fingers stiffened upon hearing this, and he tightly gripped the golden scroll.


    Soul crystals were exclusive to deities and evidently very precious.


    If Jeremy could also use these soul crystals, his power would increase significantly.


    However, Jeremy still had to ask, "The method to absorb soul crystals? Isn''t that something only deities can use? Won''t there be any side effects for me?"


    Once she had given the item, Janna no longer hesitated and casually replied, "Ordinary mortals indeed cannot use soul crystals. But with your abnormal mental attributes already exceeding ten thousand points, you''re now qualified to use soul crystals."


    "As for side effects, there are absolutely none."


    "Back in the day, we didn''t abandon soul crystals because they had any ws."


    "It was because soul crystals can only be found in this void spirit realm."


    "Ever since that incident¡­"


    At that moment, Janna seemed to realize that such ancient secrets shouldn''t be shared with a mere mortal like Jeremy.


    Jeremy, who had been listening intently to these ancient secrets, looked up with a hint of confusion and said, "Go on, why did you stop?"


    Frustrated, Janna smacked her forehead and then abruptly waved her hand. In an instant, the mental link between Jeremy and the Substitute Puppet was severed.


    Jeremy''s consciousness rapidly withdrew.


    Thest thing he heard was, "Use this power wisely and collect the soul crystals as soon as possible."


    When he opened his eyes again, Jeremy found himself back in his familiar inn room.


    Rubbing his slightly aching head, Jeremy couldn''t help but feel exasperated. "What is Janna''s deal?"


    After a while, Jeremy''s headache subsided.


    As soon as he felt normal again, Jeremy eagerly retrieved the scroll Janna had handed him from his storage space.


    Instinctively using The Eye of Omniscience, he quickly essed all the information about the scroll.


    [Item Name: The Arcane Art of Mind Refinement]


    [Tier: Ultra]


    [Description: Upon use, the yer will acquire a superior active skill of the support type called "The Arcane Art of Mind Refinement." Tip: Learning this skill immediately after entering deep sleep will enhance the effectiveness of "The Arcane Art of Mind Refinement" by 20%.]


    Without a second thought, Jeremy ignored the fact that it was broad daylight, pulled back the covers, andy down on the bed.


    Initially, Jeremy''s high mental attributes prevented him from falling asleep right away.


    However, soon enough, as he closed his eyes tightly, a deep sense of sleepiness washed over him.


    Since his recovery from that severe injury, Jeremy had been constantly on the move, fighting monsters, and hadn''t had a proper rest.


    At this moment, even the slight fatigue Jeremy hadn''t noticed before began to surface from deep within his body.


    Within just a few minutes, Jeremy was sound asleep.


    Soon, slight snores could be hearding from him.


    After a while, a creak echoed from Bonnie''s room door.


    Having changed into a fresh set of clothes, Bonnie still had a faint blush on her face as she stepped out of her room.


    After all this time, Bonnie had finally emerged from the unfamiliar, shy, and anxious atmosphere that had previously enveloped her.


    Despite her usually stubborn personality, Bonnie knew what she had to do in the face of such a life-saving grace.


    With her resolve firmly in ce, Bonnie, albeit nervously, made her way to Jeremy''s room to thank him in person.


    However, even though she knew what she should do, it took Bonnie a full thirty minutes to walk that short distance!


    As she stood before Jeremy''s door, the events of the moment she woke up flooded back into her mind.


    Pinching the hem of her clothes, Bonnie murmured to herself, "Stupid Jeremy, bad Jeremy, how am I supposed to thank you?"


    Just then, the sound of Jeremy''s gentle snoring drifted out from his room.


    From the sound alone, it was clear just how exhausted he was.


    Unconsciously, Bonnie''s previously furrowed brows rxed. "He''s just a teenage boy after all."

 Chapter 88: Divine Consciousness Fusion Rate

    Unconsciously, Bonnie''s previous agitation faded away, reced by a gentle warmth.


    At that moment, Jeremy in the room opened his eyes.


    Due to his exceptionally high sottributes, even a few hours of sleep constituted a deep, restorative rest for Jeremy.


    The moment Jeremy opened his eyes, he took out the skill scroll for "The Arcane Art of Mind Refinement."


    Without hesitation, Jeremy used it.


    In an instant, a new skill appeared on Jeremy''s skill panel.


    [Skill: The Arcane Art of Mind Refinement]


    [Level: lv1]


    [Tier: Ultra]


    [Type: Support (Active)]


    [Description: The Devouring of the Essence of Souls by the Gods: By using "The Arcane Art of Mind Refinement," one can subtly devour the essence of souls, gradually enhancing the user''s soul power.]


    No sooner had Jeremy learned the skill than a few energy crystals appeared in his hand.


    [Ding, would you like to use a Tier 3 Energy Crystal to upgrade the skill "The Arcane Art of Mind Refinement" to Level 3?]


    "Yes."


    [Ding, would you like to use a Tier 5 Energy Crystal to upgrade the skill "The Arcane Art of Mind Refinement" to Level 6?]


    "Yes."


    These energy crystals were of quite high rank, and with Jeremy using them without hesitation, the level of[The Arcane Art of Mind Refinement]quickly reached lv10.


    After reaching Level 10, the skill description for [The Arcane Art of Mind Refinement] changed to: "By subtly devouring the essence of souls, one can rapidly enhance the user''s soul power."


    Jeremy then produced a small soul crystal, about the size of a fingernail.


    Although he had given most of his soul crystals to Janna.


    However, this didn''t mean that Jeremy waspletely out of soul crystals.


    With a serious expression, Jeremy''s steady voice echoed, "The Arcane Art of Mind Refinement!"


    In an instant, a slight suction force specifically targeting the soul crystal appeared at the center of Jeremy''s forehead.


    Under this force, the soul crystal, originally as hard as a diamond, softened immediately.


    Soon after, the entire soul crystal turned into a stream of light and was absorbed into the center of Jeremy''s forehead.


    Instantly, Jeremy felt a cool, mint-like sensation surge through his brain.


    The indescribable feeling offort almost made Jeremy let out a contented sigh.


    At that moment, it felt as if Jeremy''s brain was soaking in a hot spring.


    Unfortunately, this pleasant sensation was as fleeting as it was intense.


    Within just a few seconds, Jeremy opened his eyes again.


    By now, the soul crystal in his hand hadpletely vanished.


    A sense of loss washed over Jeremy''s mind.


    Shaking his head, Jeremy dispelled this strange feeling and opened his attribute panel.


    [Name]: Jeremy


    [Level]: lv39


    [ss]: sphemer


    [Titles]: Pioneer, Global First Kill, Light Chaser


    [Abilities]: The Eye of Omniscience (SSS)


    [Attributes]: Strength 5783, Soul10565, Stamina 4304, Agility 4582, Soul Power 2


    [Divine Consciousness Fusion Rate]: 0.02%


    [Damage]: Physical 214%, Magical 214%


    [Special]: Critical Hit 33%, Attack Speed 26%, Drop Rate 35%, Cooldown Reduction 40%...


    [Skills]: Uwful Being lv10, Seven Sins - Wrath lv1, Seven Sins - Gluttony lv10, Seven Sins - Envy lv1, Divine Refinement Technique lv10, Abyssal Summon lv10, Wind of Cmity lv10, Teleport lv10, gue Curse lv10, Sword of Judgment lv10, Soul Roar lv10, mes of Sin lv10, Disaster de lv10, Shadow Step lv10...


    Compared to the previous attribute panel, this time there was an additional attribute named Soul Power.


    Moreover, the most crucial addition was a progress bar that appeared on Jeremy''s attribute panel.


    Touching his nose, Jeremy fixed his eyes on the [Divine Consciousness Fusion Rate] progress bar, lost in thought.


    "This [Divine Consciousness Fusion Rate] progress bar only appeared after the Soul Power attribute showed up. Clearly, increasing Soul Power will cause this progress bar to grow."


    "Also, anything associated with ''divine'' isn''t simple. This [Divine Consciousness] might be the key to getting me closer to what is called godhood."


    No matter what, Jeremy had to fill this Divine Consciousness Fusion Rate as quickly as possible.


    Here''s the problem: both Janna''s recovery and Jeremy''s enhancement of Soul Power required soul crystals.


    Jeremy hadn''t anticipated that what he once treated as mere explosives would be so crucial now.


    For a moment, Jeremy regretted wasting those soul crystals as makeshift bombs.


    Just then, Heber''s rough voice rang out from outside the door: "Hey, Miss Bonnie, what are you doing standing outside Jeremy''s door? Why don''t you go in?"


    Immediately after, Bonnie''s slightly agitated voice responded, "I just got here, and I didn''t say I wouldn''t go in."


    With a creak, Bonnie pushed open the wooden door and walked in.


    Upon entering, she saw Jeremy sitting dazedly on the bed, his hair slightly disheveled, clearly just waking up. A touch of tenderness appeared in Bonnie''s eyes.


    Walking to Jeremy''s side, Bonnie hesitated before saying, "Jeremy, you don''t have to push yourself so hard. With... with us around, we can help you."


    Jeremy had no idea what emotional journey Bonnie had gone through.


    Though he knew Bonnie meant well, Jeremy couldn''t help but tease, "As long as you don''t get knocked out by the poison as soon as yound, you''ll be doing me a huge favor."


    Upon hearing this, Bonnie''s face flushed a deep red. The tenderness in her eyes vanished instantly, reced by a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.


    With just one sentence, Jeremy had utterly crushed the tender feelings Bonnie harbored deep inside.


    Bonnie stomped her foot hard and pointed an elegant finger at Jeremy, scolding, "Jeremy, you are such a jerk!"


    Without another word, she turned and stormed out of the room.


    Jeremy, with his sharp eyes, noticed a glistening tear at the corner of Bonnie''s eye.


    He hadn''t expected such a strong reaction from Bonnie. Scratching his head, he muttered, "Is she crazy? It was just a joke. Why did she start crying?"


    At that moment, Heber walked in.


    Although Bonnie had almost bumped into him on her way out, Heber had more pressing matters to attend to.


    Ignoring theplicated dynamic between Jeremy and Bonnie, who seemed neither like friends nor lovers, Heber produced a gilded invitation and excitedly announced, "Jeremy, the Lord Mayor has invited you to a banquet at the mayor''s mansion!"


    Heber then eagerly pulled Jeremy up from the bed, chattering like a machine gun, "Jeremy, this is a personal invitation from the Lord Mayor! In all these years, this is only the second time I''ve seen such an invitation."


    Feeling a bit impatient, Jeremy said, "Heber, the most important thing right now is soul crystals. I don''t care about any mayor."


    To his surprise, Heber shook his head and replied, "Jeremy, you don''t understand. The Lord Mayor''s reputation is well-known throughout the Land of Eternal Night. With his endorsement, our trip to Nocturne City will be much easier!"


    Hearing this, Jeremy knew he couldn''t ignore the opportunity.


    Patting Heber''s arm, Jeremy said, "You should''ve mentioned this sooner. Let''s go meet the Lord Mayor right away."


    ¡­


    Unnoticed, night had fallen, and the time for the banquet mentioned in the invitation had arrived.


    Jeremy, Heber, and Bonnie, all dressed in their finest attire, stood outside the mayor''s mansion.


    Unlike the somewhat excited Jeremy and Heber, Bonnie''s face was icy, her expression cold and detached.


    In truth, Jeremy had no idea why Bonnie had agreed to join them for the banquet.


    Before they came, Jeremy had merely asked Bonnie to help him and Heber pick out some outfits. He hadn''t expected Bonnie to follow them to the banquet.


    Actually, even Bonnie couldn''t exin why she insisted on following Jeremy to this banquet.


    It was only when Heber mentioned how the Lord Mayor''s second daughter, Nina, admired Jeremy, and how thest person personally invited by the mayor had be his eldest daughter''s husband, that a twinge of jealousy began to sprout in Bonnie''s heart.


    With aplex mix of emotions, Bonniedetermined to see what was so special about this Nina that could captivate Jeremy''s attention.


    However, the moment they saw the mayor''s mansion, Bonnie''s inexplicable jealousy was thrown out the window.


    The reason was simple: as the grand outline of the mayor''s mansion appeared in her view, arge group of people, seemingly out of nowhere, suddenly drew weapons andunched an attack on the mansion.


    The guards within the mansion seemed unprepared for such a bold assault, and for a moment, were unable to react.


    In an instant, several fireballs the size of an average human head crashed into the mansion.


    The next moment, explosions resounded within the mansion with deafening "boom," "boom" sounds.


    It was only then that a shrill cry echoed from within the mansion: "Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"


    Apanied by the tolling of bells, a translucent barrier rose up from the mansion.


    At the same time, Jeremy and Heber arrived at Bonnie''s side.


    Jeremy''s Eye of Omniscience activated, and he instantly recognized that the ck-robed attackers, who revealed no hint of their appearance, were the same nobles who had appeared beneath Dawn Arena not long ago.


    In fact, within this assaulting group were the n leaders of the Golden Lions and the ck Goats.


    Jeremy''s brow furrowed, realizing the gravity of the situation.


    Immediately, Jeremy decided to get Heber and Bonnie out of there.


    No joke.Most of the fighters on both sides are high-level profession-awakened experts. How could Jeremy, who hasn''t even reached level 40 and has two burdens to take care of, possibly get involved?

 Chapter 89: Surrounded on All Sides

    Although Jeremy wanted to retreat immediately, the enemy didn''t give him the chance.


    Just as Jeremy grabbed Bonnie and Heber and began to turn around, a sharp shout rang out: "Look, that kid Jeremy is here too!"


    In an instant, many people, including the Golden Lion Weber, turned their heads to look at Jeremy.


    A fierce light gleamed in Weber''s eyes. "Well, well, well, today is truly my lucky day. Not only can I deal with that old city lord, but now you are delivered right to me!"


    "Connor,take a team and capture this kid alive. I want to crush his bones one by one!"


    Just as Weber finished speaking, a remarkably muscr female lioness, leading a dozen others, charged towards Jeremy.


    In the midst of his haste, Jeremy nced back, and his pupils instantly contracted.


    The team pursuing them were all profession-awakened.


    Among them, the leader, Connor, was at an astounding level fifty-eight, nearly twenty levels ahead of Jeremy!


    Connor wielded a pair of swords, and with rapid strides, she shot forward like a bolt of lightning, leading the pursuit of Jeremy.


    Her beastly eyes widened with fury, and a roar exploded in the air: "Jeremy, return my brother''s life!"


    "Thunder sh!"


    In an instant, countless tiny bolts of lightning appeared around Connor, and the twin swords in her hands roared with wind.


    Among the three, Bonnie reacted the slowest. Although Jeremy was dragging her along, she was still the furthest behind.


    Bonnie suddenly became the target of Connor''s twin swords.


    Connor''s movements were like lightning, and Bonnie hadn''t even seen her clearly before feeling the almost tangible killing intent.


    In that moment, Bonnie''s heart tightened, and a slender staff appeared in her hand.


    A blue glow shed, and Bonnie attempted to use a skill to slow down Connor.


    Unfortunately, the power gap between the two sides was too great. Before Bonnie even finished her skill''s casting animation, the twin swords were already erging in her pupils.


    At that moment, a voice echoed in Bonnie''s mind: "It''s over!"


    Just then, Jeremy shouted, "Teleport!"


    In that critical moment, Bonnie''s vision blurred, and when it cleared, she found that she, Jeremy, and Heber had been teleported dozens of meters away.


    Immediately after using the teleportation, Jeremy pushed Bonnie and Heber forward, saying, "Go find the city guards. I''ll hold them off."


    Jeremy realized that escape was impossible. Their only chance was to fight.


    Of course, Jeremy wasn''t nning to sacrifice himself.


    He had the Wings of the Skyequipment, which he could use to escape if things got too dire.


    Moreover, only by rallying the city''s guards, the foundation of Dawn City''s defense, could they hope to save their lives.


    Unexpectedly, Bonnie suddenly shouted, "Ice Wind!"


    A blue breeze,ced with tiny ice crystals, instantly formed and struck Connor and the others who were about to pursue them.


    In an instant, ayer of ice-blue light shed over Connor and her team.


    "Crack!" Countless shards of ice formed on their bodies.


    The next moment, Connor and her team''s speed visibly decreased.


    Although Bonnie''s attack wasn''t particrly damaging, the slowing effect was extremely annoying.


    A sh of anger crossed Connor''s eyes, and she red at Bonnie, shouting to her team, "Kill that little sprout first!"


    On the other side.


    Bonnie stubbornly stared at Jeremy and said, "I''m not leaving. I can help you."


    Jeremy turned and gave Bonnie a deep look. "If you stay here, I won''t have time to protect you."


    Bonnie tilted her head back defiantly. "I don''t need your help."


    Jeremy nodded, choosing not to argue further.


    On one hand, he didn''t know what life-saving treasures Bonnie, a wealthy heiress, might possess. Since she dared to stay, she must have some ace up her sleeve.


    On the other hand, Bonnie''s attacks had a built-in slowing effect, and her assistance would significantly reduce Jeremy''s burden.


    Heber, without wasting any words, pulled out a handful of intricately inscribed gemstones from a small pouch at his waist and shoved them all into Bonnie''s hands before turning to leave.


    As he walked away, Heber called out, "Jeremy, hang in there! I''ll definitely bring reinforcements!"


    With that, Heber crushed a blood-red glowing gem in his hand, producing a crisp "crack."


    Instantly, a crimson aura enveloped Heber''s legs, and his speed more than tripled as he ran.


    Bonnie stared in bewilderment at the sudden pile of gemstones in her hands, initially puzzled. But upon seeing their descriptions, her eyes widened in astonishment.


    "Damn! These gemstones have such insane effects!"


    Her voice carried a hint of excitement, like a mischievous child given a box of fireworks.


    Jeremy didn''t look back. Focusing on the approaching Connor, he wore a serious expression. "Be careful, they''re almost here."


    With a ripping sound, Bonnie tore off half of her cumbersome skirt, instantly shifting intobat mode.


    A sh of light appeared in Jeremy''s hands, revealing a skeletal staff and a bone spear.


    Raising the skeletal staff in his left hand, Jeremy chanted, "Wind of Cmity!"


    A gust of gray-ck wind arose from the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust and sweeping towards Connor and her team.


    The next moment, a series of pained grunts and screams emanated from within the whirlwind.


    Though Jeremy was only at level thirty-nine, his Wind of Cmity still inflicted considerable damage on these Sinners, whose average level exceeded fifty.


    Soon, the effects of the Wind of Cmity dissipated.


    Connor and her team reappeared before Jeremy.


    Although they were still standing, the cracked corners of their mouths, their dull, lifeless skin, and their pained expressions made it clear that Jeremy''s attack had taken a significant toll on them.


    Connor''s frustration was palpable, her twin swords trembling slightly in her hands. "Jeremy, if you have the guts, fight me head-on like a real warrior, instead of hiding behind magic!"


    Jeremy paid no attention to Connor at all.Capitalizing on their weakened state, he raised his skeletal staff, its bone-white glow intensifying, and intoned, "Soul Roar!"


    A terrifying, invisible wave began to coalesce around the skeletal staff.


    Without giving Connor and her team any chance to react, the Soul Roar swept across the battlefield.


    This attack was even more devastating than the previous one. Connor and her team, less resilient than Brook, were utterly overwhelmed by the Soul Roar.


    As the skill''s effect passed, Connor and her team looked as if they had been struck by a heavy hammer, blood spurting from their seven orifices.


    Several of the lower-level Sinners were killed instantly!


    "Thud, thud..." The sound of bodies hitting the ground echoed, shattering what little morale Connor had left.


    Turning around, Connor realized that she was the only one still standing.


    Moreover, her health was down to a mere 10%.


    Her broad hand loosened, and the twin swords fell to the ground.


    With a swift thrust of his Bone Spear, Jeremy didn''t even need to activate a skill to pierce the female Sinner''s throat.


    With a final "thud," Connor copsed.


    In just two moves, Jeremy had cleanly and efficiently dispatched the dozen or so high-level, Profession-Awakened fighters.


    Bonnie, who had been eager to join the fray, could hardly believe her eyes.


    "Jere...Jeremy, are you even human?"


    Jeremy had no time to entertain Bonnie''s astonishment.


    After dispatching Connor and her team, Jeremy''s expression became even more serious.


    In truth, Jeremy had never been overly concerned about a few or even a dozen enemies.


    What truly worried him were the likes of Weber, those near the threshold of Transcendental Awakening, and the seemingly endless, wave-like army that kept emerging from who knows where.


    As expected, things unfolded just as Jeremy had anticipated.


    Golden Lion Weber''s primary focus was on the manor ahead.


    However, he had never forgotten the scene where Jeremy, unscathed, had consecutively in several of their n''s top fighters.


    Therefore, Weber had never underestimated Jeremy.


    Yet, what he hadn''t anticipated, no matter how hard he thought, was that in just a short span, that squad of Profession-Awakened Sinners would bepletely annihted!


    An indescribable fear flooded Weber''s mind. "This yer is only level thirty-nine. What happens when he undergoes Profession Awakening, or evenTranscendental Awakening?"


    Having already formed a mortal grudge with no room for reconciliation, the Golden Lion was determined to nip this threat in the bud.


    Immediately, Weber turned to a lion-headed Sinner with silver-white mane, who had been closely following him. "Hank, I''m giving you two hundred men. Do whatever it takes to kill that Jeremy!"


    This lion-headed Sinner, with his distinct silver fur, belonged to a vassal n of the Golden Lions¡ªthe Silver Mountain Lions, known for their formidablebat abilities.


    Hank, the leader of the Silver Mountain Lions, had reached level sixty-nine¡ªjust one step away from Transcendental Awakening.


    He was the strongest warrior in the Golden Lion n, second only to Weber himself.


    Hank,posed and steady, epted the order with a sped fist, immediately mobilizing two hundred heavily armored Sinners, each adorned with lion emblems, and headed straight for Jeremy.

 Chapter 90: The Plague Strikes

    Watching the thundering army advancing towards him, Jeremy''s expression grew tense.


    What muste, always will.


    Although the over two hundred soldiers before him didn''t all surpass level fifty like Connor and her team, they were no less formidable.


    These were the elite troops chosen for the night''s assault on the Lord''s Manor, and their levels were not to be underestimated.


    Among these two hundred soldiers, more than half were around level forty-eight or forty-nine. The rest, akin to ck Tiger David, had reached level fifty but had barely missed the mark of passing the trial, thus could only be considered quasi-awakened professionals.


    Of course, these levels referred to the ordinary soldiers. Theirmanders, without exception, were already profession-awakened experts.


    Not to mention Hank, a true powerhouse at level sixty-nine, standing on the brink of Transcendental Awakening.


    Even Bonnie, who had always viewed Jeremy as a miraculous figure, felt that there was no hope for him in this dire moment.


    Bonnie, her face tense, clutched a gem the size of her entire palm, transparent throughout.


    She thrust the gem into Jeremy''s hand. "Jeremy, you must use this item immediately."


    Instinctively, Jeremy activated his All-Knowing Eye.


    [Chaotic Teleportation Gem]


    [Type: Consumable]


    [Grade: Orange (Rare)]


    [Description: A precious item crafted using gem magic. Upon use, it teleports the user one kilometer in a random direction.]


    Jeremy''s eyes lit up instantly¡ªthis was a life-saving divine artifact!


    Clearly, this was the trump card Heber had given to Bonnie for emergencies.


    And without hesitation, Bonnie handed over this invaluable item to Jeremy.


    For a moment, Bonnie''s cheeks flushed under Jeremy''s gaze.


    Bonnie, fearing that Jeremy might push the precious item back to her, hastily pulled out a ring with a visible crack from her storage bag.


    "Jeremy, don''t worry about me. I have something too." Bonnie said urgently.


    To her surprise, Jeremy did not crush the Chaotic Teleportation Gem as she had anticipated. Instead, with a flick of his wrist, he swiftly stowed the gem into his own storage space.


    "You go first. I''ll handle these people."


    Staying put and being surrounded by the army was sheer folly, and Jeremy was far from foolish.


    Raising his skeletal staff slowly, a malevolent aura of disaster began to emanate around him. Although both of Jeremy''s area-of-effect attack skills were on cooldown, he still had one skill suitable for the current situation.


    [Skill]: gue Curse


    [Level]: lv10


    [Tier]: Advanced


    [Type]: Attack (Active)


    [Description]: Upon activation, the yer casts a gue curse on the target, reducing their damage, attributes, and defense by 30%. Additionally, it inflicts random negative statuses such as gue, smallpox, cholera, and the ck Death on the target,sting 45 minutes. The gue effect can spread and carries a curse effect. Cooldown: 2 hours.


    The most significant difference between the gue Curse and lower-level skills lies in thest few lines of its description.


    It is precisely these lines that transform the gue Curse from a decent skill into a formidable one for massbat.


    A ghastly green glow enveloped the skeletal staff, with the pestilent aura descending like the scythe of the Grim Reaper.


    With a single-arm wave, Jeremy pointed the skeletal staff directly at the advancing army of over two hundred soldiers.


    "gue Curse!"


    Almost at the very moment Jeremy was about to unleash the skill, Hank sensed something amiss.


    Having witnessed the two skills Jeremy had just unleashed, Hank''s vignce towards Jeremy had reached its peak.


    However, the sheer size of the two hundred-strong army made it impossible to evadepletely.


    Gritting his teeth, Hank pulled out a gleaming golden scroll from his storage item.


    With a tearing sound, the scroll was ripped open by Hank.


    "Stone Fortress Blessing!"


    The moment the scroll was torn, a faint grey light instantly enveloped the entire squad.


    The light cascaded down like rain, and as it touched the thick armor of the soldiers below, a faint imprint of stone appeared on their bodies.


    This stone imprint alone gave off an aura of unyielding solidity.


    Hank''s face twisted in pain. "Damn it! Forcing me to waste a legion spell scroll, Jeremy, I swear I''ll see you dead!"


    Despite his pain, Hank was no longer as panicked as before.


    The Stone Fortress Blessing was an advanced legion spell that not only provided a 30% boost to both physical and magical defenses but also granted everyone a 20% increase in temporary health.


    With both bonusesbined, Hank was confident that Jeremy would be unable to inflict fatal damage on them.


    As expected, the menacing green miasma that spread through the crowd initially caused a moderate panic.


    However, people soon realized that the skill was not as devastating as it appeared.


    Even those directly hit by the skill lost only about 30% of their health.


    Relieved, Hank burst into heartyughter.


    Conversely, Bonnie, who had been hoping for a miracle, now wore an expression of disappointment.


    Seeing Jeremy "standing still," Bonnie grew anxious. Just as she was about to drag him away regardless, she noticed the slight smirk on Jeremy''s lips.


    Jeremy waved at Bonnie and said, "Don''t rush. Let the bullets fly a little longer."


    At that moment, a cough echoed from within Hank''s army.


    This cough acted like the first falling domino.


    In no time, the over two hundred Sinners, with an average level nearing fifty, erupted into a chorus of continuous coughs.


    Even Hank, the highest-level among them, felt an itch in his throat and coughed uncontrobly.


    But the gue''s effects didn''t stop there. A hoarse voice suddenly eximed from within the ranks, "It''s so itchy, so itchy! Strange, why am I getting pimples on my face?"


    Someone next to the speaker saw it clearly¡ªthose weren''t pimples at all, but smallpox!


    A chill ran up the spine of the observing Sinner, from his tailbone to the top of his head.


    "Smallpox! Stay away from me!"


    The piercing scream immediately drew Hank''s attention to the Sinner who had just spoken.


    What he saw was rming: several Sinners, centered around the initial speaker, were suddenly breaking out in smallpox.


    A horrifying thought shed through Hank''s mind: "gue?"


    As if to confirm Hank''s suspicion, within moments, various gues began to manifest among the troops.


    Only those who had undergone profession awakening, whose bodies were fundamentally different from the others, managed to resist the onught of the gues.


    The rest were not so fortunate. gue, smallpox, cholera, the ck Death¡ªevery gue Hank had ever known now erupted among them.


    Moreover, the gues didn''t just stop at one infection. Many soldiers, after showing symptoms of one gue, soon exhibited signs of another.


    Quickly, the over two hundred soldiers turned into living, breathing sources of infection.


    Their tenacious vitality, far from being a blessing, only exacerbated the spread of the gues.


    The gue was even beginning to spread toward Golden Lion Weber and his men.


    A few Sinners, still barely able to move, staggered toward Golden Lion Weber''s direction, crying out, "Chief... save me!"


    At this moment, Golden Lion Weber and his men could no longer focus on attacking the protective magic array of the lord''s mansion.


    They had seen the horrific state of theirrades.


    If those gue-ridden individuals got close, they were doomed!


    Golden Lion Weber, looking at his afflicted nsmen with pained eyes,manded, "Shield Wall!"


    With a series of swift movements, a thick iron-grey shield wall was erected, blocking the two hundred soldiers ordered to assault Jeremy.


    Golden Lion Weber, ring at Jeremy from a distance, was filled with intense hatred.


    He clenched his teeth so hard that he wished he could tear Jeremy limb from limb.


    Suddenly, a "crack" sounded from Golden Lion Weber''s mouth.


    His expression changed as he spat out a broken tooth, then fiercely drew a line across his throat towards Jeremy.


    For a moment, it seemed to Jeremy as if he was gazing into the abyss of hell itself.


    Bonnie, witnessing the horrific scene, felt a pang of sympathy rise in her heart, and her eyes darkened as she looked at Jeremy.


    It wasn''t that Bonnie felt pity for her enemies.


    No matter what, she knew that showing kindness to the enemy was cruelty to oneself.


    But this was a gue!


    A single misstep could turn the entire Dawn City into a living hell.


    While Bonnie had no qualms about dealing with enemies, she didn''t want to harm innocent people.


    Jeremy, however, seemed unfazed,pletely indifferent to the carnage before him.


    Just as Bonnie was about to speak, Jeremy raised his skeletal staff high: "mes of Sin!"


    A massive ball of dark red fire, almost alive, materialized instantly.


    Under Jeremy''s control, the mes of Sin did not attack the enemies but instead began to burn furiously around the fallen Sinners, using them as the core.


    The dark red mes burned with an intense heat, incinerating any airborne pathogens long before they could approach the mes of Sin, leaving nothing behind.


    At this moment, the raging wall of fire effectively divided Dawn City into two separate areas,pletely containing the gue within its fiery barrier.


    The mes continued to burn fiercely for over ten minutes!


    Even Jeremy, with his spirit attribute exceeding ten thousand points, found himself nearly drained of energy.

 Chapter 91: The Fall of the Lords Mansion

    Jeremy slowly lowered his skeletal staff as the fiery wall that had illuminated half the sky gradually dissipated.


    As the wall of firepletely dissipated, whaty before Jeremy and Bonnie was andscape of scattered ashes and a few solitary, standing figures.


    Every one of these individuals who remained standing was, without exception, an expert with a level exceeding fifty.


    They stood there, helpless, having witnessed their kin perish right before their eyes. At this moment, their hearts were consumed with hatred. If looks could kill, Jeremy would have been riddled with wounds by now.


    In truth, when Jeremy unleashed the mes of Sin, these warriors could have attacked him.


    However, the n leaders, including Golden Lion Weber, retained some semnce of reason and prevented their nsmen from attacking Jeremy at that moment.


    The reason was simple: if they had attacked Jeremy at that moment, the ensuing gue would have undoubtedly swept through the entire Dawn City.


    Such an oue was something they absolutely did not wish to see.


    In this battle, the elite forces of the eight top families, including Golden Lion''s, were almost entirely decimated by Jeremy alone.


    Even devouring Jeremy alive wouldn''t quench their burning hatred.


    Now that the gue had been contained, it was time for Golden Lion and his allies to exact their revenge.


    Under the hostile gazes of these elite warriors, Bonnie and Jeremy found themselves the focal point of immense animosity.


    Bonnie involuntarily swallowed hard, her feet trembling slightly as she moved closer to Jeremy. "What are you waiting for? Let''s go!"


    Yet, Jeremy remained unperturbed. "Don''t worry, reinforcements areing."


    Hearing this, Bonnie felt a wave of relief wash over her.


    Although she had never seen them, Jeremy and Heber''s confidence suggested that the city guards were exceptionally strong.


    Bonnie''s intuition proved correct.


    Soon, she felt a faint but rhythmic tremor beneath her feet.


    Moments after sensing the tremor, the rapid tter of hooves, like a downpour, filled the air.


    Looking in the direction of the sound, she saw a group of warriors d in ck armor, riding three-meter-tall, ck-scaled, one-horned beasts approaching swiftly.


    The residual mes reflected off their armor, casting rippling light that brought Bonnie a sense of inner calm.


    The only oddity was that Heber was not with them.


    However, this was understandable; given Heber''s size, he wouldn''t be able to keep pace with the cavalry.


    While Bonnie felt reassured and had even lowered her weapon, Jeremy''s vignce only intensified.


    Jeremy clearly remembered that Heber had headed in a different direction than the one from which the cavalry was arriving.


    Turning his gaze to Golden Lion Weber and the other n leaders, who stood with an inexplicable smile, Jeremy''s unease grew. "Strange, why aren''t they fleeing?"


    The answer came swiftly with the arrival of the reinforcements.


    The galloping cavalry elerated, and as their fierce beasts charged forward, an iron-grey aura enveloped the entire unit.


    The iron-grey aura emanated a piercing sharpness, giving the impression that even if a mountain stood in the cavalry''s path, they would plow right through it.


    However, this wasn''t a battlefield with two armies shing. Why would they employ such arge-scale military skill now?


    At the same time, Jeremy noticed that the protective array of the Lord''s Mansion suddenly red brightly, appearing to be under extreme strain.


    A thought surged through Jeremy''s mind: "Could it be that this cavalry has also turned traitor?"


    In the brief moments that followed, the cavalry had already closed the distance to within a few hundred meters of Jeremy and Bonnie.


    For cavalry, this distance could be covered in mere seconds.


    The thunderous sound of hooves left Bonnie''s face pale. She muttered in panic and confusion, "Strange, why aren''t they slowing down?"


    In a sh, Jeremy acted swiftly, grabbing Bonnie''s wrist.


    With a lowmand, Jeremy shouted, "Wings of the Sky!"


    The Sky Ring on Jeremy''s finger glowed with a silver light, and a pair of white wings suddenly materialized on his back.


    With a powerful p, the white jade wings generated a fierce wind, lifting Jeremy and Bonnie into the sky like lightning.


    Just as they ascended, the cavalry thundered through the spot where Jeremy and Bonnie had stood moments before.


    Had Jeremy not used the Sky Ring, they would have been trampled to pieces.


    Golden Lion Weber watched Jeremy soar like an eagle, a deep sense of regret in his eyes. "What a pity, we didn''t manage to crush that beast."


    Bonnie, still in shock, realized she was airborne.


    Instantly, she clung to Jeremy like an octopus, her voice uncharacteristically trembling, "Jeremy, please don''t let go of me!"


    Jeremy patted Bonnie''s back reassuringly, though he remained silent.


    At this moment, Jeremy''s attention was entirely focused on the cavalry below.


    After passing the spot where Jeremy and Bonnie had stood, the cavalry did not slow down at all, charging directly into the protective array of the Lord''s Mansion.


    With a thunderous "boom," a mushroom cloud rose into the sky.


    The sudden explosion was akin to a nuclear st, causing Jeremy to wobble precariously in the air. His wings pped wildly, nearly sending him plummeting back to the ground.


    Fortunately, Jeremy was no longer the same person he once was. With his mental attributes having surpassed ten thousand, he hadplete control over every muscle in his body.


    After just a few shakes, Jeremy stabilized himself.


    Simultaneously, a faint "crack, crack" sound, reminiscent of shattering ss, began to emerge.


    The source of this sound was the protective array of the Lord''s Mansion!


    Under the watchful eyes of all present, the protective array¡ªshattered.


    What concerned Jeremy even more was that, up until now, not a single person had emerged from the Lord''s Mansion!


    ¡­


    One hour earlier, inside the Lord''s Mansion.


    A woman with an oval face, exuding an air of cold elegance, sat in the dressing room. d in a light purple, luxurious silk gown, she resembled a meticulously crafted jade sculpture.


    In front of this noblewoman, Nina was holding two dresses,paring them in front of a mirror with a conflicted expression.


    After a moment, the noblewoman nced at Nina, who was still rummaging through the wardrobe, a doting smile appearing at the corner of her lips. "My dear, have you not decided which gown to wear yet? The banquet starts in an hour."


    Upon hearing this, Nina, who was holding a pale yellowce dress in one hand and a burgundy form-fitting evening gown in the other, looked up with a hint of panic.


    ncing at the crystal clock in the dressing room, Nina began to spin in circles anxiously. "Oh no, Mom, why didn''t you tell me sooner? There''s hardly any time left. I still need to wash up and do my makeup¡ªan hour is definitely not enough!"


    It turned out that the woman in the light purple gown was none other than Nina''s mother, the most enigmatic mistress of the Lord''s Mansion, Beatrice.


    The current Lord of Dawn City is the fifth-generation lord since the city''s establishment. It is under his leadership that Dawn City has grown into a renowned metropolis in the entire Land of Eternal Night.


    In Dawn City, the lord''s prestige is known by all, without exception. However, in recent years, the lord was cursed and gravely injured, causing him to gradually fade from the public eye..


    In contrast to the illustrious Lord, Beatrice''s origins remain shrouded in mystery.


    When people first learned of Beatrice, she had already given birth to the Lord''s daughter.


    Moreover, Beatrice never appeared outside the confines of the Lord''s Mansion.


    Were it not for the fact that the young man named Jeremy, who wasing today, had captured the heart of her second daughter, Beatrice would never have made an appearance.


    With a soft sigh, Beatrice gracefully rose and approached Nina, taking the burgundy form-fitting evening gown from her hands. "Here, wear this. My daughter has grown up. It''s time for those men to witness your charm."


    Nina''s eyes lit up as she looked at herself in the mirror. Beatrice''s words made perfect sense to her.


    Taking the burgundy gown, Nina headed to the dressing room, calling to Beatrice, "Alright, Mom, wait a moment. I''ll go change into this dress."


    Shortly after, Nina emerged from the dressing room in the form-fitting evening gown.


    One had to admit, Beatrice had an impable sense of style.


    The gown entuated Nina''s voluptuous curves, showcasing her figure to perfection.


    While in the dressing room, Nina could hardly believe the reflection in the mirror was her own.


    With a hint of admiration in her eyes, Beatrice remarked, "This will surely leave that young Jeremy utterly captivated."


    Blushing, Nina hugged Beatrice''s arm, pouting yfully, "Mom, stop teasing me."


    ¡­


    Soon, the vast Lord''s Mansion began to operate like a well-oiled machine, everything proceeding in an orderly fashion.


    Before long, the hall of the Lord''s mansion was brilliantly illuminated, and under the glow of the lights, the ssical and elegant decorations inside the hall shimmered magnificently.


    There was little time left until the banquetmenced.

 Chapter 92: Betrayal

    In the center of the grand banquet hall, an emaciated figure sat on a luxurious velvet chair,pletely enveloped in a voluminous tinum robe.


    It was evident that this person was none other than Rafael Hardy, Nina''s father, Beatrice''s husband, and the current Lord of Dawn City.


    To Rafael''s right sat his eldest son-inw, Anz Hatton, the Supreme Commander of Dawn City''s cavalry. Even at the evening banquet, he remained d in his armor. Above his gleaming silver chest te was an unnaturally fair and strikingly handsome face. Under the bright, daylight-like illumination, a hint of dark crimson flickered in Anz''s pupils.


    Anz''s lineage was anything but ordinary. He belonged to the fabled Bloodline, a race that stood in legendary repute alongside the Angels.


    Here, in thend of Eternal Night, Anz''s race was undeniably powerful, with even their professions being exclusive and rare.


    Anz himself bore the rare title of [Night Knight], a testament to his formidable heritage.


    It was precisely because of such distinctions that Anz ultimately triumphed over numerous rivals to be the eldest son-inw of the Lord of Dawn City.


    Regrettably, a few years prior, Anz''s wife, the Lord''s eldest daughter, tragically perished in childbirth, leading to the untimely demise of both mother and child.


    Otherwise, tonight''s banquet would have surely been more jubnt.


    To Rafael''s left sat the Lady of the City, Beatrice.


    However, unlike her earlier appearance in Nina''s dressing room, Beatrice now donned a voluminous tinum robe, much like Anz''s, whichpletely enveloped her delicate frame.


    As the banquet''smencement drew near, the servants of the Lord''s mansion busied themselves with final preparations.


    Suddenly, with a graceful demeanor, Anz lifted a pre-set goblet from the table. He swirled the crimson liquid within and addressed Rafael, "Father, it''s been days since west met. How has your health been?"


    In truth, it was quite improper for Anz to help himself to a drink before the guests had arrived, a gesture bordering on disrespect towards Rafael, the host of the evening.


    Yet, curiously, neither Rafael nor Beatrice seemed to acknowledge Anz''s provocative act.


    Among those present, only Nina''s slightly pouted lips betrayed her displeasure.


    Beatrice appeared ready to speak, but Rafael gently raised his hand, forestalling her.


    The tinum robe rustled softly as Rafael''s parched, raspy voice resonated, "How my health fares, you have always known."


    Anz''s hand, poised to lift the goblet, froze momentarily. Forcing a chuckle, he responded, "Father, I''m not sure what you mean by that. "


    A faint, inscrutable smile seemed to tug at Rafael''s unseen features. "Anz, do you really think I am unaware of your actions?"


    "I remember, it was the day we drove away the Shadow Dragon.You escorted me back to the city, did you not? And it was immediately after that day I fell ill, stricken by a curse."


    With a loud "bang," Anz mmed his goblet onto the table. "Father, do not falsely use me. There were numerous witnesses to your being attacked by the Shadow Dragon boss''s skill that day."


    Shaking his head, Anz''s voice emanated from the shadows, not with anger but with a hint of amusement. "You might find this hard to believe, but just a few days ago, Master Bard advanced from asenior alchemistto a grandmaster alchemist. Upon reaching this new level, Master Bard identified that what afflicted me was no Shadow curse."


    "The grandmaster dered that I was under the influence of a rare Bloodline concoction, an exclusive potion of the Moonlit Witch known as the Shade Curse Elixir. Am I correct, my good son-inw, Bloodline Night Knight, Anz?"


    Upon hearing those words, Anz was momentarily stunned. Then, he downed the wine in his goblet in one gulp and stood up with augh, saying, "I knew it, Father. A mere Shadow Curse Elixir could never bring you down."


    Anz turned abruptly, his eyes now filled with malice as he stared at Rafael. "Since you knew everything, why didn''t you just bear with it a bit longer?"


    At this point, Anz''s treachery was ringly obvious.


    Perhaps fully aware of the situation, Beatrice''s eyes were cold, but she remained silent.


    Nina, on the other hand, was entirely stupefied.


    She could scarcely believe that Anz, who had always cared for her like an elder brother, was capable of such treachery.


    Indescribable fury surged through Nina''s mind. With a tter, she pushed her chair aside, stood up, and angrily pointed at Anz, "Anz, how could you do this to my father, to my sister?"


    Anz cast a cold nce at Nina, not even deigning to respond.


    Rafael burst intoughter, flinging off his tinum robe as he stood up. He grinned at Anz, a mix of relief and bloodlust in his expression. "I feared that if I continued to endure, my dear son-inw Anz, our family might not live to see another sunrise."


    A look of surprise shed across Anz''s face. "You knew?"


    Rafael shook his head. "I''m not so senile yet."


    "Unfortunately, Master Bard''s breakthrough came toote. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have had to take such a risk."


    With a resounding "ng," Anz suddenly drew his Knight''s half-sword from his waist.


    With a cold smile, Anz dered, "Even if you know, it doesn''t matter. I''ve undergone Transcendental Awakening. You''re no match for me now!"


    As he spoke, a tangible shadow rippled out from beneath Anz''s feet.


    Everywhere the shadow touched seemed to enter a dimension under Anz''s control, instantly bing his dominion.


    Simultaneously, a radiant tinum halo began to form beneath Rafael''s feet.


    The two forces collided almost instantaneously.


    The sound of ss shattering echoed in the air as fragments of light in two colors continuously appeared. With a thunderous crash, the solid wood table between them was rent in two by their unknown abilities.


    Following this, the air seemed to burst with countless invisible explosions, the crackling sounds unending.


    The carefully arranged banquet was utterly destroyed by the surging waves of energy.


    At this moment, the entire banquet hall was divided in two, the tinum light and the dark red glowing shadow shing like two worlds devouring and pressing against each other.


    All of this happened swiftly; in the span of just a few breaths, the hall was reduced to ruins by the twobatants.


    Countless servants, caught off guard, were instantly affected, their screams echoing through the chaos.


    Nina, though taken by surprise, was unharmed thanks to Beatrice''s protection.


    Although Nina''s dress was now disheveled, robbing her of her earlier elegance, she paid no mind to such trivialities.


    The two before her seemed on the verge of determining a victor.


    The tinum halo beneath Rafael''s feet, though initially more brilliant and solid than the blood-tainted shadow ripples beneath Anz, began to falter after just a few moments.


    Anz, visibly exhrated, veins bulging on his forehead, intensified his efforts. "Old man, your injuries haven''t healed yet, have they? You want to fight me to the death? Look at yourself¡ªhow many days do you think you have left to live?"


    "Heh, back then, you looked down on me and did everything in your power to obstruct me and Katherine. You never imagined it woulde to this, did you?"


    Rafael seemed indeed to have reached his limit. Faced with the mockery of his former son-inw, Anz, he offered no retort.


    With a thud, Rafael wavered, his body momentarily faltering as he half-knelt on the ground.


    Despite his predicament, his face showed no trace of panic.


    Gazing at the snarling visage of Anz, a flicker of anguish crossed Rafael''s eyes. "Had I known earlier that you were such a heartless beast, I would never have married Katherine to you."


    Anz, like a dog whose tail had been stepped on, erupted in fury. "Shut up! You will not mention my wife''s name in front of me!"


    Instantly, Anz''s aura surged. Already at the end of his rope, Rafael spewed a mouthful of blood.


    Seeing Rafael''s tinum light about to bepletely devoured by Anz, Beatrice suddenly appeared by Rafael''s side.


    Anz''s eyes flickered with a hint of bewilderment as he saw Beatrice''s sudden appearance. However, this confusion quickly turned to outrage.


    With a single raised hand, Beatrice unleashed a burst of tinum light identical to Rafael''s from her lithe form.


    In an instant, the tide turned.


    Anz could scarcely believe his eyes, trembling as he questioned, "You... you''ve also undergone Transcendental Awakening and mastered the extraordinary realm?"


    Ignoring Anz, Beatrice gently helped the half-kneeling Rafael to his feet.


    Only then did she speak, "What, are you surprised?"


    Anz, beside himself with rage, burst into a mockingugh. "Well, well, well, my mother-inw is also a Transcendental Awakener, and I, as her son-inw, had no idea. I knew you always treated me as an outsider!"


    Rafael coughed lightly. "The truth is, Anz, you were never truly a part of our family."


    With the battle now two against one, Anz seemed on the brink of defeat.


    Yet, he showed no signs of panic.


    Shaking his head, Anz remarked, "Indeed, I am not part of your family. I''m not as foolish as you!"


    Just as Anz finished speaking, countless attacks rained down upon the Lord''s mansion like a torrential downpour.

 Chapter 93: The Breach

    Despite Rafael''s awareness of Anz''s impending rebellion that night.


    He had anticipated that the insurgent forces would be the Dawn City Cavalry. Yet, standing before Rafael and hispanions, separated by the automatically activated protective array of the Lord''s mansion, were none other than the Golden Lion Weber and his cohorts.


    Upon realizing that Weber and his men wereunching an assault on the Lord''s mansion, Rafael and Beatrice resolved to swiftly conclude their confrontation with Anz and then turn their attention to eradicating Weber and his followers.


    Although the Golden Lion Weber and the other patriarchs had also transcended the seventy-level mark, achieving Transcendental Awakening.


    In the presence of Rafael and Beatrice, individuals like Weber, who had undergone an iplete Transcendental Awakening, stood no chance; they would be annihted in an instant.


    The reason was simple: the Transcendental Awakening experienced by Weber and his ilk was fundamentally wed. Within Dawn City, only the lineage of Rafael possessed the knowledge to achieve aplete Transcendental Awakening and attain mastery over the extraordinary realm.


    Thus, as long as Anz was eliminated, everything else would fall into ce.


    However, Rafael and Beatrice had not anticipated that Anz was equally prepared.


    In the face of thebined assault from the Lord and his wife, Anz swiftly retrieved a bottle of dark, blood-like potion from his storage device.


    The moment this sinister potion appeared in Anz''s hand, an almost tangible, dense aura of bloodlust filled the air.


    Before Rafael and Beatrice could react.


    Anz gulped the potion down with a single "glug."


    Instantly, his already unnaturally pale skin grew even more ashen, his canines elongated, and his eyes turned a deep, ominous crimson.


    With a tearing sound, Anz''s robe ripped open, revealing a pair of bat-like wings spanning ten meters, emerging from hidden slits in his armor.


    Under the now blood-red moonlight, Anz let out a thunderous roar, "Roar!"


    In an instant, dark red sound waves emanated from Anz''s mouth, rippling through the air.


    Just as Anz downed the potion, Rafael''s heavy sword ignited with a golden me.


    Rafael bellowed, "Golden me sh!"


    In the next moment, a sword aura nearly ten meters wide surged towards Anz in mid-air.


    Along its path, the golden mes of the sword aura seemed almost alive, leaving behind burning afterimages in the air.


    Perhaps it was due to their marital synergy, but the instant Rafael unleashed his skill, an elegant staff, seemingly crafted from crystalline crystal, appeared in Beatrice''s hand, though it was unclear when she had summoned it.


    Beatrice pointed her staff at Anz, and an intricate and lengthy incantation flowed from her lips as if yed in fast-forward.


    This was a unique racial ability of Beatrice''s lineage: Rapid Casting.


    Rapid Casting allowed Beatrice to reduce the casting time by 90% without diminishing the skill''s effect.


    Anz was about to witness the formidable power of a spell meticulously cast by a master who had transcended to the seventieth level and achieved aplete Transcendental Awakening.


    In mere moments, the sky above the Lord''s mansion was enveloped by rolling thunderclouds. Without any warning, a lightning bolt as thick as a water barrel crashed down.


    In the blink of an eye, thebined skills of Rafael and Beatrice targeted Anz.


    Watching Anz about to be engulfed by the zing lightning, Nina silently clenched her fists.


    "Please, let it hit!"


    Unfortunately, reality often defies expectations.


    After the deafening roar subsided, all that remained where Rafael had stood was a massive, charred crater.


    As for Anz, he had vanished without a trace.


    If Anz had been killed, his equipment should have been left behind, even if his body had been obliterated.


    Moreover, for someone who had surpassed the seventieth level and achieved Transcendental Awakening, Anz could not be so easily dispatched.


    As expected, the next moment, a figure suddenly swooped down from the sky. Even before hended, the intense gusts of wind he generated were like those of a typhoon, sweeping up the debris and dust from the ground.


    The weaker servants didn''t even have time to scream before they were knocked to the ground by the fierce wind pressure, coughing up blood.


    Anz''s target was unmistakably the youngest present, Nina.


    Although Rafael and Beatrice could see Anz''s movements clearly, their previous attacks had been executed with their full strength, leaving them momentarily helpless as they watched Anz swoop down like an eagle to snatch Nina.


    The consequences of Nina falling into Anz''s hands were too dreadful to contemte.


    In this moment of crisis, Beatrice, who had always been as elegant andposed as an iceberg, suddenly had her eyes turn red.


    Wasting no time, she mmed her staff into the ground. Instantly, the delicate emerald ne around Nina''s neck shattered with a "crack."


    At the veryst second, as Anz''s ws were about to seize Nina, a thick, green, semi-transparent barrier as solid as a city wall sprang up,pletely enveloping Nina in protection.


    With a harsh scraping sound, Anz''s ws struck the barrier, producing an ear-piercing noise akin to a de cutting through ss.


    It was only then that Nina realized what had just happened.


    Gazing at the warm yet solid barrier surrounding her, Nina''s lips trembled slightly as she spoke with a hint of confusion, "Mom, isn''t this yourEmerald Shield?"


    It turned out that back in the cloakroom, Beatrice had already ced her most powerful protective artifact on Nina.


    The [Emerald Shield] was an orange-grade transcendent item, a rarity even within the entire Lord''s Manor.


    With this equipment, Nina would be absolutely safe for the next half hour, provided she didn''t suffer a significant amount of damage.


    Only with this assurance could Beatrice allow herst remaining daughter to step into such peril.


    Seeing the nearly unscathed Emerald Shield, a slight twitch appeared at the corner of Anz''s eye. Breaking through this barrier would take an indeterminate amount of time, and facing the Lord and his wife, Anz was clearly at a disadvantage. It seemed evident that Anz was destined to lose.


    However, a cunning n quickly formed in Anz''s mind.


    Meanwhile, Rafael and Beatrice, filled with righteous fury, had already charged towards Anz, their nearly identical tinum transcendental realms bearing down on him.


    With a swift p of hisrge bat wings, Anz transformed into a gust of wind and vanished from sight.


    At that moment, Anz''s voice echoed in Rafael and Beatrice''s ears: "Father, how ruthless can you be? Ignoring your little sister''s beloved outside? It''s the first time I''ve seen her care so much about a young man. If he dies, she''ll be heartbroken."


    Anz''s words had no effect on Rafael and Beatrice, who dismissed them as mere background noise. Rafael, with eyes that mirrored Nina''s golden irises, finally revealed his determination. "He''s just a yer. If he dies, he dies. The world is full of men with two legs," he said, his pupils vibrating rapidly in a fine but swift manner, attempting to locate Anz.


    Nina, unaware of the invisible duel between the two, was immediately anxious upon hearing Anz''s words.


    Although part of the reason she had invited Jeremy that day was a desperate measure, she genuinely had feelings for him.


    Beatrice, seemingly understanding Nina''s turmoil, took the opportunity while her husband tangled with Anz to turn to her daughter. "Daughter, do not lose yourposure. With so many people outside, that Jeremy is most certainly already dead."


    In an instant, the light seemed to vanish from Nina''s eyes, her once radiant golden irises growing dim.


    Beatrice was right.Jeremy, a yer who hadn''t even reached level forty, no matter how skilled, could never stand against the likes of Golden Lion Weber and others outside the Lord''s Manor.


    Having reassured her daughter, Beatrice joined the fray. Anz gritted his teeth, his wings pping furiously as his speed surged once more. "Catch me? In your dreams!"


    ¡­


    Despite the thunderous explosion that followed, Rafael and Beatrice still failed to capture Anz.


    Now, Anz''s bat wings were reduced to just one, the other a bloodied skeleton of bones twitching spasmodically. His armor was tattered, and even one of his eyes had been gouged out, rendering him a pitiful sight.


    Though Rafael and Beatrice were also battered and bruised, their condition was far better than Anz''s. However, their expressions were entirely contrasting.


    Rafael and Beatrice wore grave and even despairing looks, while Anz''s ghastly face radiated sheer delight.


    With a resounding "crack," the protective barrier of the Lord''s Manor shatteredpletely. Outside the once-imposing walls, the Golden Lion n, the ck Goat Tribe, and the White Elephant Family¡ªprominent figures in Dawn City¡ªhad surrounded the manor.


    Amidst the dust and smoke, the once-proud ck Armored Cavalry, one of the two core forces of Dawn City and Rafael''s pride, now had only a fraction of its members barely able to move. Their eyes, behind their visors, were fixed intently on the manor.


    Suddenly, Rafael''s expression turned peculiar. "Strange. Is this all the Golden Lions have left? Could my Lord''s Manor Protective Array be that formidable?"


    Having not paid close attention earlier, Rafael now noticed that something seemed off about the scene outside.

 Chapter 94: This is Level Thirty-Nine?!

    At this moment, every n leader, including those of the Golden Lion and ck Goat ns, had their gazes fixed in the direction opposite to the City Lord''s Mansion.


    Rafael distinctly recalled that when Weber, the leader of the Golden Lions, had arrived with his n, there had been a formidable army of nearly a thousand strong behind him. Although the other ns were neither as affluent nor as populous as the Golden Lions, each still boasted several hundred members.


    But now, there were nowhere near that many people outside the City Lord''s mansion.


    Thebined forces of the prominent ns barely numbered a little over a hundred, and every one of them wore expressions of dejection and fear, their eyes vacant and lifeless.


    The most peculiar sight was theyer of ash, as thick as a finger, that had mysteriously appeared on the ground outside the mansion, as if a great fire had recently raged.


    Beatrice, panting heavily, sidled up to Rafael and whispered, "Something''s not right. If we get a chanceter, we need to get Nina out of here."


    Rafael, in no better condition himself, nodded. Already weakened from his recent injuries and exhausted from the prolonged battle, he was at the end of his strength.


    "Don''t give up just yet," Rafael said, nodding. "PerhapsTaal has arrived."


    Taal was none other than themander of the Irond Army, one of the two major forces in Dawn City.


    Unlike Anz, who was Rafael''s son-inw, Taal had been groomed by Rafael from a young age and treated almost as a son. Rafael was confident that Taal would never betray him.


    Though the Irond Army was not as well-equipped or as elite as the ck Armored Cavalry, they were the true foundation upon which Dawn City stood.


    The reason was simple: the Irond Army boasted a staggering fifty thousand soldiers!


    Against such an overwhelming force, the ck Armored Cavalry stood no chance. If Taal were leading the Irond Army to their aid, the current situation could be easily exined.


    Anz, equally anxious, hovered in mid-air, his elevated vantage point allowing him to see further. He could clearly see there was no sign of the Irond Army nearby.


    What he did notice, however, was a young man with wings on his back, soaring through the sky with a woman clinging to him.


    A rather absurd thought shed through Anz''s mind: "The younger generation really has some interesting ways of ying."


    The eerie atmosphere was abruptly shattered by Nina''s voice, bursting with joy and surprise: "Jeremy!"


    Following Nina''s gaze, Rafael and Beatrice finally noticed the couple in mid-air.


    Suddenly, the anguished voice of Weber, the Golden Lion n leader, rang out: "Shoot that damned Jeremy down!"


    This aged voice was like a war trumpet, signaling the start of battle.


    Instantly, a barrage of long-range attacks rained down on Jeremy. Even some of the ck Armored Knights, who had been carrying crossbows, drew their weapons andunched their attacks skyward.


    With a powerful p of his wings, Jeremy rocketed several hundred meters away,pletely evading the deluge of attacks.


    This sudden and torrential assault startled Bonnie, who let out a scream and instinctively tightened her grip around Jeremy''s waist with her long legs.


    Coupled with her arms wrapped around his neck, this dual force caused her slightly revealing evening dress to cling tightly to Jeremy''s chest.


    Bonnie was one of those women who appeared slender but had hidden depths. In that moment, Jeremy could distinctly feel the pressure of two slightly firm little cherries pressed against his chest, followed by an indescribable sensation of soft warmth.


    Jeremy, who had not had an outlet for his desires for a long time, instinctively reacted.


    Bonnie, practically glued to Jeremy, immediately felt something pressing against her lower abdomen. Though she had never experienced it firsthand, she knew exactly what it was.


    Even through her clothes, Bonnie could feel the searing heat emanating from the object, making her entire body go weak. She almost slipped off Jeremy in the process.


    Instinctively, Bonnie let out a sharp scream and then feebly pounded Jeremy''s back with her small fists. "You... you pervert! Control yourself!"


    Jeremy could only offer a wry smile. This was a purely instinctual reaction of his body¡ªhow was he supposed to control it?


    At that moment, another wave of attacks came their way.


    Jeremy couldn''t afford to be careless and pped his wings once more. The sudden jolt caused Bonnie to press even closer against him.


    The increasingly clear tactile sensation made Bonnie let out a soft, involuntary moan, her voice sultry and endearing, which only intensified Jeremy''s physical reaction.


    Initially, the people below were puzzled by themotion, but now, even a fool could see that this pair of lovers was engaging in some new form of y, with the onlookers unwittingly bing part of it.


    Anz could no longer tolerate it. From the Golden Lion''s actions, it was clear that these two audacious lovebirds in the sky were the culprits behind the significant reduction in Weber''s forces.


    Although Anz couldn''t fathom how these two, who were not even above level forty, had managed it, that didn''t stop him from taking action.


    Casting a cold nce at the vignt Rafael and Beatrice, Anz''s mutted bat wings suddenly pped, and in the next moment, his figure appeared above Jeremy like a specter.


    Bonnie, still writhing in an attempt to escape the burning sensation pressing against her abdomen, remained oblivious to the impending danger.


    Jeremy, whose mental attributes had long surpassed ten thousand and had already begun Divine Consciousness Fusion, clearly sensed Anz''s presence behind him.


    In that critical moment, a bone spear, glowing with an eerie white light, suddenly appeared in Jeremy''s hand.


    With no time to use any skills, Jeremy instinctively thrust the bone spear backward, as if it were a natural extension of his body.


    The next second, he felt the spearhead encounter a resistance akin to piercing rhino hide, a sensation of toughness transmitted through the spear into his hand.


    Meanwhile, the onlookers below stared at the sky, their expressions vacant, mouths agape as if they could swallow an egg whole.


    Even Beatrice, who had believed Jeremy to be dead, had lost her former cold demeanor. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she gazed at Jeremy.


    To their astonishment, Jeremy, who was only level thirty-nine, had managed to strike Anz, who had undergone Transcendental Awakening and whose level had at least surpassed seventy, right in the throat.


    Anz was equally stunned, staring nkly at Jeremy, even forgetting to p his wings.


    The disparity in their power was immense, and although Jeremy had struck Anz''s critical weak point, the spearhead merely grazed Anz''s skin, drawing a trickle of blood but causing no significant damage.


    The slight pain jolted Anz back to his senses.


    At that moment, Anz finally realized that he wasn''t dreaming. Someone over level thirty had actually hit him.


    An indescribable rage ignited, consuming his rationality. "Insect! Die!"


    With a swift swing of his longsword, Anz unleashed a crescent-shaped, dark red sword energy.


    In an instant, Nina, shielded within the Emerald Shield, let out an instinctive scream, "Watch out!"


    Simultaneously, Rafael and Beatrice sprang into action. Recognizing Jeremy''s potential, they were determined not to let him die at Anz''s hands.


    To their astonishment, what happened next left Rafael and Beatrice rooted to the spot, nearly causing Rafael to drop his weapon.


    Even before the sword energy could strike Jeremy, the sheer force of it was already causing a stinging pain on his skin.


    There was no way Jeremy could withstand that attack head-on.


    But Jeremy never intended to take it head-on. "Teleportation!" he eximed.


    In an instant, his figure vanished, reappearing directly above Anz the next moment.


    Jeremy was not one to take a beating without retaliating.


    Instinctively, he activated his The Eye of Omniscience


    [Anz Hatton, Blood Tribe Night Knight, Grand Commander of Dawn City Cavalry, Level 74 Transcendental Awakening. Awakened Transcendental Realm: Moonshadow Domain, 5% Awakened. Skills: Dark Moon sh, Unyielding Charge, Forward Step sh, Dazzling Stab... Note: Blood Tribe''s weakness is holy light attacks. All holy light attacks deal five times the damage to Anz.]


    Jeremy''s eyes lit up at this revtion. The bone spear in his hand vanished, reced by a skeletal staff. "Sword of Judgment!" he dered.


    In an instant, a colossal sword of light, resembling a divine weapon, materialized above Anz''s head.


    The sword, spanning tens of meters, was adorned with intricate patterns, exuding an aura of righteousness and majestic authority. The moment it appeared, Anz felt a deep, primal fear stir within his bloodline.


    Jeremy gave Anz no opportunity to react. With a swift motion of the skeletal staff, the enormous sword of light, apanied by a thunderous whooshing sound, descended upon Anz like a falling meteor.


    "Boom!"


    The deafening explosion reverberated through the air, and a tidal wave of light engulfed Anz. Most of the onlookers could only hear a harrowing scream of agony, beyond which they could perceive nothing.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy had discreetly gripped the Requiem of Life in his hand.


    He could clearly sense that while Anz''s life force had diminished under the assault of the light sword, it was far from extinguished.


    As the light dissipated, Anz''s form reemerged before everyone''s eyes.


    However, Anz was in a decidedly worse state than before.

 Chapter 95: I Entrust My Daughter to You!

    Anz''s condition was beyond dire; it was an utter catastrophe!


    Not only was he suffering from his previous injuries, but now his entire skin seemed to be melting, turning into droplets of oil that continuously dripped from his body.


    To make matters worse, his left hand, which had been shielding his head, had vanished into thin air, leaving only a trembling, dark red skeletal remnant.


    In a sudden, swift motion, Anz pped his wings and fled from Jeremy''s side!


    Within moments, his figure appeared hundreds of meters away. Shivering like a wraith, Anz rummaged through his storage space and pulled out a vial glowing with an orange hue.


    With a gulp, he downed the potion in one go, finally exhaling a sigh of relief. He lifted his head, his gaze toward Jeremy now aplex mixture of emotions.


    Before today, if someone had told Anz that a mere level 39 runt could wound him to such an extent, he would have dismissed them as a drunken fool, spouting nonsense.


    But after today, Anz understood that people were not all the same.


    This realization only strengthened his resolve to kill Jeremy. The reason was simple: if Jeremy could inflict such damage at such a low level, what would happen when he reached level 70 or beyond? Anz wouldn''t stand a chance of surviving then.


    Since they were already enemies, Anz decided he must eliminate this threat in its cradle!


    As the potion took effect, Anz''s wounds began to heal at a visible pace. In less than half a minute, his injuries were almostpletely mended, save for his left hand and the bat wings on his back, which were reduced to mere skeletal remains.


    Flexing his right hand, Anz grasped his Knight''s longsword and solemnly approached Jeremy.


    Meanwhile, down below, following a brief respite, the ck Armored Cavalry and Golden Lion Weber, along with others, began to encircle Rafael and his group.


    It was evident that once Anz became serious and truly regarded Jeremy as an opponent, Jeremy was no match for him.


    The same held true below; Rafael and Beatrice, at the brink of exhaustion and unable to utilize their transcendental powers, faced imminent death.


    Unexpectedly, a rumbling sound echoed from the distance.


    If the hoofbeats of the ck Armored Cavalry had been like heavy hammers striking a drum, this new sound was like an unending tidal wave, exuding an aura of unstoppable force.


    In an instant, the expressions of everyone present drastically changed. Only Rafael and Beatrice felt a profound sense of relief.


    The backbone of Dawn City, the Irond Army, had finally arrived!


    Suspended in mid-air, Jeremy had a clear view of the approaching force. A regiment of over ten thousand heavily armored soldiers, d in uniform armor, was marching resolutely toward the City Lord''s mansion.


    Leading them was a figure wearing a golden helmet adorned with bull horns and a bronze suit of heavy armor, riding an earth-colored drake with an imposing presence.


    Among the ranks, Jeremy spotted a familiar towering figure.


    With a rhythmically synchronized march, Heber appeared, his face weary yet smiling broadly. "Jeremy, I''vee to save you!" he shouted.


    Heber was mounted on a bipedalnd bird over three meters tall, its powerful legs propelling it forward with strides of ten meters or more.


    In the blink of an eye, Heber charged ahead, breaking away from the Irond Army''s formation and rapidly approaching the City Lord''s mansion.


    Meanwhile, Rafael and Beatrice exchanged nces of relief. Beatrice raised her hand to release the Emerald Shield, freeing Nina from its confines. Rafael,.


    However, did not lower his treasured sword. His gaunt eyes remained fixed on Anz, who was hovering in the air. "Anz, your cause is lost. Surrender now, and in light of our past rtionship, I may spare your life."


    As for the nearby Golden Lion Weber and his men, Rafael paid them no heed, clearly considering them as good as dead.


    Golden Lion Weber and his men turned pale, their resolve to resist crumbling. When they saw Rafael, whom they had believed to be on the verge of death, standing before them, they instinctively dropped their weapons and fell to their knees with a thud. "Lord City Master, it was that bastard Anz who made us do this! Please, spare our lives!"


    ¡­


    The chorus of pleas for mercy did not elicit even a nce from Rafael at the kneeling men. Instead, it provoked a furious outburst from Anz. "I knew you spineless cowards couldn''t be trusted!"


    With those words, Anz''s aura surged violently, forcing Jeremy to retreat a considerable distance in rm.


    A trapped beast is most dangerous, and if Anz were tounch a sudden attack now, Jeremy would be in dire straits.


    However, contrary to Jeremy''s expectations, Anz neither attacked him nor vented his rage on Golden Lion Weber and his men.


    Instead, Anz''s figure slowly began to approach the Irond Army, which was nearing the City Lord''s mansion.


    Watching this, a chilling thought crept into Jeremy''s mind: "Could the Irond Army also be the enemy?"


    The more he pondered it, the more usible it seemed.


    But before Jeremy could voice a warning, the sound of taut bowstrings creaking filled the air.


    The noise emanated from within the Irond Army.


    Simultaneously, an array of lights began to glow among the ranks, an ominous prelude that pressed down on everyone''s hearts like the calm before a storm.


    A deep, resonant shout rang out from somewhere within the Irond Army: "Fire the Mountain Arrow!"


    With a sharp twang, countless arrows were loosed from the Irond Army.


    These arrows seemed almost alive, converging mid-air into a massive, singr projectile.


    Inside the City Lord''s mansion, Rafael took a moment to exin to Nina with interest, "The Mountain Arrow is the Irond Army''s ultimate opening strike. "


    "It not onlybines the strength of the entire army''s archers but can also target enemies beyond visible range. "


    "The arrow that once blinded the Shadow Dragon was a Mountain Arrow!"


    The massive arrow was a kaleidoscope of colors, imbued with various elemental forces¡ªfire, ice, lightning, shadow, wind. Any power you could imagine was present within this arrow.


    Rafael''s smile had barely faded when he realized with shock that the Mountain Arrowwas aimed directly at his mansion.


    His expression froze as he came to the painful realization that Taal, whom he had nearly considered a son, had betrayed him as well!


    In this moment of crisis, Rafael''s first reaction wasn''t panic or rage.


    Instead, he was overwhelmed by a sense of betrayal and failure. "Why do you all betray me? What have I done wrong? Is my life truly such a failure?" For a fleeting moment, Rafael was engulfed by a death wish.


    At this critical juncture, it was Beatrice who showed greater decisiveness.


    In this critical moment, Beatrice, despite being a woman, exhibited even greater decisiveness than Rafael.


    The Mountain Arrow, the Irond Army''s first lethal strike upon engaging the enemy, possessed a formidable power that was far from ordinary.


    Even Rafael and Beatrice, as experts of Transcendental Awakening, faced the real possibility of being instantly obliterated under the force of the Mountain-Piercing Arrow.


    As for Nina, who had only just achieved the rank of Profession-Awakened, her chances of survival were even slimmer.


    The Emerald Shield had only just been deactivated, and reactivating it so soon was impossible.


    Gritting her teeth, Beatrice scooped Nina into her arms and darted away from the City Lord''s mansion as fast as she could, striving to distance them from the imminent explosion.


    As for Rafael, Beatrice had no means to assist him.


    With a deafening "boom," the Mountain Arrow struck the heart of the mansion.


    Another mushroom cloud, identical to the previous one, billowed into the sky.


    Beatrice, who had just managed to escape the City Lord''s mansion, narrowly avoided being caught in the core st of the Mountain-Piercing Arrow.


    Nevertheless, the powerful shockwave sent her flying.


    With a gasp, Beatrice spat a mouthful of blood that sttered onto Nina''s cor.


    Staining her chest with a crimson hue.


    Severely wounded from sessive blows, Beatrice could no longer maintain consciousness and was on the verge of passing out.


    Just before sumbing to unconsciousness, she anxiously nced toward the spot where her husband had stood.


    To her immense relief, as the mushroom cloud rose, a lone figure remained standing amidst the inferno at the explosion''s center.


    This st of the Mountain Arrow had jolted Rafael back to his senses.


    Standing at ground zero, Rafael''s body was ravaged, with not a single part left unscathed.


    His once-tinum robes, which had enveloped him entirely, were now incinerated, exposing his emaciated, skeletal frame.


    It was a sight that belied the image of the valiant City Lord who had once grown Dawn City to its stature.


    Indeed, Rafael understood that he was utterly spent, teetering on the brink of death.


    With a silent, resigned smile, an immense surge of tinum light erupted from his body, far surpassing any power he had previously disyed.


    This light expanded rapidly, enveloping everything within a kilometer radius.


    In the distance, Anz and Taal''s faces simultaneously contorted in rm.


    Transcendental realm auras red around them as well.


    Yetpared to Rafael''s, theirs were like mere candle mes against the sun¡ªutterly iparable.


    Anz, agitated and exasperated, shouted, "Has this old fool gone mad? Using his transcendental realm like this, he''s definitely nning to die today!"


    Rafaelughed heartily, his voice booming, "The end of a king is never silent. Anz, Taal,e and keep this old manpany!"


    With another explosive surge, the tinum transcendental realm expanded once more.


    In the midst of the chaos, Jeremy suddenly heard Rafael''s voice filled with hope and urgency. "Jeremy, I entrust my daughter to you."

 Chapter 96: A Bountiful Harvest!

    At this moment, it felt as if a ray of sunlight truly rose within Dawn City.


    An overwhelming tinum sh erupted almost maniacally from the center of the explosion, enveloping everything within a threekilometer radius around the City Lord''s Mansion.


    The immense light and heat caused Jeremy''s ordinary formal attire to ignite spontaneously. If not for his habitual caution of always being equipped, he would have beenpletely exposed.


    Bonnie, however, wasn''t as fortunate.


    She was wearing a formfitting evening gown, with nothing underneath except for her most intimate undergarments, as anything more would have ruined the dress''s line.


    As the aftermath of Rafael''s selfdestruction swept by, Bonnie''s evening gown instantly turned to ashes, exposing her fair and delicate body to Jeremy''s view


    However, neither Bonnie nor Jeremy had any thoughts about this at the moment.


    Jeremy immediately retrieved the "Requiem of Life" from his storage space, ready to consume the lifesaving potion if his health began to decline uncontrobly.


    Bonnie, on the other hand, held a potion glowing with an orange light, clearly her own lifesaving item.


    Fortunately, whether by Rafael''s intention or not, the explosion''s aftermath on Jeremy''s side wasn''t as severe, leaving both Jeremy and Bonnie gravely injured but alive.


    The others weren''t as lucky as Jeremy and Bonnie.


    The Golden Lion Weber and his group faced the full brunt of Rafael''s selfdestruction.


    They didn''t even have time to utter a sound before being reduced to charred remains.


    The prestigious Eight Great Families of Dawn City, who practically ruled over half of the city''s territory, faced near annihtion today!


    Secondly, the closest to Rafael''s City Lord''s Mansion was the ck Armored Knights.


    However, theyer of blue light did not endure for long, akin to a malfunctioning light bulb, it flickered a few times before being devoured by the terrifying tinum radiance.


    Silently and without warning, the once mighty pirs of Dawn City were obliterated by the very City Lord who had once established their power.


    Across the entire battlefield, aside from Jeremy and hispanions, it was the Irond Armythat held out the longest.


    Regrettably, this direction was precisely where Rafael''s attention was most heavily focused.


    As the boundless tinum radiance surged forth, an earthen yellow glow instantaneously rose beneath the feet of the Irond Army.


    In the blink of an eye, a mountain emerged from the t ground, standing resolutely in front of the Irond Army.


    Leading the entire force was Taal, a warrior whose prowess was a testament to his rank and skill.


    Just as the explosive shockwave was about to strike, Taal, with lightning speed, retrieved a towering shield over two meters high from his storage artifact.


    The shield, ancient and robust with a thickness of over ten centimeters, bore the phantom of a tripletiered mountain on its surface, devoid of any other ornamentation.


    With a resonant "Ong" sound, ayer of light instantly emanated from the shield, enveloping Taal and the Irond Army behind him in protection.


    The mountain phantoms atop the shield exuded an aura of invincibility, giving the impression of being impregnable. Such was Taal''s confidence that, in this fortified state, the Irond Army could even confront the shadow dragon boss lurking outside Dawn City!


    Regrettably, long before Rafael was afflicted with the curse that sealed his grim fate, he had already made secret preparations. He intended to use his own mortal remains to eradicate Dawn City''s most formidable adversary¡ªthe very shadow dragon boss responsible for his curse, a creature of terrifying power at level eighty.


    To ensure theplete annihtion of this boss, Rafael meticulously prepared, fearing his selfdetonation might fall short. Not only did he carry an rming array of alchemical explosives, but he also mastered a familyexclusive legacy skill known as [Life Sacrifice Explosion].


    With multiple factorsbined, Rafael''s selfdestruction was nothing short of cataclysmic.


    As the impending attack drew near, a needlelike sense of impending doom caused beads of sweat to stream down Taal''s forehead.


    In the next instant, the terrifying tinum light engulfed Taal along with the mountain behind him.


    It took but a moment for Taal to realize something was amiss.


    To his astonishment, the massive tower shield he wielded, akin to a city gate, could not withstand the force for even a brief moment. With a resounding "crack," it shattered into several pieces.


    This was no ordinary shield, it was extraordinary!


    In a desperate move, Taal roared, "Shield Wall, rise!"


    But to no avail. The soldiers behind Taal did not even hear hismand before Rafael''s selfdestruction shockwave reached them.


    At this critical juncture, Taal could no longer hold the line. He retreated swiftly, stepping into the Irond Army''s magical protection perimeter.


    In an instant, the tinum light shed against the mountain barrier.


    In Taal''s terrified gaze, the tinum light and the Irond Army''s full defensive spell held a momentary stalemate.


    Then, with a thunderous roar, the defensive spell copsed, and the tinum light surged forward.


    Taal''s anguished cry of "No!" echoed as he and the Irond Army were consumed by the tinum light.


    In the aftermath of the explosion, only twothirds of the Irond Army remained, and theirmander, Taal, was grievously wounded, teetering on the brink of death.


    Facing the direction of Rafael''s selfdetonation, Taal had three inches of flesh stripped from his body.


    Blood streamed down, revealing that his entire left arm and leg were missing.


    Had it not been for the dual metamorphoses in attributes after reaching Transcendental Awakening, Taal would have been unquestionably dead.


    Following closely was Anz, who was still airborne, making final preparations.


    Although the explosive power generated by Rafael''s selfdestruction had somewhat diminished by this point, it was still potent.


    Anz, being of the vampire race, was naturally countered by Rafael''s elemental attributes.


    Consequently, Anz suffered the most damage among everyone.


    Without even a whimper, Anz disintegrated into a cloud of ash.


    Though it sounds lengthy, all this transpired within mere seconds.


    Postexplosion, the former City Lord''s mansion was utterly obliterated.


    Within a hundredmeter radius from the epicenter, everything had turned into a barren wastnd. At the very core of the st, the ground had transformed from soil to molten, sslikeva.


    Fortunately, the preceding series of battles had prompted the residents near the City Lord''s mansion to flee.


    Otherwise, the casualty toll would have been unimaginable.


    However, some stubborn souls had stayed in their homes, resulting in civilian injuries after Rafael''s selfdetonation.


    Combined with the wails of the wounded from the Irond Army, the scene was one of widespreadmentation.


    Yet, even amidst such devastation, a few driven by insatiable greed, despite their injuries, cautiously approached the center of the battlefield.


    Everyone knew that in such a massive battle, death was inevitable. For ordinary people, picking up even a single piece of equipment dropped by the deceased would mean unimaginable wealth.


    At this moment, Dawn City resembled a scene straight out of hell.


    With a heavy thud, Jeremynded on the ground, clutching Bonnie in his arms.


    Uponnding, he quickly retrieved several liferestoring potions from his storage space.


    Handing one to Bonnie, Jeremy downed several potions in quick session.


    Instantly, his previously critical health was fully restored.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy tossed a garment to cover Bonnie''s exposed figure and then activated his skills.


    "Extreme Shadow Step, Advance!"


    With the enhancement of two major skills, Jeremy''s speed surged instantly.


    With a swift motion, he shot forward, his footsteps producing a whistling sound as he arrived beside Beatrice and Nina.


    In one sweeping motion, he scooped the mother and daughter into his arms and swiftly retreated.


    Depositing Beatrice and Nina next to a blushing Bonnie, who was awkwardly trying to put on Jeremy''s clothes, he vanished once more.


    When Jeremy reappeared, he was standing before Heber.


    Administering a lifesaving potion to ensure Heber''s survival, Jeremy took off again.


    In a sh, Jeremy appeared at the spot where Gold Lion Weber and his group had been.


    This area, being closest to the City Lord''s mansion, had borne the brunt of the explosion.


    Now, not a single corpse remained, only a few glimmering storage rings and various pieces of equipment scattered on the ground.


    Without so much as a nce, Jeremy waved his hand, collecting all the equipment into his storage space.


    Jeremy then proceeded to the site where the ck Armored Knights had collectively fallen.


    There, a vast array of gleaming ck armory quietly on the ground.


    Jeremy''s eyes sparkled with excitement as he worked tirelessly, collecting every single piece of the at least one hundred ck standardissue armors into his storage space.


    Casting a slightly regretful nce in the direction of the Irond Army, he saw that the remaining soldiers had already begun methodically treating the wounded and gathering equipment.


    It was evident that Jeremy alone couldn''t hope to profit from this situation.


    Pivoting swiftly on his heel, Jeremy dashed towards the area where Anz had met his end.


    He vividly recalled that this master, who had also reached Transcendental Awakening, was unquestionably dead.


    Without encountering any obstacles, Jeremy arrived at Anz''s death site.


    At this moment, three pieces of equipment, each emitting a radiant orange glow, nearly blinded him with their brilliance.


    Jeremy''s eyes gleamed with excitement. "Haha, three precious items!"


    With a swift motion, he immediately stored the three pieces of equipment into his bag.

 Chapter 97: Departure from Dawn City

    Having secured the equipment dropped by Anz, Jeremy wasted no time lingering and promptly turned to lead hispanions away.


    The following day, all of Dawn City was engulfed in a state of chaotic bewilderment.


    Overnight, the City Lord''s mansion had been reduced to rubble, the eight major families suffered countless casualties, and even one of the city''s two pirs, the ck Armored Knights, waspletely annihted. The remaining Irond Army was left severely weakened.


    This turn of events was beyond anyone''s expectations.


    The sinners, who originally lived by the sword and had chosen the rtive peace of Dawn City to escape their bloody pasts.


    Now found their dormant ambitions rekindled in the face of a power vacuum.


    In no time, numerous sinners with storied reputations from the past began forming factions and alliances.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy returned to the inn he had previously rented, apanied by Bonnie, Heber, and the motherdaughter duo, Nina and Beatrice.


    Fortunately, Beatrice seldom ventured out of the City Lord''s mansion, so no one recognized that the cold and noblelooking woman was, in fact, the Lady of the mansion.


    Finally, Jeremy had a moment to examine the spoils he had acquired earlier.


    Foremost among these treasures were the three radiant, orangeglowing pieces of equipment from Anz.


    [Bloodfang Ne]


    [Type]: essory


    [Level]: Transcendent


    [Quality]: Orange (Rare)


    [Attributes]: Agility +800, Spirit +800


    [Skill]: Bloodfang Thrust: Condenses into an attack that deals 100% of the Spirit attribute as magical damage, healing 50% of the damage dealt. Cooldown: 20 minutes.


    Given that Jeremy''s Spirit attribute had already surpassed 10,000, this meant he could potentially heal 5,000 health points every 20 minutes! This was nearly equivalent to a mid-tier health potion.


    Satisfied with the acquisition of this extraordinary essory, Jeremy''s attention shifted to a pair of ck boots with bloodred trims.


    [Blood Rhino Boots]


    [Type]: Armor


    [Level]: Transcendent


    [Quality]: Orange (Rare)


    [Attributes]: Strength +600, Stamina +1500


    [Skill]: Charged Rhino Kick: After a fivesecond charge, deals 500% of the Strength attribute as damage. Cooldown: 1 hour.


    [Description]: Wearing these grants you the power unique to the King of the Blood Rhinos!


    At this moment, Jeremy couldn''t help but exim, "500%?!"


    The sheer explosive power of dealing 500% of the Strength attribute as damage was enough for Jeremy to instantly annihte many monsters!


    Now, Jeremy eagerly turned his attention to the final piece, the one he valued the most: the knight''s half-sword.


    [Bloodline Radiance]


    [Type]: Weapon


    [Level]: Transcendent


    [Quality]: Orange (Rare)


    [Attributes]: Strength +800, Stamina +1200


    [Skills]: Vampiric Instinct (Passive): 10% chance to heal 5% of the damage dealt on attack.


    Boiling Blood: Sacrifice 30% of your health to gain a 50% increase in all attributes for 15 minutes. Cooldown: 30 minutes.


    [Description]: A replica of one of the thirteen holy artifacts of the vampire bloodline.


    The moment Jeremyid eyes on the attribute panel of the new equipment, a brilliant smile spread across his face.


    The reason was simple: the gear boasted an extremely rare passive lifesteal attribute!


    Moreover, the Bloodline Radiance lived up to its status as a transcendent piece of equipment, featuring not just one, but two powerful skills.


    The second skill, Boiling Blood, though not offering a massive attribute boost, had an astonishingly long duration and a rtively short cooldown, making it a skill Jeremy could rely on frequently.


    In a nutshell, Bloodline Radiance was undeniably a transcendent weapon.


    Equipping all three pieces simultaneously, Jeremy felt an immediate surge in his power.


    [Name]: Jeremy


    [Level]: lv39


    [ss]: sphemer


    [Titles]: Pioneer, World''s First Kill, Light Chaser


    [Ability]: The Eye of Omniscience (SSS)


    [Attributes]: Strength 6383, Spirit 11065, Stamina 6804, Agility 5382


    [Damage]: Physical 214%, Magical 214%


    [Special]: Critical Rate 33%, Attack Speed 26%, Drop Rate 35%, Cooldown Reduction 40%


    [Skills]: Uwful Being lv10, Seven Sins ¨C Wrath lv1, Seven Sins ¨C Gluttony lv10, Seven Sins ¨C Envy lv1, Abyssal Summon lv10, Wind of Cmity lv10, Teleportation lv10, gue Curse lv10, Sword of Judgement lv10, Soul Roar lv10, mes of Sin lv10, Disaster de lv10, Extreme Shadow Step lv10...


    Jeremy nodded in satisfaction, his face radiating contentment.


    Next, he pulled out a piece of standard-issue equipment from the ck Armored Knights.


    His expectations for this piece were as high as they were for the three transcendent items.


    [ck Prison Scale Armor]


    [Type: Armor]


    [Level: tinum]


    [Quality: Purple (Rare)]


    [Attributes: Strength +200, Stamina +400]


    [Skill: ck Prison Link: Within a certain range, if ten people are wearing ck Prison Scale Armor, all wearers gain a 5% boost to all attributes, if a hundred people are wearing it, the boost increases to 20%, if a thousand, the boost reaches 50% and grants the legion skill: Gale Thrust.]


    [Gale Thrust (Legion Skill): The legion charges at a speed of 300% of their average agility, dealing damage equal to the number of legion members multiplied by their average agility. Cooldown: 72 hours.]


    [Description: "Produced by ck Prison, guaranteed to be premium quality."]


    Jeremy''s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    In a sense, this ck Prison Scale Armor was a divine artifact in its own right!


    With arge enough legion, it could achieve the legendary feat of overwhelming a giant with sheer numbers.


    At this moment, Heber wore a face of anxiety. Having just woken up, he had heard from Bonnie about the recent events.


    The merchant''s instincts told him that Dawn City would never be the same again, making it impossible for smaller merchants like them to trade freely.


    In reality, it wasn''t just merchants, anyone with limited power in Dawn City now faced simr dangers.


    Prominent figures like Bard, a grandmaster alchemist, are highly sought after by many.


    The more wealth and alchemical skill one possesses, the greater the danger they face.


    After a brief period of contemtion, Heber decided to leave the inn and return to his guild to start packing his belongings.


    Dawn City was no longer a safe haven for him, he had decided to relocate.


    With Heber gone, Jeremy was left alone with the three women.


    Bonnie, for whom the situation was irrelevant, was momentarily set aside.


    Nina, on the other hand, still had a bewildered look in her eyes.


    Watching Jeremy sit quietly, she hesitantly asked, "Jeremy, is my father... truly dead?"


    The ruins of the City Lord''s mansion were conspicuous, even visible from the inn, resembling the aftermath of a volcanic eruption.


    Yet, without Jeremy''s confirmation, Nina seemed unable to fully ept that her invincible father could have perished so suddenly.


    Faced with Nina''s hopeful gaze, Jeremy found himself at a loss for words.


    Just then, a calm and icy voice broke the silence: "It''s true, Nina, your father has indeed passed away."


    The speaker was none other than Beatrice, the Lady of the City Lord''s mansion.


    Despite having just endured the pain of losing her husband, Beatrice remainedposed. Her noble and elegant face showed no trace of sorrow.


    Only the asional flicker of hatred and sadness in her golden eyes betrayed the turbulence within.


    Nina let out a sob, herrge eyes filling with tears as she buried her face in her hands and wept uncontrobly.


    Elegantly wiping away the tears from the corner of her eyes, Beatrice turned to look at Jeremy.


    With a slight nod, she addressed him, "In the face of such cmity, it''s only natural to lose one''sposure. Please forgive me."


    Jeremy shook his head and replied, "It''s perfectly understandable."


    After a brief pause, Jeremy asked, "What are your ns moving forward, mydy?"


    Upon hearing this, Beatrice lifted her gaze, staring intently towards the east of Dawn City.


    That direction was where Taal and his Irond Army were stationed.


    Although Taal had been severely injured that night, he managed to return to his camp safely under the protection of the Irond Army.


    However, it was rumored that a conflict erupted within the Irond Army shortly after Taal''s return.


    Beatrice dered, "Although Anz is dead, Taal remains one of the main culprits responsible for my husband''s death. I cannot find peace until he is dead. "


    "Moreover, Dawn City is the legacy built with the blood and sweat of my husband''s family. I cannot let it fall into the hands of others."


    Jeremy frowned, as if he wanted to say something.


    But before he could speak, Beatrice interrupted him with a calm and resolute tone, "I entrust my daughter to you. This is the Dawn City Lord''s insignia, it holds some authority in most ces."


    As she spoke, Beatrice stood up, ready to depart.


    Nina, who had been crying with her head down, instantly rose and clung tightly to the hem of Beatrice''s garments with her delicate, baster hands. Nina, her voice choked with emotion, pleaded, "Mom, let''s go together. I don''t want to be separated from you."


    For the first time, a trace of emotion flickered across Beatrice''s previously stoic face, a mix of reluctance and maternal love.


    "Nina, you have grown up. It''s time for you to venture out on your own."


    With that single sentence, Beatrice gracefully stood up, bowed to Jeremy, and said once more, "I entrust my daughter to you."


    As soon as Beatrice finished speaking, her figure vanished like a fleeting bubble.


    Regarding the ck Armored Knights'' standard equipment that Jeremy had acquired earlier, Beatrice didn''t even mention it.


    Clearly, this was thepensation for Jeremy taking care of Nina.


    ...


    On the Sunset ins, a rather humble-looking caravan of only seven or eight wagons was slowly making its way under the golden hues of the setting sun.


    Judging by their direction, it was evident that they were heading toward Nocturne City, the most prestigious city in the entire Land of Eternal Night.

 Chapter 98: Shadow Dragon

    In truth, Jeremy and his group were not the only ones on the Sunset ins at that moment.


    The recent events in Dawn City had not gone unnoticed by the popce, assassinations and conflicts were urring almost every moment.


    The city, once known for its strictws that could restrain even the most vicious sinners, had descended into chaos.


    Seizing the opportunity while few were paying attention, many farsighted sinners chose to flee.


    Meanwhile, inside one of the wagons, Jeremy, Heber, and an unfamiliar middle-aged man were seated together.


    Heber, with a mischievous glint in his small eyes, gestured toward the middle-aged man who had remained silent since entering the wagon. Heber said, "Come,e, Jeremy, let me introduce you to¡ª"


    Before Heber could finish, Jeremy waved his hand and interrupted, "Isn''t this Master Bard? There''s no need for an introduction."


    Heber''s expression froze instantly. After a couple of awkward chuckles, Heber replied, "Jeremy, what are you talking about? How could this possibly be Master Bard?"


    The original Bard was short in stature, dressed in tattered robes, and appeared as if he hadn''t bathed since birth.


    In contrast, the man sitting opposite Jeremy was of average build, clean-shaven, and had a refined and elegant demeanor.


    Ten out of ten people would say he was not Master Bard.


    However, Jeremy was an exception. Even if Bard were to change his entire appearance, Jeremy could still recognize him through Bard''s habitual gestures¡ªhabits that even Bard himself was unaware of.


    As time passed, Jeremy''s mental acuity had grown increasingly sharp, enhancing his perceptual abilities to an extraordinary degree.


    It could be said that now, there were very few who could escape Jeremy''s keen senses.


    Perhaps it was Jeremy''s unwavering gaze that made the middle-aged man ufortable, prompting him to scratch his nose and mutter, "Heber, I told you, there''s no fooling this kid. Yet you still didn''t believe me!"


    Gone was the refined and elegant demeanor he had disyed earlier. The man now looked exactly like Master Bard.


    Heber, too, appeared dejected, as if failing to deceive Jeremy was a personal defeat.


    Indeed, Heber had brought Bard along before departing, which came as a pleasant surprise to Jeremy. Shaking his head, Jeremy didn''t take the little prank to heart.


    Realizing the charade was up, Master Bard stopped pretending. He removed his borate robes and sat nonchntly on the wagon floor.


    Scratching his nose again, Master Bard said, "Kid, Jeremy, if you can safely escort me to Nocturne City, I''ll brew two more batches of potions for you."


    Clearly, Bard''s primary reason for joining Heber''s caravan was Jeremy.


    What Jeremy didn''t know was that on the night Rafael self-detonated, countless individuals had used various means and tools to spy on the battle near the City Lord''s mansion¡ªa battle that would determine Dawn City''s future.


    The oue of the battle was not only full of unexpected twists but also showcased Jeremy''s prowess, astonishing the experienced sinners.


    Given Jeremy''s battlefield dominance, some even spected he might have achieved Transcendental Awakening.


    Jeremy''s strength,bined with the attitude of the City Lord''s daughter, Nina, and Rafael''s final act of entrusting his daughter to Jeremy, made many see Jeremy as the obvious choice for the next City Lord of Dawn City.


    Unbeknownst to many, Jeremy had gradually be one of the most promising candidates to ascend to the position of Dawn City''s lord.


    Unfortunately, Jeremy''s ambitionsy elsewhere.


    It was precisely for this reason that Bard chose to follow Jeremy.


    After all, it wasmon knowledge in Dawn City that Master Bard and Rafael had grown up together since childhood, and Bard remained Rafael''s most loyal friend.


    Seeing Bard''s two fingers extended, Jeremy slowly shook his head.


    Master Bard immediately grew anxious and said, "Jeremy, don''t push your luck. I''m no longer just a senior alchemist, I''m a grandmaster alchemist now. Offering to brew two batches of potions for you is already a huge favor, all for Nina''s sake!"


    Jeremy remained unmoved, continuing to shake his head. Master Bard''s gaze turned icy. "Well,I didn''t expect you to be so greedy. It seems you might not be a suitable match for Nina after all!"


    Just as Bard was about to storm off, Jeremy''s voice suddenly rang out. "I don''t need Master Bard to brew potions for me."


    Master Bard froze, his eyes filled with incredulity. "Jeremy, think carefully. I''m a grandmaster alchemist now!"


    Even Heber, standing by, was taken aback by Jeremy''s refusal. Hisrge, hippo-like face was full of anxiety.


    Jeremy nodded solemnly and said, "I don''t need Master Bard to craft potions for me. I just need you to teach me the art of alchemy. Name your price in energy crystals, and I''ll pay it!"


    In truth, when Master Bard had first offered to brew potions for him, Jeremy had already made up his mind.


    During the crafting of the [Requiem of Life], Master Bard had examined all the materials Jeremy had. Aside from the [Heart of the Tyrant], there were no other ingredients capable of producing exceptional potions.


    Given that, it made more sense for Jeremy to learn alchemy directly from Master Bard.


    To Jeremy''s surprise, however, Master Bard''s face took on a peculiar expression.


    The expression on Bard''s face was not one of difort or displeasure; on the contrary, to Jeremy, it seemed almost teasing.


    Momentarily perplexed, Jeremy nodded and asked, "What''s the matter, Master Bard? Why do you have that look on your face?"


    Bard simply shook his head, retrieving a scroll from his storage device and tossing it to Jeremy.


    Instinctively, Jeremy caught the scroll and employed The Eye of Omniscience to examine it.


    In the next instant, the scroll''s attribute panel materialized before Jeremy''s eyes.


    [Item Name: Basic Alchemy Scroll]


    [Type: Skill Scroll]


    [Quality: Bronze]


    [Level: Blue (Rare)]


    [Description: An ancient scroll of basic alchemy. Learning from it grants the Alchemy skill.]


    [Note: Fail ten consecutive concoctions before using this scroll to receive recipes for Basic Strength Enhancement Potion, Basic Stamina Enhancement Potion, and Basic Mental Enhancement Potion.]


    Jeremy hadn''t expected that merely using The Eye of Omniscience on the scroll would grant him four seemingly valuable recipes.


    Without revealing his thoughts, he discreetly stored the scroll in his inventory.


    Seeing Jeremy put away the alchemy scroll, Bard said, "This is an alchemy scroll. In the Land of Eternal Night, these are quitemon. However, those who master alchemy are rare."


    After a moment of twisted struggle, Bard continued, "Fine, you can have this as well."


    He then retrieved a small, yellowed booklet from his storage tool.


    Upon examining the item, Jeremy realized that the booklet was not some extraordinary artifact; it was just an ordinary booklet with no attribute enhancements.


    What set it apart, however, was the title inscribed on its cover: "Bard''s Alchemy Notes."


    Almost instinctively, Jeremy employed the power of The Eye of Omniscience on the "Bard''s Alchemy Notes."


    The Eye of Omniscience, true to its reputation as an SSS-grade ability, revealed its hidden wonders to Jeremy, even with such a seemingly mundane item.


    [Grandmaster Alchemist Bard''s casual notes. Note: With Master Bard''s guidance, this booklet can impart Intermediate and Advanced Alchemy skills.]


    Observing Jeremy as he epted the alchemy notes, Bard''s face disyed an undeniable expression of relief.


    pping his hands together, Bard remarked, "Jeremy, now that you''ve taken the items, you must ensure my safety on this journey!"


    Jeremy nodded and assured him, "Rest easy. With me around, even if we encounter danger, there''s always the option to retreat."


    Satisfied with the response, Bard nodded approvingly and stepped out of the carriage.


    Meanwhile, in a different carriage, Bonnie and Nina found themselves locked in a tense silence, their eyes fixed on each other.


    Despite Nina''s radiant, almost angelic appearance, Bonnie couldn''t help but harbor an inexplicable dislike for her.


    ring at the doll-like Nina, Bonnie silently seethed, "Jeremy, you phnderer! Isn''t having a teacher enough for you? You''re still chasing after others! For the sake of my teacher''s happiness, I won''t allow this!"


    On the other hand, Nina also sensed Bonnie''s hostility.


    Although Nina held the esteemed position of being the daughter of the Lord of Dawn City and was, at present, the sole legitimate heir to Dawn City, the recent series of upheavals had left her visibly anxious and uncertain.


    Bonnie''s evident hostility only added to Nina''s growing unease.


    Unable to contain herself any longer, Nina finally spoke up, "Bonnie, rest assured, I have no intention ofing between you and Jeremy. I don''t know how things work where you''re from, but in the Land of Eternal Night, it''s quite normal for powerful individuals to have multiple wives."


    This statement made Bonnie''s face turn crimson with embarrassment. Flustered, she quickly waved her hands and denied, "What wife! Don''t make such assumptions! I have nothing to do with that scoundrel Jeremy!"


    Unbeknownst to Bonnie, her tone carried a hint of coquettishness.


    Nina''s eyes sparkled at this revtion, and just as she was about to say something, a thunderous shout erupted from outside.


    "Shadow Dragon!!"

 Chapter 99: The Overlord Boss, Dragon King Born of Shadows

    The moment the deafening shouts from outside reached the inside of the carriage, everyone''s faces changed dramatically.


    Jeremy quickly said, "Stay calm, everyone. Stay inside the carriage. I''ll go out and see what''s happening!"


    As soon as he finished speaking, Jeremy teleported outside the carriage.


    The entire sky was shrouded in an imprable darkness, allowing no light to touch the ground.


    It was as if all the life force in thend had been drained away. The temperature in the air was plummeting rapidly, and it wouldn''t be long before it dropped to freezing levels.


    However, none of this mattered to Jeremy. He didn''t even notice the shouting around him.


    He stood there, half-raising his head, staring nkly at the dark sky.


    In a sh of insight from The Eye of Omniscience, the stats of the Shadow Dragon flooded into Jeremy''s mind.


    [Shadow Dragon (Overlord Boss)]


    [Level: 80]


    [Health Points: ???]


    [Attack Power: Infinite]


    [Defense: ???]


    [Skills: 1. Grasp of Shadows2. Call of the Shadows3. Soul Assault 4. Dragon King''s Storm]


    [Description: The Dragon King born of shadows, the mortal enemy of all life.]


    [Note: The Shadow Dragon is extremely dangerous. yers below Tier 4 should exercise extreme caution. Weakening the power of shadows is the only way to harm the Shadow Dragon.]


    Although Jeremy had encountered many powerful monsters and enemies before, the stats of the Shadow Dragon left him utterly shocked.


    He couldn''t have imagined that the Shadow Dragon''s attack power would be infinite.


    This meant that if he were hit by the Shadow Dragon''s attack, he would be instantly killed.


    Even the [Requiem of Life]might not be able to take effect against the Shadow Dragon''s attacks.


    Moreover, the most daunting challenge Jeremy faced was that, even with the hints from The Eye of Omniscience, he had no clue how to defeat the Shadow Dragon.


    The guidance provided by The Eye of Omniscience was practically useless, offering no substantial advantage.


    "What on earth should I do? The Shadow Dragon''s defense and health seem incredibly high! And this is the first Overlord Boss I''ve ever encountered!"


    Jeremy pondered intensely, unable to devise a strategy against the Shadow Dragon. His deep contemtion made him appear stunned, a fact that did not go unnoticed by others.


    "Jeremy, what''s the situation outside?"


    Bonnie''s voice called from inside the carriage, snapping Jeremy back to reality. He realized he had been lost in thought for too long.


    "Stay inside the carriage, no matter what. Do note out unless I say so! The situation outside is dire, the power of the Shadow Dragon is beyond your imagination."


    Jeremy warned onest time, then picked up his Bone Spear.


    No matter how formidable the Shadow Dragon was, Jeremy knew he had no retreat. It was clear that the Shadow Dragon was targeting him specifically.


    "[Disaster de]!"


    Jeremy unhesitatingly activated an amplification skill to enhance his Bone Spear.


    "[mes of Sin]!"


    Beforeunching a direct attack, Jeremy decided to use a ranged skill to disrupt the Shadow Dragon''s actions.


    Burning mes, capable of scorching souls, materialized in front of Jeremy and swiftly flew towards the direction of the Shadow Dragon in the sky.


    However, as soon as the mes of Sin approached the Shadow Dragon, they dissipated into nothingness. It seemed as if all the energy was absorbed into the Shadow Dragon''s body.


    At that moment, two enormous golden orbs appeared in the almost pitch-ck sky.


    Upon closer inspection, Jeremy realized these golden orbs were the eyes of the Shadow Dragon. This revtion meant that the darkness covering the sky was not a spell but the immense body of the Shadow Dragon itself!


    The Shadow Dragon was an astoundingly colossal creature.


    "Was my previous attack a bit too reckless?"


    Jeremy wondered, his mind racing with uncertainty.


    Jeremy couldn''t help but feel a pang of regret for using mes of Sin tounch a preemptive attack against the Shadow Dragon. However, this regret was fleeting.


    He quickly steeled himself for the impending battle, mming his Bone Spear forcefully into the ground before him.


    Instantly, spectral bones materialized, forming a sturdy barrierposed entirely of raw power. This defense was barely adequate to ensure the safety of the carriage.


    "I must lure the Shadow Dragon away! If I engage it here, the others will undoubtedly be caught in the crossfire." Jeremy thought resolutely.


    Jeremy was acutely aware that the battle between him and the Shadow Dragon, no matter who emerged victorious, would have devastating repercussions on the surrounding area.


    Fighting near the caravan was not an option,Jeremy couldn''t guarantee the safety of its members.


    Havingpleted all necessary preparations, Jeremy didn''t hesitate to use his teleportation skill.


    In a sh of light, he transported himself 150 meters away. The Shadow Dragon''s eyes instantly locked onto his new location.


    A pure ck energy beam descended from the sky with immense force, engulfing Jeremy''s position in an endless torrent of shadowy energy.


    At this critical moment, Jeremy had no time to think about anything else,he could only gulp down life-restoring potions from his storage space, one after another.


    "I can''t just take these hits! I need to find an opportunity tounch a counterattack! The damage from the Shadow Dragon''s skills is too high,my health won''t hold out for long," Jeremy thought, his mind racing.


    Although the ck energy beam was a spell and didn''t benefit from shadow attack bonuses, its damage was still incredibly high.


    What worried Jeremy even more was that the shadow energy beam wasn''t even considered one of the Shadow Dragon''s four primary skills by The Eye of Omniscience.


    After a brief moment of hesitation, Jeremy activated [Shadow Stride].


    "If I can''t defeat you, I can at least evade you, can''t I?"


    Jeremy resolved to lure the Shadow Dragon away. Once aplished, he could use teleportation to swiftly return to the caravan''s location.


    Allowing the others to escape to safety.


    With Shadow Stride enhancing his speed, Jeremy''s movements became significantly faster. He narrowly evaded several of the Shadow Dragon''s energy beam attacks in quick session.


    The Shadow Dragon, having failed multiple times to hit its target, seemed to be losing patience.


    The dense darkness that had once shrouded the entire sky transformed into a dragon, swiftly advancing towards Jeremy.


    Witnessing this, Jeremy felt a surge of optimism, as it indicated that his n was halfway to sess.


    All he needed to do now was evade the direct assaults of the Shadow Dragon and then seize an opportunity to teleport back to the caravan.


    While Jeremy and the Shadow Dragon engaged in their high-stakes chase, the four individuals inside the carriage waited anxiously for Jeremy''s return.


    Nina, her face pale, sped her hands tightly together, her eyes closed as if in fervent prayer.


    Master Bard and Heber pressed their ears against the carriage walls, straining to catch any sounds from outside that might reveal what was happening.


    Only Bonnie managed to maintain a semnce ofposure, sitting calmly in her original position, seemingly unperturbed.


    However, as the sounds of shadowy explosions outside grew more intense, and the shadow energy around the carriage thickened, causing the temperature to plummet, none of the four could remain calm any longer.


    Master Bard frantically rummaged through his storage storage space.


    Under the watchful eyes of the others, he produced four bottles of potion.


    "These are [Elixirs of Light]." Master Bard exined. "Their effect is to enhance our resistance to shadow energy. The surrounding shadow forces are bing overwhelmingly powerful, we need to take precautions immediately."


    Heber hurriedly grabbed a bottle of the Elixir of Light and downed it in one gulp.


    Although Bonnie managed to maintain her outwardposure, her hands trembled slightly as she epted the elixir.


    Nina, on the other hand, remained motionless, continuing her prayers.


    Bonnie took the elixir from Master Bard''s hand and approached Nina.


    "Nina, stop praying for a moment and drink this Elixir of Light." she gently urged.


    Nina slowly turned her head, her eyes glistening with tears, and looked at Bonnie.


    "Can Jeremy really defeat the Shadow Dragon? My father once told me that the Shadow Dragon is almost akin to a deity," she said, her voice trembling.


    As the daughter of the Lord of Dawn City, Nina had indeed heard her father speak of the Shadow Dragon.


    Bonnie did her best to remain calm.


    She nodded and smiled reassuringly. "Jeremy will definitely defeat the Shadow Dragon. I used to worry about him, just like you. "


    But time and again, he''s proven himself different from others¡ªcapable of creating miracles. Whether the Shadow Dragon is truly a god or not, Jeremy will ovee it."


    Bonnie''s words finally calmed Nina down.


    Nina nodded firmly. "You''re right, Jeremy is definitely a man who can work miracles!"


    She dered before promptly drinking the Elixir of Light.


    Bonnie couldn''t help but feel a twinge of disappointment at Nina''s reaction.


    It was clear that Nina had ced all her hopes in Jeremy, a sign that she genuinely cared for him. Jeremy''s charisma was undeniable.


    "I don''t know whether I want you to seed in defeating the Shadow Dragon or not."


    Bonnie thought to herself.


    Though she had also fallen for Jeremy, she secretly wished he would learn a lesson from this ordeal.


    Once they drank the Elixirs of Light, the effects were almost immediate. The shadow energy surrounding the carriage posed no significant threat to the four of them anymore. All that was left was to wait for Jeremy''s return.

 Chapter 100: A Hard-Fought Draw

    Despite Bonnie and the others'' unwavering confidence in Jeremy, even Jeremy himself began to doubt his chances of defeating the Shadow Dragon during their battle.


    Jeremy had used three consecutive speed-boosting skills to elevate his movement speed to an astonishing level.


    Yet he still couldn''t evade the Shadow Dragon.


    In fact, the distance between them was steadily closing.


    At the same time, Jeremy could feel the surrounding shadow energy intensifying to a suffocating degree.


    Even without the presence of the Shadow Dragon, such concentrated shadow energy would be enough to trap a powerful yer.


    Behind the thick veil of shadow energy, one shadow storm after another began to form.


    Although Jeremy''s perception was severely disrupted by the shadow energy, with the help of The Eye of Omniscience, he could still detect these emerging shadow storms.


    "The Shadow Dragon is using its skills! My time is running out!"


    Jeremy quickly realized that the Shadow Dragon was about tounch a full-scale attack.


    Before the attack couldnd, Jeremy equipped every piece of defensive gear he had in his storage space.


    "Judgement Sword!"


    After fortifying his defenses to their maximum, Jeremy preemptively unleashed the Judgement Sword skill.


    Beyond inflicting a certain amount of physical damage on the target, Judgement Sword also has the capability to disrupt the opponent''s subsequent actions.


    While Judgement Sword interfered with the Shadow Dragon''s movements, Jeremy immediately activated the active skill of his Tyrant Armor.


    This armor significantly boosts Jeremy''s health regeneration.


    Jeremy hoped to restore his health to its maximum before the Shadow Dragon''s next assault.


    As he watched his health rapidly regenerate, some of Jeremy''s internal apprehensions began to dissipate.


    However, at that very moment, the Shadow Dragon''s golden eyes suddenly materialized before him. Instantly, Jeremy was besieged by a multitude of shadow storms.


    Despite his health having been restored to its peak, the sheer number of shadow storms inflicted severe damage on Jeremy.


    Not only was the passive skill of the Tyrant Armor destroyed, but the passive skill of his Soul Ne, Spiritual Guardian, was also triggered.


    Jeremy found himself enveloped in ayer of silvery barrier.


    However, the silvery barrier stood no chance against the Shadow Dragon''s onught. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, the shimmering shield was utterly obliterated, dissolving into nothingness.


    Nevertheless, the passive effect of the Soul Ne afforded Jeremy a crucial window of reaction time, proving to be an invaluable asset in the heat of the moment.


    Seizing the brief respite granted by the Soul Ne''s passive skill, Jeremy opted to use his blink ability once more. This time, he resolved to chain his blinks together, aiming to put as much distance as possible between himself and the Shadow Dragon with utmost speed.


    Thanks to the synergy between his passive equipment effects and active skills, Jeremy narrowly evaded the Shadow Dragon''s attack.


    After barely managing to steady his nerves, Jeremy immediately retrieved every light-based artifact from his storage space.


    "You are the first creature to push me to such a desperate brink! Truly worthy of being called the Dragon King born of shadows!"


    Jeremy acknowledged the Shadow Dragon''s formidable power, but that didn''t mean he believed it was insurmountable.


    "But today, I will show you that I, Jeremy, am the one who cannot be defeated!"


    With these words, Jeremy hurled countless Light''s Tear items toward the Shadow Dragon.


    The sh between the forces of shadow and holy light resulted in a cataclysmic explosion, a thunderous roar erupting at the point of their convergence.


    Despite Jeremy''s quick reflexes to blink away and create some distance, the sheer force of the collision sent a shockwave that knocked him off his feet, mming him to the ground.


    Along with the deafening roar of the explosion, the bone-chilling sound of the Shadow Dragon''s roarfollowed immediately.


    The roarwreaked havoc on Jeremy, inducing an excruciating headache as if countless tormented souls were screaming inside his mind.


    Simultaneously, his health points began to plummet rapidly.


    [Notification: Shadow Dragon has just used the Dragon King''s Storm skill.]


    The effect of the Eye of Omniscience was triggered instantaneously. Until that moment, Jeremy had received no indication of the Shadow Dragon''s skill usage, signifying that Dragon King''s Storm was the first skill the Shadow Dragon had employed.


    "I can''t continue this fight any longer,even a draw seems beyond my reach." Jeremy conceded.


    The battle with the Shadow Dragon had shown him that victory was nearly impossible, dispelling hisst vestige of hope.


    Realizing that defeating the Shadow Dragon was out of the question, Jeremy decided there was no point in holding back his remaining skills and items.


    He promptly retrieved the Skeletal Staff and the Time Stopwatch from his storage space.


    The moment he grasped the Skeletal Staff, Jeremy activated its passive effect, instantly transitioning into a soul state.


    This state would temporarily shield Jeremy from the Shadow Dragon''s physical skills, but he remained wary of soul attacks, which the Shadow Dragon undoubtedly possessed.


    As soon as Jeremy entered the soul state, the Shadow Dragon''s figure materialized nearby.


    Sensing the change in Jeremy''s life form, the Shadow Dragon refrained fromunching an immediate attack, opting instead to observe.


    After a brief moment, it decided to employ its soul attack skill.


    Just as the Shadow Dragon initiated its attack, Jeremy pressed the button on the Time Stopwatch. The stasis skill of the Time Stopwatch could freeze any enemy, regardless of rank, for one second. Though brief, this second was crucial for Jeremy to evade the impending strike.


    Simultaneously, the Time Stopwatch''s foresight function activated, revealing the Shadow Dragon''s actions for the next three seconds in vivid detail.


    The Shadow Dragon was on the verge of unleashing its soul-shattering skill, [Soul Assault]. As the skill was about to be activated, the dragon also began channeling an immense concentration of shadow energy, causing it to coalesce ominously around Jeremy.


    "I knew the Shadow Dragon''s next move would be its ultimate attack!"


    Under immense pressure, Jeremy''s mind worked with razor-sharp precision.


    In that fleeting second of stasis, Jeremy formted his next course of action. As the stasis ended, the Shadow Dragon''s Soul Assault skill activated instantly.


    In that moment, Jeremy felt his soul being torn apart by the powerful shadow energy.


    However, this sensationsted only for a fleeting moment, as Jeremy reactivated his blink skill.


    This time, rather than distancing himself from the Shadow Dragon, he chose to teleport directly beside it.


    "If your power is so formidable, let me see if you can withstand the might of the radiant light!" Jeremy understood that simply running away would never secure his escape.


    The Shadow Dragon would relentlessly pursue him, so to have any hope of fleeing sessfully, he needed to deliver a debilitating blow first.


    Jeremy''s earlier deployment of light-based artifacts was a calcted move, setting the stage for his next critical action.


    Grasping his skeletal staff firmly, Jeremy directed the energy of all the light artifacts to converge around the Shadow Dragon.


    Despite the intense negative effects wracking his body, Jeremy proceeded to unleash the full power of the light from the artifacts in session.


    As the radiant energy burst forth, Jeremy quickly retrieved energy crystals and soul crystals from his storage space.


    The energy crystals were used to construct a defensive barrier, while the soul crystals bolstered his mental state, preventing him from sumbing to the overwhelming negative effects and descending into madness.


    The surge of powerful light energy instantly dispelled all the shadow energy surrounding Jeremy. The Shadow Dragon found itself engulfed in a zone of absolute radiance.


    The intense light ignited the Shadow Dragon''s body.


    Causing it to emit a pained howl, though this time, its roarcked the previous imposing force.


    There was no doubt that Jeremy had dealt a severe blow to the Shadow Dragon.


    Amidst its agonized cries, the dragon fixed itsrge golden eyes on Jeremy with a burning intensity.


    Jeremy, in turn, locked eyes with the Shadow Dragon. He had exhausted his arsenal, if the Shadow Dragon chose to continue the fight, victory was beyond his reach.


    Yet, Jeremy maintained a facade of unwavering confidence, aiming to intimidate the Shadow Dragon and force it into making a miscalcted decision.


    The radiant energy enveloping the Shadow Dragon gradually dissipated.


    Despite being severely wounded by the light''s power, the dragon still possessed enough strength to continue the fight.


    The tense standoff between man and dragon stretched on in silence.


    Eventually, the Shadow Dragon transformed into a wisp of ck mist and vanished.


    [Congrattions, yer! You have sessfully repelled the advanced lord boss. The Eye of Omniscience grants you an additional hint.]


    [Note: Consuming the heart of the Shadow Dragon after defeating it will trigger a divine-level reward.]


    With the appearance of this message, Jeremy could finally confirm that the Shadow Dragon had indeed departed.


    The tension that had kept Jeremy''s nerves taut finally released, and he copsed onto the ground.


    "It was already so difficult just to hold my ground against the Shadow Dragon, and now The Eye of Omniscience gives me a hint about what to do after defeating it. Who knows if I''ll ever get the chance to actually defeat the Shadow Dragon!"


    Jeremy eximed, unable to suppress his frustration.

 Chapter 101: Beatrices Revenge

    The fierce and relentless explosions ignited by the sh between Jeremy and the Shadow Dragon served as a stark warning to all nearby creatures to keep their distance.


    Within Heber''s convoy, the atmosphere was taut with heightened tension.


    The guards were clustered protectively around the central vehicle, a strategic formation that allowed them to benefit from the shielding power of the Bone Spear left by Jeremy.


    Simultaneously, these vignt sentinels provided an additionalyer of defense for the four individuals ensconced within the carriage.


    Inside the carriage, Bonnie listened to the violent explosions outside, her heart heavy with worry for Jeremy''s fate.


    However, she understood the necessity of maintaining herposure. If she failed to stay calm, Nina would undoubtedly descend into a state of utter panic.


    At that moment, Ninay with her head resting on Bonnie''sp, her hands covering her ears as if to shut out the sound of the explosions.


    "It''s okay, we have to believe in Jeremy! He will triumph!" Bonnie whispered to Nina.


    Nina offered no response,she seemed to be sobbing softly.


    Deeply concerned for Jeremy''s safety, Nina was overwhelmed with anxiety. Having only recently lost her father and been abandoned by her mother, she could not bear the thought of losing Jeremy as well.


    "The shadow''s power has diminished significantly,it seems the battle has concluded."


    Heber remarked abruptly, his gaze fixed on the outside.


    The other three individuals inside the carriage immediately rushed to open the windows, craning their necks to get a view of the situation outside.


    Indeed, just as Heber had observed, the thick shadows around them had begun to fade, and the temperature was gradually rising.


    Bonnie took a deep breath, fully aware that this indicated the Shadow Dragon had likely departed.


    Nina suddenly sprang to her feet, anxiously peering out of the carriage.


    "Where is he? Has he returned yet? Why haven''t I seen him?"


    Nina''s tone was fraught with urgency,only the sight of Jeremy could truly set her mind at ease.


    "Perhaps Jeremy is still tidying up the battlefield. The Shadow Dragon seems to have departed, so Jeremy shouldn''t be in too much danger," Master Bard remarked in a measured tone.


    Nina''s face fell slightly with disappointment.


    At that moment, a heavy thud sounded from the carriage roof.


    Jeremy abruptly entered the carriage.


    "Youth, are you trying to scare me to death?" Master Bard grumbled, mildly displeased with Jeremy''s dramatic entrance.


    However, hisint was short-lived. He was profoundly grateful to Jeremy, without him, surviving the Shadow Dragon''s onught would have been impossible.


    "What''s the situation? You must have defeated the Shadow Dragon, right? Did you acquire any valuable materials?"


    Heber, ever the merchant, was naturally more concerned with whether Jeremy had secured any lucrative spoils from the battle.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "I did not emerge victorious from the battle,I merely managed to drive the Shadow Dragon away. Its power is overwhelming, and I could only just barely hold my own against it."


    Jeremy confessed, his tone tinged with a hint of lingering dread.


    Bonnie and Nina both keenly picked up on the shift in Jeremy''s tone.


    Nina cast her gaze downward, her eyes falling upon Jeremy''s scarred hands.


    With tears glistening at the corners of her eyes, she gently sped Jeremy''s hands in her own.


    "Don''t worry, these injuries are nothing to me. I''ll recover quickly! What we need to focus on now is getting to Nocturne City without further dy."


    Jeremy reassured, aware of Nina''s concern and wanting to put her mind at ease.


    Bonnie watched the exchange between Jeremy and Nina with a mix of emotions.


    She cleared her throat and said, "Jeremy is right. We should proceed to Nocturne City as soon as possible. Now that the threat of the Shadow Dragon has been neutralized, let''s continue our journey."


    Jeremy easily picked up on the subtle undercurrent in Bonnie''s words.


    However, he chose to ignore it, knowing his ss leader all too well.


    "Who would''ve thought our ss leader could get so temperamental."


    Jeremy teased Bonnie yfully.


    "Who''s being temperamental?!" Bonnie retorted, feigning anger.


    Not wanting to escte the yful banter, Jeremy exited the carriage with Heber to organize the convoy''s guards and resume their journey.


    Thus, Heber''s convoy once again set off through the endless wilderness towards Nocturne City.


    At the same time, on the eastern side of the Dawn City ruins, in the Irond Army''s camp.


    The heavily wounded Taal red furiously at the several subordinates before him. He never imagined they would openly betray him.


    "Do you even know what you are doing?! I am Taal! I am your leader of the Irond Army!"


    Taal roared, his eyes bloodshot with rage.


    But the expressions on the faces of the Irond Army members before him remained unchanged. They stood resolutely, weapons in hand, confronting Taal with unrelenting anger.


    "Of course, we know you''re Taal! And we also know you betrayed the Lord of the City! You are the true culprit behind the fall of Dawn City!" one of the Irond Army members retorted.


    These members were not only Taal''s subordinates,more importantly, they were residents of Dawn City.


    All their rtives and friends resided in Dawn City.


    When the city was reduced to ashes in the violent explosion, none of their loved ones survived. Upon learning that Taal had led a faction of the Irond Army in rebellion against the city''s lord, the Irond Army was plunged into a state of internecine conflict.


    "You fools have no idea why I did what I did! If Dawn City remained under the control of that useless Rafael, it would have led us all to inevitable ruin.


    My betrayal was for the sake of saving Dawn City! To save you and all your families!" Taal''s voice was a mix of desperation and conviction.


    In the past, Taal would never have bothered to exin himself to these members of the Irond Army.


    He would have ruthlessly killed them without hesitation. But his current dire condition left him with no choice,he hoped to persuade them not to be his enemies to avoid unforeseenplications.


    "Is your way of saving Dawn City to destroy it?!"


    The Irond Army members were not swayed by Taal''s dubious reasoning.


    "I didn''t destroy Dawn City,it was that imbecile Rafael!"


    Taal continued to argue. However, no sooner had he spoken than a chilling voice echoed from behind him.


    "You not only betrayed Rafael and Dawn City, but you also betrayed all of us! I will make you pay for this!"


    Beatrice, engulfed in a green sh of fury, charged towards Taal with immense hatred.


    Despite his severe injuries, Taal knew he had no choice but to fight.


    He was acutely aware that Beatrice would never let him escape.


    Struggling, Taal lifted his weapon and hurled his greatsword towards the green blur that was Beatrice.


    Although Beatrice slowed her advance, her resolve was unwavering.


    The Irond Army members who had been confronting Taal immediately sprang into action, coordinating their attack with Beatrice to besiege him.


    Already gravely wounded, Taal could barely hold his ground against the onught.


    "You fools have no right to call me a traitor! It is you who have betrayed me!"


    Taal''s heart burned with bitter resentment.


    He considered himself a highly capable individual, believing that he should have be the lord of Dawn City long ago.


    It was Rafael''s prolonged upation of the position that had stymied his advancement.


    Naturally, Beatrice and the other members of the Irond Army were not swayed by Taal''s words. Despite their own weakened states, they were resolute in their determination to bring Taal down with them.


    After about fifteen minutes of fiercebat, Taal finally exhausted all his strength.


    Unwilling to ept his fate, he was ultimately in by Beatrice.


    Having triumphed over Taal, Beatrice copsed to the ground.


    She had expended every ounce of her energy, and her life was now ebbing away.


    The members of the Irond Army who had previously fought alongside her and Taal were long dead. However, their wishes had been fulfilled.


    They had sessfully avenged their rtives and friends.


    Beatricey on the chaotic battlefield, her eyes gazing up at the distant sky.


    She seemed to see her husband Rafael standing atop the clouds, beckoning to her.


    "Rafael, you still look just as you did when I first met you. I''ve made arrangements for our daughter''s future. Now, I''ming to join you."


    Beatrice murmured with herst breath.


    With those words, Beatrice closed her eyes.


    As the wife of the lord of Dawn City, she had died avenging her husband.


    Regardless of what others might think, Beatrice felt that her actions were entirely justified.


    In her eyes, betrayal deserved no mercy, and every act of treachery warranted vengeance.


    With Beatrice''s death, nearly all the original factions of Dawn City were annihted. The city itself had been reduced to a ruin in the endless wilderness.


    Rebuilding Dawn City now seemed an impossible task, and it was unlikely that any trade caravans would ever pass through it again.

 Chapter 102: Acting Outside the Instance

    Even in the face of the apocalypse game''s arrival, the core district of the Imperial City remained bustling and prosperous.


    The Lannisters, a family of immense influence, owned several luxurious vis in this area.


    At this moment, Kean, the young master of the Lannisters, was inside one of these opulent residences, listening to the reports from his subordinates.


    "ording to the intelligence we''ve gathered, Jeremy has already entered the instance. We can only seize the divine artifact from his hands once he exits,"


    Amiddle-aged man with a grave expression read tensely from the notebook in his hand.


    Kean was seated on a nearby sofa, seemingly more engrossed in savoring the high-end wine from the cab than in the man''s report.


    It wasn''t until the middle-aged man finished speaking that Kean finally directed his gaze toward him.


    "Is that all?" Kean inquired.


    "That''s all..." the man replied nervously.


    Kean slowly ced his wine ss back on the cab and rose from the sofa, gradually approaching the middle-aged man.


    "Is this the paltry, irrelevant information you managed to gather after all this time?" Kean''s voice dripped with contempt.


    The middle-aged man was so tense he could barely speak. He took a couple of deep breaths before responding.


    "Young Master, you should be aware of Jeremy''s situation. Not only is he incredibly powerful, but he has also garnered support from numerous other factions."


    "Excuses! These are all just excuses!"


    Kean had now closed the gap, standing mere steps away, his face twisted with fury.


    "Even if Jeremy has backing from other factions, do you mean to say that the Lannisters'' power is insufficient? Have I not provided you with ample resources? Useless scum like you should not continue to exist in this world after the apocalypse game''s arrival!"


    Kean, having said this much, turned his gaze sharply towards the two bodyguards stationed at the door.


    "Drag him out and throw him into the instance we''ve prepared on the outskirts," hemanded.


    "Yes, Young Master!" they responded in unison.


    The Lannisters, a family with deep-rooted influence, had seized control over numerous instance entrances following the apocalypse game''s arrival.


    The instance Kean referred to was notoriously challenging, and its difficulty was escting as more yers ventured into it.


    Upon hearing that Kean intended to throw him into the instance, the middle-aged man dropped to his knees, crying out in desperation.


    "Young Master, I truly have exerted all my efforts! Please, grant me one more chance! I will do everything in my power to gather intelligence on Jeremy!" he pleaded loudly.


    Kean remained utterly indifferent to the man''s desperate entreaties.


    The two bodyguards proceeded to drag the middle-aged man out of the room.


    In the opulent room, a silence settled over the space as Kean took a deep breath and murmured softly.


    "What a bunch of worthless ipetents. It appears I will have to devise a solution outside the instance."


    Kean immediately activated his walkie-talkie. "Have Butler Farmere in," he ordered.


    Having said this, Kean reclined back into the sofa. Within seconds, a knock echoed from outside the room.


    "Come in!" he called out.


    With Kean''s permission, Farmer slowly pushed open the door to Kean''s room. He did not immediately step inside but tentatively inquired.


    "Young Master, did you summon me?"


    "Don''t linger at the door,e in and speak." Kean responded.


    These words from Kean stirred aplex mix of emotions within Farmer.


    As Kean''s butler and one of the Lannisters'' several stewards, Farmer was well-acquainted with the family''s temperament.


    Whenever Kean invited someone into his room for a discussion, it typically signified that the situation was dire.


    Steeling himself with a deep breath, Farmer entered the room and shut the door behind him.


    "You''re aware of Jeremy, aren''t you?" Kean asked.


    "Of course, Young Master! I harbor an irreconcble enmity towards him. The fact that he dared to steal your divine artifact is utterly unforgivable!"


    Farmer hurriedly dered his loyalty.


    Kean smiled approvingly, indicating his satisfaction with Farmer''s response.


    "It''s good that you understand."


    "So, Young Master, are you asking me to deal with Jeremy?" Farmer inquired.


    "At the moment, dealing with him directly is unfeasible. He''s already entered an instance. We can only settle the score once he emerges," Kean exined.


    "Then, what do you intend, Young Master?" Farmer probed.


    Kean did not immediately answer. Instead, he casually tossed a stack of documents at Farmer''s feet. "Since we can''t deal with Jeremy for now, let''s target his friends in the real world."


    Farmer picked up the documents and quickly skimmed through them.


    "These individuals don''t seem particrly strong. While I''d like to go after them directly, I must focus on enhancing my own abilities."


    As Farmer perused the documents, Kean continued speaking slowly.


    "I must elevate my strength to a level surpassing Jeremy''s before he emerges from the instance. So, you understand what needs to be done, don''t you?"


    Farmer had by now finished reviewing the documents.


    He nodded emphatically, a cold determination in his voice. "Young Master, I understand perfectly! Rest assured, I will definitely avenge you!"


    Kean was visibly pleased with Farmer''s response.


    He nodded, his tone somewhatnguid. "Very well then. Get moving immediately!"


    "Yes, Young Master! I will mobilize our most capable men to apany me. You can expect good news from me soon!"


    Farmer swiftly exited Kean''s room.


    The moment he was out, he immediately took out his phone and dialed one of his subordinates.


    "It''s me. Gather all the strongest individuals we can muster at the quickest possible speed," hemanded.


    "Butler Farmer, are you certain about assembling all the strong individuals? Some are still engaged in instances, and others are coordinating with other factions within the Lannisters."


    "Are you daft? We don''t need to gather those of the highest caliber! Just summon some of the top-tier guards from our Lannisters'' security detail!" Farmer retorted, a hint of irritation in his voice.


    His dissatisfaction with his subordinate was palpable, but there was little he could do.


    Despite being Kean''s butler, Farmer''s influence within the Lannisters was limited.


    Recing these subordinates was beyond his power, and even Kean couldn''t aplish such a feat.


    After issuing his orders, Farmer hopped into a car and headed to one of the Lannisters'' secret bases. During the ride, he meticulously reviewed the documents Kean had provided once more.


    "The uing operation appears to be rtively straightforward. Jeremy and his friends don''t seem to pose much of a threat. As long as I bring along some of our more capable bodyguards, sess is virtually guaranteed," Farmer mused, his earlier tension now significantly alleviated.


    With his confidence restored, Farmer began to meticulously n the operation, understanding that thorough preparation and assembling the right team would be pivotal to their sess.


    Initially, Farmer had feared that Kean''s task would be another arduous challenge.


    To his relief, this mission appeared to be quite manageable.


    By the time Farmer arrived at the secret base, his subordinates had already selected the members for the operation.


    "Butler Farmer, what do you think of these individuals?"


    Farmer''s subordinate eagerly opened the car door for him.


    Without acknowledging the subordinate, Farmer stepped out and directly inspected the bodyguards that had been selected.


    He was quite satisfied with their capabilities but needed to assert his authority as their superior. Thus, he deliberately pointed out a few less capable guards.


    "Though this mission isn''t particrly difficult, it is extremely important! The Young Master has entrusted me with this task, and I must see it through. These individuals you selected just aren''t strong enough," Farmer criticized.


    Faced with Farmer''s rebuke, the subordinate could only nod submissively.


    "Alright, even though your performance wasn''t perfect, I can see that you''ve tried your best. You won''t be needed for the uing operation,stay here and continue your duties."


    Farmer dismissed him.


    From Farmer''s perspective, this mission was straightforward and offered a prime opportunity to earn Kean''s favor.


    He certainly didn''t intend to share this chance for easy credit with anyone else.


    After sending the subordinate away, Farmer addressed the bodyguards directly and bluntly.


    "This mission is quite simple. We just need to deal with Jeremy''s friends. Their strength is not formidable, and your skills are more than sufficient for this task."


    At this juncture, Farmer deliberately paused.


    Reaching into his pocket, he produced a pouch brimming with energy crystals.


    "This bag contains fourth-tier energy crystals. Upon sessfulpletion of the mission, each of you will receive one as a reward."


    The bodyguards erupted in astonishment.


    Although they were among the top-tier guards within the Lannisters, they were still just guards, not elite yers.


    A fourth-tier energy crystal was a valuable reward, and they were eager to start immediately.


    "Butler Farmer, since this is an urgent task from the Young Master, we shouldn''t waste any more time! Let''s get going!"


    The other bodyguards echoed the sentiment, urging Farmer to move out quickly.


    Farmer was pleased with their enthusiasm.


    "Your eagerness ismendable. Since everyone agrees we should depart swiftly, let''s set off at once!" Farmermanded.


    With that, Farmer led the group of bodyguards toward Moonlight City, ready to execute their mission.

 Chapter 103: First Target the Weakest Opponent

    In a luxurious hotel within the Moonlight Citymercial district, Farmer was waiting for the return of the bodyguards he had brought from the imperial capital.


    Although Farmer understood thatpleting Kean''s task as quickly as possible was the key to satisfying him.


    His past experiences had taught him to be extremely cautious. Upon arriving in Moonlight City.


    He decided to first investigate the friends of Jeremy.


    Soon enough, the bodyguards he had sent out began to return one by one.


    They brought backprehensive information on all of Jeremy''s friends.


    "Butler Farmer, the person you asked me to investigate, named Ritchie, lives in the same neighborhood as Jeremy"


    Reported the second bodyguard to return, bringing news about Ritchie.


    Farmer nodded and jotted down some notes in his notebook.


    The next bodyguard brought information about ire.


    "Butler Farmer there is a lot of intel on ire. Not only does she live in the same neighborhood as Jeremy, but she is also his psychologist," the bodyguard reported.


    Upon hearing this, Farmer immediately looked up. He hadn''t expected to find Jeremy''s psychologist so quickly.


    "Continue, what else do you know about Jeremy''s psychologist?"


    "ire is said to be a yer with a very rare awakened ability. Her strength is believed to be on par with Jeremy''s,otherwise, she wouldn''t be able to serve as his psychologist," the bodyguard exined.


    The information provided by the bodyguards was, in reality, incorrect.


    Although ire was also a yer who had awakened certain abilities.


    Her strength was considerably inferior to Jeremy''s. In fact, ire''s capabilities might even be weaker than those of Emma and Ritchie.


    Nheless, this was something that Farmer waspletely unaware of.


    Farmer, his expression slightly grave, nodded thoughtfully.


    In his notebook, he promptly marked ire as the strongest among Jeremy''s friends.


    "Butler Farmer,the intel I gathered is all rted to Emma. It seems she was Jeremy''s highSchool teacher and has also awakened a rare and valuable ability."


    The third bodyguard reported details concerning Emma.


    Upon hearing this, Farmer couldn''t help but let out a sigh.


    "Ritchie, ire, and Emma are all yers who have awakened abilities. This means their strength should certainly not be underestimated. Completing this mission is indeed going to be quite challenging."


    Farmer initially assumed that the task assigned to him by Kean would be rtively uplicated. After all, he wasn''t up against a prodigious yer like Jeremy. However, upon thoroughly investigating the backgrounds of Jeremy''s friends, Farmer suddenly realized that his mission would not be as easy as he had thought.


    Just as Farmer, in a foul mood, was deliberating over which of Jeremy''s friends to target first, thest bodyguard burst into the room unceremoniously.


    "Butler Farmer, I investigated Bonnie. She is also a yer who has awakened certain abilities. Additionally, she is the daughter of the mayor of Moonlight City. However, I was unable to ascertain her ce of residence," reported the bodyguard.


    Upon hearing this, Farmer cut him off immediately.


    "You don''t need to continue investigating Bonnie. The young master has already instructed that we do not need to target Bonnie for the time being."


    Although Kean was an extremely arrogant person, he was well aware that Bonnie was not someone he could deal with easily.


    After gathering all the information about Jeremy''s friends, Farmer knew he had to quickly decide who to deal with first.


    All the bodyguards remained silent, understanding that only Farmer could make the final decision.


    Pacing back and forth in his room, Farmer hesitated for half an hour before suddenly pulling out a photograph of Ritchie.


    "Let''s target him first! He looks like just an ordinary high school student,his strength should be the weakest!"


    The bodyguards shared the same opinion as Farmer.


    Therefore, after Farmer issued themand, the bodyguards followed him at their fastest speed to the vicinity of the Flip-Flop Community, where Ritchie and the others resided.


    Upon arriving at the entrance of themunity, Farmer deliberately left a few bodyguards behind. "You don''t need toe into themunity with us. Your task is to stand guard outside!"


    With that, Farmer led the remaining bodyguards into the Flip-Flop Community with an imposing air.


    The residents within themunity, upon seeing this intimidating group, appeared slightly apprehensive.


    In the aftermath of the apocalypse game, a myriad of bizarre urrences had transpired. Consequently, all the humans who had managed to survive had be exceedingly cautious.


    Only a few curious onlookers dared to observe Farmer and his entourage from the corners.


    "This doesn''t concern you! Stop gawking and move along!"


    The bodyguards apanying Farmer promptly dispersed the onlookers.


    Although the advent of the apocalypse game had thrown the world''s order into disarray, Moonlight City had somehow managed to maintain a semnce of basic order.


    Although Farmer was an important subordinate of the Lannisters, he couldn''t afford to be overly arrogant.


    Soon enough, Farmer, apanied by several bodyguards, arrived at the building where Ritchie resided.


    "Are you certain he lives here?"


    "Absolutely, Butler Farmer! I''m very certain. He lives in apartment 402 on the fourth floor of this building!"


    After a final confirmation of Ritchie''s residence, Farmer nodded at all the bodyguards.


    The numerous bodyguards swiftly stormed into the building where Ritchie lived, stopping right outside the door of apartment 402.


    A few bodyguards were stationed at the entrance of the building, their purpose being to intercept Ritchie, who might attempt to flee.


    The bodyguards did not opt to break down the door immediately, they were waiting for Farmer''s arrival.


    Farmer approached the door of apartment 402 slowly.


    By this time, he could already hear the soundsing from inside the room.


    "What on earth are you doing? Use your skill already!"


    "I didn''t tell you to use a defense skill! I told you to use a healing skill! Can''t you see my health is critically low?!"


    "Your skills are absolutely abysmal! ying with you guys makes it impossible to win the game!"


    The voice of a young man echoed continuously from apartment 402. It seemed he was ying an online video game with others. Farmer allowed himself a slight smile.


    "It appears that Jeremy''s friend is not much to worry about. Even after the advent of the apocalypse game, he doesn''t think about increasing his own strength but instead focuses his energy on ying video games."


    Farmer felt a deep sense of disdain for Ritchie, coupled with a strong sense of pride in his own decision.


    "It seems my judgment of character remains impable, targeting Ritchie first is undoubtedly the best strategy!"


    With this thought, Farmer subtly signaled to the bodyguard opposite him.


    Immediately, the bodyguard began to knock heavily on the door of apartment 402.


    "Hello, is anyone there? I''m here with a delivery!"


    "Is the delivery here already? Alright, I''ll be right there, just a moment!"


    Ritchie''s voice came from inside the room.


    Farmer took a step back, signaling all the bodyguards to prepare for action. The moment the door opened, the bodyguards would rush in and subdue Ritchie.


    Inside the room, the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard, Ritchie seemed to be moving toward the door as quickly as possible.


    As the footsteps reached the door, it was flung open.


    The bodyguards surrounding Farmer surged forward in unison, overwhelming the person who had opened the door and pinning him down inyers.


    All the bodyguards exerted their utmost effort, fully aware that this mission had to be executed wlessly.


    They were all eager to earn the reward of energy crystalsthat Farmer had promised.


    The operation went exceptionally smooth.


    They subdued the person who opened the door with minimal effort.


    However, it wasn''t long before one of the bodyguards noticed something unusual. The person they had pinned down didn''t offer any resistance. One of the bodyguards looked closely and realized that the figure under him seemed to be nothing more than a shadowy silhouette.


    "Something''s wrong! This isn''t the person from the photos we''ve seen! It''s just a shadowy figure!"


    Standing a short distance away, Farmer also noticed that the person who had opened the door was merely a shadow.


    In that moment, Farmer recalled the information he had previously gathered, which mentioned that Ritchie''s awakened talent was rted to shadows.


    "Don''t just stand there! Get inside and capture him immediately!"


    Farmer issued themand without hesitation, and after oveing their initial shock, the bodyguards quickly sprang into action.


    A swarm of bodyguards charged into Ritchie''s apartment.


    However, the first group of bodyguards to enter the room was left stunned by the scene before them.


    The room, which was not particrly spacious to begin with, was densely packed with numerous shadowy figures.


    In the farthest corner, Ritchie was engrossed in ying an online game with several of these dark silhouettes on an old, outdatedputer.


    The sudden sound of the door being forcefully opened startled Ritchie.


    He turned around to face the intruding bodyguards, a look of utter bewilderment on his face.


    "What''s going on here? It''s just a delivery! Why would it take so many people to deliver food? Haven''t the monsters in Moonlight City been mostly cleared out?"


    Completely baffled, Ritchie scrutinized the intruders more closely and soon noticed the weapons they were carrying. In that instant, he finally grasped the true intent behind their presence.


    "So that''s it, you''re here to rob me!"


    Ritchie muttered to himself in a daze.


    Immediately, a blood-curdling scream erupted from his mouth, reverberating through the walls and echoing across the entire Flip-Flop Community.


    "Robbery!!!"

 Chapter 104: The Desperate Escape

    Ritchie''s howls not only echoed throughout the entire Flip-Flop Community but also sessfully intimidated Farmer and his bodyguards.


    Confronted with the densely packed shadows standing in the room, the bodyguards were momentarily at a loss for what to do.


    They were unsure of what exactly these shadows were or how formidable they might be inbat. Out of caution, they decided to observe a bit longer.


    However, Farmer, waiting outside, had no patience for their hesitation.


    "What are you hesitating for?! Are you waiting for Ritchie''s aplices to show up?! Stop dithering and take action immediately!"


    Farmer urged, his voice tinged with urgency and frustration.


    Under Farmer''s urging, the bodyguards brandished their weapons and charged towards Ritchie.


    Yet, the foremost bodyguards quickly realized that the shadowy figures in the room had begun to solidify into tangible forms.


    These shadows directly obstructed the bodyguards'' advance.


    Moreover, the arms of the shadowy figures at the forefront suddenly morphed into various kinds of weapons.


    "Considering the dire situation we''ve found ourselves in, we are left with no alternative but to see this mission through to its end, no matter the cost!"


    Dered the most formidable bodyguard, resolutely steeling himself for the impending confrontation. Regardless of the potentialbat capabilities possessed by these elusive shadows, they had no choice but to engage.


    Should they fail to aplish Farmer''s mission, they would not only forfeit the energy crystals promised by Farmer.


    But also irrevocably lose the trust of Kean.


    Without proving their worth to their young master, their standing within the Lannisters would plummet rapidly.


    This might be theirst chance to enhance their own strength.


    With the strongest bodyguard leading the charge, the others followed suit,unching attacks against the shadowy figures before them.


    However, the disparity in strength between the bodyguards and the dark figures was immense.


    They found themselves utterly incapable of breaking through even the first line of defense formed by the shadowy figures. Compounding their predicament, the room was so cramped that the bodyguards stationed behind had no way of squeezing in to provide assistance.


    Observing the unfolding struggle from outside the door, Farmer appeared visibly anxious, his worry etched deeply into his features.


    "What are you doing?! Get in there now!"


    Under Farmer''s urgent prodding, the bodyguards mustered every ounce of their strength, ultimately seeding in breaching the first line of defense formed by the shadowy figures.


    However, upon entering the room, they were taken aback to discover that Ritchie had mysteriously vanished.


    "He was just in front of thisputer moments ago! How could he disappear so suddenly?" one of them eximed, bewilderment evident in his voice.


    The strongest bodyguard was now in a foul mood.


    In his relentless effort to break through the shadowy figures'' defense, he not only exhausted his own arsenal of tools but also sustained injuries.


    The prospect of failing to capture Ritchie rendered his sacrifices irreparable, leaving him with losses that could never be recuperated.


    In such a predicament, he could only clutch his weapon tightly and meticulously search every corner of the room.


    Although the strongest bodyguard conducted a thorough inspection, it was virtually impossible for him alone to immediately locate Ritchie''s hiding spot.


    Moreover, the number of shadowy figures in the room not only failed to diminish but seemed to multiply.


    The other bodyguards found themselvespelled to engage inbat with the shadowy figures. They, too, harbored the desire to search for potential hiding spots where Ritchie might be concealed, emting the most skilled among them.


    However, if they were to divert their attention in such a manner, they would be incapable of even ensuring their own safety.


    As time passed, Farmer''s anxiety grew more palpable.


    He was acutely aware that Ritchie''s friends, who also resided in the Flip-Flop Community, were likely on their way.


    If he couldn''t expedite the battle''s conclusion, they would soon face an assault from Ritchie''s allies.Potentially creating an uncontroble situation.


    Considering how challenging it was to deal with the weakest member, Ritchie, the prospect of facing the strongest, ire, was even more daunting.


    Farmer''s incessant urging only exacerbated the stress levels of the bodyguards inside the room.


    "Hurry up and find him! Stop wasting time!"


    Farmer''s incessant urging only served to further deteriorate the morale of the bodyguards within the room.


    Naturally, they were also eager to locate Ritchie as swiftly as possible, yet Ritchie''s concealment had proven to be exceptionally effective.


    Moreover, as the number of shadowy figures within the room continued to swell, the bodyguards found themselves increasingly unable to suppress these ominous presences.


    One by one, they were forced out of the room.


    The strongest bodyguard, engrossed in his search, failed to realize he was now alone.


    It wasn''t until the heavy sound of the door mming shut echoed through the room that he noticed he was the sole bodyguard left, surrounded by a multitude of shadows.


    "Damn it! I was too careless!"


    Realizing his istion, the strongest bodyguard didn''t hesitate, he dashed towards the window in the corner of the room.


    A mass of shadowy figures pursued him closely.


    With a loud crash, he smashed through the window and tumbled to the ground below.


    Although his escape was undignified, he at least secured his safety.


    After driving the strongest bodyguard out of the room, the numerous shadowy figures receded, allowing Ritchie to emerge from the shadows.


    "Is this really necessary?! I have nothing of value! Why would you rob someone as destitute as me?"


    Ritchie still couldn''t fathom why so many people had suddenly banded together to rob him. Although he had acquired some valuable resources during his previous joint operation with Jeremy.Those had already been used to upgrade his skills, the remaining energy crystals were scant, and his other resources were minimal.


    The sheer number of peopleing together to rob him was beyond hisprehension.


    However, not understanding their motives didn''t mean Ritchie would let it slide.


    Now that he had ensured his safety, he was determined to make those who tried to rob him pay the price.


    Ritchie activated his shadow maniption ability.


    A multitude of shadows surged out from Ritchie''s room, hurtling towards Farmer and the bodyguards who were still lingering in the hallway.


    Taken by surprise, Farmer and his entourage found themselves ill-prepared to mount any effective defense.


    Confronted with the sudden onught of these shadowy figures, they were left with no choice but to endure the barrage passively.


    "Protect me! If something happens to me here, the young master will never forgive you!"


    Though Farmer was Kean''s steward, he hadn''t awakened any special abilities and had no means of defending himself against the shadowy figures.


    He could only shout for the bodyguards to protect him.


    Despite their dire circumstances, the bodyguards knew they couldn''t allow Farmer to be seriously harmed.


    Under their protection, Farmer, though disheveled, managed to escape downstairs.


    There, he regrouped with the bodyguards who had been stationed at the hallway entrance and the strongest bodyguard.


    "Butler Farmer, what should we do now?!"


    The strongest bodyguard asked, his voice filled with desperation.


    He couldn''t believe that in just a few short minutes, they had been so easily defeated by Ritchie.


    Who was known to be the weakest among Jeremy''s friends.


    He felt that returning empty-handed would be indefensible before Kean.


    Farmer, however, did not respond.


    He had alreadypsed into a semi-conscious state.


    Though Farmer managed to escape with the protection of his bodyguards, he was struck on the head by a shadow during the retreat.


    Now, his face was bruised, and his consciousness was muddled.


    As the bodyguards stood, unsure of their next move, the sound of chaotic footsteps echoed through the hallway.


    They knew all too well that the shadows were pursuing them again.


    Fear gripped them, for they understood they stood no chance against these shadows.


    In the end, they decided not to linger any longer, hastily, they found a random car and fled with Farmer.


    The shadows halted at the entrance of the hallway.


    Once Ritchie confirmed that everyone had left, he emerged slowly from behind the shadowy figures. He peeked his head out to survey the surroundings.


    "They should all be gone by now, right?"


    The surrounding shadows seemed to nod in response to Ritchie''s question.


    He breathed a slight sigh of relief.


    "What chaotic times we live in! Even someone as poor as me gets targeted by a gang of robbers." Ritchie mused aloud, suddenly recalling that his food delivery hadn''t arrived yet.


    He promptly called the delivery person, "Hello? Why hasn''t my food arrived yet? It''s almostte!"


    On the other end of the line, the delivery person''s voice trembled slightly with anxiety.


    "I didn''t daree over! Arge group of fierce-looking people just showed up at your ce. I thought it best to avoid trouble, so I didn''t deliver your food."


    "They''re gone now. Hurry up and bring me my food! I''m starving!"


    "Okay, I''ll bring it over right away!"


    "Just leave the delivery on the rack outside after you drop it off,I''ll bring it up myself."


    Ritchie reminded the delivery guy once more.


    With that, Ritchiemanded most of the shadows back into his room to continue ying video games, leaving only one shadow at the hallway entrance to collect the food.


    A few minutester, the delivery person arrived at Ritchie''s residence.


    He cautiously scanned the area, ensuring there was no danger, before cing the food on the rack and swiftly departing.

 Chapter 105: Plans for the Future

    On the gravel-strewn wastnd, a convoy of several vehicles was slowly making its way forward. Not far from the caravan, a figure darted up and down, skillfully dispatching any monsters attempting to approach


    Inside the most luxurious carriage in the middle of the convoy, Master Bard and Heber were engrossed in a discussion about their ns upon reaching Nocturne City.


    "I know a few alchemists in Nocturne City," Master Bard remarked with a hint of pride. "They can assist me in acquiring a prime location for a shop. Once there, I can reestablish myself as a highly respected master alchemist."


    Master Bard said with a smile, sharing his ns with Heber.


    However, the expression on Heber''s face was not as cheerful.


    He had just calcted the resources he had left and suddenly realized they were insufficient to support his ns in Nocturne City.


    Heber let out a sigh.


    "You certainly can aplish your ns in Nocturne City. But all the resources I originally had were lost in the chaos at Dawn City," Hebermented.


    "Don''t you have any acquaintances in Nocturne City? As a merchant, you should have connections with other traders, right? Couldn''t they help you gather some startup capital?"


    Master Bard questioned, clearly skeptical of Heber''s ims.


    To Master Bard, Heber was just like any other merchant¡ªrarely truthful.


    Moreover, Master Bard remained exceedingly cautious; he couldn''t shake the feeling that Heber''s conversation was a prelude to borrowing money from him.


    Heber responded with a bitter smile.


    "Of course I know other merchants, but they wouldn''t lend me any funds. You should be well aware that all merchants in Nocturne City face fiercepetition.


    Those so-called friends of mine might even smile while watching me go bankrupt and end up on the streets. They would then seize all my trade channels."


    Master Bard nodded thoughtfully.


    "Perhaps you could help me sell the precious potions I''ve crafted. That way, we could both earn a substantial profit."


    Heber was very interested in Master Bard''s proposal. He saw it as his only hope to turn his situation around.


    "If that''s the case, I''ll do my utmost. I have excellent persuasive skills, and I''ll ensure your potions fetch the highest price," Heber assured.


    "Hold on a moment! Don''t get so excited! I haven''t finished what I have to say yet!"


    Master Bard''s willingness to offer assistance to Heber was not solely out of sympathy, of course. While their rtionship was indeed amicable, it had not reached a level of friendliness where he could unconditionally provide such a valuable opportunity.


    Reaching into his pocket, Master Bard produced a parchment.


    "You are not only responsible for selling the potions I create, but you must also collect all the materials listed on this parchment as quickly as possible."


    Heber took the parchment from Master Bard. As soon as he nced at it, he realized that the materials listed were incredibly rare.


    [Seeds of Voodoo Vine]


    [Brain and Spinal Cord of the Destruction Dragon]


    [Tail Feathers of the Sun Rooster]


    "These materials are nearly all extremely rare and must be extracted from divine creatures.


    Do you really think we can find these materials?!"


    Heber''s tone was one of utter astonishment.


    In his view, aside from the deities themselves, almost no one else could procure such materials.


    Master Bard''s expression remained unchanged; he merely responded with a calm, detached air.


    "I never asked you to gather all the materials immediately. I just hope that while you''re selling my potions, you can also look for these materials. Besides, don''t you have a great helper?"


    Heber quickly understood who the helper Master Bard was referring to¡ªJeremy.


    However, Heber wasn''t confident that Jeremy would provide such significant assistance.


    "Jeremy is indeed an incredibly surprising awakened one. His power far exceeds his level. But why would he offer me such great help?"


    "That''s your problem, not mine."


    Master Bard''s tone was now very cold.


    Master Bard''s tone at this moment was exceedingly frigid.


    From his perspective, he had already granted Heber an exceptionally valuable opportunity. Therefore, it was only fitting that Heber should handle the remainingplications on his own.


    "You are indeed quite heartless! But very well, I shall do my utmost to persuade Jeremy to assist me!"


    Heber finally agreed to Master Bard''s terms.


    Feeling slightly more at ease, Heber suddenly realized that Jeremy had been gone for a while.


    "Speaking of Jeremy, where exactly is he now?"


    Heber inquired.Master Bard simply shook his head in response, "He''s somewhere around our convoy, I suppose. After all, there are two individuals within our group for whom he holds a great deal of concern."


    As Master Bard spoke, he nced outside the wagon. Nina and Bonnie were chatting andughing as they admired the surrounding scenery.


    Nina and Bonnie weren''t just enjoying the view; they were actually searching for any sign of Jeremy.


    "Miss Bonnie, should we really not be worried about Jeremy''s safety?" Nina asked.


    She knew Jeremy was incredibly powerful but still couldn''t help but be concerned for his well-being.


    "We have nothing to worry about," Bonnie replied, a hint of jealousy in her voice. "Jeremy already managed to fend off the Shadow Dragon. No other beast on this in can pose a threat to him."


    When Bonnie uttered these words, there was a subtle hint of jealousy in her tone.


    "Why is it that someone like Jeremy can attract so much affection?" Bonnie couldn''t help but ponder to herself.


    However, she suddenly realized that she was one of those who liked Jeremy as well, so she quickly settled her thoughts.


    Not far from the caravan, Jeremy sessfully killed a few wild lizards that had tried to approach the group. Finally, he received a notification.


    [Congrattions, yer, you have enough experience to level up. You can choose to upgrade to level 40!]


    [Note: Running threeps around the caravan before upgrading to level 40 will grant you an additional skill.]


    Jeremy looked at the notification from The Eye of Omniscience and felt a bit speechless.


    "Run threeps around the caravan? The conditions for extra rewards are getting more and more ridiculous. If I reach Nocturne City, will it ask me to run threeps around the city for an additional reward too?"


    Though slightly exasperated, Jeremy started runningps around the caravan as quickly as possible.


    Jeremy''s actions caught the attention of everyone in the caravan.


    Nina and Bonnie watched Jeremy runningps around the caravan, momentarily unsure of what to say.


    Nina turned to Bonnie and asked, "Miss Bonnie, what is Jeremy doing? Is he training his body to strengthen himself? Why doesn''t he just fight to train like he used to?"


    Bonnie, full of exasperation, didn''t know how to respond.


    "This is just one of his quirks. You don''t need to worry about it. He''ll probably stop once he gets tired."


    This wasn''t the first time Bonnie had witnessed Jeremy doing something inexplicable.


    She was starting to feel that she had be quite ustomed to Jeremy''s odd behavior.


    At the center of the caravan, Master Bard and Heber opened the wagon window to look in Jeremy''s direction.


    "Ah, youth! When I was young, I could runps around the caravan too!" Master Bard eximed nostalgically.


    Heber instinctively nodded.


    As a traveling merchant, he had spent his youth journeying far and wide with his caravan.


    However, Heber suddenly realized that since he had met Master Bard, he had never seen the man show any interest in physical exercise.


    "Could you really runps around the caravan? It seems to me that you detest exercise," Heber remarked skeptically.


    Master Bard rolled his eyes at Heber.


    "I am a highly esteemed master alchemist. A master alchemistmust not only be familiar with the properties of materials but also possess the stamina to craft potions!" dered Master Bard with an air of self-importance.


    Heber couldn''t discern if Master Bard''s words held any truth.


    Yet, even if they were fabrications, he had no basis for argument. After all, he was merely a merchant, not even an apprentice alchemist.


    Under the watchful eyes of the entire caravan, Jeremypleted his threeps and then stopped at a respectful distance from the group.


    "You see, I told you he''d stop once he got tired," Bonnie said to Nina with a smile.


    Nina nodded in agreement and then resumed examining a desert scorpion she and Bonnie had just found.


    "While Jeremy''sbat prowess is formidable, his stamina leaves much to be desired. When I was his age, I could have easily run more than threeps around the caravan. Clearly, his ultimate achievements will pale inparison to mine."


    Master Bard remarked, his tone dripping with exaggerated nostalgia.


    Heber, standing next to Master Bard, paid him no mind. He was convinced that Master Bard had been lying from the start.


    Sensing Heber''s skepticism, Master Bard turned to him and asked, "What''s the matter? Do you doubt that I could run more than threeps?"


    "Of course not! I believe you, absolutely!"


    Heber replied hastily, his tone tinged with resignation. After all, Master Bard was not someone he could afford to offend.

 Chapter 106: A New Powerful Skill

    [Note: Condition for receiving additional rewards has been met.]


    As Jeremy finished running threeps around the convoy, the prompt from The Eye of Omniscience immediately appeared in his mind.


    "Since the condition for the additional reward has been met, I shall upgrade to level 40 right away!"


    Focusing his attention, Jeremy proceeded with the level-up process.


    [Congrattions to the yer for reaching level 40. You have acquired a high-tier skill: Thunder of Retribution!]


    The moment Jeremy reached level 40, his basic attributes saw varying degrees of enhancement. Without hesitation, he allocated the extra attribute points gained from the upgrade to his strength.


    For Jeremy at this stage, ensuring his ability to endure longer in battles was paramount.


    Only by doing so could he be prepared to face a myriad of dangerous foes.


    Among these threats was the most formidable adversary lurking in the shadows, never revealing himself but always present in this dungeon¡ªthe ally of the Fool, known as [The Sun].


    Having carefully nned the distribution of his basic attribute points, Jeremy eagerly began to examine the new skill he had acquired.


    [Skill]: Thunder of Retribution


    [Level]: lv1


    [Tier]: High-tier Skill


    [Description]: A lightning boltposed entirely of shadow energy, which can be transformed into a weapon of retribution under the guidance of a powerful will.


    Upon activation, the skill can temporarily paralyze all surrounding enemies. The duration of paralysis varies depending on the level of the enemies, with a minimum paralysis time of 0.5 seconds.


    Jeremy found himself quite pleased with the newly acquired high-tier skill, Thunder of Retribution. His satisfaction, however, did not stem from its damage potential.


    Even high-tier skills at level 1 do not typically offer significant damage output.


    Rather, what Jeremy appreciated the most about this skill was undoubtedly the paralysis effect it provided.


    In general, high-tier skills are typically ineffective against enemies whose ranks significantly exceed that of the yer.


    Moreover, more powerful beasts and deities are often immune to all control skills.


    Therefore, when facing adversaries with a substantial power gap, a control skill that can disregard the opponent''s rank bes crucial.


    "Although Thunder of Retribution can control formidable foes, the control duration is a mere 0.5 seconds. It seems that the timing of this skill''s usage will be paramount."


    Jeremy mused, simting scenarios in his mind where Thunder of Retribution would be employed.


    Given that the skill''s level is not particrly high, Jeremy realized he would need to meticulously n the timing of its activation.


    Despite Thunder of Retributioncking a directly stated cooldown, such a potent skill undoubtedlyes with a significant resource cost. This implies that Jeremy would be unable to use it frequently duringbat.


    Having examined the high-tier skill provided at level 40, Jeremy then shifted his focus to the additional skill reward granted by The Eye of Omniscience.


    [Skill]: Pride of the Seven Sins


    [Level]: lv1


    [Tier]: Transcendent Skill


    [Description]: The embodiment of sin, transcending allws and appearances. Upon activation, this skill allows the user to ignore all rules for a set duration. However, once the skill''s effect wears off, the user will be forcibly deducted 20% of their health.


    Jeremy hadn''t anticipated that the additional reward skill would turn out to be a transcendent skill. Moreover, this transcendent skill was part of the same series as his previously acquired transcendent skills, all belonging to the Seven Sins series.


    Compared to the other Seven Sins skills he possessed, Pride leaned more towards countering traps set by enemies.


    Both inside and outside of dungeons, Jeremy had encountered monsters capable of establishing various rules.


    Some of these creatures could prohibit yers from using weapons duringbat, while others could prevent the use of life-restoration spells.


    When battling such monsters, yers had to exercise extreme caution, regardless of their level or strength.


    However, with the Pride of the Seven Sins skill, Jeremy wouldn''t need to be as cautious.


    He realized that he could fully unleash its most pridefuleffect when encountering an enemy using a skill bound by rules.


    Although the cost of using Pride of the Seven Sins was indeed steep, the ability to invalidate the opponent''s rules made it invaluable to Jeremy.


    Additionally, Pride of the Seven Sins had another crucial application.


    It would prove immensely valuable when confronting the designers behind the apocalypse game.


    Jeremy was already aware of the existence of deities behind the apocalypse game.


    The Fool had inflicted a severe penalty on Jeremy with just a nce.


    The Hanged Man could manipte every aspect of the apocalypse game, creating one terrifying and bizarre instance after another.


    The Magician had once exerted immense pressure on the ss change goddess, Janna.


    The Sun was currently weaving a conspiracy within the instance Jeremy was in.


    Against such formidable deities, Jeremy knew that without skills to counter rule-based enemies, he stood no chance whatsoever.


    Although he still did not fully understand the powers and abilities represented by The Sun.


    Judging by the series of enemies he had encountered since entering the Sun instance, it was clear that this deity possessed exceptionally powerful mental control skills.


    "No matter what, once I reach Nocturne City, I will inevitably face The Sun or his core subordinates. I must level up Pride of the Seven Sins before that happens," Jeremy resolved.


    In fact, the moment Jeremy first heard the name Nocturne City, he had already sensed its tight connection with The Sun.


    After all, only a ce where the sun eternally shines would never see the arrival of night.


    After familiarizing himself with the skills he had acquired, Jeremy took another look at his system panel.


    [Name]: Jeremy


    [Level]: lv40


    [ss]: sphemer


    [Titles]: Pioneer, World''s First Kill, Light Chaser


    [Abilities]: The Eye of Omniscience (SSS)


    [Attributes]: Strength 6712, Spirit 12043, Stamina 8891, Agility 6001


    [Damage]: Physical 214%, Magical 214%


    [Special]: Critical Hit 33%, Attack Speed 26%, Explosion Rate 35%, Cooldown Reduction 40%


    [Skills]: Uwful Being lv10, Seven Sins - Wrath lv1, Seven Sins - Gluttony lv10, Seven Sins - Envy lv1, Seven Sins - Pride lv1, Abyssal Summon lv10, Thunder of Retribution lv1, Wind of Cmity lv10, Teleportation lv10, gue Curse lv10, Judgement Sword lv10, Soul Roar lv10, mes of Sin lv10, Disaster de lv10, Shadow Stride lv10...


    Looking at the plethora of skills disyed on his data panel, Jeremy couldn''t help but sigh.


    "I already have enough skills at my disposal. The next step is to level them up. Without higher skill levels, their effectiveness in battle will be considerably limited."


    After bing proficient with his newly acquired skill, Jeremy returned to the convoy.


    He nned to ask Heber how far they were from Nocturne City.


    He needed to strategize on how much he could level up his skills before they arrived.


    Just as Jeremy reached the convoy, Heber immediately approached him.


    "So, have you regained your strength to its former glory?"


    Heber asked with great concern.


    Jeremy nodded and then shook his head, a gesture that left Heber utterly perplexed.


    "Is it the same as before or different this time? Can you give me a straight answer, please?"


    "My strength is almost back to what it was before," Jeremy exined, "but the difference is that I''ve acquired new skills. I believe I can perform even better in battle now."


    Heber was thrilled by Jeremy''s words.


    "If that''s the case, that''s fantastic! With someone as powerful as you, we won''t have to worry about anything once we reach Nocturne City."


    However, Heber''sment made Jeremy slightly uneasy.


    He could tell from Heber''s tone that Nocturne City might not be as safe as he had assumed.


    "Why? Is the situation in Nocturne City really that chaotic? As the main city of this region, shouldn''t Nocturne City have a formidable defense force?"


    Heber nodded, his expression tinged with a bit of resignation.


    "You''re right. Nocturne City is indeed the main city of this region, and it does have a formidable defensive force.


    However, those defenses won''t necessarily ensure our safety. In Nocturne City, we''ll encounter many people who deliberately cause trouble. That''s why we must rely on your strength."


    While Jeremy felt a tinge of disappointment, he knew that to gather more energy crystals, he had to make the journey to Nocturne City.


    "Since we''re already discussing Nocturne City, could you tell me how far we are from it? It seems we should start making some preparations."


    "We''re about two days away from Nocturne City," Heber replied without hesitation.


    He had traveled this trade route multiple times and was quite familiar with the timeline to reach Nocturne City.


    "But you don''t need to worry about the preparations. I''ve already taken care of everything. Although I lost a significant amount of valuable supplies back in Dawn City.


    The remaining provisions should still allow us to livefortably in Nocturne City for a while.


    As long as you''re willing to ensure my safety, I can provide you with enough funds toplete your ns,"


    Heber promised Jeremy with a smile.

 Chapter 107: The Majestic Nocturne City of Mountain Arrow

    After two arduous days of traversing challenging terrain, Jeremy and his entourage finally reached their ultimate destination: the illustrious Nocturne City.


    During these two days, they encountered a fascinating array of individuals, each adding to the rich tapestry of their journey. This was only natural, given that Nocturne City, as the principal metropolis within this particr instance, was the most bustling and vibrant location they could hope to arrive at.


    What truly sets Nocturne City apart is the colossal sun that hangs perpetually in the sky at the city''s very center, never setting.


    Additionally, the city walls are adorned with numerous smaller suns, each emitting light and heat to fend off any threats that could jeopardize the safety of Nocturne City.


    As the group approached Nocturne City, stopping about a mile away, Heber addressed them.


    "Before we can gain entry into Nocturne City, we must first undergo a thorough inspection by the city''s guards."Heber elucidated, multitasking as he directed the caravan guards to unload their cargo while simultaneously exining the protocol to the rest of the group.


    "Given the recent spate of events."he continued, "Nocturne City is undoubtedly aware of the cataclysm that befell Dawn City. Consequently, we can expect the inspections conducted by the city guards to be significantly more stringent this time around."


    The reason Heber took the time to remind everyone was that he was keen to avoid any further dys. His primary objective was to expedite their entry into Nocturne City.


    This way, he could promptly sell off his remaining valuable goods and swiftly find a suitable location for Master Bard to concoct his potions.


    Jeremy and the others nodded in understanding, acknowledging Heber''s sense of urgency.


    Jeremy took special care to store all his powerful weapons within his storage space.


    Meanwhile, both Bonnie and Master Bard were meticulously checking their respective belongings. Only Nina stood apart, gazing curiously in the direction of Nocturne City''s imposing walls.


    As the daughter of Dawn City''s lord, Nina had visited this ce before. However, each time she came here, her father would hurriedly rush inside Nocturne City to meet with its prominent figures, leaving her with little opportunity to explore.


    Nina would invariably be escorted by her mother to stay in some of Nocturne City''s luxurious hotels. Consequently, she had never taken the time to truly observe the surroundings of Nocturne City.


    "Haven''t you ever been here before?"


    Jeremy asked, approaching Nina as she stood lost in thought, staring at the city walls.


    Nina turned her head and, upon seeing Jeremy, smiled faintly. "I''ve been here a few times."she replied,"but I was always with my mother. She never let me stay outside the city walls for too long. She always said it was too dangerous out here."


    Jeremy nodded affirmatively.


    "This time, you''ll have the chance to properly take in the scenery outside the city walls. There are so many people queued up ahead of us that who knows how long it will be before the guards of Nocturne City get around to inspecting us."


    Hearing this, a faint blush spread across Nina''s cheeks as she slowly turned to Jeremy and asked,


    "In that case, would you mind apanying me for a little walk around the area? There might be dangers lurking nearby."


    Recognizing the validity of her concern, Jeremy agreed to explore the surroundings with her.


    Jeremy and Nina departed from the caravan and made their way toward the distant city walls.


    It didn''t take long for Master Bard and Heber to notice their movements.


    Master Bard deliberately approached Bonnie and, with a hint of implication in his voice, remarked.


    "It seems that young Nina understands Jeremy''s heart better than anyone else."


    Bonnie''s expression turned slightly sour at Master Bard''s remark.


    "Unlike you, I don''t cling to Jeremy. I have enough skill to handle my own issues."


    Bonnie maintained her characteristically haughty demeanor.


    Though she felt a twinge of irritation at Nina''s constant attachment to Jeremy, she would never allow herself to openly disy her jealousy.


    Master Bard chuckled heartily a few times before sauntering away.


    Only Heber, with a tinge of worry coloring his tone, remarked, "I hope Jeremy can focus on the tasks at hand and not get entirely caught up in his yful banter with Nina."


    "Although Jeremy might seem somewhat frivolous on the surface, I truly believe that when ites to critical matters, he understands how to prioritize."


    Bonnie suddenly dered, her expression turning serious as she addressed Heber.


    Heber couldn''t help but feel a bit taken aback. While he had always sensed that Bonnie had a fondness for Jeremy, this was the first time he had ever heard her speak so positively about him.


    Realizing she might have revealed too much, Bonnie quickly made an excuse and left.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy and Nina strolled near the city walls, taking in thendscape.


    They both instinctively stayed close, knowing that entering Nocturne City was their primary objective.


    After about an hour, Heber dispatched a guard from the caravan to fetch Jeremy and Nina.


    "The guards of Nocturne City are about to inspect our caravan. You two had better hurry back. If we miss our turn, who knows how long we''ll have to wait."the caravan guard warned.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy and Nina followed the guard back to the caravan.


    Arriving just in time.


    As they rejoined their group, a squad of Nocturne City guards approached the front of Heber''s caravan.


    d in red and yellow armor, the guards bore the emblem of a crowing rooster on their breasttes.


    "Who is in charge of this caravan?" the lead guard demanded sternly, addressing the group.


    Heber quickly stepped forward. "I am. Here is my merchant''s permit."


    The guard captain took Heber''s permit and nced at it dismissively.


    "Your permit is no longer valid. Recent events have led to changes, and Nocturne City now requires a new pass. To enter, you must prove that you pose no threat to the city."


    Jeremy felt a pang of anxiety at the guard captain''s words.


    He couldn''t shake the feeling that the mastermind behind their troubles, known as the "Sun."was watching him.


    The change in the city''s pass regtions might be a sign that the "Sun" was already targeting him.


    Despite his unease, Jeremy remained calm and took a subtle step back, gripping his weapon just in case.


    Fortunately, the guards did not notice his movement.


    As their attention was wholly focused on Heber. Heber, meanwhile, reached into his pocket and produced a string of gemstones.


    "Brave guards of Nocturne City, your diligent service ismendable. Please ept this small token of our appreciation."he said, offering the gems to the guard captain.


    The captain nced around briefly before snatching the bag of gemstones from Heber''s hand.


    "And how exactly do we prove that we are no threat to Nocturne City?" Heber asked urgently.


    The guard captain lowered his voice and replied.


    "Just keep all your weapons hidden. Here is the new Nocturne City pass. Present this at the city gate, and the guards there will let you in."


    Handing the pass to Heber, the captain then led his squad toward the next caravan in line.


    "I doubt the Nocturne City pass has actually been revised! This is just a ruse by those guards to line their pockets."


    Master Bard grumbled after the guards had left.


    "Regardless, we can finally enter Nocturne City now, can''t we? Let''s move quickly. I have a bad feeling about lingering here."he added with a sense of urgency.


    Jeremy found Master Bard''s concerns reasonable.


    However, since Heber had already handed over the gemstones, there was no point in dwelling on the matter any further.


    Though Heber felt a twinge of regret, he epted it as part of the cost of doing business.


    As a merchant, he was ustomed to greasing palms each time he visited Nocturne City.


    "Now that we have the pass, let''s proceed to Nocturne City without dy."


    Hebermanded, directing the caravan towards the city gates.


    Though the city gates were only about a kilometer away, the sheer number of people ahead of them meant it took the caravan a full hour to reach the entrance.


    At the gates of Nocturne City, two guards loungedzily against the wall.


    "Do you have a pass? If so, show it and enter quickly! If not, step aside!" one barked.


    Heber promptly produced the pass, along with two smaller gemstones from his pocket.


    The guards'' eyes lit up at the sight of the gems.


    "Dear guards, is there anything we should be aware of in Nocturne City?" Heber inquired, seizing the moment to gather information.


    The guards frowned in thought before one of them, lowering his voice, said.


    "Avoid the central administrative district for now. Something troubling seems to be happening there. That''s all we can tell you."


    "Thank you for the heads-up!"


    Heber expressed his gratitude and then led Jeremy and the rest of the group into Nocturne City.

 Chapter 108: The Jeweler Whos Both Friend and Foe

    Though Jeremy often disdained Heber''s subtle maneuvers, he had to concede that Heber, as a merchant, possessed an exceptionally high emotional intelligence.


    Upon entering Nocturne City, Jeremy leaned in and whispered to Heber.


    "Do you really have to give these guards gems every time youe to Nocturne City?"


    Heber nodded reluctantly. "As a traveling merchant, I can''t permanently stay in Nocturne City. And given that Nocturne City is such a bustling metropolis, a lot of things are bound to happen.


    If I don''t offer these guards a few perks, how else would they warn me about potential issues? I''d rather avoid getting into serious trouble."


    Heber''s exnation was impable.


    After nodding in agreement, Jeremy inquired, "What''s your next move? My n is straightforward: I aim to swiftly locate merchants who sell energy crystals."


    Heber was well aware of Jeremy''s urgent need for a substantial quantity of energy crystals.


    He also knew that Jeremy was currently in quite a hurry.


    However, in Heber''s view, transactions within Nocturne City were far from simple.


    Finding the necessary resources in Nocturne City would require a significant investment of time and the utilization of certain connections.


    "There are indeed many merchants in Nocturne City who sell energy crystals. But how do you intend to conduct transactions with them?" Heber asked.


    "Can''t I just approach them directly? My storage space is filled with precious gems and rare weapons. I imagine anyone would be eager to get their hands on such treasures."Jeremy replied confidently.


    At this, Heber couldn''t help but let out a derisive chuckle.


    "I don''t mean to belittle your idea, I just think you''re being incredibly naive."


    Jeremy didn''t interrupt Heber, he merely listened patiently.


    "Do you really believe that possessing precious gems and rare weapons will automatically entice merchants to trade with you? You''re far too naive!


    In Nocturne City, every merchant has their ownwork and channels. To seal a deal, you must first earn their trust.


    If anyone could easily find willing trading partners in Nocturne City, then everyone would be making fortunes here."


    Heber''s words suddenly made Jeremy realize a few things.


    Even in the real world, simr situations exist.


    After all, merchants who manage to establish themselves in Nocturne City are undoubtedly shrewd. They only trade with other merchants they trust, as this is the most secure and reliable way to conduct business.


    Havinge to terms with Heber''s assessment, Jeremy decided it was time to urge Heber to pick up the pace.


    "If that''s the case, why are you moving so slowly? Didn''t you say you could cover our amodation costs in Nocturne City?"


    "This is Nocturne City! For all we know, we might encounter some significant figures along this very street! Rushing recklessly through the main avenue couldnd us in serious trouble."Heber exined, his tone tinged with frustration.


    While Heber had his reservations, Jeremy was not inclined to be as cautious.


    "I see there''s a hotel just ahead. Why don''t we stay there? The location isn''t that great, so the rates should be reasonable."Jeremy suggested.


    Without further ado, Jeremy instructed the convoy to halt and promptly headed toward the nearest hotel.


    Heber felt a twinge of resignation but had to admit that Jeremy''s judgment was sound.


    Letting out a sigh, Heber remarked, "Indeed, those with great power often act with such youthful exuberance!"


    As the convoy came to a stop, everyone followed Jeremy into the hotel.


    In the lobby, Jeremy and Heber began organizing room assignments for each member of their group.


    It was at this moment that Heber''s peripheral vision caught sight of a very familiar figure¡ªone of the gemstone merchants he knew well.


    The instant Heber recognized him, he hurried over.


    "Mr. Jack, it''s been quite a while!" Heber eximed, bowing slightly in greeting.


    Jack, adorned in opulent attire, disyed a slightly perplexed expression on his face. Two attendants trailing behind him took a few steps forward, intending to shoo Heber away.


    "Who might you be? Do I know you?" Jack inquired in an exceedingly gentle tone.


    Heber managed to ward off Jack''s attendants with some difficulty and then, with a smile, began to speak.


    "I once sold you a batch of precious gemstones! I am the very merchant who supplied you with rare gems, Heber!"


    Jack scrutinized Heber closely and then, with a smile, responded.


    "My memory must be failing me, I hadpletely forgotten about you. It''s been half a year since youst visited Nocturne City. Have youe this time with another batch of rare gems?"


    "Mr. Jack, your insight is remarkable! Indeed, I havee to Nocturne City to provide you with an additional supply of precious gems."


    At this point, Heber gestured toward Jeremy, beckoning him over.


    Jeremy approached Heber at a leisurely pace.


    "Mr. Jack, this is my apprentice, his name is Jeremy."Heber introduced Jeremy as his apprentice to Jack.


    A hint of hesitation flickered across Jack''s face.


    As a highly sessful gemstone merchant, his instincts told him that Heber might be lying.


    This suspicion was further fueled by the subtle unease in Jeremy''s expression upon hearing himself referred to as Heber''s apprentice.


    Nheless, Jack had no intention of exposing Heber''s lie.


    After all, for merchants like them, lying was amon practice. As long as the lie posed no threat to him, was there any need for Jack to call it out?


    With a smile, Jack nodded toward Jeremy.


    At that moment, Jeremy''s expression grew even more astonished, for as he approached Jack, he suddenly received a prompt from The Eye of Omniscience.


    [Note: The gemstone merchant can be both an ally and a foe.]


    The Eye of Omniscience had never been wrong before.


    This implied that the gemstone merchant could potentially assist Jeremy, but under certain circumstances, he could also be an adversary.


    The subtle change in Jeremy''s expression did not escape Jack''s notice, and even Heber sensed that something was amiss with Jeremy''s demeanor.


    "My apprentice here is a bit overly nervous."Heber remarked, attempting to exin away Jeremy''s difort. "After all, it''s his first time in Nocturne City. He has never seen such a bustling metropolis or met a distinguished personage like yourself."


    Jack nodded with a smile, epting Heber''s exnation.


    Though he couldn''t quite pinpoint what kind of person Jeremy was, he was fairly certain that Jeremy wasn''t of significant stature. After all, how could someone of great importance be trailing behind a mere traveling merchant like Heber?


    "Though my apprentice may appear quite unremarkable, he has discovered some extraordinarily precious gemstones during our travels. He is willing to sell these gems to you but hopes to receive energy crystalsaspensation."


    Heber stated,ying his cards on the table.


    By this time, Jeremy had regained hisposure. He nodded emphatically and retrieved a rare gemstone from his pocket.


    As a seasoned gemstone merchant, Jack recognized the high quality of the gem the moment heid eyes on it.


    "May I examine this gemstone more closely?"


    Jack asked, refraining from directly reaching out. He chose to seek Jeremy''s permission first.


    Jeremy nodded and ced the gemstone in Jack''s hand.


    Jack scrutinized the gem intently, turning it over several times before handing it back.


    "The quality of this gemstone is indeed exceptional. I am prepared to purchase it at a very high price. However, I have one question: Why do you insist on being paid in energy crystals?" Jack inquired.


    At this point, Heber adopted an expression of deeppassion.


    "You see, my apprentice''s homnd is under threat from the Shadow Dragon. Only energy crystals can provide the powerful magical shields needed to fend off the dragon''s attacks.


    Previous assaults by the Shadow Dragon have already wreaked havoc on his vige. He has apanied me here to ensure his homnd will not suffer the same fate again."


    Heber spun this tale of woe almost without hesitation.


    Even Jeremy, standing beside him, was slightly taken aback.


    Had he not known the truth, he might have been swayed by Heber''s convincing performance.


    Jack''s expression remained smiling, inscrutable as ever.


    Jeremy couldn''t discern whether Jack believed Heber''s fabricated story. However, Jack''s subsequent reaction was precisely what Jeremy had hoped for.


    "You are incredibly brave. If it were me in your shoes, I doubt I could have done the same."


    Jack remarked with genuine admiration. With that statement, he decisively agreed to the transaction with Jeremy and Heber.


    "I can indeedpensate you with energy crystals for the precious gemstones you provide. However, my current supply of energy crystals is somewhat limited, so I will need some time to procure a sufficient quantity."Jack exined.


    Jack''s response brought immense relief and joy to Jeremy.


    He nodded enthusiastically and smiled, "No problem at all. Let''s finalize the deal!"


    Although Jack maintained his smile, he did not immediately acknowledge Jeremy.


    It was then that Jeremy realized his current role was merely that of Heber''s apprentice. The finalization of the transaction rested solely with Heber.


    Feeling a bit awkward, Heber quickly interjected, "My apprentice is overly eager, but this eagerness only underscores his genuine desire toplete this transaction with you."

 Chapter 109: Wealth That Astonished the Gemstone Merchant

    As an immensely sessful gemstone merchant, Jack had long since ceased to concern himself with the attitudes of his trading partners.


    His sole focus was on whether they could bring him greater profits.


    Thus, when faced with Heber''s apology, Jack responded with a gracious smile.


    "You are being overly cautious. As long as you can provide me with substantial gains, it matters not whether you or your apprentice is the one I deal with."Jack remarked.


    His words eased the anxiety that had been weighing on Jeremy and Heber.


    "This is hardly the appropriate venue for business discussions. Conveniently, I have a permanent suite on the second floor of the hotel. Why don''t we head there to conduct our business?"


    Jack invited them directly, extending an offer that was hard to refuse.


    Jeremy and Heber naturally agreed without hesitation.


    "No problem at all. I''ll make sure the rest of our caravan members settle into their respective hotel rooms first."Heber said, mindful not to overlook the others in their party.


    Jack nodded in acknowledgment and promptly started his way up the stairs.


    Jeremy and Heber took the time to inform the other members of their caravan about the recent developments in meticulous detail.


    Master Bard couldn''t help but express his amazement.


    "It seems you are quite the fortunate individual!" Master Bard remarked, his gaze scrutinizing Jeremy intently.


    "To think you randomly chose a hotel that happens to house a highly sessful gemstone merchant. It almost makes me wonder if you knew in advance that this merchant would be here."


    As Master Bard spoke, he continued to study Jeremy with a discerning eye.


    Despite possessing the system prompt from The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy knew this was purely a stroke of luck.


    "Master Bard, you''re overthinking it. If my luck were truly that good, why did I encounter the Shadow Dragon on the road? And why did I have to face the rebellion in Dawn City while I was there?"


    Jeremy responded, his tone tinged with a mix of irony and frustration.


    Jeremy''s reply was, of course, impable. Furthermore, his tone remained remarkably calm as he spoke. Master Bard, convinced by Jeremy''s reasoning, decided not to press the matter further.


    "Bonnie, I''ll leave Nina in your care."Jeremy instructed, ensuring that Bonnie would look after Nina.


    Considering that Bonnie was an awakened yer with innate talents, her ability to protect herself was undoubtedly superior to Nina''s.


    In times of danger, Bonnie would be able to offer much-needed assistance to Nina.


    Bonnie nodded in agreement, though Jeremy could discern a reluctant expression on her face.


    Meanwhile, Heber had finally finished arranging amodations for the rest of their caravan members.


    "Everyone, attend to your own affairs. Jeremy and I will meet with the gemstone merchant."Heber announced.


    Wasting no time, Heber and Jeremy hurried to the second floor of the hotel. In the corridor, they encountered one of Jack''s servants.


    "The master is awaiting you in the room."


    The servant said, opening the door and gesturing for Heber and Jeremy to enter.


    Without hesitation, Heber and Jeremy stepped inside.


    As soon as Jeremy crossed the threshold, he was greeted by walls adorned with an eclectic collection of paintings. It seemed that Jack, the gemstone merchant, had a fervent passion for collecting art.


    "Ah, you two have finally arrived. I was beginning to think you might take even longer to settle the rest of your caravan."


    Jack''s voice emanated from the study.


    Heber and Jeremy exchanged nces and hastened into the room.


    Jack, now d in casual attire, sat behind a desk cluttered with ledgers. Apart from these documents, the only source of light was a dim oilmp.


    "I never expected your workspace to be so unpretentious. With your wealth, you could easily afford a luxurious office."


    Heber remarked, offering a casualpliment.


    However, Jack didn''t follow Heber''s lead.


    Instead, he turned his gaze to Jeremy and smiled, "Since you''re both here to discuss business, let''s get straight to it. Demonstrate your sincerity by showing me any precious gemstones you have."


    Jeremy promptly retrieved an orange gemstone from his pocket, a gem of exceptional quality.


    The moment Jackid eyes on it, his eyes gleamed with excitement.


    He quickly donned a pair of gloves and carefully took the gemstone.


    "This is indeed a gem of remarkable quality. If you''re willing to sell it to me, I can offer you at least 200 energy crystals."


    Jack dered, setting the price for the orange gemstone.


    Jeremy, however, did not immediately agree. He felt that Jack''s offer wasn''t satisfactory.


    "If you can only provide me with 200 energy crystals, I will also need a certain amount of soul crystals. If you can only offer energy crystals, then I expect no less than 400 energy crystals."Jeremy responded, negotiating firmly.


    Jeremy''s counteroffer left Jack slightly taken aback.


    Handing the orange gemstone back to Jeremy, Jack smiled and said, "Soul crystals are inherently difficult to procure. Even with my extensive connections, it''s nearly impossible to acquire a significant quantity of them.


    As for your proposition of 400 energy crystals for the orange gemstone, that''s simply out of the question. The gemstone doesn''tmand such a steep price."


    As Jack spoke, his gaze was fixed on Heber.


    He was acutely aware that Heber also understood the value of the orange gemstone.


    Heber quickly intervened, addressing Jeremy, "Demanding 400 energy crystals is indeed exorbitant, while 200 energy crystals is undeniably too low.


    How about we meet in the middle and agree on a price of 300 energy crystals for this precious gemstone?"


    Although Heber''s proposal was somewhat unsatisfactory to both Jeremy and Jack, they both recognized it as the most reasonablepromise.


    Moreover, for Jack, purchasing the gemstone with energy crystals allowed him to profit from the exchange rate between energy crystals and gold coins.


    Without hesitation, Jack nodded in agreement to Heber''s suggestion.


    After a moment of contemtion, Jeremy also conceded, realizing it was the most viable option.


    The most pressing matter now was to gather enough energy crystals to restore the state of the ss-change goddess, Janna.


    Jeremy himself was unable to leave this instance, only with Janna''s assistance could he and Bonnie escape.


    "No problem at all! Consider it a deal!"


    Jeremy agreed, and Jack was visibly pleased.


    "Acquiring energy crystals will take about two or three days, so if you have any other precious gemstones, you should present them all at once. That way, I can determine precisely how many energy crystals I need to procure."


    Jack suggested, confident that Jeremy''s collection of valuable gemstones was probably limited. Hence, he felt assured that he could purchase all of Jeremy''s precious stones in one go. However, what Jeremy said next left Jack utterly astonished.


    "I possess a substantial number of gemstones. Your study is far too small to amodate them all." Jeremy remarked. Initially, Jack thought Jeremy was joking, but a nce at Heber''s serious expression confirmed otherwise.


    "I''ll just bring out a small portion of them."Jeremy muttered to himself. He then proceeded to pour out a significant number of precious gemstones onto the floor.


    Jack found himself momentarily speechless as he gazed at the extensive collection of valuable gemstones scattered on the ground.


    The sheer worth of these gems alone was enough to make Jeremy one of the wealthiest individuals in Nocturne City.


    And yet, these were merely a fraction of what Jeremy possessed.


    The wealth that Jeremy possessed left Jack, a seasoned gemstone merchant, utterly astounded. Jack, however, quickly recovered from his initial shock.


    He realized that the vast quantity of gemstones Jeremy owned was beyond his financial capacity to purchase single-handedly.


    "The number of gemstones you have is simply overwhelming. I don''t have sufficient funds to buy them all at once."


    Jack admitted, his tone forthright and sincere.


    Jeremy and Heber both understood Jack''s predicament.


    They had never intended to rely solely on Jack, from the outset, they nned to approach several gemstone merchants for the transactions.


    "How many gemstones can you purchase?" Jeremy inquired. "If you can''t buy them all, we will naturally seek out other merchants."


    After a brief pause, Jeremy added.


    "However, since you are the first merchant we have approached, we are willing to give you the priority to select the gemstones you wish to buy."


    Jeremy''s words profoundly moved Jack.


    Gratified, Jack responded, "Thank you very much for your trust. I''ve decided to raise the purchase price of the orange gemstones from 300 energy crystals to 350 energy crystals."


    Jack had his reasons for this decision.


    In his view, establishing a good rtionship with Jeremy was of paramount importance. He couldn''t afford to jeopardize this valuable client over a minor price negotiation.


    "As I mentioned earlier, I will need approximately two days to acquire the energy crystals. Therefore, please return in two days for the transaction."


    Jack said, picking up a ledger from his desk to jot down some notes.


    Both Jeremy and Heber found Jack''s arrangement reasonable and readily agreed.


    "In two days, we will be back toplete the transaction!"

 Chapter 110: The Discerning Master Bard

    After finalizing the details of the deal with Jack, Heber and Jeremy returned to their respective rooms.


    Naturally, Jeremy chose to stay with Nina, as he believed she was the one most in need of his protection at the moment.


    Bonnie, however, was slightly displeased with Jeremy''s decision.


    "Do you really have to stay with her? Although Nina''s mother did ask you to look after her, that doesn''t necessarily mean you have to share a room with her."


    Bonnie remarked, standing at the doorway with a hint of frustration in her voice.


    Jeremy, with an innocent expression, nodded and replied, "In that case, are you suggesting that you stay in the same room with me?"


    Upon hearing this, Bonnie turned on her heel without a word and mmed her door shut as she retreated to her own room.


    Jeremy merely chuckled at Bonnie''s reaction.


    "My dear ss representative always seems to be unable to take a joke." Jeremy remarked with a hint of amusement before heading back to his room.


    Adjacent to Jeremy''s room was that of Master Bard.


    At this moment, Master Bard wasn''t alone, Heber was also present.


    "Don''t forget the promises you made to me."Master Bard said, savoring the exquisite beverage provided by the hotel while addressing Heber.


    Heber, with a touch of exasperation, replied, "Of course, I remember what I promised you! But we just arrived in Nocturne City today.


    Even if we need to find a suitable location for your store, it has to wait until tomorrow. Besides, Jeremy won''t be apanying us, he ns to seek partnerships with other gemstone merchants."


    Master Bard, however, remained indifferent to Jeremy''s ns.


    "I don''t care about Jeremy''s actions. My only concern is whether I can find a satisfactory location for my store. I am an exceedingly discerning individual, and if the ce you find fails to meet my expectations, I will consider it a breach of your promise."


    This statement from Master Bard sessfully ignited Heber''s ire.


    "We are merely partners! Are you solely concerned with your own satisfaction while disregarding my situation?"


    Heber''s words effectively silenced Master Bard, preventing him from continuing the argument.


    Thus, everyone in the caravan retired to their respective rooms for the night.


    Though each had a myriad of tasks to address the following day, they could at least enjoy a moment of respite for now.


    Early the next morning, Jeremy promptly escorted Nina to Bonnie''s doorstep.


    "You just need to wait here until she opens the door. She''ll take care of you while I attend to more pressing matters."


    Jeremy instructed Nina as he bid her farewell. Though Nina was reluctant to part, she understood that Jeremy had more important tasks to handle.


    As Jeremy stepped out, Master Bard and Heber also set off on their own errands.


    Master Bard, however, couldn''t help but mutter incessantly as they walked.


    "Did you bring enough gold coins? Besides renting the shop, we also need to purchase some basic herbs."


    "I''ve brought plenty of gold coins! And even if we run short, my reputation alone should be enough to get us some credit from other shops."


    Heber replied, clearly nearing the end of his patience with Master Bard.


    But his response failed to satisfy Master Bard.


    Thetter continued his grumbling, "If you didn''t bring enough coins, we''ll just have toe back to fetch more. Wouldn''t it have been simpler to bring enough from the start?"


    Unable to endure Master Bard''s nagging any longer.


    Heber returned to his room and gathered all the gold coins he had.


    "Are you satisfied now? Surely this amount of gold is sufficient for our needs?"


    "Since we have enough gold coins now, let''s not waste any more time and get moving!" Master Bard eximed, hastening down the stairs as soon as he saw Heber had gathered all the gold.


    Heber could only shake his head in resignation as he followed closely behind Master Bard.


    Heber was well-acquainted with Nocturne City.


    He knew that finding a shop with an ideal location at a reasonable rent was a formidable challenge. His strategy was to find a small shop situated at a prime location, preferably in a corner between two buildings.


    Where the rent would beparatively lower yet the location would still be advantageous.


    However, securing such a perfect shop is a desire shared by many, and finding one would certainly require a bit of skill.


    Heber didn''t immediately set out to scour the streets in search of a suitable location.


    Instead, he opted to meet with his fellow merchants in Nocturne City first. During these meetings, he casually mentioned his interest in finding such a shop, almost as if it were an afterthought.


    Before long, one of his merchant friends tipped him off about a shop that precisely matched his requirements.


    "Master Bard, I''ve found a shop that will meet your expectations! Let''s head over there immediately!"


    Heber was determined to prevent the shop he had painstakingly discovered from being snatched up by someone else.


    As soon as he obtained the relevant information, he hurriedly led Master Bard to the location.


    The shop his friend had mentioned was situated on the busiest street in Nocturne City. The reason it hadn''t been imed by anyone else was its exceedingly narrow space. Nestled between two massive auction houses, the shop was barely a meter wide, seeming insufficient even to amodate a single crucible.


    Upon seeing the shop, Master Bard''s expression turned sour.


    "You can''t seriously think this shop will meet my needs, do you? This space is so cramped that it can''t even fit a crucible for potion-making. Is this really where you expect me to set up my store?"


    Heber, fully aware that the shop wouldn''t satisfy Master Bard.


    Responded straightforwardly.


    "Of course, we need to rent this shop, but that doesn''t mean you''re limited to just this small space. You can coborate with the neighboring auction houses.


    If you manage to strike a deal with them, you''ll have ample space for your store. Not only will you be able to fit one crucible, but you could even amodate several."


    Master Bard, skeptical of Heber''s proposition, retorted.


    "Do you think coborating with auction houses is a simple task? As a merchant, you should know a thing or two about them.


    The people running auction houses are notoriously money-minded. If a partnership doesn''t promise substantial profits for them, they won''t even consider it."


    Master Bard was, of course, acutely aware of the challenges he mentioned.


    Heber''s suggestion to coborate with the auction houses was not made lightly; it was rooted in his personal connections.


    "Mywork is quite extensive. I happen to know the owner of this auction house, which means I can arrange for some additional space."Heber exined.


    Hearing this, Master Bard''s anger began to dissipate.


    Although he was notoriously picky.


    The prospect of securing a spacious shop at an affordable rate appealed to him.


    "Are you certain your friend can assist us?" Master Bard inquired.


    "Absolutely. I once saved his life, and I''m also prepared to offer him a profit he can''t refuse. Besides being the owner of the auction house, he is also a gemstone merchant."Heber borated.


    Heber''s n was to leverage Jeremy''s gemstones to persuade the auction house owner to grant them a favor.


    After listening to Heber''s strategy, Master Bard couldn''t help but express his admiration.


    "You truly are a consummate merchant! You''ve managed to coordinate your resources so perfectly."


    Heber chuckled.


    "I''ll take that as apliment. I''ve already informed my friend in advance, so he will be expecting us at the auction house."


    With newfound resolve, they proceeded toward the auction house, the bustling streets of Nocturne City buzzing around them.


    The conversation between Heber and his friend was remarkably straightforward.


    In less than ten minutes, they had ironed out all the details of their coboration.


    Master Bard hadn''t anticipated that Heber would have such a friend.


    As they left the auction house, Master Bard remarked to Heber.


    "I never would have guessed that a profit-driven merchant like you would have a friend like that. It looks like you really did save his life at some point."


    Heber nodded but didn''t borate further.


    He needed to return to the hotel as quickly as possible to inform Jeremy about the decisions he and his friend had made.


    After all, it was ultimately Jeremy who had the authority to decide to whom the gems would be sold. Heber was merely acting as the intermediary between Jeremy and the gemstone merchants.


    At that moment, Jeremy was not in the hotel. He had already ventured to themercial district of Nocturne City, where a multitude of gemstone merchants could be found.


    Jeremy hoped to find enough gemstone merchants to buy all the gems he had in his possession.


    If he could sell all the gemstones and rare weapons he had, the energy crystals and soul crystals he would obtain should be sufficient to restore the ss-changing goddess Janna to her most powerful state.


    "There have to be enough gemstone merchants! I can''t afford a repeat of what happened in Dawn City. If I can''t find enough energy crystals in Nocturne City, my entire n will fall apart." Jeremy thought to himself, determinedly.

 Chapter 111: Demonstrating Ones Value

    After wandering around themercial district and asking a few passersby, Jeremy finally figured out where the jewelers of Nocturne City were located.


    It turned out that the very heart of Nocturne City''smercial district was home to a massive, luxurious auction house.


    The vast majority of jewelers make it a point to attend the auctions held at the illustrious auction house. Being featured in such a prestigious venue provides a valuable opportunity to establish connections with these jewelers.


    Jeremy thanked the passerby who provided him with the information and casually handed over a diamond.


    "Thank you very much for your help. Consider this a small token of appreciation."


    After giving the diamond, Jeremy headed to the luxurious auction house at the center of themercial district as quickly as possible.


    The passerby who had just given Jeremy some clues stared nkly at the diamond in his hand, eximing, "Isn''t this a bit too generous? Expressing a small token of gratitude with a diamond?!"


    The passerby kept watching until Jeremy disappeared from sight before snapping back to reality.


    Jeremy, of course, didn''t care about the passerby''s reaction because he had an abundance of gemstones.


    A regr diamond wasn''t valuable to him at all.


    Moreover, selling that ordinary diamond to a jeweler wouldn''t get him many energy crystals or soul crystals.


    Following the road signs, Jeremy quickly arrived at the luxurious auction house at the center of themercial district.


    "Nocturne Auction House."


    Jeremy looked up at the grand auction house building. At the very top, the name "Nocturne Auction House" was prominently disyed.


    "The name is a bit odd. Naming it ''Nocturne'' in Nocturne City?"


    Jeremy muttered to himself as he walked towards the entrance of the auction house.


    At the entrance, he was immediately stopped by the auction house guards.


    "Do you have a pass?" One of the guards asked coldly, barely giving Jeremy a nce as he sized him up with a sidelong look.


    "I don''t have a pass, but I do have this."


    Jeremy said casually, pulling out a gemstone.


    The guard looked at Jeremy and let out a faint, mockingugh.


    "It seems you don''t quite understand where you are. This is the Nocturne Auction House! Only prominent figures can enter here. Just having a gemstone isn''t enough to get you inside." The guard said.


    Jeremy didn''t argue. Instead, he took out more gemstones.


    "What about these?" he asked.


    Seeing the bag of gemstones Jeremy presented, the guard hesitated slightly.


    "Your wealth is indeed substantial, but without a pass, I still can''t let you in." the guard admitted, acknowledging Jeremy''s considerable wealth.


    "So, where can I get a pass? Surely your auction house has a way for neers to obtain one, right?" Jeremy inquired.


    "Of course! If you wish to obtain a pass, I''ll take you there right away." the guard replied.


    Turning to whisper a few words to his fellow guards, the guard then led Jeremy to a building adjacent to the Nocturne Auction House.


    On the way, the guard gave Jeremy a word of caution.


    "What you''re doing is quite risky. Although Nocturne City is a bustling metropolis, always under the watch of Lord Sun,there are still dangers here.


    You should keep your gemstones well hidden. If some nefarious individual were to steal them, it would be a great loss."


    Jeremy nodded in understanding.


    "After all, I''ve just arrived in Nocturne City. I need to show my worth to gain respect and the opportunity to coborate with the city''s prominent figures."


    Jeremy said, fully aware that without proving his value, the city''s elite would not pay him any attention.


    Jeremy was looking to coborate with jewelers, who were undoubtedly some of Nocturne City''s most influential people.


    The guard seemed to agree with Jeremy''s perspective.


    He nodded and said, "You''re absolutely right. We''re here now. You just need to submit your application and demonstrate your worth."


    The guard pushed open the door to the hall for Jeremy.


    Understanding the guard''s implication, Jeremy pulled two gemstones from his pocket.


    "Thank you very much for guiding me."


    "It''s my duty. I wish you the best of luck!"


    The guard walked away, pleased with the gemstones.


    Jeremy stepped into the hall.


    The vast room was dimly lit, with a lone chandelier hanging in the center. On either side of the hall, there were faint outlines of several windows where staff seemed to be busy with their tasks.


    Jeremy needed to find the window where he could apply for a pass.


    Just then, a gentle and polite voice came from behind him.


    "Good day, sir. How may I assist you?"


    Jeremy turned to see a middle-aged man in formal attire standing there.


    "I am the manager of this hall. Since you are here, it means you have gained the approval of the Nocturne Auction House guards. Are you looking to obtain a pass for the auction house or apply for a job here?" the manager asked.


    "I want to obtain an auction house pass." Jeremy replied.


    "Very well, please follow me."


    The manager led Jeremy to the far end of the hall.


    Where a massive mahogany door stood tightly shut.


    The manager approached the door and knocked gently.


    Momentster, the sound of gears turning came from within, and after several seconds, the door slowly opened, revealing a small clown puppet within Jeremy''s view.


    "Who seeks an auction house pass?"


    The puppet asked in a raspy, peculiar voice.


    "This gentleman here." the manager said, gesturing towards Jeremy.


    "What is your name?" the puppet inquired.


    "Jeremy." he answered.


    "What is your purpose for obtaining an auction house pass?"


    "I wish to auction my gemstones and weapons." Jeremy exined.


    "Present the items you intend to auction." the puppet demanded.


    Jeremy pulled out two highly valuable gemstones and a rare weapon from his pocket.


    The hall manager''s eyes widened slightly in surprise at the sight of these precious items, clearly impressed by their quality.


    The puppet nced briefly at the items before handing over a pass.


    "Take this pass, and you may enter the auction house. Once inside, someone will guide you further."


    The hall manager respectfully handed the pass to Jeremy.


    Jeremy smiled and nodded, then handed a diamond to the manager.


    "You are a generous guest. I hope you have a pleasant experience at the auction house." the manager said with a smile, wishing Jeremy well.


    With the pass in hand, Jeremy returned to the entrance of the Nocturne Auction House.


    This time, he encountered no obstacles, the guards opened the door for him and watched as he entered the grand hall.


    The interior of the Nocturne Auction House was even more opulent than its exterior.


    The hall was adorned with various precious ceramics, and every seat was iid with gold threads. The staircase was covered with the finest silk.


    As soon as Jeremy stepped into the auction hall, a young attendant approached him.


    "Good day, sir. How may I assist you?" the attendant asked.


    "Certainly, I intend to auction my items at the auction house."


    Jeremy dered without hesitation. The attendant, without any dy, promptly escorted Jeremy to the elevator.


    "What items are you interested in auctioning?" the attendant inquired.


    "I wish to auction gemstones and rare weapons." Jeremy responded.


    "If you''re looking to auction gemstones, you should proceed to the auction room on the 16th floor. For ordinary rare weapons, you need to go to the 18th floor.


    However, if the weapons you intend to auction possess extraordinary powers, you must head to the 23rd floor. Only there can such powerful weapons receive an urate appraisal."


    The attendant exined, outlining the specific functions of the different floors within the auction house.


    After a moment of contemtion, Jeremy decided to head to the 16th floor first.


    In his view, the gemstone auction room was the ce where the majority of gemstone merchants would congregate.


    "For now, let''s go to the 16th floor. I''ll start by auctioning some gemstones. Once that is concluded, I''ll decide whether to proceed to the 18th or 23rd floor."


    Jeremy articted his decision. The attendant immediately pressed the button for the respective floor.


    To Jeremy''s astonishment, the elevator doors opened instantly as the button was pressed, revealing that they had arrived at the designated floor without any perceptible movement.


    "This is the 16th floor. You can directly approach the floor manager and express your intentions. He will assist you in arranging everything." the attendant said before swiftly departing.


    Jeremy didn''t even have the chance to offer a diamond as a tip.


    Upon stepping into the hall on the 16th floor, Jeremy immediately began to scrutinize the individuals present. He observed that many of them were attired in a manner characteristic of gemstone merchants.


    Nevertheless, Jeremy resolved to adhere to his initial n.


    He would first auction off a sufficiently valuable gemstone to capture everyone''s attention and ensure that the gemstone merchants remembered his name.


    Only then would he be able to secure the attention and respect required to forge meaningful coborations with them.

 Chapter 112: Auctioning the Sunstone

    "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, next up for auction is an incredibly rare gemstone." Announced the auction manager on the 16th floor of the Nocturne Auction House.


    In an unprecedented move, the auction manager had decided to introduce a gemstone into the auction lineup.


    His decision sessfully captured the attention of everyone present in the 16th-floor hall. All were eager to learn just how precious this gemstone truly was.


    The auction house manager opted not to reveal the answer immediately.


    Instead, he instructed two attendants to maneuver a cart, meticulously crafted entirely from gold, to the very center of the auction stage.


    With the exception of the spotlight illuminating the auction tform, all other lights in the hall were extinguished, plunging the room into darkness.


    "This gemstone has been provided by our new member, Mr. Jeremy."


    The auction managerannounced, first expressing his gratitude towards Jeremy. At that moment, a spotlight illuminated Jeremy''s position in the hall.


    Sitting at the periphery of the auction room, Jeremy found himself the focus of everyone''s gaze.


    He responded with a slight nod, maintaining aposed expression.


    "And now, the moment to unveil this precious gemstone has arrived!" Dered the auction manager. With a swift motion, he removed the silk cloth covering the gemstone, revealing an exceptionally radiant red gemstone to the audience.


    The moment the gemstone was revealed, an audible gasp rippled through the entire hall.


    The gemstone that Jeremy was auctioning off was far from ordinary.


    This particr gemstone, imbued with the divine power of the sun god, possessed an inherent divinity.


    Whether worn as an essory or embedded in a weapon, the gemstone''s formidable power could be fully unleashed.


    The auction manager remained unfazed by the collective gasp from the guests in the grand hall.


    Unperturbed, he continued his introduction of the crimson gemstone provided by Jeremy, delving into its unique attributes and storied provenance.


    "This gemstone is called the Sunstone. ording to its owner, Jeremy, this gemstone holds a measure of divinity.


    Whether worn or utilized in the crafting of weapons, the Sunstone serves as a powerful enhancement tool."


    Having provided the relevant details about the Sunstone, the auction manager then announced the starting bid.


    "This auction will differ from our previous ones. Traditionally, we have used gold coins as the standard currency for bids. However, for this auction, the starting price will be set in energy crystals or soul crystals."


    The auction manager, amidst the eager anticipation of the attendees, dered the initial bid price.


    "The starting bid for the Sunstone is 100,000 energy crystals or 1,000 soul crystals."


    The assembly in the grand hall did not immediately respond.


    Some potential buyers were absorbed in converting the starting bid into its equivalent in gold coins, while the majority were acutely aware that they simplycked the means to acquire the illustrious Sunstone.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, I trust you''ve had enough time to consider. Let the auction begin!"


    The auction manager dered, signaling the start of the bidding.


    In the initial two minutes following themencement of the auction, not a single bid was ced.


    Jeremy, feeling a tinge of apprehension, began to question whether the starting price he had set might have been overly ambitious.


    However, he quickly regained hisposure, reassured by the fact that the auction manager had not objected when he proposed the initial bid.


    Under normal circumstances, if his starting price had indeed been exorbitantly high, the auction manager would have likely issued a cautionary note.


    Thus, Jeremy resolved to remain patient and observe the proceedings a while longer. Perhaps those genuinely interested in acquiring the Sunstone were also grappling with their own hesitations.


    "I bid 110,000 energy crystals!"


    Sure enough, as Jeremy had predicted, a few minutester, an elegantly dressed elderly gentleman made the first bid.


    "Our first bid is 110,000 energy crystals. Any other offers?" the auction manager asked warmly.


    "I bid 120,000 energy crystals!"


    Awoman dressed in red from head to toe, sitting in the corner of the hall, ced the second bid.


    "I bid 140,000 energy crystals!"


    Announced a portly middle-aged man in luxurious attire from the front row, raising the bid by 20,000 energy crystals.


    "150,000 energy crystals!"


    The elderly gentleman who had initially ced a bid raised his offer once again.


    Seated in the front row, a corpulent middle-aged man cast a sharp, almost ruthless nce in the direction of the elderly bidder before escting his own offer.


    "I bid 200,000 energy crystals!" he dered.


    The price set forth by the corpulent middle-aged man elicited a collective gasp from everyone present in the hall.


    200,000 energy crystals was an exorbitant amount. Converted to gold coins, it could easily purchase the entire Nocturne Auction House building.


    The elderly gentleman who made the first bid shook his head, deciding not to continue. The woman in red remained silent as well, seemingly finding the price too steep.


    "200,000 energy crystals, going once!"


    "200,000 energy crystals, going twice!"


    "200,000 energy crystals, going three times!"


    "Congrattions, Mr. Hector! You have sessfully won the Sunstone!"


    The auction manager directly announced the name of the portly middle-aged man sitting in the front row.


    Apuse filled the room, though some in the crowd felt Hector had overpaid by purchasing the Sunstone for 200,000 energy crystals.


    "I just don''t get it. Why would such a shrewd businessman spend so much on a Sunstone?"


    "Even if the Sunstone possesses divine properties, it shouldn''t be worth that much. Is he just trying to burn through his money?"


    "I find it not only peculiar that Hector behaves so oddly, but also that this man named Jeremy is quite strange. He actually uses energy crystals as the unit for setting prices."


    Neither Jeremy nor Hector paid the slightest heed to the murmurs and discussions that rippled through the hall.


    After the auction concluded, the auction manager approached Jeremy directly.


    "ording to our auction house''s rules, the buyer and seller need to meet once a deal is closed. If it''s inconvenient for you, just let me know, and I''ll handle it."


    Jeremy shook his head.


    He didn''t need the auction manager to turn down Hector''s request for a meeting. After all, his goal was to find a gemstone merchant capable of purchasing his gemstones and weapons.


    "Actually, I''d very much like to meet Mr. Hector. Please arrange it."


    The auction manager nodded and left the room.


    A few minutester, Hector appeared at the door to Jeremy''s room.


    "You must be Mr. Hector. I have to admit, you have excellent taste! Buying the Sunstone for 200,000 energy crystals is absolutely worth it."


    Jeremy said with a smile.


    Hector smiled and nodded in return.


    "I spent 200,000 energy crystals not merely to acquire the Sunstone. Another objective was to meet you. Anyone capable of obtaining the Sunstone is certainly not ordinary."


    Hector said, scrutinizing Jeremy as if trying to discern something hidden.


    Jeremy, brimming with confidence, replied, "Have you discerned anything from me? What exactly makes me so unusual?"


    "Everything about you is extraordinary. Could you tell me how you came into possession of the Sunstone?" Hector queried as he made his way into the room, casually taking a seat.


    Jeremy recounted in detail the story of how he had obtained the Sunstone.


    Satisfied, Hector nodded, "I can now confirm you weren''t lying. I assume you have more gemstones, don''t you? You must have found other gemstones during your quest for the Sunstone."


    "Indeed, I possess more gemstones. However, the question is, do you have the means to purchase all of them?"


    Jeremy''s query was met with heartyughter from Hector.


    "You''re quite amusing, truly a neer to Nocturne City! Haven''t you heard of me, Hector? I am the most financially powerful gemstone merchant in Nocturne City.


    No matter how many gemstones you have, I have the capital to buy them. My only concern is the quality of your gemstones, I don''t deal in substandard goods."


    With Hector''s confident affirmation, Jeremy had no further reservations.


    He promptly retrieved a multitude of gemstones from his storage space.


    Hector was momentarily stunned by the sheer volume of gemstones Jeremy possessed. What Jeremy said next left him at a loss for words.


    "These gemstones are merely a small fraction of what I own. However, you needn''t worry, I don''t expect you to buy them all, as I''ve already agreed to coborate with other gemstone merchants. Rest assured, the remaining gemstones are abundant enough to ensure highly lucrative returns from our partnership.


    My only requirement is that you promptly provide me with energy crystals and soul crystals. Can you agree to that?"


    Hector had never encountered a trading partner quite like Jeremy before.


    After a moment of contemtive silence, he rose from his chair and extended his chubby hand towards Jeremy.


    "I agree to all your terms! I hope our coboration will be exceptionally smooth. We will undoubtedly achieve mutual benefits and substantial profits."


    Jeremy was thoroughly satisfied with Hector''s response. He shook hands with him, thereby sealing the deal.

 Chapter 113: Exercising Even Greater Caution

    After finalizing the details of their coboration, Jeremy and Hector returned to their hotel amodations.


    Just as Jeremy reached the entrance of the hotel, he inadvertently collided with a guard from the Heber caravan.


    "Master Jeremy, you''re finally back. Heber has been searching for you for quite some time!" the guard eximed urgently upon seeing Jeremy.


    "Heber has been looking for me for a long time? I just left not too long ago."


    Jeremy nced at the sky deliberately. He had set out in the early morning, and now the sun was still high in the sky. This implied that he had been away for no more than half a day.


    "You''ve been gone for almost an entire day." the guard reminded Jeremy.


    It was at this moment that Jeremy suddenly realized that the sun in Nocturne City never sets.


    This revtion meant that relying on the sun''s position to gauge the passage of time was utterly inurate.


    "This indeed was my oversight. Where exactly is Heber now? I should go find him."


    "Heber is in his own room. He instructed me to stand guard here and to direct you to him immediately upon your arrival."


    Having received the pertinent information, Jeremy swiftly made his way to Heber''s room.


    "Why are you in such a hurry to find me?"


    Jeremy asked in a calm tone as he pushed the door open and walked in.


    "I''m in a rush to find you because of the coboration with the gemstone merchants!" Heber''s expression was tinged with frustration.


    He felt as though he was bending over backwards to offer Jeremy assistance.


    Yet, Jeremy appeared utterly unappreciative of his efforts.


    "I''ve already discussed matters with a friend of mine. He will handle the purchase of a portion of your gemstones. However, he is not among the most sessful gemstone merchants, so we still need to coborate with other merchants."


    "I''ll take you to themercial district''s hub where the gemstone merchants gather. There, we can thoroughly discuss the coboration with them."


    Heber said while packing his things and addressing Jeremy simultaneously.


    "When you meet those gemstone merchants, you must exercise even greater caution than before. These gemstone merchants are extremely difficult to deal with. If they detect any ws or inconsistencies, they are highly likely to refuse to coborate with us. We must avoid such a scenario at all costs."


    Jeremy did not interrupt Heber, he simply leaned against the doorframe, smiling as he watched Heber.


    Jeremy''s nonchnt attitude sessfully irked Heber.


    "What on earth are you doing?! Didn''t I say I would take you to meet those gemstone merchants?! Why aren''t you taking action?!"


    With a smile still on his face, Jeremy replied, "Actually, I''ve already sorted everything out. We don''t need to seek out other gemstone merchants anymore."


    Jeremy''s words left Heber momentarily at a loss for how to vent his anger.


    If Jeremy had indeed found a gemstone merchant, then all of Heber''s efforts would have been in vain.


    Heber felt somewhat disheartened and put everything he was holding down.


    After a moment of hesitation, he directly asked Jeremy, "Which gemstone merchants have you found? Where did you negotiate the coborations with them?"


    "I found an exceedingly wealthy gemstone merchant at the Nocturne Auction House in themercial district center. This affluent merchant has the capacity to purchase the vast majority of my gemstones." Jeremy replied.


    The gemstone merchant Jack, whom we previously encountered, along with your friend, can handle purchasing the remaining gemstones. This way, all of my gemstones will be sold.


    And I can just wait for them to bring over the energy crystals and soul crystals."


    Jeremyid out his n in full detail.


    After patiently listening to everything, Heber asked, "What is the name of the exceedingly wealthy gemstone merchant you mentioned?"


    "His name is Hector." Jeremy exined, "He purchased the Sunstone for the staggering sum of 200,000 energy crystals. It was precisely because of this transaction that I made contact with him."


    Upon hearing Hector''s name, Heber''s expression seemed to grow exceedinglyplex andyered, reflecting a myriad of emotions.


    "Do you know this person? What kind of individual is he?" Jeremy inquired.


    Faced with Jeremy''s question, Heber finally decided to share his impression of Hector.


    "Not only am I acquainted with Hector." Heber borated, "but in fact, every itinerant trader in Nocturne City is familiar with him. You are absolutely right, he is indeed an exceedingly wealthy gemstone merchant.


    His immense wealth can be attributed to his deep-seated coborations with us itinerant traders. We take on the responsibility of bringing precious resources from outside Nocturne City into its confines, while he takes on the task of purchasing these resources from us and subsequently selling them to those in need."


    "That sounds like a perfectly normal business model. Why did your expression be soplex when you mentioned Hector?"


    Jeremy found nothing problematic with Hector''s approach.


    After all, itinerant merchants couldn''t sell all their goods by themselves. Hector essentially provided an additional channel for them.


    "You''re right, it does sound like a normal business model. The problem is that once Hector became wealthy, his attitude towards the itinerant merchants worsened considerably."


    Heber sighed and continued.


    "Initially, Hector would buy everything the itinerant merchants brought in. But after achieving sess and amassing significant wealth, he started to cherry-pick.


    If the goods weren''t extremely valuable, Hector wouldn''t buy them. Moreover, he would even team up with other merchants to drive itinerant merchants out."


    Heber''s anger was palpable as he recounted this.


    It seemed Hector had once driven Heber out of Nocturne City.


    "So, I want to warn you that Hector is a profit-driven individual. If your gemstones can bring him profit, he will cooperate smoothly with you. But if there''s any issue with the quality of your gemstones, he will abandon you without hesitation. If you harm his interests in any way during the coboration, he will retaliate harshly."


    Heber hoped that through these words, he could make Jeremyprehend the substantial risks involved in coborating with Hector.


    However, it appeared that Jeremy remained indifferent to these potential dangers.


    "I understand everything you''ve said. But to achieve my goals, I must take some risks. If I refuse to coborate with Hector, he will surely retaliate against me.


    At that point, other gemstone merchants might not dare to buy my gemstones. So, we have no choice but to proceed with the original n."


    Heber was certainly aware that what Jeremy had articted was, in fact, devoid of any issues.


    After a deep sigh, he conceded, "You''re right, all we can do is exercise even greater caution. We must be more meticulous in our dealings with Hector."


    Jeremy agreed with Heber''s advice.


    Therefore, he decided to divide his gemstones into three parts.


    The first part consists of gemstones that are not of the highest quality but can still yield some profit. These gemstones will all be sold to Jack. Among the three gemstone merchants, Jack is the least connected to Jeremy.


    The second part includes gemstones of good quality, though not as precious as one might imagine. Due to theirrge quantity, these gemstones will all be sold to Hector.


    Given that the quality is sufficiently high, Hector is unlikely to cause trouble for Jeremy over quality issues.


    The final part consists of gemstones that are both of excellent quality and highly valuable. These will all be entrusted to Heber''s friend.


    His friend''s auction house operates privately, which means that the auction of these gemstones will be conducted discreetly.


    Jeremy does not want everyone to know that he possesses extremely valuable gemstones.


    He has already found enough gemstone merchants to coborate with and does not need to gain more notoriety.


    As Jeremy divided the gemstones into three parts, Heber assisted him, hoping to purchase some of the precious gemstones from Jeremy himself.


    It took the entire day for Jeremy and Heber to finally sort all the gemstones.


    The next step was to approach the three gemstone merchants for transactions. Jeremy needed to go to Hector first because only Hector had the capability to gather a substantial number of energy crystals in a short period.


    Neither Heber''s friend nor Jack had the capacity to amass arge quantity of energy crystals quickly.


    Thus, the transaction with the other merchants had to be postponed for two to three days¡ªa dy Jeremy believed the ss change goddess Janna could ill afford.


    Therefore, Jeremy was eager to obtain a sufficient quantity of energy crystals today. If these energy crystals could restore the goddess Janna''s condition, he might be able to swiftly depart from this instance.


    As Jeremy and Heber,den with gemstones, made their way to Hector''s location, Hector was simultaneously engaged in a discussion with his subordinates about the impending deal with Jeremy. Although Hector had already consented to cooperate with Jeremy, he remained deeply suspicious, believing that Jeremy was a man enveloped in a shroud of secrets.


    What perplexed Hector the most was why Jeremy would opt for energy crystals instead of gold coins. After all, aren''t energy crystals more cumbersome to carry and storepared to gold coins?

 Chapter 114: Countering with Stratagem

    Inside the opulent room, Hector paced back and forth, leaning on his gemstone-encrusted cane.


    "Boss, do you genuinely believe that Jeremy is hiding a greater secret? Perhaps he''s simply been fortunate, which is why he has managed to acquire so many gemstones." said his butler, bowing slightly and speaking in a deferential tone from across the room.


    Hector halted abruptly and struck the floor forcefully with his cane.


    "You fool! If it were merely luck, how could he possibly obtain such a vast quantity of gemstones? Do you think my luck isn''t good enough? Why haven''t I acquired that many gemstones, then?"


    "But Boss, you are already the most sessful businessman. And being able to coborate with him brings you substantial profits, doesn''t it?"


    Upon hearing this, Hector sat back in his chair.


    "Indeed, partnering with him has yielded considerable profits for me. However, if I uncover the secret behind his sess, I wouldn''t need him to supply me with gemstones."


    Hector had always believed that Jeremy''s impressive gemstone acquisitions were due to some hidden benefactor.


    Hector aspired to establish direct contact with the person backing Jeremy. This way, he could bypass Jeremy entirely and im the profits Jeremy was making for himself.


    "I wonder how the investigations by those we sent out are progressing. Jeremy should have arrived in Nocturne City just yesterday, tracking his movements within the city shouldn''t be too difficult."


    In his quest to uncover the secrets behind Dawn, Hector had dispatched a considerable number of agents to conduct the investigation.


    Just as Hector finished speaking, a knock echoed from the door.


    "Boss, it seems the investigators we dispatched have returned." Hector''s butler reminded him.


    Hector nodded, "Let them in!"


    Two men d in ck entered Hector''s room immediately thereafter.


    The leader of the duo promptly began to ry the intelligence they had gathered.


    "As you anticipated, Boss, Jeremy arrived in Nocturne City with Heber''s entourage. Besides the two of them, there was also a senior alchemist in Heber''s caravan.


    The rest of the group consisted of rather unremarkable individuals. Unfortunately, we haven''t been able to ascertain where Jeremy acquired such a vast quantity of gemstones.


    All we know is that they passed through Dawn City, which recently experienced a rebellion.


    It''s possible that Jeremy''s gemstones are part of the city lord''s treasure." the man in ck reported.


    Upon hearing this, Hector sprang up from his seat, visibly agitated.


    "That must be it! How else could someone as ordinary as Jeremy possess so many gemstones? Only the city lord of Dawn City could amass such a fortune!"


    Hector interrupted the man in ck, who remained unperturbed, knowing Hector''s financial generosity.


    "Continue gathering intelligence rted to Jeremy, and deploy additional agents to investigate the current situation in Dawn City." Hector instructed, tossing a pouch of gold coins to the man in ck.Who promptly exited the room.


    "It seems I''m on the verge of uncovering Jeremy''s secret. If it''s indeed the city lord''s treasure, I will personally excavate it myself!"


    Hector eximed jubntly, discarding his cane in his excitement.


    "Jeremy should be arriving soon. Make sure everything is ready to receive him. Have you procured the energy crystals I requested?" Hector queried his butler.


    "Yes, Boss! The energy crystals have been acquired in full. However, the soul crystals were too difficult to obtain, so I didn''t pursue them." the butler responded hastily.


    "That''s not a major issue. Our agreement with Jeremy stiptes the exchange can be done with either energy crystals or soul crystals. As long as we have enough energy crystals, it will suffice." Hector reassured, preparing to bathe and change his clothes.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy and Heber had already arrived at the entrance of Hector''s luxurious residence.


    "Our boss has been eagerly awaiting your arrival. Please follow me." The servant said, leading Jeremy and Heber into the opulent mansion.


    Despite Jeremy''s extensive experience, he couldn''t help but be awestruck by thevish decor adorned with gemstones.


    "No wonder he''s the wealthiest gemstone merchant, even his home is adorned with so many gemstones!"


    Jeremy remarked. However, Heber, standing next to him, appeared visibly uneasy, seemingly harboring doubts about their meeting with Hector.


    At that moment, Hector emerged from an adjacent room. Upon seeing Jeremy and Heber, an exaggerated smile spread across his face.


    "My precious gemstone, you''ve finally arrived!" Hector eximed, enveloping Jeremy in arge embrace.


    Jeremy, somewhat repulsed by the embrace, couldn''t hide his difort. After all, Hector was a corpulent middle-aged man.


    "Surely you''ve brought enough gemstones this time, haven''t you? I have all the energy crystals prepared and ready for the transaction."


    Hector said, his eyes then shifting towards Heber.


    "It''s been a while. I thought you had retired from the merchant business! Why haven''t we coborated recently?" Hector inquired.


    With a smile, Heber responded, "I haven''t been to Nocturne City for quite some time. Lately, I''ve been managing other trade routes, which is why we haven''t been able to work together."


    Heber and Hector didn''t engage in muchmunication.


    It seemed as though there was a palpable sense of distrust or unease between them.


    Nevertheless, since the primary transaction was between Jeremy and Hector, Heber''s role was merely to assist Jeremy as needed.


    "I''ve brought all the gemstones. Where would you like to inspect them?"


    Jeremy asked directly.


    Hector gestured to his servant, who led them to the grand hall. "To ensure fairness, we''ll inspect the gemstones right here. This way, neither of us can resort to any deceit."


    Jeremy found Hector''s arrangement reasonable and had no objections.


    In fact, he appreciated the transparent approach.


    However, just as Hector''s servant began inspecting the gemstones, Jeremy received a prompt from The Eye of Omniscience.


    [Note: Hector ns to personally excavate the ruins of Dawn City.]


    At that moment, a fleeting expression of surprise crossed Jeremy''s face.


    Though the notewas sinct, it conveyed a wealth of information to Jeremy.


    Ordinarily, Hector''s intention to excavate the ruins of Dawn City would seem unrted to Jeremy. However, the prompt from The Eye of Omniscience indicated otherwise, suggesting a connection between Hector''s actions and Jeremy.


    After a moment of contemtion, Jeremy discerned the crux of the matter.


    Hector likely harbored doubts about Jeremy''s ability to have acquired such an extensive collection of gemstones on his own.


    It stood to reason that after their interaction, Hector would dispatch agents to investigate Jeremy.


    During this investigation, Hector would inevitably uncover that Jeremy had passed through Dawn City. Coupling this with the recent news of the rebellion and subsequent destruction of Dawn City, Hector would presumably conclude that Jeremy''s gemstones were looted from the ruins of Dawn City.


    This realization made Jeremy understand the gravity of the situation and the potentialplications that could arise from Hector''s misconceptions.


    Upon unraveling the entire situation, Jeremy resolved to turn the tables in his favor. He believed that further misleading Hector would be advantageous, as it would divert Hector''s attention towards Dawn City, thereby allowing Jeremy to proceed with his own ns more smoothly.


    It was certainly more beneficial than having Hector''s scrutiny focused solely on him.


    Midway through the gemstone inspection, Jeremy abruptly addressed Hector.


    "I wonder if you are satisfied with the quality of these gemstones? If not, I can arrange for a batch of even more precious gemstones to be brought to you."


    Jeremy''s statement caught both Hector and Heber off guard.


    Hector almost immediately concluded that Jeremy''s confidence stemmed from his ability to re-enter the ruins of Dawn City.


    On the other hand, Heber surmised that Jeremy intended to offer Hector the more valuable gemstones that were originally meant for his own allies.


    The divergence in their thoughts led to differing reactions.


    Hector, wearing a smile yet burdened with contemtion, inquired, "Why didn''t you bring those higher-quality gemstones directly?"


    Jeremy''s strategic maneuver had effectively nted seeds of curiosity and confusion, setting the stage for his next move.


    Jeremy hesitated before speaking, "After all, in Nocturne City, I am still rtively powerless. If I were to bring all these gemstones at once, I would certainly be a target for nefarious individuals."


    Hector, in reality, did not believe a single word of Jeremy''s exnation.


    However, in order to maintain the possibility of future coboration, he refrained from probing further. Instead, he pretended to watch his servant continue the inspection of the gemstones.


    Heber, on the other hand, was now looking at Jeremy with apletely changed expression.


    He was utterly perplexed by Jeremy''s actions. He had a nagging suspicion that Jeremy had a hidden agenda, but he could not fathom what it might be.


    This uncertainty rendered Heber increasingly silent.


    The room fell into a tense quiet, punctuated only by the sounds of Hector''s servant meticulously examining the gemstones. Each of the three men was lost in their own thoughts, contemting their next strategic move.


    Approximately half an hourter, Hector''s servantpleted the inspection and confirmed that there were no issues with the gemstones. With this assurance, Hector proceeded to provide Jeremy with the energy crystals as agreed.

 Chapter 115: Diverting Hectors Attention

    After concluding their transaction, Jeremy and Hector bid each other farewell with great enthusiasm. Hector even escorted Jeremy and Heber to the door of his luxurious vi.


    "It has been an honor to coborate with you both. I will have another batch of energy crystals ready in three days. At that point, we can proceed with our next gemstone exchange."


    Hector said warmly, his smile unwavering as he looked at Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded affirmatively. "Of course, there''s no problem at all. As soon as you have the energy crystals prepared, I will bring the gemstones for our exchange."


    Having finalized the time for their next transaction, Jeremy and Heber quickly departed.


    After all, Jeremy still needed to apany Heber to meet Heber''s gemstone merchant friend for another deal.


    Hector watched Jeremy and Heber leave his sight, his eyes following them until they vanished from view. The moment they disappeared, the smile on his face faded away simultaneously.


    "Immediately inform the scouts to head to Dawn City at once, without any dys!"


    With an icy tone, Hector addressed his butler standing behind him.


    The butler bowed respectfully, then turned to ry Hector''smand.


    Meanwhile, on Jeremy and Heber''s side, once they were out of Hector''s line of sight, their expressions were no longer as feigned as before.


    The smile on Jeremy''s face hadpletely vanished.


    Through his conversation with Hector, Jeremy had confirmed that Hector did not trust him at all.


    Heber, visibly worried, turned to Jeremy and said, "Hector has probably already realized you''re lying to him. He might be secretly nning something against you."


    Heber sighed as he spoke, feeling that Jeremy had exposed too much information during their exchange with Hector.


    "I believe you''ve divulged too much information to Hector." Heber remarked, his voice tinged with concern. "Hector is bound to think that a significant portion of the gemstones isn''t under your direct control."


    Heber was deeply worried that Jeremy''s gemstones might be seized by Hector.


    After all, in a certain sense, Jeremy''s gemstones were crucial to Heber as well.


    Hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Jeremy''s face.


    "So, what do you think Hector will do?"


    "He will thoroughly investigate all your information and then search for the ces where you are most likely hiding the gemstones." Heber responded without hesitation, outlining what he believed Hector''s actions would be.


    "Isn''t that beneficial to us?"


    Jeremy''s rhetorical question left Heber slightly startled.


    "Do you want Hector constantly monitoring our actions? My use of gemstones to exchange for energy crystals has already aroused his suspicion. I need to divert his attention elsewhere."


    Jeremy exined, a confident smile finally appearing on his face.


    "Your concerns are not unfounded, and I can assure you that Hector has already obtained a substantial amount of information about me. He knows that I have been to Dawn City before."


    "He also knows that Dawn City underwent a rebellion and was reduced to ruins after a fierce battle. He will undoubtedly believe that the gemstones in my possession were obtained from there."


    Jeremy began to speak, deliberately pausing for effect.


    He wanted to test Heber, to see if Heber could anticipate Hector''s next move.


    Picking up on Jeremy''s cue, Heber continued the conversation.


    "If that''s the case, Hector will certainly send people to the ruins of Dawn City as quickly as possible. If he finds gemstones there, he''ll focus all his attention on that site."


    "Exactly! That''s why I intentionally revealed more information. As long as his attention is diverted to the ruins of Dawn City, our operations in Nocturne City will proceed without Hector''s interference. After all, Hector will go to great lengths to ensure we don''t notice his actions."


    Jeremy affirmed, his strategy now clear to Heber.


    Heber couldn''t help but express his admiration. "I always thought that, as an experienced merchant, I was proficient at handling rtions with others.


    I never imagined a young man like you could think even moreprehensively than I do. It seems I must admit that some people''s intelligence is simply far superior."


    Heber''s remark elicited a slight tinge of awkwardness from Jeremy.


    The reason Jeremy could maneuver so adeptly was due to the guidance he received from The Eye of Omniscience. Without its prompt about Hector''s imminent investigation of Dawn City''s ruins, he wouldn''t have been able to respond so perfectly.


    Thus, Jeremy opted to deftly steer the conversation in a different direction.


    "Your friend should have the energy crystals ready by now, right? I don''t want to waste the time we''ve saved from Hector on dys with your friend."


    Heber nodded affirmatively.


    "I can assure you, he has everything prepared. He''s a very reliable gemstone merchant. Although he isn''t as wealthy as Hector, his integrity far surpasses Hector''s."


    Jeremy felt reassured by Heber''s guarantee.


    The two men took approximately half an hour to finally arrive at Heber''s friend''s auction house, aptly named the ''Gemstone Auction House.''


    "Truly a fitting name for an auction house specializing in gemstones! An establishment auctioning gemstones should indeed be named after them." Jeremy remarked upon seeing the name.


    The Gemstone Auction House was considerably smaller in scalepared to the Nocturne Auction House, with a much simpler facade.


    Had Heber not brought Jeremy here, he would never have believed that this unassuming ce belonged to a reputable gemstone merchant.


    As they reached the entrance, a young attendant approached them.


    "Are you Mr. Jeremy and Mr. Heber?"


    Both Jeremy and Heber nodded.


    The attendant smiled and promptly said, "The boss is already waiting for you in the VIP lounge. Please follow me."


    Under the attendant''s guidance, Jeremy and Heber entered the interior of the Gemstone Auction House.


    Inside, the decor was finally luxurious, and Jeremy realized that the simple exterior was merely a fa?ade.


    The three of them traversed the entire auction house and arrived at the innermost VIP lounge.


    The attendant knocked on the door, which was immediately opened from the inside.


    A middle-aged man with a monocle, dressed in a deep blue evening suit, stepped out with a smile. The moment he saw Heber, he opened his arms wide and gave Heber a big hug.


    "We just met yesterday, there''s no need for such an enthusiastic greeting!" Heber said, slightly pushing the man away with a hint of disdain.


    "Let me introduce you both properly."


    Heber said, ncing at Jeremy. "This is Mr. Mann, the gemstone merchant friend I mentioned to you."


    Jeremy extended his right hand toward Mann, who reciprocated, and they shook hands.


    "As for Jeremy, there''s no need for further introduction. I already briefed Mann about you yesterday." Heber added.


    Heber had already introduced Jeremy to Mann the previous day, so there was no need to waste any more time on pleasantries today.


    "Our time is extremely valuable. Since we are all familiar with each other now, let''s proceed with the transaction immediately!"


    Heber, being the most anxious among the three, urged them on.


    Heber''s urgency was driven by his desire to earn amission from the transaction between Jeremy and Mann.


    "How many energy crystals can you provide? The gemstones I brought this time are more than sufficient." Jeremy stated confidently to Mann.


    Rather than answering directly, Mann invited Jeremy and Heber into the VIP lounge.


    The moment they stepped inside, both Jeremy and Heber were stunned.


    The spacious VIP room was filled with numerous energy crystals. It was known that a single energy crystal could only emit a faint glow. However, the light emitted by so many energy crystals gathered together was even somewhat dazzling.


    "How many gemstones can these energy crystals get me?"


    Mann asked with a smile.


    Jeremy hesitated briefly before taking out a small pouch of gemstones from his storage.


    He selected a few from the pouch and handed the rest to Mann.


    "I believe these gemstones should be more than enough to purchase all the energy crystals here. Take a look and see if they suffice."


    Jeremy''s approach slightly irked Mann.


    In Mann''s view, he had shown great sincerity by amassing such a significant number of energy crystals in the shortest possible time.


    Jeremy, in return, should have offered the entire pouch of gemstones. Instead, Jeremy had withheld a few.


    Despite his initial displeasure, Mann nced at the gemstones in the pouch.


    With just one look, his annoyance vanished entirely.


    Mann was now certain that the pouch of gemstones Jeremy had given him was more than enough to buy all the energy crystals, perhaps even more than that.


    "In fact, the gemstones you''ve provided are sufficient to exchange for all the energy crystals here and even more. It seems I''ve prepared too few energy crystals. I''ll make sure topensate for the shortfall in our next transaction." Mann admitted.


    Jeremy shook his head. "That won''t be necessary. Just ensure that in our next transaction, you provide me with the same amount of energy crystals."


    What Jeremy needed was a stable supply of arge quantity of energy crystals. Allowing Mann to gain a slight advantage in this transaction was of little consequence to him.

 Chapter 116: The Suns Attention

    Having concluded his transactions with Hector and Mann, Jeremy finally returned to his hotel amodations.


    It was there that hepleted yet another deal, this time with Jack, the first gemstone trader he had encountered in Nocturne City.


    Jack was thoroughly satisfied with the gemstones Jeremy provided. Much like Hector, Jack was slightly taken aback by Jeremy''s need for energy crystals.


    However, Jack did not pursue the matter any further, as he deemed it irrelevant to his own concerns.


    "You are indeed an excellent trading partner. I should be able to bring more energy crystals in about two days.


    The remaining gemstones you have should be sufficient for the exchange, right?"


    Jack, being a well-connected gemstone trader, was naturally privy to a wealth of information.


    Despite Hector and Mann''s efforts to maintain a level of confidentiality, Jack had still caught wind of their ongoing transactions with Jeremy.


    Jack needed to confirm whether Jeremy''s remaining gemstones would be enough to trade for all the energy crystals he intended to acquire.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy responded.


    "You can rest assured! I have an abundant supply of gemstones. No matter how many energy crystals you find, I will be able to trade for all of them."


    "That''s great! It has been a pleasure doing business with you!"


    With their transactionpleted, Jack chose to depart immediately.


    After all, as a gemstone trader, he had numerous other matters to attend to.


    Moreover, acquiring a sufficient quantity of energy crystals in a short period was no easy task.


    Once Jeremy had amassed enough energy crystals, he returned to his room.


    First, he sealed off the entire room to ensure he would not be disturbed by anyone.


    Then, he opened a portal that led directly to the location of the ss Change Goddess, Janna.


    In the seemingly endless darkness, the ss Change Goddess Janna stared absentmindedly at the glowing points of light above her.


    Although her condition had improved somewhat after obtaining a certain amount of energy crystals, she was still trapped in the prison prepared for her by the Fool.


    At that very moment, a burst of white light suddenly appeared not far from the ss Change Goddess Janna.


    Emerging from the radiant glow was Jeremy.


    "I''ve brought you an abundant supply of energy crystals this time, they should significantly restore your strength."


    Jeremy dered with a confident smile.After speaking, he promptly retrieved all the energy crystals from his storage space and tossed them out in one go. The numerous energy crystals immediately surrounded the ss Change Goddess Janna.


    "Are you nning to build another cage for me with these energy crystals? The prison crafted by the Fool is already secure enough!" Janna said, her tone tinged with a trace of anger.


    Jeremy, however, remained unfazed, fully aware that Janna had no choice but to cooperate with him. "My intentions are quite simple. I hope you can break free from the Fool''s prison as soon as possible. So, I specifically created a new cage with energy crystals. Perhaps, in the process of breaking this cage, you might find a way to escape the Fool''s imprisonment."


    He exined, still smiling.


    Janna rolled her eyes at Jeremy.


    But chose not to waste any more time. She began absorbing the energy from the crystals into her body.


    As each energy crystal transformed into pure energy and entered Janna''s being.


    Her condition visibly improved.


    The countless small wounds that had marred her body began to heal, and the halo signifying her deity status gradually reappeared around her.


    Jeremy observed the transformation closely, trying to gauge the extent of Janna''s recovery.


    While watching her absorb the energy crystals, Jeremy noticed with the corner of his eye that the crystals, when piled together, emitted not only a radiant glow but also a faint, elusive mist.


    Drawn by curiosity, Jeremy approached the heap of energy crystals.


    He extended his hand through the ethereal mist, which seemed to be attracted to him, encircling his hand.


    As Jeremy''s eyes fixed on the mist swirling around his hand, he felt as though he suddenly gained knowledge he had never possessed before.


    The knowledge seemed to flood into Jeremy''s mind all at once.


    "It appears that acquiring such a vast amount of energy crystals has granted you some degree of Divine Consciousness."


    The voice of the ss Change Goddess Janna echoed from a short distance away.


    "Such arge quantity of energy crystals is enough to trigger a transformation in the soul''s power. Even though you haven''t absorbed these crystals to enhance your own strength, you have still been influenced by their essence." she continued.


    From Jeremy''s perspective, Janna seemed to have fully regained her optimal state.


    Her tone was noticeably more rxed and confident than before.


    "You''ve already stepped one foot into the domain of divinity. If you continue to refine your skills and levels, you might soon be a deity, just like me."


    The words of the ss Change Goddess Janna left Jeremy not only slightly astonished but also even more exhrated.


    The prospect of bing a deity meant that Jeremy could potentially vanquish both the "Sun" within the instance and the ever-scheming "Fool" and "The Hanged Man."


    The ss Change Goddess Janna seemed to have discerned Jeremy''s thoughts.


    With a faint, knowing smile gracing her lips, she spoke.


    "It is somewhat premature for you to be contemting such matters. Although you have indeed acquired a measure of Divine Consciousness, it is still insufficient to elevate you to the status of a true deity.


    Even if you were to ascend to true godhood, vanquishing those legendary deities would still demand an immense amount of effort. What you need to focus on now is finding a way to extricate yourself from the current crisis you face."


    Jeremy quickly regained hisposure.


    In his view, shouldn''t the responsibility of oveing such crises fall on the one with the power to act?


    "I cannot leave the instance. Given that your state appears to be nearly restored, is it possible for you to help mypanions and me escape the instance?" he inquired.


    Janna shook her head slightly.


    "Although my condition seems optimal, my actual power is still significantly diminished. I need more energy crystals to amass enough strength to facilitate your escape from the instance."


    Jeremy felt a twinge of disappointment.


    But quickly rallied his spirits. After all, he had never expected that the energy crystals he provided this time would be sufficient for Janna to aid in their escape.


    "In that case, I''ll return to Nocturne City immediately. I''ll bring you more energy crystals in three days."he resolved.


    Having said that, Jeremy prepared to leave immediately.


    However, the ss Change Goddess Janna quickly stopped him.


    "I haven''t finished speaking yet. The crisis you''re facing isn''t merely about escaping the instance. The final boss within the instance, the ''Sun,'' has already taken notice of you."


    Janna''s words left Jeremy somewhat astonished.


    "How is that possible? Since entering Nocturne City, I''ve never encountered the Sun or his minions. The only individuals I''ve seen are gemstone merchants."


    "But that doesn''t mean the Sun hasn''t detected you. The energy crystals you''ve been collecting contain traces of the Sun''s power."


    Janna exined. She casually picked up one of the energy crystals.


    And let it float in front of Jeremy.


    Upon closer inspection, Jeremy finally noticed the sr radiance flickering within the crystal.


    "So, what do you suggest I do now?" Jeremy asked.


    "You need to hide yourself, at least for the short term. Don''t allow the Sun or his minions to find you. As long as you can bring me more energy crystals, my strength should recover quickly." Janna advised, waving her hand dismissively.


    "I''ve said all I needed to. The rest is up to you."


    Jeremy nodded and promptly returned to Nocturne City.


    Back in his room, he copsed onto his bed, furrowing his brows as he pondered his next steps.


    "If I am to hide myself, then how can I conduct transactions with those gemstone merchants? Without obtaining energy crystals, the ss Change Goddess Janna won''t be able to help me escape the instance.


    Yet, if I engage in these transactions, it will inevitably draw the attention of the Sun and his minions. This is a ssic catch-22! There seems to be no perfect solution."


    Jeremy mused for a while before abandoning his thoughts altogether.


    Since there was no ideal resolution, it was clear he would have to take it one step at a time.


    Even if the Sun and his minions had already noticed him, Jeremy felt confident that his current strength would allow him to put up a formidable fight.


    "I won''t be easily defeated, no matter what!


    Even if the Sun himself descends upon Nocturne City, I can still use my skills to outmaneuver him. My priority should be to gather as many energy crystals as quickly as possible."he resolved.


    With this final decision, Jeremy stepped out of his room.


    He sought out Heber once more, no longer content with dealing with just three gemstone merchants. He hoped Heber could help him find more gemstone merchants.


    As this would be the fastest way to amass enough energy crystals to restore the ss Change Goddess Janna to her full strength.

 Chapter 117: Following the Suns Eternal Light

    At the pinnacle of the grand tower situated in the heart of Nocturne City''s administrative district.Four elders, d in pure white holy robes, were gathered around the radiant sun at the center of the room, engaged in solemn prayer.


    These four venerable figures wielded the highest authority within Nocturne City.


    They were the servants of the Sun, devoted to following the eternal light for life.


    During their prayers, one of the elders seemed to hear the shining sun whispering some information to him. Focusing his mind, he faintly discerned a message.


    "The enemy of the deity is concealed within Nocturne City, find him swiftly!"


    The elder who received the sun''s revtion disyed a mix of joy and concern on his face.


    The joy stemmed from finally receiving the sun''s enlightenment.


    Signifying that he was the most favored and closest to the sun among the saints.


    However, the mention of the deity''s enemy.


    Within Nocturne City caused him some anxiety.


    He slowly rose from the ground and, in a trembling yet resolute voice, dered, "The great Sun has granted me a revtion. He hasmanded me to seek out the enemy of the deity hidden within Nocturne City."


    The other three elders, upon hearing this, also stood up.


    Their faces, however, were etched with confusion, as they too were among the closest to the sun. Why had they not received any revtion?


    "Did you truly receive the sun''s revtion?" one questioned.


    "Do you believe I would lie about such a matter?" the other retorted.


    Their exchange was brief butden with significance.


    After a moment of shared contemtion, the four elders decided to deploy their most formidable asset¡ªthe Eternal Light, followers of the Sun.


    The elder who had received the revtion spoke slowly.


    "As of now, I am the only one who has been enlightened. However, it is possible that you too will receive the sun''s revtion in due course. Regardless, I must promptly dispatch the Eternal Light to investigate the deity''s enemy."


    The other three elders did not voice any objections.


    They watched the enlightened elder depart before returning to kneel before the radiant sun at the center of the room, resuming their prayers.


    Descending the grand staircase of the tower, the enlightened elder eventually arrived in avishly decorated pce.


    Here, numerous Sun Knightsand priests devoted to the Sun were diligently managing the myriad affairs of Nocturne City and its surrounding regions.


    The elder''s presencemanded immediate reverence from everyone in attendance.


    Surveying the room with a deliberate gaze, he slowly inquired, "Is Captain Yorickpresent?"


    Yorick was one of the most formidable Sun Knights and also the captain of the Eternal Light division in Nocturne City.


    In theory, any unforeseen incidents in Nocturne City required Captain Yorick''s intervention. However, Yorick often ventured into the surrounding areas tobat beasts that were enemies of the sun.


    Everyone in the pce remained silent, unsure of Yorick''s whereabouts.


    After a moment, a young Sun Priest slowly stood and said.


    "Your Holiness, Captain Yorick has gone outside the city to confront the Shadow Dragon. For reasons unknown, the Shadow Dragon suddenly appeared on the outskirts of Nocturne City.


    To prevent it from threatening the city, Captain Yorick had to temporarily drive it away. Other matters will have to wait."


    The elder nodded.


    "I understand. Since Yorick is not here, my orders will be executed by Vice-Captain Betak."


    Upon hearing his name, a tall Sun Knight leaped from a nearby staircase. He was Vice-Captain Betak.


    "Your Holiness, what are your orders? I will carry them out immediately! Although Captain Yorick is absent, I believe I can aplish whatever task you assign me."


    Betak had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.


    He always believed that, whether inbat skills or devotion to the sun, he was not inferior to Yorick. Yet, he had never had the chance to be the captain of the Eternal Light division.


    The elder''s expression remained unchanged.


    "The great sun has revealed a prophecy. It has told me that the enemy of the deity is within Nocturne City. You must mobilize all of the Eternal Light to find the deity''s enemy as quickly as possible."


    After issuing the directive, the elder turned and ascended the staircase, slowly making his way to the top of the tower.


    Vice-Captain Betak watched the elder leave.


    Once the elder was out of sight, Betak turned around and said in a stern tone, "All Sun Knights must follow my orders!


    To find the deity''s enemy, not only must the Eternal Light be mobilized, but the Sun Knights division must also be deployed! The Sun Knights will be responsible for scrutinizing all suspicious individuals who have recently entered Nocturne City.


    The Eternal Light will be tasked with covertly gathering crucial intelligence. As soon as any information about the deity''s enemy is discovered, report it to me immediately. If anyone makes a mistake during the mission, I will ensure they pay the price!"


    Everyone could tell that Vice-Captain Betak was determined toplete this mission at all costs.


    Moreover, even without Vice-Captain Betak''smand, as devout followers of the sun, both the Sun Knights and Eternal Light would spare no effort in searching for the deity''s enemy.


    Upon receiving Betak''s orders, the Sun Knights immediately sealed all the gates of Nocturne City. They alsomanded the merchants within the city to report to the Sun Knights'' headquarters and divulge all their information.


    Meanwhile, the Eternal Light began employing divination techniques to locate the deity''s enemy. Their operations were much swifter than those of the Sun Knights, and they quickly pinpointed the general vicinity of the enemy.


    One particrly high-ranking member of the Eternal Light determined through divination that the enemy was near themercial district.


    Consequently, the majority of the Eternal Light converged around that area.


    The Sun Knights applied overt pressure on the deity''s enemy, while the Eternal Light waited in the shadows for the opportune moment to eliminate them.


    The sudden upheaval in Nocturne City astonished everyone, particrly those in themercial district.


    The merchants, who typically resided there, were the most anxious.


    Afterpleting their trades in Nocturne City, they needed to move on to other ces.


    Any dy in the city meant unforeseen losses for them.


    Jeremy learned of the Sun Knights'' lockdown on Nocturne City''s gates that afternoon.


    Though slightly concerned, he was not surprised.


    As the ss-change goddess Janna had already warned him beforehand.


    In stark contrast, Heber was visibly furious.


    Heber continuouslyined to Jeremy: "These damned Sun Knights are at it again with their pointless endeavors.


    They''ve sealed the city gates¡ªhow are we supposed to leave?


    As a merchant, am I supposed to stay in Nocturne City indefinitely? Being stuck here, I can''t expand my business channels at all!"


    Jeremy had little to say in response to Heber''s grievances. He simply continued with his transactions with the gemstone merchants.


    However, during the course of these dealings, he noticed that the gemstone merchants had also be quite frantic.


    The gemstone merchant Jeremy was most familiar with and trusted implicitly was, of course, Jack. During their transaction, Jack disclosed some crucial information to Jeremy.


    "Nocturne City is certainly facing a major crisis. The sealing of the city gates by the Sun Knights is merely the surface of the matter. I''ve also learned that even the Eternal Light, who usually remain in the high tower, have secretly mobilized."


    Jeremy had no prior knowledge of the Eternal Light.


    So upon hearing the mention of their name, he hastily inquired.


    "What is the Eternal Light? Are they, like the Sun Knights, followers of the sun?"


    Jack smiled at Jeremy''s question.


    "The Eternal Light is far more formidable than you might think. Indeed, they are, as you said, followers of the sun, much like the Sun Knights.


    However, while the Sun Knights receive only a portion of the sun''s power, making them proficient inbat butcking in administrative skills.


    The Eternal Light is endowed with not onlybat strength but also the ability to divine and manage Nocturne City."


    Jack''s exnation deepened Jeremy''s understanding of Nocturne City.


    The outermost guards of the city were ordinary people with limitedbat capabilities, and they might not even be followers of the sun.


    The core military strength of Nocturne Cityy with the Sun Knights, who, despite their devotion to the sun, only received a fraction of its power.


    The city''s administrators were all members of the Eternal Light,prising both warriors and priests.


    They were responsible not only for governing Nocturne City but also for conveying the sun''s revtions directly.


    The four most powerful members of the Eternal Light were the supreme leaders of Nocturne City. Only these four had the authority to mobilize all the Sun Knights and seal the city''s gates.


    With this newfound understanding, Jeremy became increasingly concerned about his situation.


    "It seems the sun truly intends to target me. The fact that it has issued an oracle directly to the Eternal Light is rming! I must proceed with even greater caution from now on."

 Chapter 118: An Unavoidable Crisis

    Upon assessing the perilous situation he was in, Jeremy decisively terminated his transaction with Jack.


    He resolved to return to his hotel lodgings toy low for the time being.


    As he arrived back at the hotel, he was taken aback to find the members of the caravan, who were also staying there, gathered together in a seemingly intense discussion.


    Bonnie was the first to spot Jeremy.


    She quickly waved in his direction, signaling him toe over.


    "You''re finally back,we''ve all been waiting for you." she eximed, a hint of relief in her voice.


    Jeremy couldn''t help but feel a twinge of concern at her words.


    "What''s going on? Why are all of you gathered here?"


    Master Bard emerged from the crowd, weaving his way toward Jeremy.


    He nced at Jeremy, then cast a look behind him. "Where''s Heber? Why didn''t hee back with you?"


    "Heber went to see an old friend of his, that gemstone merchant. What exactly is going on?"


    Jeremy pressed for more information.


    His question hung in the air, unanswered by anyone.


    It was Bonnie who eventually broke the silence and responded.


    "The Sun Knights have sealed off all the gates of Nocturne City. They''ve also summoned all recent arrivals to their headquarters."


    At this juncture, Master Bard interjected, his toneden with urgency.


    "Indeed, as a caravan, we possess the necessary credentials, which Heber holds. Without him, we can''t present ourselves at the Sun Knights'' headquarters."


    Jeremy''s mind raced as he absorbed the gravity of the situation.


    If we continue to dy, the Sun Knights will inevitablye knocking on our door. When that happens, those rigid Sun Knights might even mistake us for wrongdoers."


    Jeremy couldn''t help but inwardly retort.


    "In reality, we are wrongdoers! I am an enemy of the Sun, Master Bard is an alchemist who sneaked out of Dawn City, and Heber is a merchant who routinely bribes the guards of Nocturne City."


    As they conversed, Heber had already returned to the hotel.


    He had obtained simr information from his friend. Upon seeing everyone gathered together, Heber''s earlier anxiety seemed to dissipate.


    "It seems you already have an idea of what''s happening, so there''s no need for me to borate further. Just apany me to the headquarters of the Sun Knights."


    Heber said swiftly. With that, he promptly retreated to his room to retrieve his merchant credentials.


    Jeremy, however, felt a growing sense of unease.


    The prospect of going to the Sun Knights'' headquarters meant facing the Sun directly. The Sun had already noticed his presence in Nocturne City,confronting it head-on could lead to a significant crisis.


    After pondering for a moment, Jeremy turned to Master Bard and asked.


    "Is there any way I can avoid going to the Sun Knights'' headquarters with you? I have a strong feeling that I will be targeted there."


    Master Bard did not fully grasp Jeremy''s underlying concern.


    With a hint of impatience, he remarked, "You don''t need to worry. The Sun Knights may be rigid, but they would never intentionally frame you."


    Having said this, Master Bard also retreated to his room, apparently in search of something.


    Bonnie then leaned in close to Jeremy.


    Lowering her voice to a whisper. "Are you worried we might encounter the Sun?"


    Bonnie''s question struck Jeremy as somewhat naive. The Sun Knights are, after all, the Sun''s minions. If they went to the Sun Knights'' headquarters, they were bound to encounter the Sun.


    "The headquarters of the Sun Knights undoubtedly possesses the divine power of the Sun. Even if we''re not discovered immediately, the Sun will eventually find clues and track us all down." Jeremy exined.


    "So, what should we do? Should the two of us hide?" Bonnie inquired, anxiety creeping into her voice.


    "I''m not sure. We''ll have to take it one step at a time."


    Jeremy responded, choosing not to disclose that the Sun had already noticed him. He wanted to keep Bonnie from bing overly anxious.


    Should Bonnie learn of this information, she might very well be extremely rmed. Consequently, the situation Jeremy faces would deteriorate further.


    No sooner had Jeremy and Bonnie finished their conversation than Master Bard and Heber emerged from their respective rooms.


    "You should be ready by now. If there are no further questions, let''s head to the Sun Knights'' headquarters."


    Heber announced, leading the caravan members downstairs.


    As they descended, Jeremy inadvertently used his Divine Consciousness and sensed that a follower of the Sun seemed to be lurking nearby.


    "The person hiding must be the legendary Eternal Light, right? It seems I really underestimated their capabilities. They managed to locate me this quickly."


    Jeremy thought to himself upon discovering the Eternal Light. At that moment, he realized he was already marked by the Sun.


    However, this realization wasn''t entirely negative for Jeremy. It meant he no longer needed to ponder ways to evade this crisis.


    Since the crisis couldn''t be avoided, he had no choice but to confront it head-on.


    Rather than feeling discouraged, the necessity to face the crisis actually steeled Jeremy''s resolve. He meticulously checked his weapons and assessed his condition.


    Once he was certain he was in peak form, he boarded the carriage and closed his eyes to rest.


    During the journey to the Sun Knights'' headquarters, Jeremy''s Divine Consciousness detected one Eternal Light after another.


    These Eternal Lights appeared to be monitoring the group''s progress.


    Yet, they didn''t seem intent on eliminating Jeremy en route.


    Perhaps they hadn''t fully determined that Jeremy was indeed an enemy of the Sun.


    After about half an hour, Jeremy and hispanions finally arrived outside the Sun Knights'' headquarters.


    Heber was the first to disembark from the carriage.


    He presented his merchant credentials to the guards at the entrance.


    "You''re a bitte, aren''t you? The other merchants have already arrived."


    The guard cast a nce at Heber''s merchant credentials and remarked coldly.


    "We were negotiating a deal with the gemstone merchants in Nocturne City, which dyed us." Heber exined.


    "Since you''re alreadyte, don''t waste any more time! Get inside quickly!" the guard snapped.


    With that, Heber led the entire caravan into the Sun Knights'' headquarters. Before entering, Jeremy had inquired about the architectural style of the headquarters.


    He learned it resembled a grand cathedral.


    At its pinnacle stood a radiant disc, symbolizing the great Sun.


    Upon seeing the radiant disc, Jeremy felt a tinge of disdain.


    In his view, the Sun wasn''t nearly as formidable as it appeared.


    Itcked the ability to traverse different instances like the Magician, nor could it manipte everything from behind the scenes like the Fool.


    The Sun could only maintain an illusion of supreme power within this instance.


    "What are you standing there for? Why aren''t you going inside?"


    Just as Jeremy was lost in thought, staring at the radiant disc, the cold voice of a Sun Knight snapped him back to reality.


    ncing at the speaker, Jeremy promptly followed the others into the headquarters of the Sun Knights.


    The interior was adorned with numerous symbols of the Sun.


    Furthermore, although the entire building had scarcely any windows, the interior was brilliantly illuminated.


    It seemed as though the ce was enveloped by the formidable power of the sun.


    Once Heber and the group reached the main hall, they were promptly left in the center.


    They watched as other merchants'' caravans gradually exited the headquarters, one by one.


    Initially, no one thought much of it, assuming those who arrived earlier were simply leaving sooner. However, as time passed, nearly all other merchants had left.


    Leaving only Heber''s group behind.


    In their anxious wait, a formation of Sun Knights appeared before them, marching in an orderly line. Jeremy''s hand was already gripping his weapon, prepared for a potential confrontation, but the Sun Knights merely passed by them.


    He rxed his grip slightly.


    "You finally arrived. I thought you might hide forever. As enemies of the deity, you certainly overestimate yourselves."


    Agruff voice echoed from nearby.


    Everyone turned to see a tall, imposing figure d in golden armor approaching them slowly.


    This was Betak, the Vice-Captain of the Sun Knights.


    "Jeremy, that''s how you pronounce it, right? I must admit, I didn''t expect an enemy of the deity to have the audacity toe here."


    Betak said, his eyes locked onto Jeremy.


    Expressions of shock spread across everyone''s faces. Bonnie clenched her hands, her face pale. Jeremy, however, remained remarkably calm.


    Having anticipated this turn of events.


    "Since I am already deemed an enemy of your deity, why should I fear you? If I can stand against the Sun itself, you are hardly worthy of speaking to me." Jeremy retorted coolly.


    His words sessfully provoked Betak.


    The Vice-Captain raised his Sun Spear, pointing its gleaming tip directly at Jeremy.


    "You insolent follower of the dark! As a mighty Sun Knight and a loyal follower of the Sun, I will obliterate you today!"


    No sooner had Betak''s words fallen than a scorching sunlight enveloped Jeremy and hispanions.

 Chapter 119: Confronting the Sun Knights

    Confronted with the sudden onught, Jeremy remained remarkablyposed.


    In a heartbeat, he retrieved the Bone Spear from his storage space.


    Almost simultaneously, Bonnie reacted with swift precision, brandishing her staff to conjure a barrierposed of ice above their heads.


    The frigid power of the ice shielded them from the scorching rays of the sun.


    "Ensure the others retreat safely,leave this to me."


    Jeremy murmured softly to Bonnie.


    Bonnie nodded in agreement and immediately led the others in a desperate sprint towards the entrance of the Sun Knights'' headquarters.


    Throughout the exchange, Jeremy kept his gaze fixed on Vice-Captain Betak.


    Fully aware that their adversaries couldunch an attack at any moment, he remained on high alert. Vice-Captain Betak, gripping a longsword blessed by the sun, wore a resolute expression on his face, unwavering in his determination.


    "As an enemy of the deity, you dare to stay behind alone. I almost admire your courage."


    Betak sneered, his entire body bathed in a golden aura. Jeremy knew full well that Betak''s words were nothing but taunts.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Jeremy unleashed a rapid session of three powerful skills. Scorching mes, each one capable of incinerating the very soul, descended from the heavens in relentless waves.


    However, as these scorching mes came into contact with the golden aura enveloping Vice-Captain Betak, they were instantly rendered harmless, dissipating into nothingness.


    "Cease your futile struggles! As the mightiest of the Sun Knights, I will never be defeated by you!"


    Vice-Captain Betak, with almost no reliance on defensive skills, effortlessly parried all of Jeremy''s attacks. This unexpected disy of prowess caused Jeremy to be slightly unnerved.


    Seizing this opportune moment of Jeremy''s disarray, Vice-Captain Betak decisivelyunched a counterattack.


    He leaped high into the air, then, imbued with an unstoppable force, descended rapidly towards Jeremy''s position.


    Naturally, Jeremy had no intention of standing his ground against such an assault.


    With agility and precision, he deftly evaded the attack and activated his eleration skill.


    Under its influence, Jeremy continued to maneuver around Betak within the Sun Knights'' headquarters.


    Meanwhile, on the other side, Bonnie and the others failed to escape the premises.


    At the gates of the headquarters, they were intercepted by other Sun Knights.


    "Drop your weapons immediately and cease your resistance! You arepletely surrounded!" one of the Sun Knightsmanded.


    The Sun Knights roared angrily in Bonnie and herpanions'' direction.


    Naturally, Bonnie had no intention of heeding theirmands.


    She turned to Master Bard and Heber, her expression resolute.


    "The situation has be dire. I need your help. I am not Jeremy, I can''t defeat so many enemies on my own."she admitted.


    While Bonnie had gained some experience since entering the instance.


    Her level and the strength of her skills were nowhere nearparable to Jeremy''s. Faced with this overwhelming opposition, Bonnie had no choice but to seek assistance from others.


    Master Bard and Heber simultaneously let out a sigh.


    Before arriving here, they might have been unaware of the gravity of the situation, but after witnessing the Sun Knights'' aggression, they understood the predicament that Jeremy and Bonnie were in.


    Without hesitation, Master Bard pulled several potions from his pocket.


    "You once saved me in Dawn City. I will not abandon you now. Though it''s been a long time since Ist fought, I still remember the techniques well enough."he dered, showing his resolve.


    Following Master Bard''s deration, Heber also spoke up.


    "While I had hoped to continue my life as a traveling merchant, it seems I have no other choice but to fight alongside you. Let''s focus on oveing this immediate crisis first."he said, readying himself for the battle ahead.


    With Master Bard and Heber joining the fray, the pressure on Bonnie lessened considerably.


    Under their leadership, the majority of the caravan managed to break out of the Sun Knights'' headquarters.


    However, as soon as they emerged, they found themselves facing a multitude of Eternal Light warriors.


    For a moment, Bonnie, Master Bard, and Heber were at a loss. Although they had escaped the headquarters, they hadn''t eliminated all of the Sun Knights.


    Behind them, the remaining Sun Knights were in hot pursuit, while in front of them, the Eternal Light stood ready for battle.


    It seemed as though there was no way out of this dire situation.


    Inside the Sun Knights'' headquarters, the battle between Vice-Captain Betak and Jeremy remained at a stalemate.


    Despite Jeremy''s slight edge in strength, Vice-Captain Betak had the advantage of drawing upon the power of the sun within the headquarters.


    This formidable sr energy allowed Betak to hold his ground, even putting Jeremy on the defensive at times.


    "Cease your futile resistance! If you renounce your defiance against the great sun, I can even make you one of the Sun Knights." Vice-Captain Betak proimed.


    The words spoken by Vice-Captain Betak were not mere fabrications.


    In the midst of battle, Vice-Captain Betak had astutely assessed that Jeremy possessed formidable strength.


    Should Jeremy choose to abandon his enmity with the Sun and join the ranks of the Sun Knights, he would not only be an exceptionally powerful member but also significantly bolster the overall strength of the Sun Knights.


    Confronted with Vice-Captain Betak''s proposition, Jeremy responded with a cool andposed demeanor.


    "I will never follow a false god! The ''sun'' is far from a great deity. It is nothing more than a malevolent entity cloaked in divinity."


    Jeremy''s words seeded in enraging Vice-Captain Betak.


    With a furious expression, Betak mmed his weapon onto the ground, causing a surge of golden light to emanate from the floor.


    Enveloped entirely in this radiant glow, Betak resembled a miniature sun, radiating an overwhelming amount of light and heat.


    "How dare you utter such sphemy?! If that''s your stance, then prepare to be utterly purified by the power of the sun!"


    Vice-Captain Betak roared, gathering his energy into a searing beam of light aimed directly at Jeremy.


    Suddenly, Jeremy found himself immobilized, unable to move as he was locked in ce by the intense radiance.


    Jeremy''s entire body was enveloped in a searing radiance, and he could feel his life force rapidly dwindling.


    His consciousness began to blur and fade.


    Just then, a burst of blue light erupted around Jeremy.


    Before Vice-Captain Betak could react, Jeremy vanished without a trace.


    The unexpected turn of events left Betak in a state of panic. He scanned the Sun Knights'' headquarters hall w


    ith urgency.


    "Where did that damned sphemer go?! How could he just disappear like that?!"


    Vice-Captain Betak shouted in frustration and anger as he stormed out of the headquarters.


    Outside, he was met with the equally bewildered faces of other Sun Knights and a multitude of Eternal Light warriors.


    "What about the others? Didn''t I order you to ambush the enemies of the sun here?!"


    He bellowed at them.


    One of the Sun Knights nervously approached Vice-Captain Betak, trembling as he spoke.


    "Your Excellency, we had them captured, but then a sh of blue light appeared, and they all just vanished."


    Upon hearing these words, Vice-Captain Betak''s expression softened from its previous fury.


    He continued to probe, "When exactly did this happen? Was it around a minute ago?"


    "Yes, how did you know?! Could it be that the enemy of the sun you were battling escaped in the same manner?" the Sun Knight replied, astonished.


    Vice-Captain Betak nodded slightly, a hint of resignation on his face.


    The situation at hand left all the Sun Knights and Eternal Light warriors bewildered, unable to find a logical exnation.


    As the highest-ranking Sun Knight in Nocturne City, Vice-Captain Betak felt it imperative to return to the high tower and report these bizarre urrences to the Saints.


    "You no longer need to remain here. Since the enemies of the sun have vanished, set out immediately to track them down. I will inform the Four Saints of what has transpired."


    Vice-CaptainBetakmanded. With that, he swiftly made his way to the high tower at the heart of Nocturne City.


    Meanwhile, the other Sun Knights and Eternal Light warriors began scouring the entirety of Nocturne City for any trace of Jeremy and hispanions.


    Unbeknownst to them, their efforts were destined to fail, for Jeremy and his allies were no longer within the city''s confines.


    In the fleeting moment before Jeremy''s consciousness faded, he sensed intense spatial fluctuations around him.


    When he regained awareness, he found himself in the deste wilderness outside Nocturne City.


    Surrounded by Bonnie, Heber, Master Bard, and the others.


    None of them understood why they had suddenly appeared in this barren expanse, but their collective mood was one of relief. At the very least, they no longer had to fear the immediate threat posed by the Sun Knights and Eternal Light warriors.


    "What should we do next?" Bonnie asked Jeremy once she had grasped the general situation.


    Jeremy scanned the surroundings to ensure there was no imminent danger before responding.


    "Rest here for a while. I need to verify a few things."

 Chapter 120: Teleported to Another Place

    Although Bonnie was unaware of the specifics Jeremy needed to confirm.


    She chose not to probe further. After surviving a series of crises within the instance, Bonnie had developed profound trust in Jeremy.


    With a calm demeanor, Bonnie simply remarked to Jeremy.


    "I hope you will consider your own safety more. It is not always necessary for you to put yourself at risk to save others."


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment as he gazed at Bonnie.


    In the blink of an eye, he vanished amidst a sh of white light.


    Master Bard then coughed twice and, with a hint of profundity, remarked, "Such persuasion is bound to fail.


    Jeremy is an exceptionally capable man.


    Once such a man has resolved to pursue a goal, he will do so with unwavering determination. Your words will only serve to solidify his resolve further. He will be even less mindful of his own safety."


    As Master Bard uttered these words, his gaze was directed toward the city walls of Nocturne City. Nevertheless, everyone could discern that his remarks were intended for Bonnie.


    Nina approached and sat beside Bonnie


    Gently hugging her arm and whispering, "Bonnie, I believe you don''t need to worry. Jeremy is more than capable of ensuring his own safety. All we need to do is wait for his return."


    Bonnie slowly nodded, seemingly acknowledging Nina''s reassurance.


    However, the concern etched on Bonnie''s face betrayed her true feelings.


    Deep down, she remained profoundly worried about Jeremy.


    Yet, no matter how much she fretted, all Bonnie could do now was await Jeremy''s return.


    Jeremy''s objective was to ascertain whether it was indeed the intervention of the ss change goddess Janna that had enabled him to escape his predicament.


    When Jeremy finally encountered Janna, her condition had significantly improvedpared to before.


    She appeared to have regained the strength of her deity.


    Upon seeing Jeremy, a faint smile graced Janna''s lips. "No need to thank me, it was my duty. After all, with your own power alone, it would have been impossible to defeat the Sun Knights."


    Before Jeremy could even voice his questions, Janna candidly admitted that it was she who had provided the necessary assistance.


    "Why didn''t you just let Bonnie and me leave the instance and return to the real world? Since you were able to teleport us out of Nocturne City, you should be capable of sending us back to reality, right?"


    Jeremy''s voice carried a hint of discontent.


    From his perspective, the ss change goddess Janna''s actions were merely wasting his time.


    If there was a way to avoid a direct confrontation with the Sun, Jeremy would prefer to take it. After all, the Sun was on the same level as the Fool, making it a formidable adversary.


    Janna hadn''t anticipated that her assistance would not only fail to elicit gratitude from Jeremy but would actually provoke his irritation.


    "My powers have indeed recovered to some extent, but they have not yet reached the level required to send you back to the real world. You must provide me with more energy crystals as soon as possible."


    "I can''t do that! The only ce to find that many energy crystals is within Nocturne City, but the city is far too dangerous for me.


    It''s teeming with Sun Knights and Eternal Light, all of whom serve the Sun and are undoubtedly intent on annihting me. Are you not aware of these circumstances at all?!"


    Jeremy increasingly felt that the ss change goddess Janna was feigning ignorance.


    It seemed that only now did Janna finally understand why Jeremy was upset.


    She could only respond in a slightly apologetic tone, "The reason I was able to teleport you out of Nocturne City wasn''t solely due to the recovery of my powers. More importantly, it''s because the Sun has taken notice of you.


    When the Sun''s attention was on you, I could leverage his power to sessfully rescue you. However, this also means that the Sun can now track your location at any time.


    You must find a way to hide yourselves. If you truly can''t find more energy crystals, I will need approximately seven days to regain enough power to send you back to the real world."


    Janna''s words only served to heighten Jeremy''s anxiety.


    The reason he was so agitated upon meeting Janna was that he realized he stood no chance of quickly defeating the powerful Sun Knights.


    If they could indeed be tracked by the Sun at any moment, how could they ever ensure their safety?


    "Hiding for seven days is an impossibility. As you said, the Sun could locate us at any moment! How can we possibly stand a chance against the Sun?!"


    Jeremy''s tone was now tinged with desperation.


    In the instance, Jeremy not only saved Bonnie but also befriended Nina, Heber, and Master Bard. He certainly did not wish for his mistakes to result in the deaths of these individuals at the hands of the Sun.


    "Here''s the n. I can teleport you to a map located far from Nocturne City. You will have three days to search for enough energy crystals on this map.


    After those three days, the Sun will inevitably locate you. By then, my powers will have further recovered, and with ourbined efforts, there might be a chance to defeat the Sun."Janna proposed.


    Although Jeremy harbored slight reservations about the ss change goddess Janna''s n, he was also acutely aware that there were no viable alternatives to address the predicament at hand.


    "Alright, that''s settled. I''ll head back to the desert outside Nocturne City immediately. Once I give you the signal, teleport us to the map you mentioned."


    Jeremy instructed. With that, he vanished in a sh of white light.


    The ss change goddess Janna sighed slightly, "Humans are so emotional, it''s really quite troubling."


    Janna had initially hoped that Jeremy would quickly ascend to deity status, especially since she was aware that he had acquired Divine Consciousness. However, seeing him today made her realize that Jeremy was still a long way from bing a deity.


    At the very least, a deity should not be prone to such intense emotional fluctuations.


    As another burst of white light illuminated the area, Jeremy reappeared before his friends.


    Bonnie and Nina hurriedly approached Jeremy, their eyes filled with concern.


    "The reason we were able to teleport out of Nocturne City is because I received help from a deity. We can''t stay here any longer, the Sun Knights will soon track us down.


    Therefore, I''ve asked that deity to transport us to a safer location. If you''re all ready, I''ll signal her to teleport us immediately."Jeremy exined.


    Naturally, no one opposed Jeremy''s n.


    No one wished to remain anywhere near Nocturne City any longer.


    They had already experienced the ferocity of the Sun Knights and had no desire to face them again.


    Upon receiving affirmations from everyone, the ss change goddess Janna promptly teleported the group to an unknown map.


    Minutester, Vice-Captain Betak arrived at the location where Jeremy and hispanions had just been, leading a group of Sun Knights.


    "There are still traces of them here, which means they left only a short while ago."


    One of the Sun Knights concluded after carefully examining the area.


    "If we pursue them quickly, we should be able to catch up. Sir, please give the order! We have enough Sun Knights to split up and search for Jeremy and his group."


    Facing the persistent urging of his subordinates, Vice-Captain Betak let out a heavy sigh.


    "Your approach is bound to fail. They must have allied with another deity. Without divine assistance, there is no conceivable way they could have escaped the trap we meticulously set for them."


    Vice-Captain Betak''s words left the Sun Knights utterly speechless.


    They were all acutely aware that their n had been directly empowered by the divine blessings of the Sun.


    Without the intervention of another deity, there was no conceivable way Jeremy and hispanions could have sessfully evaded their meticulouslyid trap.


    "So what should we do next? Are we just going to let this go? The Holy One has expresslymanded us to hunt down the enemies of the deity!" one of the knights eximed in frustration.


    "Absolutely not!"


    Vice-Captain Betak''s expression turned grim, almost menacing.


    "I have just received a revtion from the Sun. For the next three days, we will be unable to find any trace of Jeremy. However, after these three days, the Sun will directly reveal Jeremy''s location to us.


    At that point, we willunch a full-scale assault and exterminate Jeremy and hispanions! During these three days, you must prepare for all eventualities.


    I do not wish for any unforeseenplications in our next operation!"


    Vice-Captain Betak had indeed received a revtion from the Sun, and this time, the revtion was strikingly clear.


    The Sun had not only taken notice of Jeremy''s existence but also harbored an intense and profound loathing for him.


    The Sun would never allow Jeremy the slightest chance to slip from its grasp!

 Chapter 121: Land of Eternal Night

    Streaks of blue-purple lightning descended from the murky sky, enveloping everything in sight with boundless darkness. Only at the fleeting moment when the lightning struck could one barely discern the surroundingndscape.


    Jeremy and hispanions stood agape, stunned by the scene before them.


    "Is this the temporary refuge the deity found for us?"


    Master Bard stammered as he addressed Jeremy, his voice betraying a rare calmness despite the circumstances.


    The fact that he could even ask this question indicated his rtiveposure. Heber, Bonnie, and Nina, on the other hand, were too shocked to utter a single word.


    Jeremy''s expression was equally grim.


    Nheless, he understood that the ss change goddess Janna had likely teleported them here out of sheer necessity.


    Just as Jeremy was about to respond to Master Bard''s query, he suddenly received a prompt from The Eye of Omniscience.


    [Note: Energy crystals found in the Land of Eternal Night can bestow greater divinity upon their user.]


    With this notefrom The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy finally learned the name of their current location.


    Moreover, if the energy crystals could indeed enhance the user''s divinity, Jeremy''s previously acquired Divine Consciousness might see a significant boost in a short period.


    After all, to return to the real world, he had no choice but to search for energy crystals within the Land of Eternal Night and offer them to the ss change goddess Janna.


    "Yes, this is the temporary refuge the deity has found for us."


    Jeremy replied calmly.


    Master Bard, still incredulous, pressed on, "How are we supposed to find refuge here? It''s pitch ck all around us. We can barely discern our surroundings by the lightning strikes."


    "We just need to use illumination spells. Master Bard, as a high-level alchemist, you should be able to craft illumination scrolls, right? If you can''t, I''ll conjure somenterns with a spell." Jeremy responded.


    Without dy, Jeremy used his magic to create severalnterns, distributing them among the other members of the caravan.


    "Let''s not stand around here any longer. We need to find a safe ce quickly. Who knows what kind of creatures might be lurking in the darkness." Jeremy urged.


    His words only served to heighten the anxiety among the caravan members.


    Who had no choice but to follow him deeper into the Land of Eternal Night.


    In reality, their fears were somewhat unfounded, as the power of the [Sun] was suppressed in the Land of Eternal Night. It was precisely this suppression that rendered the ce shrouded in perpetual darkness.


    In the Land of Eternal Night, the dangers they might encounter would be limited to the creatures lurking in the darkness.


    However, even if such creatures existed, their strength would not be formidable, as the Land of Eternal Night was so barren that even powerful monsters would seek ways to escape from it.


    Jeremy and hispanions had been advancing through the Land of Eternal Night for roughly half a day.


    The frequency of lightning strikes from the sky diminished, plunging their surroundings into near-total darkness.


    Progressing through such an utterly dark environment dampened everyone''s spirits and heightened their sensitivity to every sound around them.


    The ordinary members of the caravan could sense the presence of some furtive entities nearby. These could be magical beasts or perhaps just small animals.


    "There''s no need to worry, everyone. The creatures around us are just some of the animals native to the Land of Eternal Night. They pose no threat to us, in fact, we can consider them as potential food." Jeremy reassured them.


    Despite his words, the caravan members could not entirely shake off their apprehensions.


    Master Bard couldn''t help but quip, "Well, I suppose that''s good news. At least we no longer have to worry about starving to death in the Land of Eternal Night."


    Master Bard had hoped his words would lift everyone''s spirits, but to his surprise, no one responded as he had anticipated.


    "You really have no sense of humor at all. Even in such dire circumstances, we should maintain an optimistic attitude."


    He said, attempting to motivate the others.


    Heber, standing next to Master Bard, sighed and said, "Alright, enough with the chatter. Can you be a bit quieter?"


    Master Bard was visibly displeased by Heber''s remark.


    Just as the two were about to argue, Jeremy suddenly raised his voice while staring ahead.


    "We''ve found a ce where we can take temporary shelter. There''s a fairlyrge cave up ahead. Let me inspect it first, and then you can follow." Jeremy announced.


    Jeremy''s information lifted everyone''s spirits somewhat.


    Master Bard immediately abandoned any thoughts of arguing with Heber.


    "Finding a cave is good news. I''m quite tired from all this walking and could use a rest." Master Bard said, plopping down on a nearby rock.


    Following his lead, the others also sat down on the ground, awaiting Jeremy''s return.


    Before entering the cave, Jeremy used his Divine Consciousness to conduct a preliminary inspection. After confirming there were no formidable creatures inside, he ventured into the cave.


    The cave turned out to be muchrger than Jeremy had initially anticipated.


    Not only could it amodate all the members of the caravan, but it also had ample space for storing a significant number of energy crystals.


    With this discovery, Jeremy no longer had to worry about the storage issues for the energy crystals.


    After thoroughly inspecting the cave and confirming there were no creatures lurking inside, Jeremy swiftly returned to the group.


    "I''ve checked the cave. There''s no danger, and it has plenty of space. Let''s move quickly." he urged.


    Under Jeremy''s guidance, the group soon reached the cave.


    The day''s numerous events had left everyone exhausted, and most of them fell asleep almost immediately upon arrival.


    Only Bonnie, Nina, and Jeremy remained awake.


    Jeremy stayed up because he needed to prepare for the next day''s tasks.


    He was determined to gather enough energy crystals within the next day. He urgently needed to have the ss Change Goddess Janna return him to the real world.


    Bonnie sat quietly beside Jeremy, watching him intently.


    "Why aren''t you resting? Why are you just sitting there watching me?" Jeremy asked as he continued his preparations.


    "I can''t sleep. I''d rather keep an eye on you. Who knows, you might try to run off while we''re all asleep." Bonnie replied.


    Though Bonnie deeply trusted and relied on Jeremy, she was not willing to let her guard down in her words.


    Jeremy chuckled and then turned his gaze toward Nina.


    "What about you? Why aren''t you resting? Are you worried I''ll escape too?"


    Nina shook her head.


    "I am not worried that you would run away. I believe that whatever you choose to do, you will definitely take me with you." Nina''s words brought a radiant smile to Jeremy''s face.


    At that moment, Bonnie also turned her gaze towards Nina, feeling that Nina was far moreplex than she had initially thought.


    "You both should get some rest. I have no intention of running away. Once I havepleted my preparations, I will head to the Land of Eternal Night to gather energy crystals."


    Jeremy reassured them as he finished organizing his gear.


    He stood up and walked to the entrance of the cave.


    "When the others wake up, inform them of my estimated return time. If you need to cook, go ahead without waiting for me."


    With those words, Jeremy cast a sealing spell, sealing off the cave.


    Then vanished into the endless darkness of the Land of Eternal Night.


    Bonnie and Nina watched Jeremy leave. After his figurepletely disappeared into the darkness, Bonnie turned to Nina and asked.


    "Are you really not worried that he might abandon you? You should know that he doesn''t belong to our world. One day, he will return to his own."


    Nina nodded.


    "I am well aware that Lord Jeremy is not from our world. But my mother once entrusted him with taking care of me, and he promised her. I believe he will definitely keep his word."


    Bonnie smiled. "How can you be so sure that he will keep his promise?"


    "Because that is the kind of person Lord Jeremy is. Although I haven''t known him for long, I can tell that he is someone who honors every promise he makes."


    Nina replied with a simple yetpelling conviction.


    Bonnie found herself at a loss for words.


    She recalled the numerous incidents that had urred between her and Jeremy. She had to admit that Jeremy had never broken a promise or deceived her.


    "It seems I have misunderstood Jeremy far too much. I shouldn''t have been so guarded against him. I shouldn''t have assumed he was a bad person from the start." Bonnie conceded.


    Bonnie finally had the time to reflect on what had gone wrong in her interactions with Jeremy. She realized that her biggest issue was herck of trust in him.


    Had she trusted Jeremy earlier, their current situation might have been much better.


    Sighing to herself, Bonnie murmured, "I hope I still have a chance to make things right. Jeremy, you must return safely. Please, don''t let anything happen to you!"

 Chapter 122: Kean Takes Matters into His Own Hands

    In the real world, Farmer, who had suffered a humiliating defeat while trying to provoke Ritchie, slunk back to the imperial capitalin disgrace.


    For the first two days, he didn''t dare approach Kean directly.


    He knew that informing Kean about the incident would undoubtedly unleash Kean''s wrath. Even as a butler, he would be unable to shield himself from Kean''s fury.


    During those initial two days, Farmer racked his brains, trying to devise another n to trouble Jeremy''s friends.


    However, he couldn''t find any formidable allies within such a short span, leaving him unqualified to create further problems for Jeremy''spanions.


    On the afternoon of the second day after Farmer''s return to the capital, Kean unexpectedly called him.


    Realizing that there was no way to keep the matter under wraps any longer, Farmer braced himself.


    "Young Master, what can I do for you?" Farmer asked obsequiously as he answered Kean''s call.


    On the other end of the line, Kean''s icy voice immediately cut through the air.


    "Is your memory really that poor? Do you have no idea why I''m calling you?"


    Under the immense pressure from Kean, Farmer could only stammer out a response.


    "Young Master, are you perhaps inquiring about the operation from two days ago?"


    "I don''t care about you, I only care whether Jeremy''s friends and family have paid the price!"


    From just these few exchanges, Farmer had already gauged Kean''s resolve.


    Given the circumstances, Farmer could no longer divert the conversation.


    "Young Master, I did act on your orders. However, not only did our operation fail, but we also suffered a devastating defeat."


    Farmer said, his voice tinged with nervousness.


    On the other end, there was no response. If the call hadn''t still been connected, Farmer might have assumed Kean had hung up.


    Farmer waited quietly for Kean''s reaction.


    "Why aren''t you continuing? How exactly did you suffer such a crushing defeat? Exin everything in detail."


    Kean demanded, his tone as icy as before.


    Despite the cold tone, Farmer could sense that Kean was seething with anger.


    Though he was adept at suppressing his rage.


    With no other choice, Farmer began to exin in detail why their operation had failed.


    Once he finished recounting everything, Kean''s furious roar erupted from the other end of the line.


    "Are you an idiot?! Why didn''t you make all the necessary preparations before the operation?! Don''t you know that Jeremy''s friends have also awakened their abilities?!"


    Faced with Kean''s roar, Farmer wisely chose to remain silent.


    He knew all too well that any attempt to defend himself would only exacerbate Kean''s fury.


    "I knew it! You''re all a bunch of useless fools! Whether it''s you or those so-called elite bodyguards you selected, none of you are capable of handling even one of Jeremy''s worthless friends!"


    Kean continued to roar on the other end of the line.


    After a relentless tirade thatsted over ten minutes, Kean finally calmed down.


    "You won''t need to concern yourself with the uing matters. Just ensure that no onees looking for me while I''m away from the capital."he instructed.


    Kean concluded with this final, icy remark before abruptly hanging up the phone.


    Farmer understood perfectly well what Kean''s words implied¡ªKean was going to personally deal with Jeremy''s friends and family.


    However, this wasn''t necessarily bad news for Farmer.


    "At least I''ve managed to extricate myself from this mess. Whether or not Kean''s actions seed is no longer my concern."Farmer muttered to himself as he set about making the necessary preparations.


    After Kean''s departure, Farmer found himself having to independently contend with the other factions of the The Lannisters in the capital. This was not a task that could be easily aplished.


    While Farmer was busy with his actions, Kean was already heading straight to the capital''s airport. The Lannisters owned several private jets at the airport. As the young master of the The Lannisters, Kean naturally didn''t need to wait for a scheduled flight to reach Moonlight City, unlike Farmer.


    When Kean arrived at the airport to board his private jet, those from the Lannisters stationed there found the situation quite peculiar.


    "I think I just saw Young Master Kean. Where could he be heading now? And why is he using a private jet at this hour?"


    "It''s not our ce to question when Young Master Kean decides to use his private jet. Besides, his movements are certainly not something he''d disclose to us. Let''s not get involved and instead focus on our own duties."


    "I heard that Young Master Kean recently lost to an obscure nobody. Do you think this trip has anything to do with that previous failure?"


    The Lannisters subordinates were buzzing with spection about Kean''s possible mission.


    At that moment, a manager-like figure approached them.


    "Have you all finished your work? What are you gossiping about here? Get back to your tasks immediately!"


    After everyone had dispersed, a manager-like figure nced at Kean''s private jet, which had already taken off, and remarked with a hint of concern, "Let''s hope this doesn''t lead to any major trouble."


    In Moonlight City, Benjamin was diligently addressing long-overdue matters.


    At that moment, one of his subordinates hurriedly approached him and whispered, "Young Master Kean from the The Lannisters has flown to Moonlight City overnight."


    Benjamin looked up, a surprised expression on his face.


    "Is this true? Why would Keane here? Could it be rted to Jeremy?"


    Benjamin''s mind was exceptionally quick, he knew there was some friction between Kean and Jeremy. Kean''s sudden arrival in Moonlight City was likely to cause trouble for Jeremy.


    However, he was also aware that Jeremy was no longer in the real world but had entered an instance.


    "I don''t know for sure, but that seems the most usible scenario! What other reason couldpel Kean to fly to Moonlight City overnight?"


    Benjamin nodded in agreement.


    "Contact the driver immediately. I need to get to Moonlight City airport at once. I must intercept Kean! This isn''t just for me or even for Jeremy. In fact, it''s for Kean''s own good too!"


    Benjamin''s subordinates did not contradict his statement.


    They were well aware that any conflict between Kean and Jeremy would spell trouble for everyone involved.


    Jeremy had already caught the attention of the Federation as a super rookie. Even as the young master of the The Lannisters, Kean would face severe repercussions if he shed with the Federation.


    Thest thing Benjamin wanted was for Kean, Jeremy, the Federation, the The Lannisters, and the White Family to all get entangled in a major mess.


    Benjamin''s subordinate acted swiftly, and within minutes, Benjamin''s car was ready.


    He then sped off towards Moonlight City airport.


    When Benjamin arrived at the airport, Kean''s ne was already descending. Benjamin instructed his subordinate to check the ne''s itinerary.


    "Thank goodness I got here in time. If I hadn''t hurried, Kean might already be on his way to Jeremy''s friends and family by now."


    Benjamin sighed, then asked his subordinate, "When does his nend? I need to intercept him the moment he steps off."


    His subordinate quickly coordinated with the airport staff to get the necessary information.


    At that moment, Benjamin seemed to sense a very familiar presence nearby.


    Slightly taken aback, he nced around. Although the presence flickered only briefly, his sensitivity to it was undeniable.


    "Could it be that Kean has already arrived in Moonlight City? Did he manage to bypass my interception using an unanticipated method?"


    An idea suddenly shed through Benjamin''s mind.


    Just then, one of his subordinates hurriedly ran up to his side.


    "Bad news, that wasn''t Kean''s private jet at all! Kean swapped the call sign of his jet with that of another ne. His actual private jetnded over ten minutes ago."


    The information ryed by his subordinate filled Benjamin with deep regret.


    He could now definitively ascertain that the familiar presence he had sensed moments ago was indeed Kean''s.


    "Regardless, immediately dispatch enough personnel to Jeremy''s friends'' and family''s residences. Not a single mistake is permissible. I will contact other allies."


    Benjamin knew that having missed intercepting Kean at the airport, he could no longer rely solely on his own efforts to stop Kean''s actions.


    He now needed to coborate with others to thwart Kean.


    In Moonlight City, only two other prominent figures could help stop Kean.


    The important Federal General Howard and the equally rare and gifted Awakened, E.


    Wasting no time, Benjamin set out to find these two allies.


    Meanwhile, Kean was already en route to Ritchie''s residence. He dialed Farmer''s number.


    "There shouldn''t be any unexpected situations in the capital, right? You don''t need to worry about that fool Benjamin,he has no idea I could evade him. Just keep handling the affairs in the capital for me."


    The reason Kean made this call was to ensure that Farmer stayed focused and didn''t be too rxed. Kean didn''t want any unexpected situations to ur in the capital while he was in Moonlight City.

 Chapter 123: Defying All Opposition

    On the other end of the phone, Farmer naturally assured Kean that there were absolutely no issues on the capital''s side.


    After hanging up, Kean directly addressed the driver, "How much longer until we reach our designated location?"


    "Young Master Kean, we should arrive at the designated location in approximately half an hour." the driver responded.


    The driver, who was chauffeuring Kean, was actually an underling of the Lannisters. However, he had been stationed in Moonlight City to handle affairs for the Lannisters.


    The sudden arrival of Kean this time had taken himpletely by surprise.


    He hadn''t even had the chance to ascertain Kean''s intentions before being abruptly summoned. Consequently, he was deeply troubled and anxious within his heart.


    "Young Master Kean, might I inquire about the purpose of your visit here? Farmer was just here a few days ago. Is there perhaps a matter of significant importance in Moonlight City that requires your personal attention?"


    Faced with the driver''s question, Kean maintained a facade of calm.


    He merely replied indifferently, "Hasn''t Moonlight City produced a plethora of geniuses recently? Is it not permissible for me to meet with these geniuses?"


    "Of course, it is permissible. I was merely asking." the driver hastily responded.


    "Now that you are aware of my purpose, cease your needless chatter."


    Kean''s tone was icy, causing the driver to feel a twinge of apprehension.


    The car Kean was in continued to drive forward for a few more minutes before being halted at an intersection.


    Several armored vehicles were blocking the road.


    "Young Master, we can proceed no further. Several armored vehicles have suddenly appeared at the intersection ahead. I will step out to assess the situation."


    The driver said as he opened the car door and looked towards the intersection. There, he saw someone he recognized all too well.


    The person was none other than Howard, the Federal General stationed in Moonlight City.


    Seeing Howard, the driver smiled and inquired, "General Howard, what has happened? Why have you sealed off this intersection?"


    Howard''s expression was somewhat grim.


    Hepletely ignored the driver''s questions and walked straight past him towards the car where Kean was seated.


    "General Howard, what has happened? Why are you ignoring me?"


    The driver''s confusion was palpable as he watched Howard''s actions.


    Reluctantly, the driver could only trail behind Howard, persistently seeking answers.


    Howard, however, paid him no heed. Upon reaching Kean''s car, he rapped his knuckles on the window.


    "Young Master Kean, don''t you think it''s appropriate for us to meet? Now that you''re in Moonlight City, avoiding me might seem a bit discourteous, don''t you think?"


    As Howard finished speaking, the window rolled down.


    "General Howard, my business in Moonlight City has nothing to do with you. I suggest you refrain from overstepping your bounds. Or do you genuinely wish to make an enemy of the Lannisters?" Kean''s voice was as cold as ice, clearly aiming to leverage the Lannister name to deter Howard.


    Kean was well aware of Howard''s intentions. He hoped that invoking the Lannisters'' name would be enough to make Howard back off.


    Howard, however, merely smiled faintly upon hearing Kean''s words.


    "I hold the Lannisters in the highest regard, but as long as you''re in Moonlight City, you''ll have to follow mymands. After all, both the Federal Army and the special units answer to me."


    Howard''s deration made Kean''s expression darken considerably.


    Shooting a sidelong nce at Howard, Kean''s voice turned even frostier. "And what if I have no intention of following your orders?"


    Howard''s demeanor shifted noticeably.


    Indicating he had already resolved to obstruct Kean''s ns.


    "If you refuse to follow my directives." Howard said, his voice taking on a steely edge, "then I must preemptively apologize. I will instruct my soldiers to detain you immediately."


    Howard spoke with unwavering determination.


    Leaving no room for doubt in Kean''s mind that he would indeed follow through with his threat.


    "In that case, I have no intention of opposing you." Kean replied, his gaze shifting to the driver, who was standing nearby in a daze.


    "Get over here and drive me to the airport. I will return to the capital."


    The driver, spurred into action by Kean''smand, quickly got back into the car.


    Without further dy, the vehicle turned around and sped off in the opposite direction, with Howard watching as Kean departed.


    "I don''t believe he will give up so easily." Howard mused, his eyes narrowing in contemtion. "This is likely just a temporary retreat."


    He quickly deduced Kean''s strategy but found himself unable to take further action to impede him. The recent confrontation had already strained their rtionship considerably. Persisting in his efforts to target Kean might provoke the entire Lannister family to be his adversaries.


    After a moment of hesitation, Howard decisively dialed E''s number. In his estimation, E wielded significantly more influence over Kean.


    "I''ve done everything within my power, but it''s clear he won''t heed my warnings. It''s now up to you to stop him." Howard candidly ryed the recent events over the phone.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, E replied, "I will do everything in my power to stop him, although I cannot guarantee sess."


    "You just need to give it your best effort. Benjamin will be there to assist you." Howard assured her before ending the call.


    After hanging up Howard''s call, E went directly to the outside of themunity where Ritchie, Emma, and ire lived.


    She anticipated that Kean would soon arrive there.


    As expected, Kean appeared before long.


    "Kean, I believe you need to act with more caution! Even if you have some disagreements with Jeremy, now is not the right time for you to be here."


    E implored upon seeing him.


    Kean''s expression darkened slightly, he felt that E should be siding with him, not Jeremy.


    "Do you think I''m that petty? I''m not here because of Jeremy. I came because my butler was assaulted by one of Jeremy''s friends." Kean retorted, his voice tinged with frustration.


    "I must seek justice for my butler. Otherwise, both my honor and the honor of the Lannisters will be tarnished." Kean dered, his voice firm and resolute.


    On the surface, Kean''s words seemed entirely reasonable.


    However, a closer examination revealed ws in his argument.


    Farmer, Kean''s butler, had originallye here with the intention of causing trouble for Jeremy''s friend. Given these circumstances, wasn''t it expected that there would be some form of retaliation?


    "I understand that you''re extremely angry right now, but I urge you to calm down and consider the potential consequences of your actions." E began, her tone both pleading and rational.


    "You must realize that both General Howard and Mayor Benjamin oppose your course of action. Even though the Lannisters wield significant power, can you truly afford to disregard these two influential figures?


    Being at odds with them offers no tangible benefits for you or the Lannisters. Moreover, I must inform you of a crucial detail¡ªthe federal authorities are already aware of your current actions. They do not wish for you to cause trouble for Jeremy''s friend. Should you proceed into this residentialplex and target Jeremy''s friend, the federal authorities will undoubtedly be infuriated."


    Eid out every persuasive argument she could muster, hoping to dissuade Kean from his intended course.


    Yet, despite herprehensive appeal, Kean remained steadfast, his resolve unshaken.


    "I am fully aware of everything you''ve mentioned, but that doesn''t alter my final decision! I must make Jeremy pay the price and teach him that provoking others will inevitably lead to severe consequences." Kean dered, his resolve unwavering.


    After saying this, Kean walked directly toward themunity gate.


    Hepletely ignored E, who stood in his path, knowing full well that shecked the strength to physically stop him.


    At that precise moment, a car pulled up to the entrance, and Benjamin stepped out decisively.


    "Young Master Kean! I must remind you that your current actions are tantamount to dering opposition against me. The Lannisters may be powerful, but do you think I am someone they can easily manipte?"


    Benjamin''s voice wasmanding and authoritative.


    Initially, Kean was momentarily taken aback by Benjamin''s imposing presence. However, after ncing back at him, Kean remained resolute, determined to proceed.


    "The Lannisters have no intention of manipting you, and my actions this time are not directly rted to them. What I do today, I do for myself alone."


    After saying this, Kean used a teleportation spell to quickly enter themunity.


    Seeing this, both E and Benjamin realized the gravity of the situation.


    "Mr.Benjamin." E urgently addressed Benjamin, "I believe the most pressing matter now is to notify Jeremy''s friends and ensure they find a safe hiding spot. At this point, we have no means of stopping Kean''s actions.


    He is beyond reasoning, driven solely by his desire for revenge against Jeremy. Under these circumstances, we can only hope that the federal authorities'' experts arrive in Moonlight City soon enough to restrain a genius of Kean''s formidable prowess."


    Benjamin''s expression was grim, but he nodded in agreement with E''s assessment.


    "The reinforcements from the federal authorities will arrive shortly! As long as Jeremy''s friends can remain hidden, Kean should be unable to inflict significant harm upon them."


    Benjamin muttered to himself, trying to reassure both E and himself.

 Chapter 124: Keans Malevolent Intent

    At this moment, Kean had already infiltrated the Flip-Flop Community. He was acutely aware that he needed to locate Jeremy''s friends swiftly and exact his revenge without dy.


    As the young master of the Lannisters, Kean was no stranger to the intricate power struggles of the federal authorities.


    The fact that both Howard and Benjamin had joined forces to thwart him indicated a clear disapproval from the higher echelons of the Federation regarding his current actions.


    Kean understood that it was highly probable the federal authorities had already dispatched a formidable squad to support Moonlight City.


    Thus, his vendetta needed to be executed before the reinforcements arrived.


    Relying on the intelligence he had previously gathered, Kean quickly pinpointed the residence of Jeremy''s friends. The first person he targeted was Ritchie.


    At this moment, Ritchie was still engrossed in his video games at home.


    He was so absorbed that he didn''t even hear the ringtone of his phone, thereby missing the chance to prepare himself in advance.


    Kean forcefully kicked down the door and stormed into Ritchie''s room.


    "You must be Ritchie, right? I''ve finally found you!" he dered.


    Faced with Kean''s sudden intrusion, Ritchie was utterly panic-stricken.


    However, despite his fear, he managed to muster some degree of defense. He immediately summoned his shadows,bining them to form a sturdy barrier.


    Under normal circumstances, Ritchie''s shadow barrier would have been sufficient to fend off an opponent''s attack.


    However, Ritchie had clearly underestimated Kean''s prowess.


    With a single punch, Kean shattered the shadow barrier effortlessly. The sheer force of his punch was so overwhelming that, even after demolishing the barrier, the residual shockwave sent Ritchie hurtling across the room.


    He only came to a stop after crashing into the wall.


    "It seems your abilities are quitecking. How did you even be friends with Jeremy? Could it be that your role has always been to sing his praises?" Kean sneered.


    In Kean''s view, only those withparable strength to his own were worthy of being his friends. Naturally, he assumed that Jeremy shared a simr perspective. Initially, he believed that Jeremy''s friends would possess abilities close to Jeremy''s level.


    However, after encountering Ritchie, he began to realize that his judgment might have been wed. "If the rest of Jeremy''s friends are as weak as you, it appears I have little to worry about. My timeline seems to be quite ample after all." he mused, a cold smile spreading across his face.


    Ritchie''s abilities posed no threat to Kean whatsoever, they couldn''t even slow him down.


    If the rest of Jeremy''s friends were on par with Ritchie''s level of strength, Kean''s mission would face no obstacles. Consequently, he wouldn''t have to worry about the reinforcements dispatched by the federal authorities.


    As his vengeance would beplete before they even arrived.


    "Where are Jeremy''s other friends? You must know Emma and ire, right?"


    Kean pinned Ritchie against the wall, beginning to interrogate him about the whereabouts of the other two.


    Although Ritchie had no idea what was happening, he understood that divulging Emma and ire''s locations to this man would be disastrous.


    Thus, he simply red at Kean, refusing to utter a single word.


    "Do you seriously think your silence will help you? Do you believe that if you don''t tell me where they are, I won''t find them?" Kean sneered.


    With those words, Kean ced his right hand on Ritchie''s head and began to utilize a skill he had acquired from a bizarre instance.


    [Memory Extraction Technique]


    The [Memory Extraction Technique]was an exceptionally challenging skill, one that required an immense amount of mental strength to execute. Fortunately for Kean, he possessed a formidable mind, making him more than capable of wielding such a technique.


    As Kean employed the [Memory Extraction Technique], Ritchie felt as if all the information stored in his mind was being forcibly drawn out. This caused him to experience excruciating headaches.


    It was only after an indeterminate amount of time that Kean finally ceased the use of the technique.


    "I now know exactly where Emma and ire are. You''reing with me to find them!" Kean dered, before promptly cing Ritchie into a specially-prepared miniature prison.


    The miniature prison was a small, palm-sized box capable of shrinking humans and confining them within its confines.


    Kean had no intention of killing Ritchie outright, as he believed that such an action would fail to satiate his thirst for vengeance. His n was to locate all of Jeremy''s friends and exact his revenge on them methodically.


    Although Ritchie attempted to utilize his shadow maniption skills to counterattack, his efforts were in vain and achieved no sess.


    "The fact that you can control shadows is somewhat surprising. However, these skills are nothing more than trivial tricks. They pose no threat to me whatsoever."


    Kean remarked coldly before imprisoning Ritchie in the miniature prison.


    Meanwhile, as Kean advanced towards the location of Emma and ire, the two of them were anxiously discussing their next course of action.


    Prior to this moment, both Emma and ire had already received a phone call from Benjamin.


    They were acutely aware that Kean was en route to their residence. In terms ofbat abilities, neither of them stood a chance against Kean.


    "Emma, what do you think we should do now? Should we find a ce to hide?" ire''s expression was one of sheer panic.


    Although she was a psychiatrist, she had never encountered a situation as dire as this.


    In contrast, Emma had spent considerably more time with Jeremy and had coborated with him extensively, especially after the apocalypse had descended.


    Emma possessed the capability to handle such unexpected crises.


    Despite ire''s frantic inquiry, Emma herself appeared somewhat flustered.


    However, she managed to suppress her inner turmoil and responded, "Leaving the Flip-Flop Communityis not an option for us now. Kean is already within themunity, and if we recklessly try to leave, he will undoubtedly find us.


    Therefore, we must locate a secure hiding ce within themunity. I know of a safe spot¡ªthe library nearby. Kean is unlikely to search there."


    "Then what are we waiting for?! Let''s hurry!" ire eximed.


    Both ire and Emma headed towards what they believed to be the safest location at the fastest pace possible.


    However, midway through their journey, they unexpectedly encountered Kean.


    While ire did not recognize Kean''s face, Emma certainly did. Upon seeing him, Emma immediately shouted to ire, "I''ll hold him off. You run!"


    After uttering those words, Emma immediately cast an offensive spell towards Kean.


    However, her attack proved utterly ineffective, as the disparity in power between her and Kean was overwhelmingly vast. With minimal effort, Kean swiftly defeated Emma.


    At this point, ire had not managed to get very far. Kean effortlessly caught up with her as well. "Yourbined strength is truly underwhelming. However, I must admit, both of you possess extraordinary beauty."


    Kean remarked, gazing at their delicate features with a tinge of admiration after subduing them.


    Initially, Kean''s intent was merely to punish Jeremy''s friends. He had never anticipated that among them would be individuals of such striking appearance.


    A malevolent thought suddenly crossed Kean''s mind.


    He reasoned that if he could possess these two women, it would be an even greater victory in his vendetta against Jeremy.


    Kean slowly approached Emma and, with a suggestive tone, whispered to her.


    "You are indeed a very beautiful woman. Why align yourself with Jeremy? You could align yourself with me instead. Not only can I enhance your abilities further, but I can also provide you with other benefits."


    As Kean spoke, his tone wasden with insinuation.


    Sensing Kean''s intentions, Emma loudly retorted.


    "I will never cooperate with you! Besides, you are nowhere near Jeremy''s league, you pale inparison to him!"


    Emma''s defiant words sessfully incensed Kean.


    In a fit of rage, he pped Emma across the face and then turned his gaze towards ire.


    "Regarding you, I have gathered quite a bit more information. You are Jeremy''s psychiatrist, correct? Besides offering him psychiatric help, do you also coborate with him in other ways?"


    Kean inquired, his voice dripping with curiosity. ire, however, remained silent, her eyes ring at Kean with fierce intensity.


    "It seems you both are indeed fiercely loyal to Jeremy. Since you refuse to cooperate with me, I see no reason to show you any mercy!"


    With that, Kean decided to bind Emma and ire together.


    "I''ll take you both back with me. I have all the time in the world to persuade you to switch allegiances and abandon Jeremy." he dered with a sinister grin.


    Emma and ire found themselves engulfed in a wave of despair, unsure of how to react or what actions to take. It seemed unlikely that any rescue woulde their way.


    Just then, a loud explosion erupted from the miniature prison device Kean carried.


    In the midst of the ensuing darkness, Ritchie finally broke free from the miniature prison, followed closely by a legion of his allies.


    "Kean, your arrogance will be your downfall! The only reason you defeated me before was because you ambushed me. In a fair fight, I assure you, I won''t lose."


    Ritchie proimed, his eyes locked onto Kean with unwavering determination and his tone resolute.

 Chapter 125: The Immediate Departure from the Land of Eternal Night

    The fact that Ritchie managed to escape from the miniature prison was indeed beyond Kean''s expectations.


    "I must admit, I underestimated your abilities. I''m extremely curious¡ªhow exactly did you manage to break free from the miniature prison?" Kean inquired, refraining fromunching an immediate attack on Ritchie.


    To Kean, understanding the method of his adversary''s escape was of paramount importance.


    Ritchie, of course, had no intention of revealing his escape strategy.


    "If you wish to know the answer, why don''t you find out for yourself? Lock yourself in there and then figure out how to get out." Ritchie retorted with a defiant edge in his voice.


    Without another word, Ritchieunched an unhesitant attack on Kean.


    Ritchiemanded the shadows around him to morph into grotesque and terrifying creatures. These twisted monstrosities, thoughcking physical form, posed a significant threat to any corporeal beings they encountered.


    Despite the encroaching shadows, Kean''s expression remained remarkably calm.


    As if he were well-ustomed to such attacks.


    With a simple snap of his fingers, Kean summoned a series of blinding lights that surrounded him. The intense illumination instantly dispelled the shadows closest to him, rendering them formless. "Controlling shadows is indeed a remarkable talent, but you have utterly failed to utilize it to its full potential.


    You have no idea how to optimize this ability for maximumbat effectiveness." Kean remarked, his voice tinged with a hint of condescension.


    Ritchie''s assault was effortlessly neutralized by Kean.


    Who seemed to possess an intricate understanding of shadow maniption, much to Ritchie''s chagrin.


    This newfound knowledge of Kean''s only served to fuel Ritchie''s indignation.


    "Is shadow maniption your talent as well? If that were the case, you''d have already demonstrated your mastery. You''re merely boasting!" Ritchie retorted defiantly.


    Without hesitation, Ritchie gathered all the surviving shadows into a singr.


    Colossal shadow beast that now loomed between him and Kean. Unlike the previous shadow creatures, this one appeared to possess a tangible form.


    Seizing the moment, Ritchie concealed himself within a nearby shadow.


    Confident that his newly summoned entity would inflict severe damage on Kean. Even if it couldn''t defeat him outright, Ritchie believed it would be enough to force Kean to flee from the Flip-Flop Community.


    However, what astonished Ritchie was that Kean merely watched the approaching colossal shadow beast with a calm, almost amused smile.


    As the shadow creature raised its w to strike Kean, a casual wave of Kean''s hand rendered the monstrous entity into nothingness, dissipating it into thin air.


    "I''ve already told you, your abilities are incapable of harming me in the slightest. You refused to believe it, so allow me to demonstrate my true strength." Kean dered, his voice carrying a tone of finality.


    He had deemed it unnecessary to waste any more time with Ritchie.


    From the beginning, Kean had the power to utterly defeat him, his prior actions had merely been a means to gauge Ritchie''s ultimate capabilities.


    Surprisingly, Ritchie did not appear disheartened by the failure of his attack.


    He believed that, at the very least, he could still ensure his own safety. Having concealed himself within the shadows, Ritchie felt confident that Kean couldn''t possibly extract him from his hiding ce within the darkness.


    But as Ritchie basked in his false sense of security, Kean swiftly merged his own form into the surrounding shadows.


    The realization that Kean could also harness the power of shadows sent a wave of panic through Ritchie.


    Before Ritchie could even react, he found his shadow ensnared by others within the darkness.


    Kean''s voice echoed ominously in Ritchie''s ear.


    "Now, let me show you what true shadowbat looks like."


    No sooner had the words left Kean''s mouth than Ritchie was forcibly yanked from his shadowy refuge. To his horror, Ritchie discovered that his own shadow had vanished.


    For someone like Ritchie, a master of shadow maniption, the disappearance of his shadow signified an impending dire situation. Without his shadow, the very cornerstone of his abilities was stripped away, leaving him vulnerable and exposed to whatever fate Kean had in store for him.


    Ritchie frantically scanned his surroundings, desperately searching for his shadow.


    It didn''t take long for him to locate it, but the sight was far fromforting. His shadow was entangled, ensnared by a myriad of other shadows.


    In the very instant he spotted it, his own shadow was suddenly pulled apart by the surrounding darkness.


    With a sense of helpless dread, Ritchie watched as his shadow was gradually torn asunder, and to his horror, his physical body began to mirror this disintegration.


    "Behold, this is what true shadowbat entails." Kean dered, his voice imbued with an air of superiority.


    "A person''s shadow is intrinsically linked to their physical form. To tear apart one''s shadow is to rend their very body. Did it never ur to you to exploit this connection in battle? It seems your talent is woefully underdeveloped."


    Kean observed Ritchie''s body being methodically shredded with a smile of cold satisfaction.


    Ritchie attempted to scream in agony, but it was futile, his vocal cords had already been torn apart. Observing this gruesome spectacle, Emma and ire were ovee with panic.


    Their fear was twofold: concern for Ritchie''s suffering and the terrifying realization that Kean could easily use the same horrific method on them.


    ire, a professional psychologist, struggled to maintain herposure in the face of such a harrowing scene.


    Fighting back her terror, she activated hermunicator, transmitting a detailed ount of the situation to Jeremy. Though uncertain if Jeremy would receive her desperate message.


    ire felt he was their only hope for salvation.


    At that moment in the Land of Eternal Night, Jeremy was relentlessly hunting the creatures lurking in the darkness. With each kill, he amassed a significant number of energy crystals.


    He meticulously stored these crystals, intending to deliver them to the ss change goddess, Janna, once he had umted a sufficient quantity.


    Just as he finished off a particrly formidable monster and was about to take a breather, a series of shocking images flooded his mind.


    "Ritchie¡­ torn apart by shadows?! Emma and ire¡­ captured by Kean?!"


    Jeremy quickly grasped that these visions were indeed unfolding in the real world.


    ire''s desperate gambit had seeded. Given that Jeremy was in a region beyond the sun''s reach, the usual sr interference on themunicator was nullified.


    Realizing that his friends were in imminent danger due to Kean''s actions, Jeremy was consumed by fury.


    He mmed his weapon into the ground with a forceful thud.


    "Kean will pay dearly for this! I have to return to the real world immediately!"


    Deciding against gathering any more energy crystals.


    Jeremy knew that any dy could result in his friends suffering a torturous fate at Kean''s hands.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy opted to use his Substitute Puppet to reach the location of the ss change goddess, Janna.


    Her surprise at Jeremy''s sudden appearance was palpable.


    "Have you already gathered enough energy crystals?" she inquired.


    Jeremy''s voice wasced with urgency as he responded, "It''s no longer about the energy crystals! My friends are in grave danger in the real world, and I must return immediately to aid them."


    His tone conveyed the depth of his anxiety and determination.


    The ss change goddess Janna shook her head after hearing his words. "The risks involved are exceedingly high, and this significantly deviates from our original n."


    "Forget the n." Jeremy retorted with palpable urgency. "When my friends'' lives are in imminent danger, why should we bother with ns? I demand that you transport me back to the real world immediately! This is something you promised."


    Janna found herself momentarily at a loss for words.


    She could sense that Jeremy was beyond reason and would not entertain any further suggestions. After a brief moment of hesitation, she finally spoke. "If you truly intend to proceed, it is feasible, but you must understand that ites with a significant cost."


    "Whatever the cost, I am willing to pay it, as long as it gets me back to the real world as quickly as possible." Jeremy dered, his resolve unwavering.


    No matter the price, he was determined to return and save his friends.


    Janna nodded slowly. "The price you must pay is that during the teleportation process, the Sun will be able to pinpoint your location. You should be aware that the Sun can manifest directly at your position."


    Jeremy''s face disyed a flicker of hesitation.


    If the Sun could indeed lock onto him during the teleportation, it could potentially interrupt the process.


    "Did your current strength suffice to contend with the ''Sun''? If you could manage to contend with him, our actions wouldn''t have been too dangerous."


    Jeremy believed that Janna''s powers had likely recovered to a substantial degree.


    Making her capable of facing the Sun in battle.


    However, Janna shook her head slowly. "My condition is not as optimal as you might think. My strength has not yet fully returned to its peak. In an encounter with the Sun, I can only manage to protect myself."

 Chapter 126: Preparations Before the Portal Opens

    The response from the ss change goddess, Janna, only deepened the look of despondency on Jeremy''s face.


    "Am I truly powerless to save my friends? Must I stand idly by as they are harmed? What good is my strength if I cannot protect them?"


    He murmured to himself, his voice tinged with despair.


    Janna gazed at Jeremy with eyes full of sympathy.


    After a moment, it seemed that the ss change goddess, Janna, hade to a decision. She directly inquired of Jeremy.


    "Are you determined to return to the real world, no matter the cost?"


    At this, Jeremy raised his head and looked at the ss change goddess, Janna.


    Without a trace of hesitation, he met her gaze with unwavering resolve and replied, "Yes."


    "Do you truly understand the price you will have to pay? If I indeed assist you in opening the portal to the real world, you will very likely have to confront the Sun directly."


    Janna''s tone had grown much more serious than before.


    She wanted Jeremy to grasp the immense risks involved in taking action now.


    "I am fully aware of what it means to face the ''Sun.'' I can even make a pledge to you here and now: I will exert every ounce of my strength tobat the deity known as the Sun."


    Jeremy''s resolute answer left the ss change goddess, Janna, thoroughly satisfied.


    With a sweeping gesture, Janna summoned an emerald-green staff from the void.


    In a voice that resonated with both emptiness and sanctity, she dered, "Very well, then. Return and make your preparations. I will open the portal to the real world immediately."


    The ss change goddess, Janna, had resolved to embark on this perilous adventure alongside Jeremy.


    The reasony in the radiant spark of humanity she discerned within him.


    Although Janna was a deity, she stood apart from her divine counterparts in her profound appreciation for the gamut of human emotions¡ªjoy, anger, sorrow, and tion.


    When Jeremy had dered, with unwavering resolve, that he would return to aid his friends even if it meant confronting an overwhelmingly powerful deity, the ss change goddess, Janna, made up her mind to join him on his quest.


    Jeremy nodded firmly, "Thank you very much for your assistance. I will inform the others to make the necessary preparations."


    Though Janna possessed the ability to open the portal to the real world, it would require a certain amount of time to set everything in motion.


    Jeremy could utilize this interim to meticulously n and prepare for the impending battle.


    When Jeremy returned to the cave where the members of the caravan were gathered, they hurriedly surrounded him.


    "Where on earth have you been? Why did it take you so long toe back?" Bonnie and Nina asked simultaneously, their voices tinged with anxiety.


    Jeremy shook his head, "I have something more important to discuss with all of you."


    Without further ado, he retrieved the precious weapons he had acquired from the instance from his storage space. One by one, he distributed these valuable armaments to the members of the caravan.


    This action caused a wave of panic to ripple through the group.


    "Are you nning to abandon us? You brought us here, and now you intend to distribute these weapons and leave on your own?"


    Heber seemed to have grasped Jeremy''s intention and questioned him urgently.


    "I do need to act alone, but this is not an abandonment. It is to ensure your safety."


    Jeremy''s tone was resolute as he spoke.


    Caught between confusion and concern, Heber and Master Bard were uncharacteristically silent, awaiting further exnation from Jeremy.


    "You should know that I am not from this world. In my world, my friends are facing immense danger. I must return as quickly as possible to help them." he continued with unwavering determination.


    Jeremy briefly described his predicament.


    And the caravan members listened with patient attention.


    "In order to return to my world, I must open a portal. However, the moment the portal is activated, the Sun will be aware of its existence."


    At the mention of the Sun, Heber and Master Bard''s expressions changed dramatically.


    Finally grasping why Jeremy had distributed his rare weapons to others.


    "Didn''t you tell us before that you have other deities supporting you? Can the deity behind you defeat the Sun?"


    Master Bard asked urgently, his voice tinged with hope.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    Agesture that left Master Bard and Heber visibly disappointed.


    An awkward silence enveloped the group.


    After what felt like an eternity, Heber finally spoke, his voice measured and thoughtful. "In truth, we cannot ce all the me for our current troubles on Jeremy. If it weren''t for him, we would have been killed in Dawn City.


    Since Jeremy intends to return to his world to help his friends, we should naturally support his decision. To avoid causing him any further trouble, let''s take these rare weapons and move to another location."


    As the leader of the caravan, Heber''s words carried significant weight, and his decision was met with silent agreement.


    At that moment, Jeremy''s gaze towards Heber was filled with gratitude, fully aware of the difficulty behind Heber''s decision.


    With Heber''s agreement to Jeremy''s n, the members of Heber''s caravan began familiarizing themselves with the rare weapons that Jeremy had distributed to them.


    "Others may indeed leave, but I must apany you!"


    Bonnie stood up abruptly and walked swiftly to Jeremy''s side.


    "After all, I also need to return to the real world. Only by doing so can you exin yourself to my father."


    Bonnie''s reasoning was irrefutable.


    However, Jeremy had no intention of allowing Bonnie to join him.


    The forting actions were far too perilous, and Jeremy couldn''t guarantee his own survival in the impending battle against the Sun.


    "My dear ss president, this is not the time for childish tantrums. Once the portal is opened, a deity-like entity will take notice of us. Do you really think I can protect you as I did before when facing the Sun?"


    Bonnie''s expression remained resolute in the face of Jeremy''s query.


    "I don''t need your protection, I can ensure my own safety and even assist you in the battle."


    Her words left Jeremy both amused and exasperated.


    "Do you really believe I am unaware of your true capabilities? Your ice spells are utterly ineffective against the Sun.


    Moreover, do you think I could ignore your safety during the battle? The moment you appear on the battlefield, I would be obligated to consider your well-being!"


    The voices of Jeremy and Bonnie grew louder and louder.


    Escting into a full-blown argument. Though the members of the caravan could hear their heated exchange, none of them turned to look.


    Jeremy, noticing Bonnie''s reddened eyes, realized that he had raised his voice excessively.


    Gently pulling her into an embrace, he whispered, "To ensure your safety, you must stay with the rest of the caravan.


    If I am fortunate enough to return to the real world, I will find a way to bring you back as well. Moreover, I need you to help take care of someone else."


    Upon hearing the first part of Jeremy''s words, Bonnie felt a sense of gratitude.


    Despite their previously strained rtionship, the recent events had brought them closer, fostering a mutual understanding.


    However, Jeremy''s mention of Nina in thetter part of his statement was something Bonnie found hard to ept.


    Breaking free from Jeremy''s embrace.


    She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and retorted, "You don''t need to remind me of my responsibilities. It''s not just you who promised Nina''s mother to take care of her, I made that same promise."


    With that, Bonnie grabbed a couple of rare weapons and walked towards Nina.


    A momentter, Nina approached Jeremy.


    Her voice timid as she asked, "Are you really going to fight a deity? My father always said that those who oppose a deity meet a terrible fate. I don''t want you toe to a bad end."


    Tears streamed down Nina''s face as she spoke.


    Her worldview equating defiance against a deity with certain doom. She couldn''t bear the thought of Jeremy leaving her forever.


    Jeremy, with patience and reassurance, responded, "The people of your world may find opposing a deity to be a death sentence, but remember, I am not from your world.


    As someone from another world, I have a fighting chance against your deities. It is only when I face the deities of my own world that I might be courting disaster."


    Nina''s worries were alleviated by Jeremy''s confident words.


    After Nina had departed, Jeremy spoke to himself in a low, contemtive tone.


    "Whether in an instance or in the real world, I am confident I can defeat a deity. Even the nners of the apocalypse game won''t best me in their own game!"


    His gaze was steely and resolute as he stared at the streaks of blue and purple lightning striking down in the distance.

 Chapter 127: The Moment the Portal Opens

    After half a day''s preparation, the members of the caravan bade farewell to Jeremy.


    Under Heber''s leadership, the group proceeded along a barely discernible path into the distance. Jeremy watched as the caravan slowly disappeared from his line of sight.


    Once the figures of the caravan werepletely out of view, he promptly decided to utilize his doppelg?nger, Puppet, to transport himself directly to the presence of the ss change goddess, Janna.


    At this moment, the eyes of the ss change goddess Janna had turned a bright sky blue.


    The staff she held in her hand was now imbued with formidable magical power. In front of her, an ethereal Portal was gradually taking shape.


    "Is this the Portal that leads to the real world?"


    Jeremy asked, his gaze fixed on the spectral gate as he addressed the ss change goddess Janna.


    "This is not the Portal itself, it is merely a projection of what the Portal will be." Janna replied. "If you wish to return to the real world, you must depend on the connection between the Portal within this instance and the Portal in the real world."


    ss change goddess Janna provided a brief answer to Jeremy''s question.


    After all, she needed to concentrate the majority of her attention on constructing the Portal.


    "You mean to say that I need to return to the Land of Eternal Night and pass through the Portal there in order to get back to the real world?"Jeremy inquired for rification.


    ss change goddess Janna affirmed his understanding.


    "Yes, that is precisely what you must do. This is why I previously advised you that the moment the Portal opens, the Sun will immediately be aware of your presence.


    If you have any regrets now, I can halt the construction of the Portal. However, if I do so, I will be unable to reopen it for the next fortnight."


    This was the final opportunity Janna afforded Jeremy to reconsider his decision.


    Jeremy shook his head resolutely.


    "There is nothing for me to regret. I have already ensured that all mypanions have left. This way, I can face the Sun alone."


    He dered with a tone of unwavering confidence.


    It seemed as though he was genuinely prepared for the impending confrontation with the Sun. However, deep within, Jeremy harbored a slight sense of apprehension.


    He estimated that his chances of prevailing against a deity-like entity were, in reality, less than thirty percent.


    As Jeremy contemted these matters, the voice of ss change goddess Janna resonated once more.


    "You may return to the Land of Eternal Night now, the Portal will manifest there shortly."


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment and prepared to depart.


    However, just as he was about to leave, Janna''s voice echoed again: "Rest assured, I will not let you face such a formidable adversary alone. I will do everything in my power to dy the Sun''s actions."


    Janna''s words brought a faint smile to Jeremy''s face.


    "But do not celebrate too soon, even with my utmost efforts, defeating the Sun single-handedly is beyond my capability. You must brace yourself for a grueling battle."


    Jeremy nodded once more and subsequently returned to the Land of Eternal Night.


    The Land of Eternal Night appeared unchanged from before. Bolts of lightning intermittently struck from the sky, offering brief glimpses of light in the otherwise pitch-ck world.


    Patiently, Jeremy awaited the emergence of the Portal.


    With a sudden and unusual spatial disturbance, Jeremy noticed a spectral Portal gradually forming not far from him. Initially, the Portal was merely an outline, sketched in the air.


    As time passed, the ethereal Portal became increasingly tangible.


    Jeremy could even discern a solid door materializing in the near distance. However, it was evident that this spectral gate had yet to achieve full stability.


    "You should be able to see the Portal by now, correct? It is still in the process of being constructed and will take a few more minutes to be fullypleted. Once it is finished, proceed through the Portal without any hesitation!"


    The voice of ss change goddess Janna echoed.


    This was the first time Jeremy could directly hear Janna''s voice while in the Land of Eternal Night.


    Which indicated that Janna had already begun to exert some influence over the power of eternal night.


    As time gradually passed, the spectral Portal became increasingly tangible.


    Layers uponyers of luminescence enveloped it, forming a door that straddled the boundary between the ethereal and the real, linking the Land of Eternal Night to the real world.


    "It''s now! The Portal isplete!"


    The moment Janna''s voice resounded, Jeremy dashed towards the Portal with utmost speed.


    Almost simultaneously, an intensely dazzling light appeared directly above Jeremy''s head.


    It seemed as though the eternal darkness of the Land of Eternal Night waspletely dispelled, and countless bolts of lightning were rendered invisible by the blinding radiance.


    A colossal sun emerged in the sky.


    Its presence so overwhelming that it nearly obscured the entire firmament. Jeremy could scarcely see any fragment of the sky that wasn''t dominated by the immense sun.


    The Sun, one of the architects of the apocalypse game and a deity of immense power, appeared before Jeremy for the first time.


    The mere manifestation of the Sun plunged Jeremy into an immediate and profound crisis.


    Jeremy could feel himself engulfed in an excruciatingly high temperature. It was as if his skin had beenpletely scorched by the blistering sunlight.


    Had he not activated all his defensive skills and utilized all his defensive equipment, he would have already been reduced to ashes by the intense heat.


    Under the relentless re of the sunlight, the Portal constructed by the ss change goddess Janna seemed on the verge of copsing at any moment.


    "Do not concern yourself with anything else, focus solely on passing through the Portal! I will handle restraining the Sun''s actions!"


    Janna''s voice echoed once more.


    However, this time, her voice sounded noticeably weaker than before.


    Jeremy suddenly realized that the power exhibited by the Sun had already been diminished by Janna''s efforts.


    Jeremy was now extremely close to the Portal, just a few more steps would allow him to cross through. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t manage to take another step forward.


    The Sun''s power was not limited to its radiant form, it also possessed the ability to set rules.


    The Sun had effectively partitioned the space between Jeremy and the Portal. No matter what he did, Jeremy found himself unable to move any closer to the Portal.


    Moreover, Jeremy suddenly sensed the rapid approach of formidable Sun Knights surrounding him. Among them, the closest was none other than Vice-Captain Betak, a former adversary.


    Under the intense sunlight, Vice-Captain Betak''s armor gleamed brilliantly. Bathed in the powerful rays, he seemed to possess an inexhaustible reservoir of strength.


    "Enemy of the deity, I told you before that we would meet again. This time, I will make sure you do not escape!"


    Betak dered, raising his Sunde and striking towards Jeremy with formidable force.


    Jeremy had no choice but to counter with his own skeletal sword.


    Yet, he was acutely aware that under the searing sunlight, he was no match for Vice-Captain Betak. As he fought, he simultaneously pondered how to break free from this predicament.


    "There is no need for you to struggle any longer. No matter how severe my injuries, under the sacred sunlight, I can swiftly recover to full health.


    Any damage you sustain will only be amplified by the holy rays. Ultimately, with the aid of the sacred sun, I will obliterate you, the enemy of our deity."


    Betak proimed with unwavering confidence.


    After all, this time he was fighting alongside the deity he worshipped.


    Other Sun Knights gradually arrived at the battlefield, yet they refrained from joining the assault on Jeremy.


    To them, their involvement would only limit Vice-Captain Betak''s space to maneuver.


    For Jeremy, this was undoubtedly a piece of exceedingly good news.


    Facing solely Vice-Captain Betak at least granted Jeremy some mental space to devise his next move. However, time was quickly slipping away.


    He could see the Portal in the distance starting to waver and be increasingly ethereal. This indicated that the Portal was nearing imminent copse.


    If Jeremy couldn''t pass through before it disintegrated entirely, his mission would be aplete failure.


    Moreover, the ss change goddess Janna had already been discovered by the Sun.


    Failure in this endeavor would mean both he and Janna would face an inescapable doom.


    "I refuse to be defeated by you! I will show you that no matter how overwhelming your power is, I can still find a way to turn the tide!"


    Jeremy shouted furiously in the direction of Vice-Captain Betak.


    In truth, these words were not meant for Betak, they were directed at the Sun looming in the sky. Jeremy wanted to convey that, despite the Sun''s seemingly boundless power, he would never surrender.


    It seemed the Sun truly perceived Jeremy''s defiant thoughts. After his deration, Jeremy felt the sunlight above him grow even more scorching.


    The Sun appeared intent on demonstrating its inexhaustible divine power to Jeremy through the intensifying heat.

 Chapter 128: A Situation of Extreme Peril

    In the face of a formidable enemy, Jeremy, despite being in a dire situation, maintained a calm mind and unwavering resolve.


    "Even with the cooperation of your deities, you still won''t be able to defeat me!" he roared fiercely in the direction of Betak, the Vice-Captain.


    Betak, the Vice-Captain, cast a cold nce at Jeremy, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, as though he firmly believed that defeat was no longer an option for him.


    As the other Sun Knights gradually encircled Jeremy, Betak, the Vice-Captain, finally resolved to engage Jeremy in the ultimate showdown.


    "O Great Sun above! Grant me infinite and boundless power! Allow me to vanquish Your enemies on Your behalf!"


    Betak, the Vice-Captain, raised his weapon high, and in that instant, a searing beam of light descended from the sky, enveloping himpletely.


    After a few seconds, Betak, the Vice-Captain, emerged from the radiant glow, his entire being shrouded in a holy aura.


    At this moment, it appeared that Betak, the Vice-Captain, had entirely lost all vestiges of human emotion.


    His eyes fixed coldly on Jeremy, and with a mere flick of his wrist, he conjured an ethereal holy sword made entirely of light. This phantom sword flew directly towards Jeremy, cutting through the air with divine precision.


    Jeremy was well aware that Betak, the Vice-Captain, had been bestowed with the blessings of the Sun.


    Not only had the Sun granted Betak a portion of its formidable power, but it had also eradicated all of Betak''s human emotions.


    Betak, the Vice-Captain, had thoroughly descended into bing a mere puppet of the Sun. Witnessing this, Jeremy emitted a mirthless chuckle. "You Sun Knights are truly the epitome of foolishness. Even if you perpetually follow the Sun, does it show you any semnce ofpassion?


    It merely exploits you, and when you are no longer of any use, the light you so rely on will abandon you."


    The rest of the Sun Knights paid no heed to Jeremy''s words.


    To them, being endowed with the Sun''s grace was a supreme honor, one worth any sacrifice, even if it meant being entirely transformed into mere puppets.


    Jeremy, of course, was well aware that persuading the Sun Knights would not be a simple feat.


    After all, the Sun, as a powerful deity, wielded not only the forces of light and heat but also possessed the ability to control human minds and impose restrictions through its divinews.


    Having delivered his remarks, Jeremy immediately activated two of his unique abilities.


    The two skills Jeremy employed were "Wrath of the Seven Sins" and "Shadow Stride."


    Under the influence of these abilities, hisbat effectiveness surged dramatically, and his speed increased significantly.


    These skills enabled Jeremy to nimbly weave through the relentless assault of the Sun Knights surrounding him.


    Despite his newfound agility and power, Jeremy was fully aware that his current tactics were merely buying time.


    Once Betak Vice-Captain fully mastered the formidable power bestowed upon him by the Sun, Jeremy knew he would stand no chance in a direct confrontation.


    Hence, he aimed to distract Betak Vice-Captain using the tools at his disposal.


    Jeremy first threw all the energy gemstonesand soul crystals he had acquired in Nocturne City. These items inherently possessed the ability to absorb surrounding energies.


    Including a portion of the power granted by the Sun.


    This maneuver was designed to effectively hinder Betak Vice-Captain''s control over this immense power.


    Having set his n into motion, Jeremyunched himself directly toward Betak Vice-Captain.


    He understood that waiting for his opponent to fully prepare would only lead to certain defeat. Therefore, he chose to strike preemptively, aiming to eliminate Betak Vice-Captain before his power could be fully realized.


    Jeremy''s actions were immediately detected by Betak Vice-Captain.


    Although Betak Vice-Captain had not yet fully harnessed the immense power granted to him, his innatebat instincts allowed him to fend off Jeremy''s assault.


    For a moment, it was impossible to determine an immediate victor between the two individuals.


    The Sun Knights surrounding them refrained from assisting Betak Vice-Captain, fully aware that their proximity could inadvertently absorb some of the power bestowed upon him by the Sun.Thereby diminishing his overall strength.


    "It appears that you Sun Knights ce a great deal of importance on fair duels. None of yourrades are stepping in to aid you."


    Jeremy remarked, attempting to sow discord between Betak Vice-Captain and the other Sun Knights.


    However, his attempt to provoke internal strife was clearly destined to fail.


    By this point, Betak Vice-Captain had shed most of his human emotions.


    As the battle dragged on, Jeremy sensed that Betak Vice-Captain''s power was growing increasingly formidable. He began to realize that he might no longer be able topletely vanquish his opponent.


    At that critical moment, the urgent voice of Janna, the Goddess of ss Change, echoed in Jeremy''s ears.


    "Stop wasting time with the Sun''spdog! Find a way to get through the Portal immediately! I can''t hold on much longer!"


    Janna''s tone was filled with urgency, indicating her dire predicament.


    It was highly likely that the Sun had gained the upper hand in their ongoing battle.


    Realizing this, Jeremy decided to throw all his remaining rare weapons into the fray.


    "This time, let''s call it a draw! I don''t have the luxury of wasting any more time with you. I have more pressing matters to attend to!" he dered.


    In the blink of an eye, Jeremy activated his "Instant Teleportation" skill.


    He executed multiple rapid teleports, closing the distance to the Portal until only a few meters remained. However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not get any closer.


    The rules set by the Sun were still in effect.


    To breach the Portal''s proximity, Jeremy realized he would have to use the skill he had obtained, "Pride of the Seven Sins." which allowed him to ignore such restrictions.


    Just as Jeremy prepared to utilize "Pride of the Seven Sins" to bypass the Sun''s imposed limitations, a sudden thought struck him.


    What if, after his departure, Janna, the Goddess of ss Change, faced immense danger?


    "I can leave through the Portal, but what about you? The Sun will never let you go. And I won''t be able to offer you any assistance once I''m gone."


    Jeremy''s voice reached the Goddess of ss Change, Janna.


    Janna was acutely aware that she wouldn''t be able to escape unscathed once Jeremy left.


    However, she believed this was the only viable course of action they had. At least, Jeremy''s n had a chance of sess.


    "Stop overthinking! You''ve helped me countless times before, now it''s my turn to help you! Don''t hesitate any longer, break the Sun''s rule restrictions immediately."


    Janna''s voice grew increasingly urgent.


    Reflecting her escting disadvantage in the battle.


    Janna knew she could not hold out much longer. If she were to failpletely, the Sun would be able to appear directly before Jeremy.


    Despite her desperate plea, Janna''s words failed to persuade Jeremy.


    After contemting for a while, Jeremy responded with a calm demeanor.


    "No, I can''t abandon you and leave on my own. We are allies, and naturally, we must fight side by side until the very end! I am convinced that we can find another solution."


    Jeremy''s words left Janna, the Goddess of ss Change, feeling somewhat helpless.


    "There are no other solutions left! If you keep hesitating, you''ll lose your chance to escape as well." She implored, hoping to persuade Jeremy to leave immediately.


    However, Jeremy chose not to heed her advice. A sudden idea shed through his mind, one that could potentially resolve their dire predicament.


    Although he and the Goddess of ss Change, Janna, might be at a disadvantage when facing the Sun, what if they could find another exceptionally powerful ally?


    The World was still trapped deep within the prison designed by the architects of the apocalypse game.


    If Jeremy''s skill, Pride of the Seven Sins, could truly be unleashed sessfully, it might just shatter the prison confining the World.


    With this thought in mind, Jeremy wasted no time and immediately shared his n with the Goddess of ss Change, Janna.


    The moment Janna heard his n, an expression of rm washed over her face. She believed Jeremy''s n was utterly impossible.


    Moreover, Jeremy''s actions would only infuriate the Sun and might even provoke other game architects to intervene personally.


    "You mustn''t use this method. We''re already struggling against the Sun. If other deities join the fray, we won''t stand a chance." Janna pleaded urgently.


    "I understand your concerns, but even if other deities intervene, we can leverage the power of the World to wage a final, decisive battle against them.


    I''ve made my final decision, and you don''t need to persuade me any further. Even if you continue to try and stop me, my mind is set and unchangeable!" Jeremy dered resolutely.


    Having made up his mind, Jeremy decided to ignore Janna''s further attempts to dissuade him.

 Chapter 129: The Suns Wrath

    Confronted with Jeremy''s unwavering determination, the ss change goddess Janna ultimately decided to support Jeremy''s n.


    "Since you have made up your mind, go ahead and execute your n! I will do everything in my power to hold off the Sun while you carry it out."


    The ss change goddess Janna ced all her hopes on Jeremy.


    In truth, aside from relying on Jeremy, she had no other recourse. Initially, she had intended to sacrifice herself to ensure Jeremy''s sessful escape.


    However, if Jeremy''s n were to seed, she might not need to make that sacrifice after all.


    Buoyed by the support of the ss change goddess Janna, Jeremy sprang into action without dy. Instead of using his "Pride of the Seven Sins" skill to break the constraints imposed by the Sun, he opted to create a portal using his puppet clones.


    He eagerly utilized the portal to directly ascend to the upper levels of the prison.


    Once there, Jeremy could employ his "Pride of the Seven Sins" skill to shatter the barrier between the upper and lower levels of the prison.


    In doing so, the World, currently confined to the lower levels, would be able to return to the upper levels. The barrier of the upper prison alone would not be sufficient to restrain the immensely powerful World.


    The moment Jeremy summoned his puppet clones, the Sun, engaged inbat with the ss change goddess Janna, seemed to grasp Jeremy''s true intentions.


    "Do you really think you can defeat me through such means? This is beyond my expectations! However, I must tell you, your n is destined to fail!"


    A voice, apanied by an overwhelming surge of light and heat, reached the ears of Jeremy and the ss change goddess Janna.


    Both could discern that it was the Sun, their formidable adversary, speaking.


    "Whether our n seeds is not for you to decide! As long as we stand united and coborate, we can surely make it work!"


    The ss change goddess Janna retorted sharply, her voice unwavering and resolute.


    Simultaneously, Janna unleashed her full power. She exerted every ounce of her divine strength to confine the Sun''s power within the upper levels of the prison.


    Seizing the fleeting opportunity created by Janna''s sessful distraction.


    Jeremy swiftly made his way back to the upper levels of the prison using his puppet clones.


    He hurried to the barrier separating the upper and lower levels, wasting no time.


    "May this skill work! If it doesn''t, both the ss change goddess Janna and I will face utter annihtion!"


    Jeremy fervently prayed for his skill to be effective, though its activation was ultimately beyond his control.


    The level of Jeremy''s "Pride of the Seven Sins" skill was not particrly high.


    This inherently meant that the probability of the skill sessfully activating was quite low. Furthermore, the barrier between the upper and lower levels of the prison was exceedingly formidable.


    These two factorsbined made it highly unlikely that Jeremy could break the prison''s upper and lower barriers with a single activation of the "Pride of the Seven Sins" skill.


    After a brief moment of prayer, Jeremy immediately activated his "Pride of the Seven Sins" skill. As expected, the first attempt was unsessful. However, his expression remained unchanged, for he had anticipated this oue as the most probable one.


    Jeremy quicklyposed himself, preparing for a second attempt.


    At that moment, a sudden and intense sensation of danger surged through him.


    Before he could fully grasp the situation, a zing sun materialized directly above his head. Simultaneously, Jeremy received a notification from The Eye of Omniscience.


    [Note: The Sun is about tounch a full-scale attack. Please prepare thoroughly.]


    With this alert from The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy hastily readied every remaining item in his possession.


    Before he could deliberate on which item to use, the zing sun in the sky unleashed an overwhelming surge of light and heat.


    In that instant, Jeremy''s health points plummeted to a critical low, teetering on the brink of copse.


    Reacting with lightning speed, he used theElixir of Life. This elixir could rapidly restore Jeremy''s health within a short period.


    And also mitigate some of the damage he would sustain in the uing moments.


    However, the effects of the Elixir of Life were fleeting. It merely prolonged Jeremy''s survival by a few precious seconds.


    Under the relentless onught of the Sun''s infinite attacks, Jeremy''s health continued to deplete at an rming rate.


    Ultimately, Jeremy resorted to hisst resort, the Bloodlock Potion.


    This potion sessfully stabilized his health at itsst fraction, buying him a bit more time to respond to the Sun''s devastating assault.


    The Sun, however, did not relent for a moment.


    It immediately exercised its unique authority over the rules, nullifying the effect of the Bloodlock Potion that Jeremy had used.


    In that critical instant, Jeremy resorted to a second Bloodlock Potion.


    Yet, the efficacy of this second potion was markedly inferior to the first. Even without the Sun''s interference, its effects would not havested long.


    "You are indeed stronger than I initially thought, but your persistence is utterly futile. You''ve nearly exhausted all your trump cards, while my assault has only just begun."


    The Sun''s voice echoed once more.


    This time, however, the Sun''s tone was far from the gentleness it had previously disyed.


    Jeremy could discern that the deity was now in a state of profound rage.


    "Do you truly believe I''ve yed all my cards? Do you honestly think I have no means left to continue this battle? You''ve severely underestimated me!" Jeremy retorted.


    With those words, he revealed his final trump card¡ªan item with significant adverse effects, the Hourss of Time.


    The Hourss of Time, a potent artifact, possessed the extraordinary capability to not only restrain monsters within the instance but even to directly constrain deities.


    Jeremy raised the Hourss of Time high, his eyes fixed on the radiant sun overhead.


    Despite the blinding white light that obscured his vision, he understood that this was the only way to activate the artifact''s effect.


    As Jeremy pressed the mechanism of the Hourss of Time, the zing sun in the sky seemed to be cast into an ocean of eternal frost.


    An infinite expanse of light and heat vanished abruptly, leaving an eerie void in its wake.


    Although remnants of the Sun''s power still lingered in the surroundings, they were insufficient to pose any threat to Jeremy.


    Seizing this opportunity, Jeremy reactivated his "Pride of the Seven Sins" skill.


    Once again, his skill failed to manifest any effect. Despite this, Jeremy remained unperturbed, even moreposed than before.


    Prior to this, he had harbored some doubts about whether the Hourss of Time would work against the Sun.


    But the recent turn of events confirmed its efficacy, bolstering his confidence.


    Jeremy repeatedly attempted to use the "Pride of the Seven Sins" skill.


    But to no avail.


    This series of failures left the usuallyposed Jeremy feeling somewhat at a loss.


    "Could it be that I truly have no way to ovee this ordeal? Am I really going to be in by the Sun within this instance? I refuse to ept this fate!"


    Jeremy''s emotions were a tumultuous mix of frustration and defiance.


    His emotions were a tempestuous blend of anger, frustration, and disappointment. Yet, Jeremy knew he had not been utterly defeated.As long as the Sun had notpletely vanquished him, there remained a glimmer of hope for resistance.


    Repeatedly attempting to use the "Pride of the Seven Sins" skill had drained Jeremy''s magical energy to the point of depletion.


    He needed to rest briefly before he could muster the strength to break through the formidable barrier between the upper and loweryers.


    At that precise moment, the Sun reemerged.


    "You insolent fool! How dare you use the Hourss of Time to imprison me! Do you not understand who I am? Do you not realize that I am a mighty deity?"


    The Sun''s voice thundered, now engulfed in incandescent rage.


    Previously, the Sun had dismissed Jeremy and the ss change goddess Janna as insignificant threats, confident in its ability to swiftly annihte these audacious challengers.


    Indeed, the Sun had sessfully suppressed Janna and unleashed a torrent of troubles upon Jeremy.


    However, when Jeremy employed the Hourss of Time to temporarily entrap the Sun, it dawned on the deity that defeat was a genuine possibility in this conflict.


    A loss in this battle would mean Jeremy''s sess in rescuing the World from its prison.


    Despite being a deity and one of the architects of the apocalypse game, the Sun harbored an intense fear of the World.


    The Sun knew all too well that the World possessed the power to y gods, and that they were mortal enemies.


    Should the World escape its confinement, the Sun would find itself with no avenues of retreat. It was acutely aware that it might not even survive long enough for the other architects of the apocalypse game toe to its aid.

 Chapter 130: The World Emerges, the Sun Falls

    Having sessfully extricated itself from the constraints of the Hourss of Time, the entity known as the [Sun]was seething with an extraordinary fury.


    When it reappeared before Jeremy, the seemingly boundless light and heat radiating from the Sun pushed Jeremy to the brink of his endurance. He felt as though the scorching energy emitted by the Sun was on the verge of incinerating himpletely.


    "How dare you attempt to constrain a deity like me! You shall pay dearly for this insolence!"


    At that moment, Jeremy''s mind clung to a singr, desperate thought: to shatter the seal before him using the [Pride of the Seven Sins]before his imminent demise.


    After numerous attempts, Jeremy finally neared sess.


    The seal weakened progressively, and a portion of the [World''s] power began to seep through from the other side.Witnessing this turn of events, the Sun descended into a state of sheer panic.


    In a direct manifestation of its essence, the Sun materialized before Jeremy.


    At this juncture, Jeremy had no recourse but to continue sacrificing his own life force to wield the Hourss of Time, hoping to buy himself precious moments.


    The Sun''s immediate presence rendered all of Jeremy''s weapons and skillsughably ineffective.


    "Stop at once!"


    The Sun''s voice reverberated through the air, but Jeremy could no longer discern its precise meaning. Guided solely by his subconscious, Jeremy relentlessly alternated between wielding the Hourss of Time and the Pride of the Seven Sins.


    Despite the Sun''s relentless onught, leveraging its immense power against Jeremy, the Hourss of Time could no longer grant him the extra moments he desperately needed.


    In the midst of its repeated use, the Hourss of Time shattered.


    At the very instant of its destruction, the Sun''s overwhelming force loomed, poised to deliver a fatal blow to Jeremy.


    However, just then, the Goddess of ss Change, Janna, materialized before Jeremy. In the brief interval, she had managed to restore a fraction of her own power.


    Utilizing her abilities, Janna erected a barrier. Though this barrier could not hold back the Sun for long, it afforded Jeremy the crucial time required toplete his next move.


    With Janna''s intervention, Jeremy regained a sliver of consciousness.


    Seeing that the seal before him had been significantly weakened, Jeremy, undeterred by the excruciating headache, resolutely reactivated the [Pride of the Seven Sins].


    The barrier erected by the Goddess of ss Change, Janna, and the seal between the upper and loweryers of the prison were breached almost simultaneously.


    The Sun''s ferocious power surged before Jeremy and Janna, leaving them utterly incapable of any further action. Both had exhausted all their trump cards in the previous battle.


    Yet, there was no need for furtherbat.


    At the very moment Jeremy dismantled the seal between the prison''syers, the voice of the [World]resonated in the ears of both Jeremy and Janna.


    "You have done exceedingly well. Leave the rest to me!"


    Apanied by the voice of the World, aplex energy swiftly coursed through Jeremy and Janna, forming a protective shield around their bodies.


    The Sun''s power was immediately repelled by this newly formed barrier.


    Realizing that the World had sessfully escaped from the prison, the Sun chose not to continue its frantic assault. Instead, it opted for a temporary retreat.


    The dazzling sun that loomed overhead vanished in an instant, along with the Sun''s formidable power, which dissipated swiftly.


    Jeremy nced at his attribute panel and found that nearly all his stats had plummeted to their lowest possible values.


    His life force was barely sustained by the Bloodlock Potion and the remnants of the Hourss of Time, while all other attributes had been significantly diminished by the Sun''s onught.


    The current state of Jeremy was so dire that he could not even stand a chance against an ordinary person. After all, nomon individual would possess such abysmally low attributes as Jeremy now did.


    With the departure of the Sun, both Jeremy and the Goddess of ss Change, Janna, felt a slight sense of relief.


    A familiar figure materialized before them¡ªit was the World, their erstwhile coborator.


    The expression on the World''s face was remarkably rxed.


    "I must extend my deepest gratitude to both of you. Without your assistance, I would not have been able to escape the confines of the prison so effortlessly."


    The World first expressed his thanks to Jeremy and Janna.


    However, neither Jeremy nor Janna paid much heed to this, their minds were preupied with more pressing concerns.


    "This is no time for gratitude! Although the Sun has temporarily retreated, it will undoubtedly not abandon its efforts to thwart our mission. Shouldn''t you be pursuing it right now?"


    Jeremy anxiously inquired of the World.


    The World nodded in affirmation.


    "Indeed, I should be hunting down the Sun at this very moment. In fact, that is precisely what I am doing. The entity standing before you is merely a projection of myself. My true form is currently in pursuit of the Sun!"


    As the World spoke, he summoned an ethereal projection before Jeremy and Janna, depicting the ongoing battle between his true self and the Sun.


    Although the Sun had meticulously prepared for this confrontation, it found itself in a state of utter disarray when facing the World.


    The Sun''s powers were almost entirely countered by the World, rendering the battle a foregone conclusion from the very start.


    "It won''t be long before Ipletely defeat the Sun! You will both witness its downfall."


    the World dered confidently.


    No sooner had he spoken these words than Jeremy and the Goddess of ss Change, Janna, sensed an extraordinary fluctuation in energy.


    The familiar warmth and radiance they had known seemed to vanish in an instant, reced by an absolute coldness and silence.


    Janna quicklyprehended the shift: the change in energy signified that the Sun had been defeated in the battle.


    The Sun''s fall had caused a dramatic and immediate transformation in the energy dynamics.


    "You must have felt it by now¡ªthe Sun has been utterly vanquished!" The World remarked, a smile ying on his lips as he addressed Jeremy and Janna.


    "Isn''t there something more pressing that you should be attending to? Don''t linger here any longer, hurry and pass through the Portal."


    The World advised, as he relocated the Portal that Janna had helped Jeremy open, cing it directly before him.


    "If you don''t leave now, you''ll face even greater peril. The other game designers won''t simply ept the Sun''s demise. They will undoubtedly act soon." The World continued.


    Though his tone remained calm, the gravity of his words instilled a deep sense of urgency in both Jeremy and Janna.


    Jeremy, concerned, asked, "If we leave now, will you be able to handle such unexpected situations on your own?"


    With a reassuring smile, the World replied, "Even if you stayed, you wouldn''t be able to offer any substantial help. In fact, your presence would only hinder me.


    Without the burden of protecting you, I can better manage the attacks from the game designers. At the very least, I can ensure my own safe retreat."


    Reassured by the World''s response, Jeremy made the decisive choice to step through the Portal and return to the real world without hesitation.


    However, before returning to the real world, the World handed Jeremy a blue gemstone.


    "You don''t need to ask me what this gemstone is for. When the timees for you to use it, its purpose will reveal itself naturally."


    The World said, offering no further exnation.


    It seemed that he believed Jeremy would be able to discover the gemstone''s function on his own.


    Jeremy nced at the gemstone with a determined look in his eyes, then stepped through the Portal.


    As soon as Jeremy crossed the Portal, both the World and the Goddess of ss Change, Janna, felt an overwhelming pressure.


    The World turned to Janna and asked, "Why haven''t you chosen to leave? Do you have more questions for me?"


    The World felt it unnecessary to exin too much to Janna.


    After all, she already possessed extensive knowledge about the apocalypse game and the other factions'' deities.


    Janna could sense that the game designers were rapidly approaching their location. She knew she couldn''t linger any longer.


    "I have just one question. How was Jeremy able to activate his skill? The Sun had significantly reinforced the seal, making it impossible for any seal-breaking skills to work under normal circumstances."


    Janna inquired, finding it remarkable that Jeremy had managed to break the World''s seal.


    With a smile, the World responded, "Is that the reason you stayed behind? Since you''ve asked, I''ll indulge you.


    Every skill Jeremy possesses was granted by me. This means that when he uses his skills, he can tap into my level of power.


    The fact that his own strength isn''t sufficient to break the seal is irrelevant. All he needs to do is initiate the seal-breaking effort, and the rest falls to me."


    Janna nodded, acknowledging the World''s exnation.


    "I see. I have no further questions. I''ll leave this to you, then!" With that, Janna transformed into a mist of bubbles and quickly dissipated.

 Chapter 131: The Return at the Critical Moment

    Moonlight City, Flip-Flop Community.


    Kean sneered malevolently at Emma and ire.


    "You''ve seen what happened to him, haven''t you? If you continue to oppose me, your fate will be exactly the same as his."


    At this moment, Ritchie had been utterly incapacitated.


    Not only had his shadow beenpletely torn apart, but all his items and life-saving skills had also been neutralized by Kean.


    Despite their fear, Emma and ire looked at Kean with a hint of derision in their eyes.


    In their minds, Kean could neverpare to Jeremy.


    Jeremy would never stoop to such despicable acts.


    "Why are you looking at me with those expressions?" Kean growled angrily.


    Emma and ire remained silent, unwilling to engage with Kean in any conversation.


    "It seems you''ve made up your minds to defy me to the end! Don''t me me for being ruthless, then! I''ll savor dealing with both of you slowly." Kean threatened, his voice dripping with malice.


    Kean first approached Emma, drawing a dagger from his pocket and slowly tracing it along her cheek.


    "Are you truly not afraid? Do you not fear that I might kill you right here and now?"


    He asked in a low, sinister voice, dripping with malice.


    Emma remained silent, her eyes filled with defiance and hatred as she stared back at Kean. Her refusal to respond only served to enrage him further.


    In a fit of fury, Kean raised his dagger and aimed it directly at Emma''s neck, ready to strike with lethal force.


    But just as the de began its descent, a voice pierced the tension-filled air.


    "Hold on! Master Kean, do you have any idea what you''re doing right now? Do youprehend the consequences of your actions?" Benjamin''s voice rang out abruptly, cutting through the silence.


    Startled, Kean turned his head sharply to look in the direction of Benjamin''s voice.


    Not only did Benjamin confront Kean alone, but he was also apanied by Howard and E. Howard''s gaze was filled with contempt as he looked at Kean.


    In Howard''s eyes, Kean could never measure up to Jeremy. The only area where Kean and Jeremy even remotelypared was in theirbat abilities.


    However, in terms of personal qualities, the difference between Kean and Jeremy was as vast as night and day.


    E''s expression as she looked at Kean was equallyplex.


    On one hand, she was Kean''s fianc¨¦e, which obligated her to support him. On the other hand, Kean''s current actions deeply unsettled her, even directly infringing upon her own interests.


    "I know exactly what I''m doing!" Kean retorted defiantly. "This is revenge. I must settle the score for Jeremy''s betrayal and the arrow he stabbed in my back!"


    Kean showed no signs of worry despite the arrival of the three figures.


    He believed there was no need to fear them, as none of them posed a significant threat to him.


    "When did Jeremy ever betray you? Why am I unaware of this?" Howard''s voice cut through the tension, cold and unyielding.


    Howard had always favored Jeremy more. After witnessing the events of today, he was even more inclined to side with Jeremy.


    In his mind, Kean had little room for growth and was almost a lost cause.


    "If he didn''t betray me, then why didn''t I obtain the divine artifact that should rightfully have been mine during thest trial?" Kean''s voice wasced with bitterness.


    "Thepetition for the divine artifact is open to anyone who has awakened the corresponding talents. Jeremy emerged victorious in thatpetition, which only proves that his abilities surpass yours. It doesn''t imply any betrayal."


    Howard responded, his tone now openly hostile. It seemed as though he was deliberately trying to provoke Kean.


    Benjamin and E both sensed the tension escting and found Howard''s words to be somewhat inappropriate.


    Determined to prevent the situation from deteriorating further, Benjamin intervened.


    "Regardless of the circumstances, you must show respect while you are in Moonlight City! The two individuals before you are of great importance, and you absolutely cannot threaten their lives." Benjamin dered, his demeanor exuding authority.


    For a moment, Kean was genuinely taken aback by Benjamin''smanding presence.


    However, he quickly regained hisposure and sneered, "Your attempts are destined to fail. My patience has beenpletely exhausted. I will either exact revenge on Jeremy, or I will take it out on his friends¡ªnamely, the three of you standing before me."


    Kean''s voice had grown hoarse with rage.


    It was evident to everyone present that his anger was at a boiling point.


    E stepped forward and addressed Kean, "Have you not considered your own future and the precarious position of the Lannisters within the Federation?"


    E astutely zeroed in on the most critical issue: the future of both Kean and the Lannisters.


    Kean''s expression shifted slightly upon hearing her words, yet he seemed unwilling to abandon his course of action.


    "If you truly intend to kill Jeremy''s friends here and now, you may indeed achieve the revenge you seek. However, this will create a significant hindrance to your future power growth." E continued, her voice steady but urgent.


    "Not only will Jeremy be your mortal enemy, but others will also be reluctant to coborate with you. Partnering with a ruthless individual is fraught with peril."


    After highlighting the potential personal repercussions for Kean, E turned her attention to the broader consequences for the Lannisters within the Federation.


    "You must be acutely aware of the Federation''s immense fury regarding your current actions. Should Jeremy withdraw from his coboration with the Federation because of you, the Federation will undoubtedly direct their wrath towards the Lannisters."


    She paused momentarily, allowing her words to sink in before proceeding, "While I acknowledge the considerable power and influence of the Lannisters, can they truly withstand the full force of the Federation''s anger? Even if they manage to endure, will there be any further opportunities for the Lannisters to enhance their influence?"


    E''s words brought a stark rity to Kean, making him realize the dire consequences of his current actions.


    Nevertheless, Kean found himself in a precarious position, caught between a rock and a hard ce. Even if he chose to abandon his ns now, Jeremy would still view him as a mortal enemy, and the Federation would continue to harbor hostility towards the Lannisters.


    Kean''s expression showed a flicker of hesitation and inner conflict.


    After a few moments of intense deliberation, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind.


    "There''s no need for further persuasion. I''ve made my decision! No matter what, I will proceed ording to my n."


    With a resolute glint in his eyes, Kean lunged forward, thrusting his dagger towards Emma''s throat. He was determined to eliminate the person most important to Jeremy, believing it to be a crucial step in his quest for vengeance.


    At that critical juncture, a brilliant white light suddenly materialized in the midst of the group.


    As the light subsided, Jeremy''s figure emerged, standing before everyone.


    The sight of Jeremy caught everyone off guard, their faces registering varying degrees of surprise.


    Jeremy, however, paid no attention to the surrounding reactions. His gaze was fixed solely on Kean, cold and unwavering.


    "Have you finally decided to stop hiding? Since you''re here, let''s settle this once and for all!" Kean''s voice was filled with a twisted sense of satisfaction upon seeing Jeremy.


    For Kean, this confrontation was the culmination of his desire for revenge.


    While eliminating Jeremy''s friends could be considered a form of retribution, it would not bring him the same sense of fulfillment as facing Jeremy directly.


    Kean''s ultimate satisfaction woulde from eliminating Jeremy himself.


    Jeremy cast a cold nce at Kean, not intending to waste words on him.


    In Jeremy''s eyes, exchanging any words with Kean would be a sheer waste of time.


    Jeremy had fully recovered his peak condition and felt no pressure in confronting an opponent of Kean''s caliber.


    "Jeremy! You need to think further ahead. If you kill Kean, the troubles you''ll face afterward will multiply!"


    Just as Jeremy was about tounch his attack, Benjamin''s voice rang out from behind him.


    Benjamin admired Jeremy greatly and was willing to offer his support. However, from Benjamin''s perspective, the idea of Jeremy eliminating Kean was something he could not condone.


    Jeremy paid no heed to Benjamin''s warning.


    He merely charged toward Kean with astonishing speed.


    Although Jeremy had regained his peak physical state, he had exhausted all his weapons and tools in previous battles.


    This time, he would have to rely solely on his bare hands to defeat Kean.


    Kean, naturally, was extremely wary as he faced Jeremy''s swift approach.


    As he prepared for battle, Kean simultaneously confined Jeremy''s three friends in a miniature prison. "If I can defeat you, I will obliterate youpletely! If I can''t, I''ll use your friends to threaten you! Either way, you will be the ultimate loser!"


    In his mind, Kean had already devised a foolproof strategy.


    No matter what actions Jeremy took or how formidable his strength was, Kean believed that he alone would emerge victorious in the end.


    Kean''s n seemed wless, but the moment he faced Jeremy head-on, he realized he had vastly overestimated his own capabilities.


    Despite Jeremy not using any tools or special abilities.


    He was still able to dominate Kean in directbat. Their first sh left Kean utterly astonished. He quickly came to the conclusion that under Jeremy''s relentless assault, he wouldn''t be able to hold out for long.

 Chapter 132: Keans Desperate Escape

    During their rect confrontation, Kean hade to the stark realization that he was no match for Jeremy.


    Nevertheless, Kean was not one to surrder so easily. He thought that if he gave up now, he would never be able to face Jeremy again with his head held high.


    Kean opted for the most ruthless strategy¡ªusing Jeremy''s frids as leverage against him.


    With a sinister grin, he utched the miniature prison he held in his hand, releasing Jeremy''s three frids from its confines.


    Without hesitation, Kean seized Emma and held her in front of him as a human shield. He bellowed in Jeremy''s direction, "Drop your weapon immediately, or I will kill her on the spot!"


    Kean''s actions incited a wave of fury among everyone prest.


    Bjamin shouted at Kean with palpable anger, "Enough! Stop this madness right now!"


    E, Kean''s fianc¨¦e, also pleaded with him, "You''ve already avged yourself against Jeremy in your previous actions. Now that Jeremy has returned, there''s no need for the two of you to continue this fight.


    Both of you are crucial assets to the Federation. If you persist in this sseless battle, the consequces for the tire Federation could be dire. It could also jeopardize humanity''s stance in the face of the apocalypse game."


    Though she was trying to de-escte the situation, E didn''t ce all the me squarely on Kean. As his fianc¨¦e, she feltpelled to be somewhat partial towards him.


    However, E''s words failed to persuade anyone prest.


    Neither Jeremy nor Kean believed it was the right momt to back down.


    Kean, his eyes alight with defiance, taunted Jeremy further, "What''s the matter? Do you really doubt that I would go through with it?!"


    Jeremy''s expression remainedposed, yet he chose not to heed Kean''smand. Instead, he advanced two steps toward Kean.


    "Stop right there! I must warn you, if you take another step, I will kill her!"


    At this momt, Kean had pressed his dagger against Emma''s neck.


    A thin crimson line had already appeared, indicating the de had cut through her skin.


    Despite the peril, Emma merely gazed at Jeremy, her eyes filled with unspok words, yet she remained silt.


    "Let her go immediately!"


    Jeremy halted after a few steps, his voice hoarse but resolute.


    It was evidt to everyone that Jeremy was seething with rage.


    Bjamin instinctively took two steps back, ssing that the impding sh betwe Jeremy and Kean might gulf them all.


    Observing Bjamin''s reaction, Howard couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "It seems ev you realize these two won''t reconcile easily. So why did you bother trying to mediate earlier?" Howard''s tone was tinged with irony.


    Bjamin cast a somewhat helpless nce at Howard. "Instead of mocking me, perhaps you should think about how to resolve the predicamt we''re in. The conflict betwe Kean and Jeremy will undoubtedly bring the Federation''s wrath upon us."


    "What can I do? I already did everything I could to stop Kean. Now, am I supposed to stop Jeremy? If I did, Jeremy would definitely think I''m siding with Kean."


    Howard replied, fully aware that failing to stop Kean meant he had no gs to hinder Jeremy.


    Though Howard''s words were blunt, they carried a certain logic, prompting Bjamin to decide to watch the situation unfold for now.


    Faced with Jeremy''s furious outburst, Kean showed no trace of fear.


    Kean''s objective was to provoke Jeremy. Only by raging Jeremy to the point of losing hisposure and th defeating him in the suing battle could Kean consider his revge fulfilled.


    "And what if I don''t let her go? What can you do about it?"


    Kean asked, a sinister smile twisting his features.


    Jeremy did not dignify Kean with a response. Instead, heunched an attack with unparalleled swifness.


    In the blink of an eye, before anyone could react, Jeremy was right in front of Kean.


    Kean had no time to further threat Emma.


    In the flurry of the confrontation, Emma was shoved aside by Kean, who used the momtary distraction to create distance betwe himself and Jeremy.


    "You may be incredibly strong, but I am no weaker. I can defeat you!"


    Having just evaded Jeremy''s attack, Kean didn''t hesitate to shout loudly at him.


    Kean was deeply worried that Jeremy would look down on him.


    Especially after a series of previous failures, Kean felt that he couldn''t afford to be defeated by Jeremy again.


    However, Kean''s currt actions were somewhat redundant.


    Because Jeremy was not ev focused on him. Jeremy''s atttion was tirely on Emma.


    Catching Emma before she could fall, Jeremy''s eyes softed with concern. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?" he asked gtly.


    Emma, tears welling in her eyes, shook her head.


    "If you''re okay, go over to Bjamin for now."Jeremy instructed. "Kean hasn''t be dealt with yet. I need to finish this fight first!"


    After confirming that Emma was unharmed, Jeremy promptly directed her to move towards Bjamin''s vicinity.


    In the proximity of Bjamin, Emma would be under absolute protection. Although Bjamin''s raw power was not particrly formidable, his high status provided a significant safeguard.


    Ev Kean, who might dismiss Bjamin''s counsel, could not afford to directly antagonize him without severe consequces.


    Having secured Emma''s safety, Jeremy turned his atttion to rescuing Ritchie and ire.


    ire''s situation closely mirrored Emma''s, they both had only sustained minor injuries.


    Ritchie, on the other hand, was in a far more dire state. Among the three, he was the most severely injured and was rdered speechless by his wounds.


    "Take care of Ritchie first. Once I defeat Kean, I will rejoin you."


    Jeremy instructed ire, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. With a sse of urgcy, he th swiftly advanced towards Kean''s location.


    At this momt, Kean had meticulously prepared for the impding battle.


    He had strategically ced a variety of tools and devices a him, each designed to restrict Jeremy''s abilities during the confrontation.


    Determined to give his all, Kean resolved to wield his most prized possession¡ªa weapon of unparalleled rarity and power.


    This extraordinary weapon, capable of weaking souls, was discovered by Kean in an instance near the capital. With this formidable asset, he felt a newfound sse of confidce, ready to face whatever Jeremy might throw at him.


    Fully aware of the impding confrontation, Kean steeled himself for the battle ahead, ready to unleash the full extt of his arsal.


    Any foe struck by Kean''s weapon would suffer damage on a spiritual level. Such soul-deep wounds were beyond the healing capabilities of ordinary restorative items.


    "This time, I will defeat you with honor! I will prove that my strgth far surpasses yours, your previous sesses were nothing but sheer luck!"


    Kean dered solemnly as Jeremy appeared before him.


    Jeremy paid no heed to Kean''s words. He knew that the man standing before him was an adversary he had to eliminate at all costs.


    Without hesitation, Jeremyunched an attack on Kean.


    Despite the significant losses Jeremy had incurred during the previous instance, his attributes had bergely restored thanks to the gemstone provided by the "World."


    Although his skills remained sealed, his basic attributes alone were ough to challge Kean effectively.


    As the battle raged on, Kean found himself increasingly strained.


    His weapon, while capable of inflicting spiritual harm on Jeremy, was counteracted by the precious gemstone Jeremy carried, which continuously repaired his damaged soul during the fight.


    As time passed, Kean became acutely aware that victory was slipping further from his grasp. To his dismay, he realized that escape was no longer an option either.


    "How are you doing this?! How can you seal the suring space?!" Kean eximed in panic as he found himself trapped.


    Jeremy''s expression remained remarkably calm as he responded, "I have many skills yet to be unveiled. Bying here to challge me, you have sealed your own fate."


    Jeremy''s words st a wave of terror through Kean, leaving him deeply unsettled.


    However, Kean did not believe that he would be utterly defeated by Jeremy in this confrontation, for he possessed a powerful life-saving artifact.


    Upon realizing that the suring space was indeed sealed and escape was impossible, Kean decided to take the offsive and rapidly closed the distance towards Jeremy.


    "In that case, I''ll sd you on your way!" Jeremy dered, interpreting Kean''s aggressive maneuver as a desperate final gambit for a decisive showdown. Jeremy readied himself for the ultimate battle.


    In the climactic duel, Jeremy swiftly overpowered Kean. Yet, just as he delivered the fatal blow, Kean''s body suddly transformed into a paper effigy.


    "Did you really think you could defeat me so easily? I have a doppelg?nger talisman to bear the brunt of death in my stead. You may have won this , but next time, you will surely fail!"


    Kean''s voice emanated from the effigy, but Jeremy knew all too well that Kean had already fled.


    As Kean''s voice echoed, the paper effigy burst into mes, reducing itself to a pile of ashes.


    Despite Kean''s sessful escape using his artifact, his manner of retreat was unmistakably ignominious.

 Chapter 133: Gravely Wounded, Strategizing for the Future

    After Kean''s ignominious retreat, Jeremy turned his gaze towards the three individuals standing behind him.


    At this momt, the expression on E''s face carried a subtle hint of awkwardness.


    As Kean''s fianc¨¦e, she shared an undiably close rtionship with him. With a touch of resignation, she spoke to Jeremy.


    "I had no idea this would happ. If I had known, I would have done everything in my power to stop Kean."


    Jeremy offered no response to E.


    He was well aware of the prior discord betwe them. Although he wasn''t certain whether E had colluded with Kean, exercising caution a her was, in his view, a prudt course of action.


    "Jeremy, I don''t think you should me E. She truly did her best. Both Bjamin and I can vouch that she made considerable efforts to prevt Kean''s actions."


    At this juncture, Howard decided to break the silce and speak up.


    Howard, although not intimately acquainted with E, had a good rapport with her elders. He feltpelled to step in and defuse the tsion on her behalf.


    After hearing Howard''s words, Jeremy nodded in acknowledgmt.


    Although Howard had not provided much assistance to Jeremy in the past, he had always held Jeremy in high regard.


    Jeremy believed that Howard was unlikely to be his adversary.


    "Since Kean has departed and you have returned from the instance, there is no need for us to linger here any longer. Let us all return to our respective residces."


    As the mayor of Moonlight City, Bjamin ultimately stepped forward to deliver a poignant and decisive speech.


    "If you require any assistance, I will certainly do everything within my power to help you. However, from my perspective, you seem to be in excellt condition."


    Bjamin remarked, casting a discerning eye over Jeremy. Giv that Jeremy had managed to defeat Kean, Bjamin inferred that he hadn''t countered any significant trouble.


    Jeremy nodded in response to Bjamin''s words.


    "Indeed, I hav''t faced any major issues, but my three frids are in dire need of substantial resources to heal their injuries. You should provide them with some supplies, shouldn''t you?"


    Bjamin nodded affirmatively. "Of course! I will immediately arrange for ample supplies to be delivered. Additionally, I am well aware of the situation Ritchie faced, so I will sure he receives some extrapsation."


    With Bjamin agreeing to Jeremy''s request, there was no need for further discussion. Jeremy saw no point in wasting more time.


    "In that case, I extd my sincere thanks to Mayor Bjamin!" Jeremy expressed his gratitude.


    After finalizing all matters, everyone wt their separate ways.


    E, Bjamin, and Howard each returned to their respective duties. They had numerous issues to address, and Kean''s unexpected appearance had disrupted their original work schedules.


    Jeremy and his threepanions naturally decided to head to ire''s home.


    After all, ire''s residce was the closest, and it also happed to be the most spacious of all their living quarters.


    Upon arriving at ire''s home, Jeremy first took care of arranging Ritchie''s amodations. "Alright, stop whining! Your injuries ar''t as severe as you think. Besides, didn''t Bjamin already promise to provide you with extra supplies? Once you recover, you can ev use this opportunity to level up."


    Jeremy found himself at a loss for words in response to Ritchie''s behavior.


    During the intse battle with Kean, Ritchie had remained silt, seemingly worried that any noise might disrupt Jeremy''s focus.


    However, now that Jeremy had emerged victorious, Ritchie had begun making a fuss.


    "Isn''t that a bit heartless of you? I got these serious injuries protecting Emma and ire! Shouldn''t you at least say a few couraging words to me?"


    Ritchie felt a tinge of dissatisfaction with Jeremy''s performance. Nevertheless, his currt remarks were merely couched in the yful banter typical among frids.


    Jeremy said helplessly, "How do you want me to courage you? Are you expecting me to say you did a fantastic job and that I should give you a reward?"


    "Rewards ar''t tirely out of the question! I''ve rarely received any since I started school!" Ritchie''s response left Jeremy ev more speechless.


    "Stop messing a with me. You need to rest properly. With your currt injuries, it''s going to be tough to recover without some serious rest."Jeremy insisted, his tone turning more serious.


    Under Jeremy''s urging, Ritchie finally decided to go to bed. Before he did, Jeremy made sure to administer two healing potions to him.


    Once he was certain that Ritchie was stable and had no furtherplications, Jeremy headed to the living room.


    At this momt, Emma and ire were anxiously waiting for Jeremy in the living room.


    "How is Ritchie doing? Is he going to be alright?" Emma and ire hurriedly inquired the momt Jeremy appeared.


    "Although his injuries are quite severe, I managed to return in time. Once Bjamin''s supplies arrive, Ritchie''s wounds will heal rapidly."


    Jeremy reassured them, which brought a measure of relief to both Emma and ire.


    They knew full well that Ritchie had gott so severely injured in the process of protecting them. Once reassured, their atttion naturally shifted to Jeremy.


    Noticing that he didn''t seem to be in as good a condition as they had hoped.


    "What exactly happed to you in the instance? Why didn''t you use your familiar skills during the fight with Kean?"


    ire, being Jeremy''s psychologist, was particrly attuned to his usual fighting style.


    She knew that Jeremy oft relied on his skills during battles, but he hadn''t used any against Kean.


    Jeremy sighed deeply.


    "I can no longer use my previously acquired skills for the time being. I may only be able to rely on the new skills I obtained."


    Jeremy''s words caused Emma and ire''s hearts to tight with concern.


    "You must have countered significant trouble in the instance, didn''t you? We feel so useless, unable to face Kean on our own. If we could have handled him, you wouldn''t have needed to rush back so frantically."


    Emma said, her voice tinged with self-reproach.


    Emma felt a deep sse of guilt, believing that as Jeremy''s teacher, she should have be the one providing him with support. Instead, it had always be Jeremy who helped her.


    Ssing Emma''s emotional turmoil, Jeremy quickly interjected.


    "Actually, this instance trip, despite its troubles, also provided me with some unexpected opportunities. I countered two incredibly powerful allies there.


    These allies might provide us with substantial support in our uing deavors, so there''s no need for you to worry so much."


    Realizing the conversation was bing too heavy, Jeremy decided to steer it in a differt direction. After all, the currt topic was getting a bit too somber.


    "I suppose  of you have had a meal yet, right? I hav''t eat either, and I''m already feeling quite famished. Would you two mind preparing something to eat, or are you thinking of ordering takeout?" Jeremy suggested, his tone light-hearted.


    Emma and ire, naturally, would never let Jeremy resort to ordering takeout. They immediately decided to head to the kitch to prepare a meal.


    "You''re absolutely right, we''re feeling a bit hungry too. Just wait here for a while, and we''ll soon bring out some of your favorite dishes."Emma assured, her voice full of warmth.


    With Emma and ire heading off to cook, the smile on Jeremy''s face finally faded away.


    After leaving the instance, he had plunged straight into the battle with Kean. During the fight, he hadn''t had the luxury to assess his own condition.


    Thus, he could only meticulously assess his condition after the battle had concluded.


    However, the momt he began his examination, he was tak aback by what he discovered.


    The problem he faced was not merely the sealing of his previously acquired skills. Due to his repeated use of the Hourss of Time within the instance, his lifespan had be drastically shorted. Each use of the Hourss of Time shaved off three months of his life, and the more frequtly he used it, the greater the loss became.


    To his utter shock, Jeremy realized he only had three months left to live.


    If he couldn''t find a way to extd his lifespan within that time frame, he would be dead in three months.


    "Time is clearly not on my side."Jeremy thought, a sse of urgcy gripping him. "I must find a way to extd my life as soon as possible. Perhaps Kean knows how, but he would never willingly help me.


    Apart from Kean, Bjamin and Howard might have the necessary information. But what pre should I use to approach them? I must keep the fact that my life is nearing its d a secret."


    Jeremy hesitated for a momt.


    He could indeed seek help from others, but once he revealed that his life was nearing its d, there was no telling what additional thoughts they might have.


    This could very likely make Jeremy''s situation ev moreplicated and worse.


    After contemting for a while, Jeremy decided to rest first. He would think about his next course of action once he was well-rested.

 Chapter 134: Recuperation After the Crisis

    Jeremy had a blissful sleep and didn''t wake up until the afternoon of the following day.


    "It''s be ages since I had such a peaceful rest."Jeremy remarked as he stretchedzily and slowly got out of bed.


    Immediately, he noticed a bowl of Spaghetticed on the bedside table.


    Clearly, Emma and ire had prepared it while he was asleep.


    To sure that Jeremy could joy the Spaghettias soon as he woke up, with the vor and ure remaining impable, they had thoughtfully ced a small heater underneath the bowl.


    "How considerate of them.""I suppose I should spd more time with both of them during this period."


    Jeremy mused with a smile.


    He realized that he had be spding too much time in the instance and had somewhat neglected Emma and ire.


    As Jeremy was joying his Spaghetti, Emma walked into the room.


    Seeing that he was awake, she smiled and said.


    "You''re finally up. ire and I were just worried that you might sleep until eving."


    "How could I sleep until eving? If I did, who would take care of the two of you?"


    Jeremy replied, causing a slight blush to appear on Emma''s cheeks.


    "Is your body in good shape now?" Emma inquired after a momt of silce.


    Jeremy nodded, th shook his head.


    "My body is fine, but all my skills have be sealed. I need to find a way to break the seal as soon as possible."


    Jeremy chose not to disclose the grim news that he only had a few months left to live.


    He knew that revealing such information would surely devastate Emma.


    Despite a hint of worry on her face, Emma continued to believe that Jeremy could ovee any obstacle.


    "What can I do to help? Just tell me what you need, and I''ll do it."Emma offered, eager to assist Jeremy in any way she could.


    Despite the dangers she had faced while Jeremy was in the instance, she didn''t me him.


    She believed that her ownck of strgth was the real issue.


    Emma thought that if she had ev a fraction of Jeremy''s power, she wouldn''t have be helpless against Kean.


    Thus, she was determined to quickly improve her own abilities to better support Jeremy.


    Jeremy looked at Emma with a mixture of surprise and admiration.


    He could clearly hear the regret and urgcy in her voice. He also ssed her deep guilt for not being able to assist him. Trying to ease her feelings, he quickly said.


    "There is indeed something I need you to do."


    "Tell me right away. I''ll make sure toplete whatever task you give me."


    Emma responded, her face lighting up with a determined smile.


    "I need you to find Bonnie. She should have also returned to the real world by now. I want to know her currt situation."Jeremy requested.


    Emma''s expression froze momtarily at the mtion of Bonnie''s name.


    A suspicion formed in her mind, Jeremy''s concern for Bonnie seemed unusually intse.


    "What''s wrong? Is there a problem?"


    Jeremy asked with a hint of concern upon seeing Emma standing still.


    Emma shook her head and quickly left the room.


    As she walked into the living room, she countered ire.


    "Jeremy is awake now. If you want to see him, you should go."Emma said with a touch of disappointmt in her voice.


    ire was puzzled by Emma''s expression.


    "What happed? Why do you look so down?"


    Emma recounted her conversation with Jeremy to ire. ire, too, began to form her own suspicions.


    "Regardless of the circumstances, Bonnie must have helped Jeremy in the instance. It''s only natural for him to be concerned about her. We shouldn''t overthink it."


    ire tried to reassure Emma.Emma nodded in agreemt and th left the house.


    Wh ire tered Jeremy''s room, she smiled and scrutinized him closely.


    As his psychologist, ire was more familiar with Jeremy''s condition than anyone else. She could see that he hadrgely recovered.


    "It seems I no longer need to worry. Your physical condition has significantly improved."ire remarked. It was only th that Jeremy noticed her presce in the room.


    "You''re right. I''ve almost fully recovered."


    Jeremy affirmed casually.They chatted for a while, discussing the evts that had transpired in the real world while Jeremy was in the instance.


    "It seems Kean had long nned to target me. It was only because I tered the instance that he couldn''t find me and thus aimed at you instead. The dangers you faced were indeed caused by me."Jeremy remarked with a hint of regret.


    ire quickly interjected, "This isn''t your fault! Only a scum like Kean would do such a thing. No one else would stoop to such actions.


    All the me lies solely with Kean. You mustn''t me yourself. What we need to focus on now is seeking revge against Kean, we must sure he pays the price!"


    ire harbored deep restmt towards Kean.


    Unlike Emma, who had a more straightforward way of thinking, ire had pieced together the insidious nature of Kean''s actions after the evts had unfolded.


    Jeremy fully agreed with ire''s stimt.


    But he also recognized that seeking immediate revge against Kean would involve numerousplications.


    "You''re absolutely right, we must avge ourselves against him someday. However, I''m not yet at my peak condition, and he''s undoubtedly hiding in the capital.


    Do you think we can just storm into the Lannisters'' stronghold in the capital and drag him out to face justice?


    The risks are far too high.


    Moreover, those who have previously assisted us would certainly oppose such a reckless move."Jeremy reasoned, maintaining his pragmatic approach.


    Though Jeremy was a man who believed in retribution, he was also highly rational. In the currt situation, he knew that confronting Kean directly would lead to conflicts with other federal forces. Jeremy needed the support of the federation''s powers at this juncture.


    ire sighed, seemingly resigned to ept Jeremy''s perspective.


    "So, what do you think we should do next? Are we just going to sit a and do nothing?"


    "Of course not! From what I know, several new instances have appeared a Moonlight City. Our next move should be to tackle these instances."Jeremy dered with a determined look.


    While eating his Spaghetti, Jeremy meticulously formted his next course of action.


    Giv that all his skills had be sealed, it was imperative for him to devise a n to acquire new abilities through an instance. Additionally, within the instance, he might ev discover a method to extd his lifespan.


    This strategy prested several advantages.On the one hand, the risk was rtively low.


    Besides him and his frids, there were also other federal forces in the Moonlight CityThese forces could provide assistance if Jeremy and his team countered any danger.


    On the other hand, this approach would allow him to further solidify his rtionship with Bjamin.


    Although Jeremy''s own power was formidable, confronting the Lannisters, who backed Kean, required the support of other powerful factions.


    The White Family, which controlled the Federal Intelligce Bureau, was certainly a force strong ough to rival the Lannisters.


    Moreover, during his time in the instance, Jeremy''s bond with Bonnie had deeped. He believed that Bonnie would be instrumtal in facilitatingmunication with the White Family.


    After patitly listing to Jeremy''sprehsive strategy, ire concluded that the likelihood of its sess was exceedingly high.


    "Wh do you n to tackle the instances a Moonlight City? I would like to join you, as I see this as a prime opportunity to hance my own abilities."she inquired, her eyes filled with determination.


    Like Emma, ire felt that her skills were somewhatcking.


    If she wished to provide more substantial assistance to Jeremy, she needed to significantly elevate her own strgth.


    Jeremy, having savored thest bite of his Spaghetti, promptly responded, "It''s getting quitete today, and I still need to meet with Bonnie. So, let''s n to handle the instances a the capital tomorrow.


    You can also use the remaining time today to make thorough preparations. Considering that my skills have be sealed, should we counter any dangers within the instance, you won''t be able to rely tirely on my assistance."Jeremy warned, his voice imbued with a note of caution.


    ire nodded firmly, her determination clear in her eyes.


    "Alright th, I''ll go back right now to get ready."She dered, choosing to leave without further ado.


    Not long after ire had departed, the phone by Jeremy''s bedside rang abruptly, slicing through the quiet room.


    Upon answering, he immediately recognized Bonnie''s voice on the other d,ced with a mix of urgcy and concern.


    "I hope we can meet as soon as possible. Emma has filled me in on your situation. If your condition allows, I would like to see you at my home this eving."Bonnie conveyed, her words imbued with a sse of immediacy.


    Without a momt''s hesitation, Jeremy responded, "Absolutely, no problem at all. I''ll set off right away!" His voice was resolute, reflecting his readiness to spring into action.

 Chapter 135: A Letter from the World

    After hanging up Bonnie''s call, Jeremy swiftly got dressed and headed towards Bonnie''s house with the utmost urgcy.


    Giv that Bonnie was Bjamin''s daughter, it was no surprise that she resided in the city cter.


    In less than half an hour, Jeremy found himself standing outside Bonnie''s residce. Before he could ev ring the doorbell, the door swung op as if in anticipation of his arrival.


    "I must apologize, mymunication with Miss Bonnie wasn''t particrly smooth, causing you the trouble ofing here in person."Emma said, her expression strained as she offered her apologies to Jeremy inside Bonnie''s home.


    "It''s nothing, really. I think you''ve done an excellt job. You can head back now."


    Jeremy replied with a warm smile.


    Understanding all too well that Bonnie likely withheld crucial information from Emma, making it difficult for her tomunicate effectively.


    Emma''s face disyed a hint of awkwardness.


    "Alright th, I''ll take my leave."


    Once Emma had departed, Bonnie addressed Jeremy directly, her tone leaving no room for ambiguity.


    "Emma seemed quite troubled. She''s not just upset with me, she''s also ming you."


    Bonnie remarked, her ssitivity to Emma''s emotional state evidt.


    Bonnie had always be exceptionally skilled at reading people, a talt that now served her well in understanding theplexities of Emma''s feelings.


    Jeremy, however, was unfazed by this matter, his primary concerny in understanding how Bonnie had managed to return.


    "This issue is insignificant. You must have received assistance from ''The World'' toe back to the real world, right?


    How exactly did he do it? What''s his currt situation?" Jeremy inquired, his voice tinged with urgcy.


    Since leaving the instance, Jeremy had lost contact with both ''The World'' and the ss change goddess Janna.


    He was exceedingly eager to find out how those two individuals were faring at the momt.


    Bonnie hastily interjected.


    "I understand these matters are of greater importance. However, we must sure our conversation remains private. Ar''t you concerned about eavesdroppers?"


    Prompted by Bonnie''s reminder, Jeremy realized his impatice had clouded his judgmt.


    Under Bonnie''s guidance, he followed her to the most secluded room in her home.


    Once there, Bonnie divulged everything she knew.


    "Let me start from the day we parted ways. After we separated, I continued along the path you indicated with the rest of the Heber caravan.


    It wasn''t long before we noticed a dramatic transformation in the Land of Eternal Night. The sky, once devoid of any light, was suddly illuminated by a dazzling radiance.


    To escape the scorching sunlight, we sought refuge in a cave. It was there that I countered one of ''The World''s'' Puppets."


    Bonnie''s ount corresponded to the momt wh the ss change goddess Janna oped a portal, bringing the sun to the Land of Eternal Night.


    The arrival of the sun not only subjected Jeremy to reltless assaults of light and heat but also flooded the tire Land of Eternal Night with blinding brilliance.


    "Initially, I didn''t recognize his true idtity. I simply assumed he was another lost soul wandering the Land of Eternal Night like us."Bonnie began, her tone reflective.


    "Moreover, wh we first countered each other, he barely spoke. His Puppet seemed dazed and unresponsive until the momt the sunlight abruptly vanished."


    Bonnie''s ount aligned with the momt Jeremy had exerted all his strgth to shatter ''The World''s'' seal.


    With the seal brok, the Puppet left behind in the Land of Eternal Night regained some semnce of consciousness.


    "The Puppet''s expression suddly became remarkably animated. Not only did he transport all of us to a safe location, but before sding me back to the real world, he handed me a letter."


    Bonnie continued. With that, she produced a blue velope from her pocket, adorned with intricate andvish patterns.


    "I couldn''t op the letter, it seems to be sealed with some kind of chantmt. And since ''The World'' mtioned it was meant for you, only you should have the right to op it."


    Jeremy swiftly took the letter that Bonnie handed to him.


    The momt the velope touched his hand, he heard ''The World''s'' voice resonating in his ears.


    "If you can hear this, it means you''ve returned to the real world. I must warn you that other nners of the apocalypse game are closely monitoring your actions.


    They are not only targeting you directly but can also coborate with other humans. Be wary of traitors among your own kind."


    ''The World''s'' words immediately brought Kean to Jeremy''s mind.


    If Kean were to coborate with the nners of the apocalypse game, the danger Jeremy faced would escte dramatically.


    "My currt situation is not tirely dire, yet it is far from ideal."''The World'' began to exin. "Although I have sessfully freed myself from the seal, thebined strgth of the other nners of the apocalypse game remains formidable.


    Their concerted efforts have significantly curtailed my ability to assist you further. The gemstone I provided you with earlier has the power to continually extd your lifespan.


    However, it is imperative that you keep this gemstone hidd from others. If anyone else were to shatter it, your lifespan would instantly plummet to just sev days."


    Jeremy was tak aback by the severe drawback associated with the gemstone ''The World'' had giv him. Fortunately, he had never shown the gemstone to anyone else.


    "Lastly, I must urge you to rapidly hance your strgth and level in the real world. If you fail to do so, the White Tower will find you before the next trial arrives.


    The White Tower is intimately familiar with you, he knows all your strgths and weaknesses. This means that if he locates you, defeating him would be nearly impossible."


    The mtion of the White Tower caught Jeremy off guard, he had never heard of this particr nner of the apocalypse game before. However, the fact that the White Tower was a nner implied that his power was on par with that of the Sun.


    As ''The World''s'' voice faded, the blue velope in Jeremy''s hand also dissipated into nothingness. Bonnie looked at Jeremy with a hint of anxiety and asked, "What did the letter say? Does it offer any help for our currt situation?"


    Pulled back to the prest by her question, Jeremy finally responded.


    "The letter mainly stressed the importance of rapidly hancing our own strgth. In fact, I''ve already devised a n of action.


    There are several instances a Moonlight City that we should deal with promptly. This will not only boost our abilities but also sure the safety of Moonlight City."


    Jeremy had no inttion of disclosing all the information he had received.


    Although he trusted that Bonnie would never betray him, he believed that keeping secrets to himself was the safest course of action.


    After all, what if Bonnie inadverttly revealed ssitive information for some other reason?


    Moreover, Jeremy wasn''t just withholding information from Bonnie, he hadn''t shared his secrets with Emma or ire either.


    Bonnie''s expression showed a trace of hesitation after hearing Jeremy''s exnation.


    Bonnie surmised that the information mtioned in the letter from "the World" was likely not as scant as it appeared. However, she also felt that she could not continue pressing the matter.


    For if she did, it would undoubtedly make Jeremy feel as though he were being suspected.


    "Giv the situation, I''ll prepare as quickly as possible. Wh do you n to head out and deal with the instances a Moonlight City?" she asked, trying to focus on the immediate task.


    Deciding not to dwell on it any further, Bonnie resolved to prepare herself and join Jeremy in clearing the instances a Moonlight City.


    Jeremyid out his n sinctly: "Let''s use the remainder of today to get ready. Tomorrow, I''ll bring my frids and you to handle the instances a Moonlight City.


    There''s something important you need to know¡ªmy skills have be sealed. This means my strgth will be somewhat diminished, so you''ll have to rely more heavily on your own abilities wh we counter danger in the instances."


    Bonnie was stunned to hear that Jeremy''s skills had be sealed.


    "How is that possible? Wer''t you able to y a crucial role in the battle betwe ''The Sun'' and ''The World''? Who could have sealed your skills?"


    Jeremy shook his head in response to Bonnie''s question.


    He had no idea who had sealed his skills.


    Although ''The Sun'' possessed the ability to seal skills, there hadn''t be time for him to do so during their confrontation, as ''The Sun'' had be tirely focused on ''The World''.


    Moreover, the other nners of the apocalypse game hadn''t had the opportunity to extd their power into the Land of Eternal Night before ''The Sun'' had fall.


    This situation left Jeremy deeply perplexed.


    As  of the tities he knew capable of sealing his skills seemed likely to have done so. The only pottial suspect was his ally, the ss change goddess Janna.


    "Regardless of who sealed my skills, there''s nothing I can do about it right now. Let''s focus on the tasks we can handle at this momt."he concluded pragmatically.

 Chapter 136: The Iron Lair

    At the outskirts of Moonlight City''s industrial district, four individuals were concealed behind the ruins of a copsed wall, keenly observing the activity within the district.


    These four were none other than Jeremy, Bonnie, Emma, and ire.


    After meticulous preparation, the four set out at dawn, heading directly to the outskirts of Moonlight City''s industrial district. The most perilous new instance in Moonlight City had emerged right within this very industrial zone.


    At that moment, Jeremy could discern several indistinct shadows moving back and forth among the abandoned factories at the district''s edge.


    In the past, Jeremy could have used his skills to identify the nature of these nebulous figures. However, with his abilities now sealed, he had to rely on his experience to gauge the threat level of these shadows.


    "We are merely at the periphery of the instance now. ording to the intelligence I have gathered, other Awakened Ones have dubbed this instance ''The Iron Lair.'' The entrance to the instance should be located within the steel mill at the very heart of the industrial district."Jeremy exined.


    As Benjamin''s daughter, Bonnie naturally had ess to more detailed information.


    Moreover, Bonnie harbored hopes that this mission would proceed seamlessly.


    To that end, she divulged every piece of information she had before they ventured into the industrial district.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement, acknowledging the validity of her insights.


    "Based on my assessment, the shadows we can see pose a rtively low threat level. I''ll handle them first. Once I''ve secured the area, you can follow."Jeremy instructed.


    With that, Jeremy leaped over the copsed wall, sprinting at full speed toward the nearby abandoned factories.


    The shadows lurking within the factories sensed Jeremy''s presence and began converging in his direction.


    In that moment, Jeremy finally gleaned information about these shadows, courtesy of the Eye of Omniscience.


    Name: [Shadow of Machinery]


    Level: [36]


    Rank: [Silver]


    [Tip: Eliminating more than three Shadows of Machinery simultaneously grants bonus experience points.]


    "Perfect, these Shadows of Machinery are already gathering together, saving me the trouble of rounding them up."


    Jeremy thought, noting how the characteristics of the Shadows aligned perfectly with the Eye of Omniscience''s hint.


    Jeremy stood his ground, patiently waiting for a sufficient number of Shadows of Machinery to converge around him.


    When the gathered Shadows of Machinery exceeded six in number, Jeremyunched his attack without a moment''s hesitation.


    Despite his abilities being sealed and the majority of his equipment lost during previous battles in the instance.


    He was confident that his superior level would suffice to annihte these Shadows of Machinery.


    With nothing but his bare hands, Jeremy dispatched all six Shadows of Machinery simultaneously. Immediately afterward, he heard an additional notification.


    [Shadow of Machinery eliminated, experience points gained: 14,106]


    [Shadow of Machinery eliminated, experience points gained: 14,105]


    [Shadow of Machinery eliminated, experience points gained: 14,103]


    ...


    [Eliminated more than three Shadows of Machinery, bonus experience points gained: 113,463]


    Remarkably, the bonus experience points Jeremy earned surpassed the total experience points from the six Shadows of Machinerybined.


    This significant influx of experience points propelled Jeremy to nearly one-third of the way to level 41. If he could navigate through the Iron Lair instance smoothly, he might even reach level 42.


    After eliminating all the Shadows of Machinery in the abandoned factory, Jeremy scanned his surroundings once more. Only after confirming there were no remaining threats did he wave towards the other three.


    "Jeremy must have taken out all the enemies. Let''s head over there quickly and not waste any more time."Bonnie dered as she leaped from behind the half-copsed wall. Emma and ire promptly followed suit, trailing closely behind her.


    Once the trio regrouped with Jeremy, they continued to advance through the abandoned factory towards the industrial district.


    As they approached the heart of the industrial district, the environment around them began to undergo a gradual and noticeable transformation.


    The abandoned factories on the periphery of the industrial district, though somewhat dpidated, were rtively unremarkable. However, the closer they ventured towards the core of the industrial district, the stranger the structures of the factories became.


    In the heart of the industrial district, the derelict machinery seemed toe to life at certain moments, as if animated by an unseen force. These pieces of equipment had fused seamlessly with the architecture of the factories, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.


    Both the mechanical equipment and the factory structures appeared to have taken on a life of their own. Moreover, amidst the iron staircases of the factories, they could discern vein-like formations.


    "What on earth is this? Why do I have the unsettling sensation that something is flowing beneath these dark crimson floors?" irewondered aloud.


    ire, a psychologist by profession and someone who had awakened a remarkable psychic ability, was particrly sensitive to the nuances of her surroundings.


    Although she saw no living beings, ire couldn''t shake the feeling that something sentient was present around them.


    ire''s question cast a shadow of concern over the faces of the other three.


    Bonnie furrowed her brow, fully aware that ire''s perceptions were rarely, if ever, mistaken. In the industrial district, it was an unsettling but epted fact that certain pieces of equipment had indeede to life.


    Although the reasons behind this bizarre phenomenon remained a mystery, there was a significant likelihood that these animated machines could pose a threat to their safety.


    "Let''s not concern ourselves with this for now. We need to keep moving forward. Our primary objective is to reach the entrance of the instance as quickly as possible."Bonnie urged, her voice tinged with urgency.


    Bonnie instructed, though she hadn''t yet shared her intel. Jeremy interjected before she could continue, urging ire to disregard the unsettling surroundings.


    Given Jeremy''s insistence, ire chose not to press the issue further.


    Despite the lingering worry etched on her face. She quickened her pace, falling in step with the group.


    Standing beside ire, Emma had remained silent, yet she too experienced sensations remarkably simr to ire''s.


    Her awakened ability was intrinsically linked to life itself, granting her the acute awareness that their surroundings were popted by hybrids of machinery and organic life forms.


    While Emma felt an urge to alert Jeremy, the expression on his face ultimately convinced her to hold her tongue.


    The group weaved through thebyrinth of abandoned factories. After about half an hour, they arrived at a magnificent steel mill.


    The steel mill was expansive, with a towering chimney at its center continuously belching ck smoke.


    "This is the entrance to The Iron Lair instance." Bonnie announced. "Before we enter the steel mill, we need to make all necessary preparations."


    At this point, Bonnie retrieved four protective masks from her backpack.


    "ording to my intel, the steel mill contains toxic gases that can poison humans. To prevent immediate poisoning upon entry, you must wear these masks."She instructed, donning one herself. Without hesitation, Jeremy followed suit, securing a mask over his face.


    Emma and ire, seeing the others, promptly put on their masks as well.


    Once adequately protected, the four of them stepped into the steel mill.


    The moment the steel mill''s massive gates swung open, a dense cloud of ck smoke surged forward, enveloping the four individuals in its acrid embrace.


    Despite wearing protective masks, they could distinctly perceive the metallic tang of rust and the pungent odor of charred coal permeating the air.


    "Is the steel mill still operational?" Emma asked, her voice tinged with surprise.


    To her, the notion seemed inconceivable. Even if the entrance to The Iron Lair instance posed dangers, the idea of it still actively functioning was startling. Could the monsters spawned by the apocalypse game actually be manipting the mill''s machinery?


    No one answered Emma''s question. ire had no insights to offer, and Jeremy and Bonnie considered the query unworthy of a response.


    "How are you all holding up? Can you handle this environment? If so, let''s proceed further into the steel mill."


    Jeremymunicated with the group.


    Receiving affirmative responses, Jeremy led the way into the steel mill.


    The entire facility was shrouded in dense ck smoke, but once inside, their visibility remained surprisingly unaffected.


    It seemed the smoke did not obstruct light.


    The four noticed that the interior of the steel mill was meticulously organized. At the far end of their field of vision, they could see molten steel emitting a reddish-yellow glow.


    Being continuously forged into metal through molds.


    "The steel mill is indeed still operational, and it''s likely producing the very enemies we''ve encountered around the industrial district."


    Jeremy mused aloud, recalling the adversaries they had faced. Aside from a few mechanical anomalies, most of their foes were metallic constructs.


    Despite their vast numbers, these metal enemies were individually weak and appeared tock any form of intelligence.


    As Jeremy and the others observed the relentless operation of the smelting furnaces, a grating sound of mechanical friction emanated from the depths of the steel mill.


    [Note: Defeating the Furnace King before entering the instance will yield greater instance rewards.]

 Chapter 137: Furnace King

    The insights provided by the Eye of Omniscience not only guided Jeremy on how to secure additional rewards but also offered him unexpected pieces of information.


    Jeremy had already discerned that the creature advancing toward them bore the name "Furnace King."


    The name "Furnace King" itself suggests a significant connection between this creature and the steel mill''s furnaces. It is even conceivable that this monster might have been formed from the very furnaces of the steel mill.


    "Jeremy, did you hear something? It seems like something is approaching us."Bonnie said, her voice tinged with concern as she, too, picked up on the advancing sounds of the Furnace King.


    With a slightly worried expression on her face, she asked Jeremy, "Did you hear that?"


    Jeremy nodded, acknowledging her concern.


    "Everyone, prepare forbat. A formidable creature called Furnace King is heading our way. We may not be able to defeat it, so my strategy is to bypass it entirely!"


    Given the prompt from the Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy knew that eliminating the Furnace King before entering the instance wasn''t an option.


    His current situation demanded a high level of skill and powerful weaponry, and he was determined not to forgo any opportunity for additional rewards.


    The other three members of the group showed no signs of surprise. They trusted Jeremy''s judgment and were ready to follow his lead.


    Because they all understood that when confronted with an invincible adversary, the logical course of action was to find an alternative route.


    As the four of them braced themselves for whaty ahead, the furnaces around them suddenly ceased operation. Molten steel, in its liquid state, spilled uncontrobly from their containers.


    "Quickly, fall back! The temperature of this molten steel is incredibly high! Even with your awakened abilities, you could still suffer severe injuries from it."Jeremy urgently warned.


    Prompted by Jeremy''s warning, the others swiftly began to retreat.


    However, Jeremy himself did not join them in their backward withdrawal.


    He needed to witness firsthand the full extent of Furnace King''s power. Despite his decision to circumvent the Furnace King, it was crucial for him to gauge the monster''s strength.


    After all, to exit the industrial district once theypleted The Iron Lair instance, he would ultimately need to defeat the Furnace King.


    As Jeremy watched intently, a monstrous entity gradually emerged within his field of vision¡ªan amalgamation of various industrial machinery, emitting a continuous glow of red and yellow light and steam from its many seams.


    This creature was none other than the Furnace King.


    Name: [Furnace King]


    Level: [Level 44]


    Rank: [Gold]


    Special Attributes: [Steel Mill Area Boss, Guardian of The Iron Lair]


    [Note: Ice-based attacks can inflict greater damage on the Furnace King.]


    The moment Jeremy grasped the details about the Furnace King, he found himself enveloped in a cloud of extremely hot steam.


    "Though you appear cumbersome, your attack speed is anything but slow! However, if you think you can defeat me with such tactics, you''re sorely mistaken!"


    Jeremy eximed as he gripped the precious gemstone obtained from the World and dashed out of the scalding steam at breakneck speed, racing toward the other three.


    Bonnie was the first to spot Jeremy. The moment she saw him, she realized he was surrounded by extremely hot steam.


    Without hesitation, she drew her staff and, with a swift gesture, cast a Blizzard spell.


    As a frost spell, Blizzard could rapidly lower the surrounding temperature, transforming the intense steam into a misty rain.


    "Thank you for the assist, but now''s not the time for gratitude!" Jeremy acknowledged Bonnie''s help without missing a beat.


    "The Furnace King is incredibly powerful. While your frost spells can counteract him to some extent, defeating him together would still consume a lot of time.


    Therefore, I need you to use your frost magic to immobilize him. During the time he''s trapped, we must advance further into the steel mill.


    I''ve already scouted the area,the entrance to The Iron Lair instance isn''t far from here. If we can restrain the Furnace King for just a few minutes, it''ll be enough for us to enter The Iron Lair."


    Jeremy, with the utmost speed, conveyed his line of thought to Bonnie in meticulous detail.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Bonnie wholeheartedly endorsed Jeremy''s n.


    Bonnie sped her staff firmly, her eyes immediately beginning to glow with an intense blue light. A formidable surge of frosty power emanated from within her, cascading outward.


    Guided by the staff, this overwhelming wave of icy energy coalesced into an imposing ice coffin.


    "[IcyCoffin]!"


    Bonnie invoked her most powerful skill without hesitation.


    The [IcyCoffin]not only possessed formidable frost power, capable of significantly countering fire-based monsters, but it also had the ability to confine the space around its target.


    An entirely ice-formed coffin encapsted the Furnace King. Although the Furnace King wasn''t severely damaged, he found it difficult to break free from the icy prison.


    "Let''s move quickly while we have the chance!" urged Jeremy.


    Thus, Jeremy, apanied by the other three, pressed on deeper into the heart of the steel mill.


    As the group advanced, the steel mill itself underwent dramatic transformations. Thework of pipesid beneath the mill seemed toe to life, merging seamlessly with the machinery within the facility to form grotesque, monstrous entities.


    These monstrous had a singr target: Jeremy. They paid no attention to Bonnie, who wielded frost magic.


    Jeremy couldn''t help but feel a tinge of confusion.


    From his perspective, the monsters of the steel mill should have recognized Bonnie as the greater threat due to her frost abilities. Why then, were they focusing their attacks solely on him?


    Despite his puzzlement, Jeremy knew there was no immediate solution to his questions.


    He also understood the importance of keeping everyone''s focus on finding the entrance to The Iron Lair.


    Through their coordinated efforts, the group soon arrived at the entrance to The Iron Lair, located in an office at the very heart of the steel mill.


    "It seems there are no other monsters around here. I''ll stay behind to hold off those pursuing us. The rest of you, quickly enter The Iron Lair instance.


    Once inside, do not rush into action. You must wait for my arrival. Inside the instance, you are not to act without my explicit orders."Jeremy directed.


    Jeremy chose to remain outside because he perceived greater risks there.


    Although The Iron Lair instance was highly challenging, the initial entry posed less immediate danger. The instance''s monsters were likely hidden deep within.


    Without hesitation, the other three followed Jeremy''smand.


    Bonnie was the first to enter The Iron Lair instance, with Emma and ire close behind her.


    After the others had entered the instance, Jeremy indeed encountered a horde of pursuing monsters. He had no intention of wasting time on these monstrous.


    After fending off the nearest monster, he immediately used a gemstone to set up a seal.


    "I have more pressing matters to attend to! Once I emerge from the instance, I''ll deal with all of you."


    Having uttered those words, Jeremy proceeded directly into the instance known as The Iron Lair.


    The moment Jeremy stepped into The Iron Lair instance, the monsters that had been hot on his trail suddenly froze in ce.


    Near the office housing the entrance to The Iron Lair, the massive form of the Furnace King reappeared.


    With his glowing red eyes fixed on the entrance, the Furnace King spoke slowly, "I havepleted the task assigned to me by my master. The rest is up to you."


    As the Furnace King finished speaking, a mechanical, raspy voice echoed in his ears.


    "I am fully prepared. No matter who enters the instance, they will face eternal damnation. Not a single human will leave The Iron Lair alive."


    Upon hearing those words, the Furnace King opted to return to his original position.


    The monsters that had been pursuing Jeremy also gradually retreated, reverting to their previous forms. The steel mill returned to its former tranquility.


    The furnaces and production lines, which had ceased operation due to Jeremy''s presence, resumed their relentless activity.


    The furnaces and production lines continuously churned out monsters capable of posing significant threats to humanity. Moreover, the strength and intelligence of these monsters were steadily increasing.


    If Jeremy cannot quickly close the instance of The Iron Lair, the threats facing Moonlight City will grow increasingly severe. Ultimately, the entire Moonlight City could be destroyed by the iron army.


    However, at the moment, Jeremy is unaware of this information. All he knows right now is that he must obtain more rewards within the instance of The Iron Lair.


    Standing at the entrance of The Iron Lair instance, Jeremy''s expression turned somewhat grim. To his dismay, he was confronted with an endless expanse of deste wastnd.


    In front of himy a vast, deste desert stretching as far as the eye could see, making Jeremy feel as if he had somehow been transported back to the Land of Eternal Night.

 Chapter 138: The Mechanical Amalgamation

    Aside from Jeremy, Bonnie was equally astounded by the destendscape of The Iron Lair instance.


    She appeared to be reminiscing about her experiences in the Land of Eternal Night, as if the memories from that enigmatic ce were slowly resurfacing in her mind.


    A look of profound distress crossed Bonnie''s face as if she were recalling a deeply sorrowful experience. At that moment, Jeremy unexpectedly ced his hand on Bonnie''s shoulder.


    "Focus on the current instance." Jeremy advised, his tone steady and reassuring. "The deste scenery within the instance is actually a blessing in disguise. At least we don''t have to worry about immediately encountering formidable enemies upon entry."


    Jeremy''s words snapped Bonnie back to reality.


    Emma and ire, however, didn''t seem to catch the underlying nuance in his statement.


    With Jeremy leading the way, the group continued to venture deeper into The Iron Lair instance. After traversing the barren wastnd, they soon came upon an oil refinery.


    At this moment, ck smoke continued to billow from the st furnaces of the oil refinery, suggesting that the entire facility was still in operation.


    Jeremy scrutinized the refinery closely, a nagging suspicion gnawing at him that a pair of unseen eyes was fixated on him.


    "Should we directly enter the oil refinery? After all, it''s the first significant location we''ve encountered since entering the instance."


    ire inquired of Jeremy, her tone earnest.


    Although ire had not ventured into many instances, her profession as a psychologist and her awakening to mental abilities provided her with unique insights.


    Thus, she remembered Jeremy''s previous words with remarkable rity.


    Jeremy had once told her that the first building encountered upon entering an instance would invariably conceal the key clues necessary for clearing the entire instance.


    Jeremy nodded in affirmation.


    "Of course, we need to enter the oil refinery! However, until we''re certain it''s safe, I want you all to stay outside. I''ll go in first to scout the area."


    With that, Jeremy sped toward the refinery with unprecedented swifness.


    ire and Emma exchanged looks of mild astonishment at Jeremy''s decision.


    "Wait a second, why don''t you let use with you?" ire called after him.


    "We can easily apany you in there."


    Almost simultaneously, ire and Emma called out to Jeremy.


    "Nothing you say will change Jeremy''s mind. That''s just how he is¡ªonce he''s decided on something, he''ll see it through."


    Bonnie remarked calmly, standing beside ire and Emma.


    ire and Emma harbored a subtle sense of resentment towards Bonnie. They felt that Bonnie didn''t regard them with the respect they deserved.


    Moreover, it was ire and Emma who had spent considerably more time with Jeremy, thus logically, they should be the ones possessing a deeper understanding of him.


    What right did Bonnie have to presume she knew Jeremy better than they did?


    "Well, no wonder you''re Benjamin''s daughter. You seem to have figured Jeremy out in such a short time. So why was it that your initial interactions with him were so disastrous?"


    Emma retorted without hesitation, her voice tinged with sarcasm.


    As Bonnie and Jeremy''s mentor, Emma was well-acquainted with the dynamics of their rtionship. She knew that Bonnie had initially looked down on Jeremy.


    "I didn''t truly see him for who he was back then. I mistakenly lumped him in with those other hypocritical, rash individuals. But after a series of events, I''vee to understand that Jeremy is entirely different from them." Bonnie responded, her tone reflective and sincere.


    Emma was not entirely convinced by Bonnie''s response.


    She still believed Bonnie was lying.


    Emma wanted to press further, but ire intervened, stopping her.


    "Since we''ve already entered the instance, we should focus all our energy on navigating it. Although we haven''t encountered any danger yet, we must still be prepared forbat." ire said firmly.


    ire''s words silenced both Emma and Bonnie.


    The three of them turned their attention back to the direction of the oil refinery.


    By this time, Jeremy had reached the entrance of the oil refinery.


    At this moment, Jeremy had already arrived at the entrance of the oil refinery.


    He did not rashly venture into the refinery, for he could sense the presence of something extraordinarily terrifying within its confines.


    Finally, on the eastern side of the refinery, Jeremy discovered a small door. Seeing no immediate danger, he used the small door to enter the refinery.


    Inside the refinery, there were no humanoid creatures to be found.


    All the equipment in the oil refinery was operating smoothly and methodically, as if everything was running on autopilot.


    After advancing a short distance, Jeremy suddenly noticed that some of the refinery''s machinery was emitting a blue glow. Just as Jeremy was about to investigate further, the glowing equipment transformed into monsters.


    Name: [Mechanical Aberration]


    Level: [Level 37]


    Rank: [Silver]


    [Note: Defeat the Mechanical Aberration within 10 seconds to receive an additional skill book.]


    The moment the Eye of Omniscience provided its tip, Jeremy channeled all his strength into his fist. With a single, powerful punch, he struck the Mechanical Aberration before him.


    Despite not utilizing any special skills, Jeremy''s high level endowed him with formidable power. His initial punch sent the Mechanical Aberration crashing to the ground.


    Aware that a single blow wouldn''t suffice to eliminate his foe, Jeremy immediately followed up with a flurry of punches.


    As the 10-second countdown concluded, a skill book bathed in silver light materialized before him.


    Name: [Basic Mechanical Mastery]


    Quality: [Silver]


    Skill Description: [Upon mastering this skill, the user can swiftly identify the type and weaknesses of basic mechanical equipment. With sufficient practice, the user deals 20% more damage to mechanical-type monsters.]


    "This skill will be incredibly useful for my exploration of The Iron Lair! Seems like my luck isn''t bad after all!"


    Without hesitation, Jeremy picked up the skill book and immediately learned the Basic Mechanical Mastery skill. As the skill book vanished, a torrent of knowledge surged into Jeremy''s mind.


    Jeremy''sprehension of the surrounding machinery had reached a new level.


    He could now articte with remarkable rity the names of the machines, their operating principles, and even their vulnerabilities.


    Simultaneously, Jeremy noticed that within his field of vision, the various machines were distinguished by different colors.


    Some were marked in orange, and upon closer inspection, these orange-marked devices transformed into Mechanical Aberrations.


    "It seems that Basic Mechanical Mastery not only helps me identify different mechanical devices but also allows me to discern which ones have been converted into monsters!"


    At this moment, Jeremy was in exceptionally high spirits. It was beyond his expectations that the very first skill he acquired, after his previous abilities had been sealed, would prove to be of such immense utility.


    He swiftly advanced through the oil refinery, eliminating every Mechanical Aberration he encountered.


    In doing so, he umted enough experience points to bring him to the brink of Level 42.


    Jeremy finally halted in front of a massive steel door.


    He could sense that a formidable boss awaited him on the other side. To challenge this boss, he needed to be fully prepared.


    Surveying his surroundings, Jeremy utilized his storage space to bring along two oil drums. Inbat against mechanical foes, the fire from these oil drums might pose a significant threat.


    After making all necessary preparations, Jeremy reached out and touched the steel door.


    The moment his hand made contact, the door emitted the sound of mechanical gears turning, and it began to slowly open.


    Beyond the doory an expansive hall, its center chaotically strewn with a multitude of damaged mechanical devices.


    The instant the door was fully opened, the disordered machinery seemed to spring to life. Atop the heap, two televisions suddenly emitted a blue glow.


    Almost immediately, the entire pile coalesced into a gigantic monster, which unleashed a sharp mechanical screech in Jeremy''s direction.


    At that moment, The Eye of Omniscience conveyed information about the mechanical monstrosity.


    Name: [The Mechanical Amalgamation]


    Level: [46]


    Rank: [Gold]


    [Note: Defeat this boss as swiftly as possible. The longer the battlests, the stronger the boss bes. Prolongedbat may trigger unpredictable mutations.]


    This time, the guidance from The Eye of Omniscience did not allude to any supplementary rewards. This implicitly suggested that The Mechanical Amalgamation''s power was formidable enough to pose a significant challenge for Jeremy. From the perspective of The Eye of Omniscience, it was already a considerable feat for Jeremy to have the potential to defeat The Mechanical Amalgamation.


    Jeremy''s countenance was marked by an extraordinary tranquility.


    He fully understood that The Eye of Omniscience''s warning signified that The Mechanical Amalgamation was an adversary of considerable difficulty. Nheless, he refused to sumb to panic, for he knew that maintaining hisposure in the face of formidable foes was the optimal strategy.


    "Let''s see just how powerful you truly are! Additionally, I am quite curious to discover what unpredictable mutations might ur if this battle extends beyond a certain point."


    Jeremy muttered to himself. Meanwhile, he reached into his storage space and hurled forward the oil drums he had previously stashed.

 Chapter 139: The Formidable Mechanical Fiend

    The moment Jeremy hurled the fuel canister, he ignited it instantaneously.


    A massive fireball erupted, engulfing The Mechanical Amalgamation in its zing wrath. Jeremy promptly retreated to a safer distance, ensuring he was out of harm''s way.


    From this vantage point, he meticulously surveyed his surroundings, scrutinizing the utility of the various apparatuses scattered throughout the room. His keen observations led him to discover several devices specifically designed to incapacitate other machinery, strategically stored within this chamber.


    "It seems this instance is rather considerate, having conveniently left behind some devices capable of countering The Mechanical Amalgamation!"


    Jeremy eximed with a mixture of relief and determination, as he swiftly positioned himself beside the electrostatic paralysis apparatus.


    However, activating the device required a certain amount of time and effort.


    Although Jeremy had already acquired the Basic Mechanical Mastery skill, efficiently triggering the apparatus demanded the expertise of an Advanced Mechanical Proficiency skill set.


    As Jeremy tirelessly attempted to power up the device, The Mechanical Amalgamation, now engulfed in mes, burst through the doorway with a menacing roar.


    It raised its massive fist, a grotesque amalgamation of various discarded machinery, and swung it forcefully in Jeremy''s direction.


    Naturally, Jeremy wasn''t about to withstand the blow head-on. With agile precision, he deftly evaded the assault, narrowly escaping the mechanical monstrosity''s wrath.


    At the same time, Jeremy retrieved an array of offensive devices he had scavenged from the oil refinery.


    These devices, although primarily designed for refining petroleum in the refinery, could only be employed as makeshift long-range weapons.


    Nevertheless, Jeremy was determined to utilize every avable resource in his desperate bid tobat the relentless Mechanical Amalgamation.


    Jeremy persistently deployed explosives to hinder The Mechanical Amalgamation''s movements, a strategy meticulously designed to buy himself sufficient time to activate the electrostatic paralysis apparatus.


    After approximately ten minutes of relentlessbat, Jeremy seeded in powering up the first electrostatic paralysis device.


    The instant it activated, The Mechanical Amalgamation convulsed violently, as if electrocuted, and copsed to the ground.


    "It seems that those who imprisoned you here anticipated the possibility of your escape." Jeremy mused aloud. "Now, let me put an end to you with these electrostatic paralysis devices!"


    Seizing the opportunity while The Mechanical Amalgamationy incapacitated, Jeremy quickly activated the remaining two electrostatic paralysis devices.


    Thebined effect of all three devices rendered The Mechanical Amalgamation incapable of maintaining its form. It exploded from within, scattering a myriad of discarded machinery across the battle zone.


    Despite the apparent destruction of The Mechanical Amalgamation, Jeremy remained vignt.


    His caution stemmed from the fact that he had not received any notification from The Eye of Omniscience, nor had he gained any experience points. Thisck of confirmation indicated that The Mechanical Amalgamation had not been truly vanquished.


    Under Jeremy''s watchful gaze, the myriad of devices that had once constituted The Mechanical Amalgamation began to coalesce, resurrecting the formidable entity.


    "Could it be that all mechanical monstrosities possess this regenerative ability? If so, dealing with them would be exceedingly troublesome!"


    Jeremy thought, a trace of astonishment flickering in his mind. However, this eventuality was not entirely outside his expectations.


    After all, The Mechanical Amalgamation was a creature of a higher level than Jeremy himself. Such a formidable adversary was unlikely to be vanquished with ease.


    The electrostatic paralysis devices scattered around thebat zone appeared to serve merely as a temporary reprieve for challengers. Ultimately, defeating The Mechanical Amalgamation would require Jeremy''s own relentless effort.


    Seizing the moment while The Mechanical Amalgamation was still in the process of reassembling, Jeremy dashed towards it with unyielding resolve.


    "I must not allow The Mechanical Amalgamation to fully regenerate! If it does, I will be at a severe disadvantage in the ensuing battle!"


    Leveraging the agility and strength afforded by his own level, Jeremy effortlessly leapt onto The Mechanical Amalgamation.


    Utilizing his Basic Mechanical Mastery skill, he swiftly identified the most vulnerableponents among the amalgamation of devices.


    Focusing all his strength into his fists, Jeremy struck these weak points with precision.


    As anticipated, the targetedponents were obliterated under the force of his blows, and a massive fissure began to form on The Mechanical Amalgamation''s body, exactly as Jeremy had envisaged.


    The Mechanical Amalgamation turned its head,posed entirely of damaged disy screens, seemingly locking its gaze onto Jeremy.


    "Staring at me won''t save you! I am determined to destroy you!"


    Jeremy dered, leaping unhesitatingly towards The Mechanical Amalgamation''s head.


    In an instinctive move, The Mechanical Amalgamation raised its remaining intact hand to shield its head, causing Jeremy tond squarely in its palm.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, the mechanical entity clenched its hand tightly, exerting immense pressure.


    Jeremy could feel the overwhelming strength of The Mechanical Amalgamation.


    However, he remainedposed, as he quickly identified several weakponents within the creature''s grasp.


    With a powerful kick, Jeremy destroyed the fragile devices, creating an opening through which he escaped the clutches of The Mechanical Amalgamation.


    Following a series of intense skirmishes, neither Jeremy nor The Mechanical Amalgamation managed to deliver a decisive blow. Both seemed to be at an impasse, unable to gain the upper hand.


    Although Jeremy was able to inflict some damage on The Mechanical Amalgamation with each encounter, the creature''s rapid regeneration posed a significant challenge.


    The Mechanical Amalgamation had the ability to assimte the surrounding damaged machinery, incorporating it into its form.


    To utterly annihte The Mechanical Amalgamation, Jeremy would need to destroy every singleponent thatprised it¡ªa task that seemed almost insurmountable.


    The Mechanical Amalgamation, however, could not eliminate Jeremy either.


    Possessing the Basic Mechanical Mastery skill, Jeremy was adept at identifying the weak points on The Mechanical Amalgamation. Each time he found himself in peril, he managed to escape by striking these vulnerabilities.


    The situation had reached a stalemate, but this was far from advantageous for Jeremy.


    The Eye of Omniscience had already warned that the longer the battle dragged on, the stronger The Mechanical Amalgamation would be.


    Furthermore, prolonging the fight beyond a certain threshold could trigger unpredictable anomalies.


    In this scenario, the pressure weighed heavily on Jeremy.


    "It seems I can''t destroy you here! I won''t waste any more time with you!"


    He eximed, making a swift dash towards the depths of the oil refinery.


    Naturally, The Mechanical Amalgamation was relentless in its pursuit, trailing closely behind Jeremy.


    Along the way, Jeremy encountered other mechanical creatures. However, these were not particrly formidable, so he bypassed them without hesitation.


    These mechanical creatures, intent on taking Jeremy down, barely had a chance to act before being devoured by The Mechanical Amalgamation in its relentless chase.


    As The Mechanical Amalgamation continued to pursue Jeremy, it assimted more and more machinery along the way.


    By the time Jeremy reached the core reactor at the heart of the oil refinery, The Mechanical Amalgamation had grown to a towering height of 40 meters. Its colossal form wreaked havoc with every movement, reducing the refinery''s structures to rubble.


    The entire refinery teetered on the brink of total copse.


    mes and explosions erupted in the wake of The Mechanical Amalgamation''s passage, igniting the refinery''s internal fuel reserves and pushing the facility closer to its ultimate destruction.


    Jeremy halted before the core reactor, turning to face The Mechanical Amalgamation.


    "If you want to destroy me, then keep chasing!"


    He taunted, nimbly leaping onto the core reactor and rapidly scaling it.


    Without any hesitation, The Mechanical Amalgamation charged at the core reactor. As it did so, Jeremy ignited pre-positioned fuel canisters.


    The moment the fuel ignited, it exploded into a zing fireball, setting off a chain reaction that ignited the fuel within the core reactor itself.


    Jeremy swiftly located the sturdiest piece of equipment and took refuge inside. The moment he sealed himself within, the core reactor of the oil refinery erupted in a cataclysmic explosion.


    The Mechanical Amalgamation was engulfed by the massive fireball, and the entire oil refinery was leveled by the intense st. Almost every building and piece of equipment was obliterated.


    Several kilometers away, Bonnie, Emma, and ire were also affected by the sudden, violent explosion.


    The three of them barely managed to hold their ground together, had they not reacted in time, the shockwave would have blown them away.


    Once the shockwave subsided, the scene that unfolded before them was one ofplete devastation¡ªwhat was once the oil refinery had been reduced to ruins.


    For a moment, the trio stood speechless.


    They had been anxiously awaiting Jeremy''s return, and now the unexpected explosion had annihted the entire refinery.


    The thought that Jeremy might have perished in the st struck them simultaneously, and their faces contorted with distress.


    "We have to rescue Jeremy immediately!" Emma shouted, and without hesitation, she sprinted towards the wreckage of the oil refinery.


    Bonnie and ire did not attempt to stop her. Although their reaction times were not as swift as Emma''s, they clearly shared her sense of urgency and raced towards the ruins of the refinery as well.


    After all, the safety of Jeremy was a matter of grave concern for all three of them.

 Chapter 140: High-dimensional data

    Though Emma was the first to dash towards the ruins of the oil refinery, it was Bonnie who arrived there ahead of everyone else.


    After all, Bonnie''s innate talents and her higher level ced her above both Emma and ire.


    Upon reaching the periphery of the wreckage, Bonnie promptly cast a frost spell.


    With a flourish of her staff, two ice-formed birds soared into the depths of the oil refinery''s ruins. At that moment, Bonnie''s eyes were enveloped in a blue radiance.


    What she now perceived was the scene unfolding through the eyes of the ice birds.


    The two ice-formed birds surveyed the entire expanse of the oil refinery''s ruins.


    It appeared as though the refinery had been utterly demolished, with everything engulfed in raging mes. Whether equipment or creatures, all seemed to have beenpletely obliterated.


    "How is it? Have you found any trace of Jeremy?"


    ire, the second to arrive, asked anxiously.


    Aware that her own talents and skills were insufficient for locating Jeremy quickly, ire ced her hopes squarely on Bonnie''s shoulders.


    By this time, the blue glow had faded from Bonnie''s eyes, and her expression bore a slight tinge of disappointment.


    She spoke in a low voice, "I haven''t found Jeremy. It''s as if he has vanished without a trace. However, I am certain he would never leave us so easily. No matter what kind of enemy he faces, he wouldn''t be easily defeated."


    Though Bonnie''s tone was resolute as she spoke, ire could discern the deep worry etched on her face.


    At that moment, Emma finally arrived, her expression one of extreme anxiety, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.


    "What are you doing standing around here?! Do you think you''ll find Jeremy by just staying put? Hurry ande with me into the ruins!"


    Emma''s exasperated words barely left her lips before she dashed towards the wreckage.


    Bonnie and ire quickly grabbed her.


    "Are you out of your mind? Rushing into the ruins now will only put you in immense danger. If Jeremy has toe rescue you, you''ll be a burden to him."


    ire''s words managed to bring Emma to a reluctant but necessary calm.


    Emma copsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrobly.


    "Neither of you care about Jeremy! I''m the only one who worries about his safety!"


    Faced with Emma''s outburst, both ire and Bonnie were momentarily speechless.


    Just as they were about to continue their attempts to console her, Jeremy''s voice suddenly called out from a short distance away.


    "Don''t just stand there! Get to a safe ce immediately!"


    The instant they heard Jeremy''s voice, expressions of immense relief and joy spread across their faces.


    However, upon confirming Jeremy''s safety, the trio suddenly realized the perilous nature of their current location.


    Without wasting any time, they hastily fled in a direction away from the ruins of the oil refinery.


    They had barely made their escape when a violent explosion erupted at the spot where they had just been standing.


    The Mechanical Amalgamation emerged from beneath the ground.


    Its surface now covered in ayer of molten metal. Jeremy''s earlier actions had indeed seeded, but before being entirely consumed by mes, The Mechanical Amalgamation had burrowed underground.


    Upon its emergence, The Mechanical Amalgamation did not pursue Bonnie and the others.


    Instead, it turned its head towards the center of the oil refinery''s ruins, where Jeremy was hiding in an enclosedpartment of equipment.


    At that moment, Jeremy also sensed themotion caused by The Mechanical Amalgamation. Without hesitation, he burst out from the confined equipment chamber.


    "You are unbelievably resilient! After enduring so many attacks, you can still fight. How on earth did you acquire such formidable endurance?"


    He muttered to himself while closing the distance between him and The Mechanical Amalgamation with remarkable speed.


    Realizing that conventional methods had failed to subdue The Mechanical Amalgamation, Jeremy resolved to confront it head-on.


    Utilizing his Basic Mechanical Mastery skill, he swiftly identified the weak points in The Mechanical Amalgamation''s structure.


    Through agile maneuvers and precise strikes to these vulnerable areas, he began to rapidly diminish its strength.


    Although the recent violent explosion had not utterly destroyed The Mechanical Amalgamation, it had significantlypromised its agility and overall structural integrity.


    As the battle wore on, The Mechanical Amalgamation started to fall into a disadvantageous position.


    Jeremy''s relentless assault,bined with his strategic targeting of its weaknesses, was proving effective.


    However, what Jeremy failed to notice was that another form of energy seemed to be steadily gathering within the ruins of the oil refinery.


    Meanwhile, Bonnie, who had reached a safe distance, suddenly recognized this energy. She had encountered it before in the Land of Eternal Night. Urgently, she shouted in Jeremy''s direction,.


    "Jeremy, watch out behind you! There''s a force gathering back there that we''ve seen before in the Land of Eternal Night!"


    Upon hearing Bonnie''s warning, Jeremy quickly turned to investigate.


    At first, he also thought that the umting energy resembled the power of the "Sun" he had encountered in the Land of Eternal Night. But after a more careful examination, he realized that the energy was only simr, not identical, to the Sun''s power.


    At that moment, Jeremy received a prompt from The Eye of Omniscience:


    [Note: High-dimensional data is continuously umting. Acquiring High-dimensional data can help you level up and unlock sealed skills.]


    "High-dimensional data? This is the first time I''ve heard of it."


    Jeremy murmured to himself. Thanks to The Eye of Omniscience''s prompt, Jeremy finally understood that the gathering energy was High-dimensional data.


    Given that High-dimensional data was a form of energy, it could naturally aid Jeremy in leveling up. However, what intrigued him even more was that High-dimensional data had the potential to unlock his sealed skills.


    Does that mean that High-dimensional data is actually more powerful than the rule-based energy possessed by the "Sun"?


    Jeremy found himself deeply intrigued by High-dimensional data.


    Nheless, he had to remain focused on his battle with The Mechanical Amalgamation. If he couldn''t defeat The Mechanical Amalgamation, there would be no opportunity to collect this High-dimensional data.


    Moreover, Jeremy faced another pressing dilemma.


    How could he gather all this high-dimensional data? It appeared to be a form of energy, yet it also seemed like a stream of data that didn''t exist in the physical world.


    High-dimensional data didn''t seem to be something that could be collected through conventional means.


    As Jeremy pondered this, a shadow suddenly enveloped his position.


    Looking toward the source of the shadow, he realized that The Mechanical Amalgamation had leaped high into the air and was now crashing down toward him.


    Even though Jeremy was unprepared, his quick reflexes allowed him to evade The Mechanical Amalgamation''s attack.


    "I''ve had enough of you! You dare interrupt my thoughts? Fine, let''s end this now!"


    Jeremy roared, channeling all his strength into a concentrated strike aimed at the weakest point in The Mechanical Amalgamation''s core.


    Under Jeremy''s relentless assault, The Mechanical Amalgamation disintegratedpletely. A heap of twisted machinery scattered around, and a data core emitting a blue glow fell right in front of Jeremy.


    With the aid of his Basic Mechanical Mastery skill, Jeremy immediately understood the significance of the data core.


    The data core housed the High-dimensional data that powered The Mechanical Amalgamation.


    It was this very High-dimensional data that endowed The Mechanical Amalgamation with its formidable strength.


    "It seems I can use this data core to gather High-dimensional data!"


    Jeremy eximed. Without hesitation, he picked up the data core and headed towards the densest concentration of High-dimensional data within the ruins of the oil refinery.


    As Jeremy advanced, the data core began to absorb the High-dimensional data. Its color gradually shifted from light blue to sky blue, and then to a deep blue hue.


    By the time all the high-dimensional data had been absorbed, the core had turned a shade nearing blue-violet. This indicated that the data core was almost saturated with High-dimensional data.


    "Although I don''t fully understand the applications of the data core or the High-dimensional data yet, collecting it is undoubtedly beneficial for me.


    At the very least, it will prevent the mechanical monsters in The Iron Lair instance from proliferating." Jeremy mused.


    Realizing that The Mechanical Amalgamation was a monstrosity born from the fusion of High-dimensional data and machinery, Jeremy concluded that if he could gather enough High-dimensional data.


    The remaining data within the instance would be insufficient to create many more mechanical monsters.


    With the destruction of The Mechanical Amalgamation, Jeremy''s level finally surpassed 42. He now had attribute points to allocate.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, he distributed the majority of these points into strength and speed.


    After all, with his skills currently sealed, Jeremy had to rely on the flexibility that his power and speed afforded him inbat.


    Having gathered everything he needed, Jeremy waved towards Bonnie and the others.


    Jeremy had previously instructed Bonnie and herpanions to only approach him once the battle was over. Seeing his gesture, the trio swiftly made their way to his side.


    "I''ve now gained a general understanding of The Iron Lair instance." Jeremy said with a smile.

 Chapter 141: The Mechanical Puppet Technique

    Jeremy ryed the information he had acquired from The Eye of Omniscience to Bonnie and the others.


    Upon hearing the term "High-dimensional data." a trace of confusion flickered across Bonnie''s face. From her perspective, what she sensed was undoubtedly a powerful energy, not mere data.


    "Are you absolutely certain about your assessment? Why is it that I perceive it as energy rather than data? If it truly is data, how could this data coalesce?" Bonnie questioned, her voice tinged with skepticism.


    From Bonnie''s perspective, only energies with the same attributes could attract each other. Regardless of any unique properties it might possess, High-dimensional data was, after all, just data.


    Why Could This Data Intermingle? And What Utility Does Intermingled Data Have?


    Faced with Bonnie''s probing questions, Jeremy found himself momentarily at a loss for words. Given the sheerplexity of these issues, Jeremy found himself at a loss for answers.


    "Why can this data intermingle? And what utility does intermingled data have?" Bonnie pressed, her curiosity undiminished.


    Jeremy hesitated, grappling with the intricacies. "The questions you''re asking are beyond my current understanding. All I know is that this powerful energy is referred to as High-dimensional data. Furthermore, I am aware that this data can transform machinery into mechanical monstrosities. Our task is to harness the data core to aggregate all the High-dimensional data.


    By doing so, we can reduce the number of mechanical monsters within The Iron Lairinstance."


    At this point, a realization seemed to dawn on Jeremy.


    He turned to address the other three members of the group, "If all the mechanical monsters are indeed generated by High-dimensional data, then there is a remarkably straightforward method to swiftly eliminate the creatures in the Moonlight City industrial district.


    We simply need to collect all the High-dimensional data present in the district. This approach will not only furnish us with more High-dimensional data but also ensure the safety of Moonlight City."


    Bonnie was initially taken aback by Jeremy''s proposal, but she quickly nodded in agreement.


    She recognized the brilliance of Jeremy''s strategy and its potential to significantly aid her father, Benjamin.


    If Jeremy could indeed neutralize the threats in the Moonlight City industrial district, Benjamin would no longer live in constant fear.


    "I think discussing these matters now might be somewhat premature. Let''s press on and focus onpleting The Iron Lairinstance as our top priority." Bonnie suggested, urging the group to continue their mission.


    At this particr moment, ire decided to articte her own perspective.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement, "You''re absolutely right. We must clear this instance as quickly as possible. Once we''ve gathered sufficient High-dimensional data, we won''t need to search for further clues.


    We can head directly to the areas with the highest concentrations of High-dimensional data. The more data there is, the higher the level of the mechanical monsters will be."


    With that, Jeremy continued to use the mechanical core to probe the surrounding density of High-dimensional data.


    Under Jeremy''s guidance, the group swiftly advanced towards the central region of The Iron Lairinstance.


    During their progress, Jeremy and hispanions inevitably encountered mechanical monsters of lesser strength.


    Rather than opting to eliminate them outright, Jeremy chose a different approach.


    He utilized the High-dimensional data within the data core.


    Jeremy discovered that High-dimensional data could actually control the mechanical monsters. If he could be more proficient in using High-dimensional data, he might even be able to turn these mechanical monsters into his own puppets.


    The moment Jeremy contemted this possibility, a notification from The Eye of Omniscience echoed in his mind.


    [Congrattions, you have conceived a brand-new skill through your own reasoning.]


    In the depths of Jeremy''s mind, a skill book emitting a yellow glow materialized out of thin air.


    Name: [The Mechanical Puppet Technique]


    Quality: [Gold]


    Skill Description: [The essence of machinery is data, High-dimensional data can manipte any mechanical life form. Upon activation, the user can see the data core of mechanical beings. With sufficient High-dimensional data, the user can employ The Mechanical Puppet Technique to fully convert mechanical life forms into their own puppets.]


    "What an unexpected delight! To acquire an additional skill under these circumstances, and one specifically designed to target mechanical monsters no less."


    Jeremy couldn''t help but let a faint smile tug at the corners of his mouth.


    He considered himself to be exceptionally fortunate.


    ire, Bonnie, and Emma all noticed the change in Jeremy''s expression, though they couldn''t fathom the reason behind it.


    "What''s going on? Did you just think of something particrly exciting?" ire inquired with a touch of concern in her voice.


    As Jeremy''s psychologist, she was naturally worried about any potential deterioration in his mental state.


    Jeremy, with a slight furrow in his brow, shook his head in quiet resignation.


    "It''s not that I thought of something particrly joyful, rather, I''ve suddenly encountered something truly worth celebrating." Pausing for a moment to ensure he had everyone''s attention, he continued.


    "During our previous battle, I discovered a skill book. I''ve just finished learning it, and now I possess a brand-new skill: [The Mechanical Puppet Technique]."


    Jeremy then proceeded to exin the details of [The Mechanical Puppet Technique].


    Bonnie, Emma, and ire all expressed their happiness for Jeremy.


    They also recognized that this new skill could significantly aid their actions within The Iron Lairinstance.


    "So, as long as you have enough High-dimensional data, you could even convert the boss of The Iron Lairinstance into your mechanical puppet?" Emma asked Jeremy directly.


    Jeremy nodded briefly, only to follow it with a subtle shake of his head, as if caught in a moment of indecision.


    "Theoretically, yes. However, the boss of The Iron Lairinstance undoubtedly possesses a tremendous amount of High-dimensional data. To convert it into my mechanical puppet would require an enormous amount of High-dimensional data.


    In fact, even if we pooled all the High-dimensional data within The Iron Lair, it still might not be sufficient to transform the instance boss into a mechanical puppet. Therefore, we still need to prepare for the final boss battle."


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s exnation, Emma felt a tinge of disappointment, though she understood that it was unrealistic to expect The Iron Lair instance to be easily conquered.


    As they continued on their journey, Jeremy utilized the High-dimensional data from his data core to convert several mechanical monsters into mechanical puppets.


    The consumption of High-dimensional data for [The Mechanical Puppet Technique] was substantial, Jeremy realized that he needed over five times the High-dimensional data of a mechanical monster to convert it into a puppet.


    "I currentlyck the High-dimensional data needed to convert a significant number of ordinary mechanical monsters into puppets. Moreover, it seems that High-dimensional data serves other purposes.I can''t afford to spend all of it on puppet conversions. Hence, after converting these few mechanical puppets, I won''t convert any more for now."


    The mechanical puppets Jeremy had converted became their modes of transportation.


    They rode on the mechanical puppets.


    Preserving their own strength for any challenging battles that might lie ahead.


    With the help of the mechanical puppets, Jeremy and hispanions made swift progress.


    After approximately two hours, they finally arrived at the outskirts of a massive mechanical town.


    The town appeared to be inhabited by numerous mechanical monsters, and at its center stood a towering structure that reached into the sky.


    Jeremy vaguely saw that the towering structure was continuously emitting High-dimensional data. "If my guess is correct, the boss of The Iron Lair instance resides within that tower. It seems all the High-dimensional data is being projected from there." He spected.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, everyone turned their gaze toward the towering structure.


    ire and Emma, naturally, couldn''t see the High-dimensional data emanating from the tower. Bonnie could only perceive a certain energy fluctuation around it.


    Nheless, Bonnie felt that the energy fluctuation she observed was akin to the power of the "Sun."


    "What should we do now? Are we going to let you venture alone like before? If we keep letting you face the dangers by yourself, how are we supposed to improve ourbat skills?"


    At this moment, ire turned directly to Jeremy and posed her question.


    ire understood that Jeremy was concerned for their safety. However, in her view, it wasn''t fair to let Jeremy bear all the risks alone.


    Moreover, they too had awakened their respective talents and should contribute to the battles.


    Emma nodded in agreement.


    "I know you''re looking out for us, but if you keep protecting us, we won''t be able to improve our abilities. So this time, let us join you."


    Jeremy looked from Emma to ire.


    He felt that their participation might not be very helpful in the fight, in fact, they might even hold him back. Nheless, he couldn''t deny the validity of their arguments.


    Therefore, he decided to consult Bonnie''s opinion.


    "What do you think?" Jeremy asked Bonnie calmly.


    Without any hesitation, Bonnie replied, "I believe they are right. I also want to be part of your next actions. Only by doing so can we gain the necessary experience."

 Chapter 142: Hidden Eyes in the Shadows

    Since Bonnie, Emma, and ire had all expressed the same opinion, Jeremy naturally offered no objection. After all, he too wanted these people, who were of immense importance to him, to gain greater strength.


    "Given the circumstances, let''s proceed ording to your n and split up. For now, let''s avoid entering the inner confines of Mechanical Town. Instead, let''s conduct a thorough reconnaissance around its periphery.


    Perhaps we can uncover vital information outside of Mechanical Town. Venturing inside without proper intel could lead to disastrous consequences."


    Once Jeremy had made his decision, the group of four divided into two pairs, each heading in opposite directions.


    Naturally, Jeremy paired himself with Emma, who was the least powerful of the four. Emma was visibly delighted with Jeremy''s decision.


    In her mind, Jeremy''s decision to pair with her indicated that she held a special ce in his considerations. Determined not to be a burden, Emma resolved to give her utmost effort during their mission.


    ire and Bonnie, being slightly more adept inbat, formed the other team. Theirbined strength would allow them to handle unforeseen situations more effectively.


    After the group split up, Jeremy led Emma northward, towards the outskirts of Mechanical Town. Both Jeremy and Emma remained vignt, meticulously surveying their surroundings.


    However, outside of Mechanical Town, there seemed to be little else of interest.


    The surroundings were merely an endless expanse of deste wilderness.


    Inside the mechanical town, the two could catch glimpses of the elusive mechanical monsters lurking about. This, however, was information they had anticipated beforehand.


    "It appears we can glean no useful information from outside the mechanical town." one of them remarked. "We should reunite with ire and the others as soon as possible."


    Emma suggested, feeling that staying outside any longer would be futile. She believed it was time for them to regroup and enter Mechanical Town itself.


    However, Jeremy''s thoughts diverged significantly from this view.


    He was convinced that they had, in fact, overlooked some critical piece of information. Consequently, he did not acquiesce to Emma''s suggestion. Instead, he resolutely guided Emma, pressing on with their rapid advancement towards the north.


    After advancing for approximately fifteen minutes, Jeremy and Emma came to an abrupt halt.


    They had reached the location outside Mechanical Town that was closest to the central tower, a vantage point from which they hoped to gather more significant intelligence.


    Here, Jeremy and Emma could see that atop the towering spire reaching into the clouds, something seemed to be observing their every move.


    "Darling, do you feel like there''s a pair of eyes constantly watching us?" Emma asked.


    Despite not being particrly strong inbat, her healing abilities endowed her with a heightened sensitivity to other presences.


    Jeremy''s eyes remained steadfastly fixed on the towering structure at the center of Mechanical Town. He unequivocally agreed with Emma''s observation, as he was convinced that an unseen pair of eyes was surreptitiously monitoring their every move from atop the tower.


    "I believe you''re absolutely right." he said. "There''s indeed a pair of eyes watching our actions, and I am certain those eyes are perched atop the high tower at the heart of Mechanical Town."


    Emma''s anxiety spiked slightly at Jeremy''s words.


    "So, should we proceed directly into Mechanical Town now? Could these eyes belong to the boss of The Iron Lair instance?"


    Emma, in a single breath, posed two questions, both of which were undeniably crucial.


    However, Jeremy, at least for the moment, did not have the answers to either of them.


    "Let''s stick to our original n. If we continue a bit further, we''ll be able to rendezvous with ire and Bonnie."


    Jeremy suggested, reasoning that since he and Emma hadn''t encountered any danger, it was likely that ire and Bonnie were also safe.


    During their reconnaissance, Jeremy and Emma had already circled half of Mechanical Town''s perimeter.


    Even if Bonnie and ire were moving at a slower pace, they shouldn''t be far off now.


    Emma nodded in agreement and continued to follow Jeremy as they pressed onward.


    It didn''t take long for Jeremy and Emma to spot Bonnie and ire. What surprised them, however, were the expressions of sheer urgency etched on their faces. The two seemed to be fleeing for their lives in their direction.


    "Step back a few paces! It looks like there''s a monster chasing them!"


    Jeremy first issued a cautionary reminder to Emma, expressing his hope that she would retreat to a safer position.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Emma promptly moved to a secure spot behind Jeremy.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy sprinted towards ire and Bonnie with all his might. When the distance between them had shrunk to less than a hundred meters, Jeremy suddenly noticed a massive iron centipede pursuing them.


    "Don''t stop for anything! The iron centipede is right behind you!"He shouted, his voice tinged with urgency.


    Jeremy shouted loudly towards ire and Bonnie.


    At this moment, the iron centipede was only a few meters away from ire, who wasgging behind. If ire''s pace slowed any further, she was likely to be caught by the iron centipede.


    Though ire heard Jeremy''s warning, she found herself unable to keep going.


    During their earlier escape, she had expended all her energy. ire''s speed diminished rapidly, and the iron centipede closed in on her.


    Witnessing the scene unfold, Jeremy instinctively sprang into action without dy.


    He dashed towards ire at full speed while activating his [The Mechanical Puppet Technique]. Waves of high-dimensional data surged towards the iron centipede, significantly slowing its movements and seemingly confusing it about what to do next.


    Seizing this moment of the iron centipede''s disorientation, Jeremy concentrated all his strength into his fist and aimed a powerful punch at the creature''s head.


    Using his [Basic Mechanical Mastery] talent, Jeremy had already analyzed the distribution of the iron centipede''s internal mechanisms as he approached.


    His punchnded precisely on theputational core of the iron centipede.


    With the core shattered by Jeremy''s strike, the entire body of the iron centipede erupted in a violent explosion. Even ire and Bonnie, who were not far away, were slightly affected by the st.


    Jeremy paid no heed to the explosion of the iron centipede.


    What concerned him more was whether he would receive any additional rewards for eliminating the creature.


    At this moment, whaty before Jeremy was theputational core of a severely damaged iron centipede, along with its data core.


    The data core emitted a faint blue glow, indicating the presence of high-dimensional data.


    Carefully, Jeremy extracted the high-dimensional data and stored the damagedputational core in his storage space.


    Once he hadpleted these tasks, Jeremy turned his attention back to ire and Bonnie.


    By this time, Emma was already tending to their injuries.


    "How are you holding up? Your injuries don''t seem too severe. Can you continue on? If not, I can evacuate you from the instance ahead of schedule."


    Although Jeremy was aware that extracting ire and Bonnie from the instance would consume a considerable amount of time.


    He was adamant about not risking their safety within the instance.


    "I''m not in any significant distress.I just exhausted too much energy while evading the iron centipede''s pursuit. I merely need a brief rest."


    Bonnie responded calmly.


    Bonnie had not been directly attacked by the iron centipede, so her injuries were rtively minor. The one who had truly sustained serious wounds was ire.


    However, under Emma''s care, ire''s wounds were healing rapidly.


    content-source-MVLeMpYr


    Despite her injuries, ire felt she could continue. She also understood that if she were to leave the instance prematurely, it would undoubtedly hinder Jeremy''s progress.


    "My injuries have mostly been healed. After a brief rest, we should be ready to proceed into the mechanical town. Furthermore, even if you were to extract me from the instance now, I can''t guarantee my safety outside. There are still mechanical monsters lurking beyond the instance. You certainly can''t be expected to escort me all the way back home after getting me out of here, can you?"


    ire''s reasoning was undeniably sound, striking a chord of pragmatism that Jeremy couldn''t ignore. After a moment of contemtive silence, Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "If you both feel up to it, then we''ll adhere to our original n. Take a breather here for about ten minutes, and after that, I''ll lead you into the mechanical town.


    However, before we proceed, I need to emphasize one crucial point: in the face of any danger, do not sumb to panic.


    Simply follow my instructions. There is no need for you to act independently. Although your strength has improved, within the high-difficulty instance of The Iron Lair, your contributions will still be rtively limited."


    Jeremy spoke with an air of stern seriousness, his tone leaving no room for misunderstanding.


    He wanted to ensure that the others fully grasped the gravity of the situation¡ªthey would undoubtedly encounter numerous unforeseen dangers within the mechanical town. Should they fail to follow Jeremy''s lead, their chances of survival would be perilously slim.

 Chapter 143: Data Erosion

    After a brief respite, Jeremy and hispanions ventured directly into Mechanical Town.


    The moment they entered, Jeremy received an immediate alert from the Eye of Omniscience.


    [Note: Host is currently subjected to data erosion. Please vacate the data erosion zone promptly.]


    The alert from the Eye of Omniscience caused Jeremy to feel slightly panicked.


    Jeremy did not perceive that he was being subjected to Data Erosion, yet he knew that the Eye of Omniscience had never been wrong before.


    This meant that Data Erosion was something Jeremy could neither detect nor defend against.


    With this realization, Jeremy whispered to the three people behind him.


    "From now on, I will increase my pace." Jeremy dered, his tone carrying an air of urgency. "You must keep up. If your speed is too slow and you fall behind, I might note back to rescue you."


    With those words hanging in the air, Jeremy promptly quickened his steps.


    Although the buildings in Mechanical Town were well-preserved, the roads were extremely difficult to navigate. Various broken pieces of equipment often blocked the way.


    Jeremy deftly maneuvered around the obstacles, making his way toward the towering structure at the center of Mechanical Town with the utmost speed.


    The three individuals trailing behind him appeared quite disheveled in their attempt to keep up.


    Bonnie had encountered a simr situation before in Nocturne City. Back then, Jeremy''s pace was so rapid that neither she nor the others could keep up with him.


    ire and Emma were even less adept than Bonnie, and having never encountered a simr situation before, their condition was considerably worse.


    "Why are we moving at such a breakneck pace? Have you detected some kind of danger?"


    ire, unable to keep up, couldn''t help but shout towards Jeremy.


    However, ire''s sentence was cut short, as she suddenly noticed a significant change in her voice.


    Her voice now sounded slightly hoarse, as if her vocal cords had been reced with metal.


    "How is this possible? Why does my voice sound like this?"


    ire was utterly shocked. She pondered for a long time, unable to understand why her voice had changed.


    Ultimately, ire decided to seek help from the others.


    She turned her gaze towards Emma, who was beside her, intending to voice her concerns. But then she noticed that Emma''s left eye had be transparent.


    At this moment, Emma''s left eye was no longer human, it had been reced with a camera.


    "Look at your eye!"


    ire shouted towards Emma in a voiceden with terror.


    Upon uttering those words, ire was horrified to realize that her voice had be even more hoarse than before. If previously her voice had retained some semnce to that of a human, it now closely resembled the harsh, grating sound of metal scraping against metal.


    Jeremy, leading the group, was forced to stop.


    He had realized from the first moment he heard ire''s voice that the others were also experiencing Data Erosion. However, he knew there was no way to solve the problem at that moment.


    So Jeremy''s initial n was to reach the center of Mechanical Town as quickly as possible. He believed that defeating the instance boss of The Iron Lair wouldpletely resolve the Data Erosion issue.


    Jeremy hadn''t anticipated that the Data Erosion would progress so rapidly.


    ire''s condition not only made Jeremy turn back but also puzzled Emma and Bonnie who were beside her.


    Although Emma noticed the problem in ire''s voice, she assumed it was just because ire was extremely nervous.


    However, when Emma nced at ire, she suddenly noticed ayer of silvery-white metal covering ire''s neck.


    "What is that on your neck? Is it some gear you picked up? Or has your body already started turning into part machine?"


    Prompted by Emma''s remark, ire suddenly realized that her neck was covered by a denseyer of metal.


    "Your eye, your left eye has turned into a camera!" ire quickly alerted Emma.


    Emma reached for her eye, and in that instant, she froze in shock. Indeed, she didn''t feel her eye, instead, she felt a camera.


    Throughout the exchange between Emma and ire, Bonnie maintained a calm demeanor. Although she had noticed that both their bodies appeared to be transitioning towards a more mechanical state, Bonnie chose not to openly voice her observations.


    She believed the situation was somewhatplicated, and until they fully understood what was happening, it was best not to take any hasty actions.


    "You both appear to have sumbed to Data Erosion." Jeremy stated as he suddenly appeared before the trio, delivering this unsettling revtion.


    "What is Data Erosion? Does it mean being transformed into machines?"


    Emma and ire asked in unison, their voices tinged with a mix of confusion and urgency.


    Jeremy shook his head. "I don''t fully understand the essence of Data Erosion. All I know is that the longer we stay in The Iron Lair instance, the more we be mechanical.


    If we can''t clear The Iron Lair instance quickly, we''ll all turn into machines. And when we be machines, isn''t that basically the same as being dead?"


    Jeremy''s words did nothing to calm ire and Emma, on the contrary, they only heightened their anxiety.


    Faced with this pressing situation, Jeremy had an inspired idea: he intended to use the High-dimensional Data in his possession to try to suppress the Data Erosion that ire and Emma were experiencing.


    Although his n was far from guaranteed to seed, it offered a glimmer of hope and, at the very least, might help to calm ire and Emma.


    "You don''t need to panic too much right now! While I don''t have a perfect solution for Data Erosion, I can try using High-dimensional data."


    Jeremy took out the data core and used his [The Mechanical Puppet Technique] skill to extract a portion of the High-dimensional data from it.


    The high-dimensional data transformed into an energy form and began to surround Emma and ire.


    As the High-dimensional data permeated their bodies, the mechanical parts on Emma and ire started to disappear.


    "It actually worked! My vision has been restored!" eximed Emma, her voice brimming with relief and astonishment.


    "Yes, and my vocal cords are back to normal too! That dense ring of metal around my neck has vanished." ire added, her tone filled with tion.


    Both Emma and ire were overjoyed, feeling a renewed sense of hope. They believed that Jeremy had finally discovered an effective method tobat Data Erosion.


    However, Bonnie, who was watching from the side, could tell that Jeremy''s expression wasn''t as cheerful.


    "Since your Data Erosion has been temporarily suppressed, let''s move on quickly. We must defeat the boss of The Iron Lair instance as soon as possible."


    Jeremy hurriedly led the group to continue their journey at the fastest possible pace.


    As they traveled, Jeremy took the lead, followed closely by Bonnie, while Emma and ire trailed behind.


    "Why do you still look so worried? Haven''t you found a way to suppress Data Erosion?"


    Bonnie, having caught up to Jeremy, inquired directly.


    Jeremy offered a faint, bitter smile. "Do you truly believe I''ve seeded? Haven''t you noticed that you are also gradually transforming into a machine?


    In reality, I am also slowly turning into a machine. The only reason our transformation isn''t as rapid is due to our greater strength.


    As time progresses, we too will inevitably be converted into machines. The High-dimensional data merely suppresses Data Erosion temporarily. Topletely resolve Data Erosion, we must exit The Iron Lair instance.


    Alternatively, we could destroy the towering structure at the heart of Mechanical Town.


    After all, all the High-dimensional data and regr data are emitted from that tower. If we destroy the tower, we can eliminate the Data Erosion issue."


    The reason Jeremy spoke at such length with Bonnie was that he had a certain level of understanding and respect for her capabilities.


    Though Emma and ire deeply cared for Jeremy, he refrained from discussing these matters with them. Jeremy was fully aware that they would not be able to offer him substantial assistance in this regard.


    "Even if we manage to infiltrate the tower, what method do you have to dismantle it? I suspect the tower might be even more formidable than The Iron Lair instance boss."


    Bonnie voiced her spection directly.


    Since entering The Iron Lair instance, Bonnie had consistently sensed an inexplicable energy. She had her own theories about this mysterious presence.


    Bonnie believed that the mastermind behind the enemies they encountered in The Iron Lair, if not the "Sun." must be a being very close in power to the "Sun."


    Jeremy certainly concurred with Bonnie''s assessment.


    However, he didn''t want Bonnie to think he was out of options.


    "Once we defeat The Iron Lair instance boss, we should be able to discover a means to destroy the tower. You know very well that no instance is without a solution. As long as we find this solution, we can sessfully clear The Iron Lair instance."

 Chapter 144: The Mechanical Duke

    After Jeremy and Bonnie joined forces to stabilize Emma and ire''s emotions, the group continued their journey toward the very heart of Mechanical Town.


    As the distance between the group and the town center diminished, everyone began to notice an increasing number of mechanical monsters moving around them.


    "Pay no mind to these monsters. Our objective is to reach the central tower of the town as swiftly as possible. These mechanical creatures appearing around us are merely distractions meant to divert our focus. We must not be misled!"


    Jeremy voiced his judgment directly.


    Since Jeremy and hispanions had realized that the longer they remained within The Iron Lair instance, the more they all gradually transformed into mechanical beings.


    It was evident that they needed to hasten their search for the boss of The Iron Lair instance. Everything else was of no consequence.


    Thus, Jeremy and his group reached the vicinity of the central tower of Mechanical Town at the fastest possible pace.


    At that moment, Jeremy could clearly observe a vast amount of high-dimensional data swirling around the tower.


    The closer one got to the top of the tower, the denser the high-dimensional data became. When Jeremy cast his gaze toward the pinnacle of the tower, the dense high-dimensional data formed an illusory portal.


    Behind this illusory portal, it seemed as though a pair of eyes were staring intently at Jeremy.


    Jeremy immediately realized that the boss of The Iron Lair instance might be lurking behind the portal formed by the high-dimensional data, represented by those eyes.


    "Stay here and don''t move! I''m going to scout the area around the tower first!"


    Having said this, Jeremy sprinted toward the tower at top speed. The moment he made contact with the tower, the illusory portal at the top,posed of high-dimensional data, underwent a dramatic transformation.


    The illusory portal expanded continuously, eventually engulfing the entire sky above Mechanical Town. Within the portal, countless high-dimensional data streams began to diffuse into Mechanical Town.


    As the high-dimensional data spread, many mechanical entities within the town were converted into mechanical monsters.


    The moment these mechanical monsters were born, they locked their attack targets onto Jeremy and hispanions.


    "Do not stray too far from me, both of you! If you move too far away, I won''t be able to protect you!"


    Bonnie swiftly assessed the situation the instant the anomaly urred.


    She believed that although she might not be able to assist Jeremy directly, she could certainly ensure the safety of Emma and ire. In a way, this would also allow Jeremy to focus without any concerns.


    Emma and ire, witnessing the mechanical monsters charging towards them, disyed expressions of sheer terror on their faces.


    However, they had also steeled themselves forbat, fully aware that Jeremy had forewarned them of the numerous dangers they would encounter within Mechanical Town.


    With a casual flick of her wrist, Bonnie summoned her staff and conjured a barrier of ice before the trio.


    Though the barrier of ice managed to temporarily halt the onught of mechanical monsters, the sheer number of these menacing entities surrounding them meant that the ice barrier would inevitably be breached.


    Thus, after erecting the barrier of ice, Bonnie immediately led Emma and ire towards the direction of the tower.


    While Bonnie did not possess Jeremy''s ability to visualize high-dimensional data, she could certainly sense its density. Bonnie discerned that the density of high-dimensional data was greatest around the tower.


    Interestingly, the mechanical entities near the tower had not been rapidly transformed into mechanical monsters. In contrast, those situated farther from the tower were the ones undergoing the transformation.


    This implied that the dense high-dimensional data around the tower could provide them with temporary shelter.


    As Bonnie and herpanions advanced, Jeremy, already positioned at the tower, fixed his gaze intently on the illusory portal above.


    Within the portal, a colossal ck shadow gradually manifested before Jeremy''s eyes.


    This enormous ck shadow was encircled by a vast amount of high-dimensional data. At the very center of the ck shadow were two blue orbs.


    These blue orbs stared unblinkingly at Jeremy, clearly the hidden eyes he had sensed earlier.


    "How dare you trespass upon the domain of the Great God of Data! As a servant of the God of Data, it is my duty to defend His domain. I shall annihte everyst one of you foolish intruders!"


    A voice, resonating like the friction of metal, emanated from the massive ck shadow.


    Without dy, the enormous shadow transformed entirely into high-dimensional data. A substantial amount of this data surged into the nearest building to the tower.


    Jeremy did not remain idle. As soon as the immense shadow morphed into high-dimensional data, he sprinted towards the direction in which the data was heading.


    Just as Jeremy was about to reach the building that had absorbed the high-dimensional data, the structure erupted into a violent explosion.


    In the aftermath of the explosion, a gigantic figure, entirely mechanical in nature, materialized before Jeremy.


    Name:[The Mechanical Duke]


    Level:[50]


    Rank:[Gold]


    [Note: The Mechanical Duke is extremely dangerous. Topletely annihte it, you must locate its true form!]


    Jeremy hadn''t anticipated that the boss of The Iron Lair instance would be the level 50 Mechanical Duke.


    Had his skills not been sealed, he would have been exceedingly confident in swiftly defeating The Mechanical Duke. However, the vast majority of his abilities were currently sealed.


    The only skills at his disposal were Basic Mechanical Mastery and Mechanical Puppet Technique. These abilities seemed insufficient to pose a significant threat to The Mechanical Duke.


    Nevertheless, Jeremy refused to abandon hope.


    The hint from The Eye of Omniscience had inadvertently provided Jeremy with crucial information. It revealed that the massive robotposed entirely of scrap equipment before him was merely The Mechanical Duke''s puppet.


    The true form of The Mechanical Duke remained concealed.


    With this realization, Jeremy immediately retrieved a data core he had acquired earlier. He began channeling high-dimensional data from the core.


    "Although the Mechanical Puppet Technique is likely ineffective against you, I can still manipte high-dimensional data to uncover the location of your true form."


    Jeremy suspected that The Mechanical Duke''s true form wasposed of high-dimensional data.


    When The Mechanical Duke first entered Mechanical Town, its initial action was to transform itself into a stream of high-dimensional data.


    Jeremy''s maneuver thoroughly infuriated The Mechanical Duke.


    With tremendous force, The Mechanical Duke charged at Jeremy.


    Naturally, Jeremy had no intention of engaging The Mechanical Duke head-on. The Duke''s power currently far exceeded Jeremy''s. To defeat The Mechanical Duke, Jeremy would have to rely on cunning strategy.


    While dodging The Mechanical Duke''s attacks, Jeremy continuously utilized his two avable skills to pinpoint the location of The Mechanical Duke''s true form.


    Jeremy''s approach proved highly effective.


    He had already determined that The Mechanical Duke''s true form was hidden within the colossal robotic figureposed of countless discarded devices.


    Now, Jeremy had to enter the interior of the gigantic robot standing before him. Only by doing so could he find a way to disrupt The Mechanical Duke''s true form, the powerful stream of high-dimensional data.


    With this in mind, Jeremy halted in front of the moving structure.


    He tightly gripped the data core in his hand.


    "If you want to annihte me, I''m giving you the chance! I''m standing right here, waiting for you toe and destroy me!"


    As he spoke, Jeremy activated his Mechanical Puppet Technique.


    The high-dimensional data within the data core was entirely drawn out by Jeremy. At the very moment hepleted this maneuver, the colossal robot controlled by The Mechanical Duke loomed over him.


    The massive robot raised its fist and brought it crashing down toward Jeremy.


    Jeremy concentrated all his strength into his own fist, targeting a weak point within the giant robot''s fist, and struck it with all his might.


    The moment the weak spot was breached, Jeremy injected all the high-dimensional data he could control into the robot''s interior.


    Suddenly, the gigantic robot lost its ability to maintain its bnce.


    As it began to topple, the robot''s body disintegrated. The discarded equipment that made up its structure scattered in all directions, transforming into individual mechanical monsters.


    The core of The Mechanical Duke seemed unable to react in time. The entity,posed entirely of high-dimensional data, lingered at the spot where the giant robot had once stood.


    "I''ve finally found you!"


    A smile of relief appeared on Jeremy''s face upon seeing the core of The Mechanical Duke.


    Despite his current dire condition and the toll the previous battles had taken on his mental faculties, he pushed through the throbbing headache and reactivated his Mechanical Puppet Technique.


    A substantial amount of the high-dimensional data constituting The Mechanical Duke''s core was absorbed into Jeremy''s data core.


    Naturally, The Mechanical Duke was not one to concede easily. The entity divided itself into two parts. One portion of the high-dimensional data was indeed absorbed into the data core.


    However, the other segment sessfully evaded Jeremy''s control. This high-dimensional data dispersed, infiltrating the bodies of the surrounding mechanical monsters.


    Under the infusion of high-dimensional data, these mechanical monsters became even more formidable than before.

 Chapter 145: The Precisely Accurate Strategy to Clear the Instance

    When Jeremy saw that a portion of The Mechanical Duke''s high-dimensional data had been absorbed into the data core, he felt a surge of victory within the battle.


    However, he received no notification from The Eye of Omniscience, nor did he get any indication that The Iron Lair instance was about to close. This clearly meant that he had not yet defeated The Mechanical Duke.


    Enduring the intense headache, Jeremy meticulously examined the surroundings.


    He immediately noticed that a portion of The Mechanical Duke''s high-dimensional data had escaped. Moreover, this escaped high-dimensional data had infiltrated other mechanical monsters.


    These newly empowered mechanical monsters were mostly clustered around Bonnie and the others.


    "Be careful! These mechanical monsters have been enhanced, you stand no chance against them!"


    Realizing the peril that Bonnie and the others were in, Jeremy shouted at the top of his lungs in their direction.


    Jeremy''s warning made Bonnie understand that she could no longer remain where she was. She immediately brandished her staff and summoned a blizzard.


    Although the blizzard did not eliminate the enhanced mechanical monsters, it sessfully slowed them down.


    Seizing the opportunity presented by the slowed mechanical monsters, Bonnie swiftly led Emma and ire toward Jeremy''s position.


    "With the mechanical monsters enhanced, we are no match for them. Our only option now is to regroup with Jeremy."


    Bonnie quickly exined to Emma and ire why she was taking this course of action.


    In fact, she didn''t need to exin much, as Emma and ire were alreadypletely bewildered by the recent battle.


    At this moment, all Emma and ire could do was follow along with the others.


    Seeing that Bonnie and the others were temporarily out of danger, Jeremy felt a bit more at ease.


    However, Jeremy still faced a significant problem. He needed to locate The Mechanical Duke''s core once again.


    Finding The Mechanical Duke''s core earlier had already drained all his mental energy. He had no capacity left to activate his Mechanical Puppet Technique again.


    "What should I do now? The Mechanical Duke can actually split itself into two parts. Does that mean even if I find The Mechanical Duke''s core again, it can still escape by discarding part of its high-dimensional data?"


    "Wouldn''t that render The Mechanical Duke an utterly invincible instance boss? How could there possibly be an instance with no conceivable way to clear it?"


    All these perplexing questions swirled incessantly in Jeremy''s mind.


    Furthermore, he was currently enduring a searing headache, a direct consequence of his depleted mental energy. He found it utterly impossible to focus his thoughts on devising a n to escape The Iron Lair instance.


    When Bonnie and the others arrived by Jeremy''s side, they immediately noticed something wrong with him.


    "What''s wrong with you? You look like you''re in a lot of pain. Did you suffer a severe blow from the instance boss during the battle?"


    Bonnie hurriedly inquired of Jeremy, her voice tinged with concern.


    Jeremy, his face contorted in agony, shook his head in response.


    ire and Emma, both equally concerned for Jeremy''s well-being, immediately began administering healing upon witnessing the distress etched across his features.


    ire had awakened a talent rted to mental abilities, so she used her skill to soothe Jeremy''s mental state. Under ire''s soothing, Jeremy''s headache lessened somewhat.


    Emma, who had awakened a talent rted to life, instinctively tried to heal Jeremy''s injuries with her healing skills.


    However, Emma''s healing had no effect because Jeremy hadn''t actually sustained any physical injuries during the battle.


    "I wasn''t injured in the fight with the instance boss. The instance boss isn''t a physical entity, it''s a data lifeformposed entirely of high-dimensional data." discover-stories-MVLeMpYr


    "Although I managed to absorb most of the instance boss''s high-dimensional data into the data core, the boss still seeded in splitting off a portion of its data."


    "The mechanical monsters rushing toward us right now contain the instance boss''s high-dimensional data. We need to eliminate all these monsters and absorb their internal high-dimensional data into the data core."


    "We have finally and truly defeated the instance boss of The Iron Lair!"


    Jeremy proimed, seizing the moment when his headache had momentarily subsided, and he divulged every piece of information he possessed in one breath.


    Upon hearing his deration, Bonnie and the others exchanged looks, their faces awash with palpable anxiety.


    Given Jeremy''s description, they felt that the instance boss was nearly unbeatable. After all, high-dimensional data is almost infinitely divisible.


    After finishing his exnation, Jeremy''s headache became excruciating again. The intense pain rendered Jeremy incapable of continuing the fight, leaving him to rely on Bonnie and the others to buy him some time.


    "My head is hurting too much right now, you must provide me with some assistance! I need you to buy me a few minutes so I can recalibrate myself!" Jeremy pleaded, his voice strained with desperation.


    Since Jeremy had alreadyid it out so inly, Bonnie had no intention of dying any further.


    Bonnie immediately turned her gaze toward ire and Emma, her eyes filled with determination: "The two of us must take on the responsibility of fending off the mechanical monsters'' attacks. Emma, you will be in charge of providing healing to both of us."


    Despite being the youngest among them, aside from Jeremy, Bonnie''s resolve was unwavering and clear to all.


    Although Bonnie was the youngest among them, aside from Jeremy, she took charge andid out the battle n when danger loomed.


    ire and Emma had no objections. They felt Bonnie''s n was wless.


    ire''s talent was in the mental realm, but she still possessed somebat abilities.


    Emma''s talent was in healing, so she had nobat abilities at all. cing Emma behind them to provide support was the best arrangement.


    After organizing everything, Bonnie wielded her staff and unleashed two frost spells.


    One icy de after another flew out from the void. These ice des dealt significant damage, but their slowing effect was not as pronounced.


    With ire''s assistance, Bonnie sessfully prevented the surrounding mechanical monsters from closing in.


    However, Bonnie knew that as time went on, the threat posed by the mechanical monsters would only grow. To ultimately defeat these mechanical monsters, they would have to rely on Jeremy.


    At this moment, Jeremy was concentrating intensely, trying to alleviate his headache.


    Emma was by his side, continuously offering her support. However, Emma''s skills were ineffective in alleviating Jeremy''s headache.


    Despite the excruciating pain, Jeremy pondered everything he had experienced since entering The Iron Lair instance.


    After some reflection, Jeremy suddenly felt that his strategy for clearing the instance might be wed.


    The cues from The Eye of Omniscience explicitly stated that only by locating The Mechanical Duke''s true form could they defeat The Mechanical Duke.


    Jeremy theorized that The Mechanical Duke''s true form was its high-dimensional data.


    However, up until now, Jeremy had not discovered a method to eliminate high-dimensional data. Furthermore, The Mechanical Duke could infinitely partition its high-dimensional data.


    Moreover, as The Mechanical Duke continued to stall for time, the Data Erosion affecting Jeremy and hispanions would be increasingly severe. Eventually, Jeremy and the others would be transformed into mechanical monsters before they could defeat The Mechanical Duke.


    Jeremy realized that following this line of thought would never lead to a sessfulpletion of the instance, thus, he needed to devise a new strategy for clearing it.


    In that instant of realization, Jeremy instinctively nced up at the topmost part of the tower.


    He suddenly noticed that the ethereal Portal at the tower''s peak still existed, and some high-dimensional data was flowing through the ethereal Portal into The Iron Lair instance.


    At this moment, a sudden spark of inspiration illuminated Jeremy''s mind.


    "What if The Mechanical Duke''s core isn''t in the instance at all? What if The Mechanical Duke''s core has always been hiding behind the ethereal Portal?"


    At the very moment this possibility struck him, Jeremy instantly took out the data core.


    He observed that the connection between the data core and the mechanical monsters besieging their group was not particrly strong. However, the connection between the data core and the ethereal Portal atop the tower was exceedingly tight.


    One must understand that the data core contained the vast majority of The Mechanical Duke''s high-dimensional data.


    This indirectly confirmed that The Mechanical Duke''s core was not within The Iron Lair instance. Their goal was not to destroy The Mechanical Duke''s core but to find a way to close the ethereal Portal.


    As Jeremy reached this revtion, Bonnie and ire could no longer fend off the mechanical monsters'' assault.


    Bonnie turned back and shouted loudly in Jeremy''s direction.


    "We can''t hold off the enemy''s attack any longer! If you don''t act now, we''ll be annihted by the mechanical monsters!"


    Bonnie''s words threw Emma and ire into a state of panic. Like Bonnie, they turned their eyes to Jeremy. Only Jeremy could save them now.


    At this moment, Jeremy had a brand-new strategy in mind. A faint smile yed on his lips as he opened his eyes, which had been tightly shut due to the excruciating headache.

 Chapter 146: The Master of The Mechanical Duke

    "I''ve figured out how to deal with these mechanical monsters!"


    Jeremy eximed, his eyes snapping open as he shouted toward Bonnie. Without wasting another moment, he leaped high into the air,nding atop the towering spire in the center of the mechanical town.


    Jeremy''s sudden maneuver left Bonnie and the others utterly bewildered.


    Nearby, Emma, filled with concern, called out to Jeremy, "Why did you climb up the tower? Are you nning tounch an attack on the surrounding mechanical monsters from up there?"


    Jeremy offered no response to Emma''s inquiry.


    Gripping the data core tightly in his hand, Jeremy continued his ascent to the very top of the tower with all the speed he could muster.


    As Jeremy made his daring climb, the mechanical monsters that had been besieging Bonnie and the others abruptly redirected their focus. Ignoring Bonnie, the mechanical monsters surged toward the tower, honing in on Jeremy with rming speed.


    Although Bonnie didn''t fully understand the rationale behind Jeremy''s actions, she inferred from the mechanical monsters'' movements that Jeremy''s approach must pose a significant threat to them.


    "I''ll find a way to hinder the mechanical monsters! Just go ahead and do what you need to do!" Bonnie shouted towards Jeremy.


    Jeremy didn''t respond to Bonnie because he was entirely focused on climbing to the top of the tower as swiftly as possible.


    Bonnie didn''t wait for Jeremy''s reply.


    After finishing her sentence, she immediately swung her staff, summoning a series of blizzards. These blizzards sessfully slowed down the mechanical monsters'' advance.


    Emma and ire, although still unclear about the situation.


    Mimicked Bonnie''s actions and began to impede the mechanical monsters'' progress.


    Under thebined efforts of Bonnie, Emma, and ire, the mechanical monsters were unable to catch up to Jeremy quickly.


    When Jeremy was just a few meters away from the ethereal portal at the top of the tower, all the mechanical monsters began to emit a blue glow.


    High-Dimensional Data surged out of the bodies of these mechanical monsters, coalescing into a spectral blue figure.


    The moment this blue figure came into existence, it sped towards Jeremy with unparalleled swiftness.


    The instant Bonnie saw the blue figure, she resolved to unleash her most powerful skill to obstruct its path.


    Bonnie grasped her staff tightly with both hands.


    Her eyes were suddenly veiled with ayer of frost, and she began chanting incantations under her breath.


    Uponpleting the spell, Bonnie mmed her staff heavily onto the ground.


    Instantly, the ground where the staff made contact was rapidly covered in frost, and the ice sped toward the blue figure with astonishing quickness.


    By this time, Jeremy was close enough to reach the ethereal portal above his head.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, he hurled the data core toward the portal.


    The instant the data core touched the portal, it exploded violently.


    All the High-Dimensional Data stored within the data core was released. This High-Dimensional Data immediately dispersed in all directions.


    Jeremy, without any dy, activated his [The Mechanical Puppet Technique] skill.


    He focused all his energy on gathering the dispersed High-Dimensional Data once more. Jeremy aimed to hurl all this High-Dimensional Data into the ethereal portal.


    Just as Jeremy was about toplete his n, the blue figure of The Mechanical Duke materialized in front of him. This blue figure immediately constructed a cage, trapping Jeremy within.


    "Do you think you can outsmart me with such a cunning n?" The voice of The Mechanical Duke emanated from the blue shadow.


    "You are far too arrogant! As a servant of my master, I will never allow you to sever the pathway between my master''s divine realm and this ce!"


    The Mechanical Duke divulged an additional piece of information.


    The ethereal portal at the pinnacle of the tower in the center of the mechanical town was, in fact, the conduit linking The Mechanical Duke''s master''s divine realm to this instance.


    This implied that all the High-Dimensional Data within the instance could very well have originated from The Mechanical Duke''s master''s divine realm.


    If The Mechanical Duke''s words were true, then the High-Dimensional Data was directly connected to The Mechanical Duke''s master.


    Jeremy quickly pieced together all the information, then retorted to the opposing figure.


    "Who exactly is your master? Why does your master link his divine realm to The Iron Lair instance? What are your true objectives?"


    Although Jeremy posed these questions.


    He did not expect The Mechanical Duke to provide answers, for The Mechanical Duke was indeed his adversary. How could an enemy possibly divulge such information?


    However, contrary to Jeremy''s expectations, The Mechanical Duke actually responded to his questions.


    "My master is the great God of Science, whose mission is to disseminate the power of science to all known worlds. Therefore, it is only natural for Him to link His divine realm to all possible worlds."


    Do not delude yourself into thinking you can wage war against the great God of Science. Victory over science is impossible; pledge your allegiance to the God of Science. Let the great power of science transform you into an exalted being like myself."


    The Mechanical Duke dared to utter such words because he felt assured of his triumph.


    Jeremy had already been ensnared by him, and a portion of the High-Dimensional Data had been sessfully reimed. Even if Jeremy could manipte the remaining High-Dimensional Data, he had no means of escaping the prison.


    Jeremy''s expression became slightly hesitant after hearing The Mechanical Duke''s response.


    "I will never pledge allegiance to your so-called God of Science. You are nothing but a string of data, while I am a living, breathing human. As a living human, I will never allow myself to be transformed into mere data!"


    Jeremy rejected The Mechanical Duke''s proposition without a moment''s hesitation. your-chapter-source


    The Mechanical Duke did not attempt further persuasion; instead, he used the High-Dimensional Data at his disposal to reinforce Jeremy''s prison.


    The conversation between Jeremy and The Mechanical Duke was not overheard by Bonnie and the others.


    However, Bonnie and the others could see that Jeremy had been trapped by The Mechanical Duke.


    Bonnie, Emma, and ire were all extremely anxious at this moment. They were deeply concerned that Jeremy might be eliminated by The Mechanical Duke.


    After observing for a while, Bonnie decided to take action to assist Jeremy.


    "We can no longer stand by and watch. Jeremy''s situation is dire! We must do everything in our power to assist him!"


    No sooner had Bonnie finished speaking than she threw her staff toward the high tower.


    As Bonnie hurled her staff, she gathered all her power into it. At that moment, Bonnie''s staff was imbued with a tremendous amount of frost energy.


    Although this frost energy couldn''t directly destroy the prison that held Jeremy, it was enough to cause significant trouble for The Mechanical Duke.


    Naturally, The Mechanical Duke sensed Bonnie''s attack.


    The Mechanical Duke did not disy any panic whatsoever; he merely diverted a portion of his High-Dimensional Data to form a barrier.


    This barrier effortlessly blocked the staff that Bonnie had thrown.


    "Your friends are incapable of providing you any assistance now! I will ask you onest time: are you willing to pledge your allegiance to the great God of Science?"


    The Mechanical Duke still chose not to kill Jeremy, hoping to convert him to his master''s cause.


    Contrary to before, Jeremy, confined within the prison, was no longer as panicked.


    He had discovered The Mechanical Duke''s weakness. Although The Mechanical Duke had sessfully trapped him, hecked the means to eliminate him directly.


    The High-Dimensional Data currently possessed by The Mechanical Duke was even less than what Jeremy could control.


    Moreover, to fend off Bonnie''s attack, The Mechanical Duke had just diverted a portion of his High-Dimensional Data. This meant that the prison he had created was now exceedingly unstable.


    "I have already told you, I will never pledge allegiance to your master. Besides, you do not possess the power to eliminate me! I have seen through your true capabilities!"


    Upon finishing his statement, Jeremy immediately mobilized all the High-Dimensional Data he could control.


    The gathered High-Dimensional Data directly pierced through the prison The Mechanical Duke had confined Jeremy in.


    Upon witnessing this scene, The Mechanical Duke realized he had no means of defeating Jeremy. He also understood that staying any longer would only ce him in grave danger.


    The Mechanical Duke decided to abandon the fight with Jeremy and transformed into a blue beam of light, swiftly flying towards the illusory Portal at the top of the tower.


    Jeremy, naturally, would never allow The Mechanical Duke to escape so easily. He immediately used the High-Dimensional Data at his disposal to seal the illusory Portal, trapping The Mechanical Duke within The Iron Lair instance.


    At this turn of events, The Mechanical Duke finally showed a hint of panic.


    He began to use his High-Dimensional Data relentlessly to break through the barrier Jeremy had erected.


    At that moment, Bonnie finally reached Jeremy''s side. She retrieved her staff and once again used her power to create a barrier of ice.


    Under thebined sealing efforts of Bonnie and Jeremy, The Mechanical Duke was ultimately and entirely trapped.

 Chapter 147: An Instance Not Meant for You

    After sessfully trapping The Mechanical Duke, Jeremy immediately chose to demolish the central tower of the mechanical town.


    As the tower copsed, the illusory Portal at the top vanished. This meant that even if The Mechanical Duke could break free from Jeremy''s seal, he would be unable to return to his master''s divine realm.


    "The Portal has been closed. You have no way to leave The Iron Lair instance anymore. So, I suggest you cooperate with me from now on."


    At this moment, the dynamic between Jeremy and The Mechanical Duke hadpletely reversed.


    When The Mechanical Duke held the upper hand, he could naturally exert pressure on Jeremy and coerce him into swearing allegiance to his master.


    Now that Jeremy had the upper hand, he could do the same.


    However, Jeremy had no intention of making The Mechanical Duke his subordinate. He simply wanted to extract as much information as possible from him.


    Faced with Jeremy''s words, the blue shadow that The Mechanical Duke had be offered no response and made no movement.


    "I understand you''re trying to resist me through silence. But do you truly believe this tactic stands any chance of sess? I have ways to make you divulge every piece of information you possess."


    As he said this, Jeremy once again employed the [The Mechanical Puppet Technique].


    Jeremy manipted the High-Dimensional Data to extract a portion of The Mechanical Duke''s High-Dimensional Data from within the seal.


    As a segment of the High-Dimensional Data was drawn out, the blue shadow that The Mechanical Duke had transformed into seemed to be fainter than before. The Mechanical Duke let out a wail of agony.


    "It appears that extracting High-Dimensional Data from your body causes you pain. If you refuse to answer my questions, I will continue to pull out the High-Dimensional Data from your form."


    Jeremy issued a direct threat.


    Confronted with Jeremy''s menace, The Mechanical Duke had no choice but toply.


    "What is it you wish to ask? If I know the answer, I will tell you. However, I must receive a promise from you first."


    The Mechanical Duke was not about to trust Jeremy easily.


    The Mechanical Duke was willing to answer Jeremy''s questions, but only on the condition that Jeremy would release him afterward.


    Hearing these words, Jeremy''s face twisted into a mocking smile.


    "Do you really think you''re in any position to negotiate with me? I''m holding all the cards right now! If you refuse to answer my questions, I can just keep extracting High-Dimensional Data from you as I did before."


    With that statement, Jeremy proceeded to extract another portion of High-Dimensional Data from The Mechanical Duke''s body.


    The Mechanical Duke let out another wail of agony.


    This time, The Mechanical Duke finally understood Jeremy''s resolve. Hastily, he said to Jeremy, "Just ask your questions directly."


    Only after receiving this satisfactory response did Jeremy finally stop.


    "My first question is: What is your master''s true name? I don''t believe that ''God of Science'' is your master''s real name."


    Previously, Jeremy had obtained some information about the deities of the apocalypse game from the [World].


    ording to the information provided by the [World], the deities in the apocalypse game all had corresponding abstract designations. ''God of Science'' didn''t seem like an abstract designation; it pointed to something far too specific.


    Faced with Jeremy''s question, The Mechanical Duke hesitated slightly.


    After a silent pause thatsted several seconds, The Mechanical Duke slowly responded, "I refer to my master as the God of Science. However, among other races that have received my master''s favor, some call the great master ''the White Tower.''"


    The moment the term "the White Tower" escaped The Mechanical Duke''s mouth, the expressions on Jeremy and Bonnie''s faces grew exceedinglyplex.


    Jeremy could now be certain that The Mechanical Duke''s master was indeed one of the many deities of the apocalypse game. Moreover, this deity known as "the White Tower" clearly held a statusparable to that of "the Sun."


    Theplicated expression on Jeremy''s face didn''tst long; he quickly regained hisposure.


    "You previously told me that you came here solely to spread science. Are you truly iming that your master hasn''t tasked you with setting a trap for me here?"


    Jeremy was not inclined to believe that The Mechanical Duke''s presence here was merely coincidental.


    Jeremy was convinced that The Mechanical Duke''s appearance was a deliberate arrangement by "the White Tower."


    Moreover, from the abstract meaning implied by "the White Tower" and the fact that The Mechanical Duke refers to it as the God of Science, it is evident that "the White Tower" must represent data andputation on some level.


    The notion that such a deity would coincidentally ce The Mechanical Duke here is utterly imusible.


    This time, The Mechanical Duke''s hesitationsted even longer than before.


    Jeremy''s patience was rapidly running thin, and he couldn''t help but urge, "Why are you not answering my question? You must havee here deliberately to wait for me, didn''t you?"


    Confronted with Jeremy''s pressing inquiry, The Mechanical Duke slowly began to speak.


    "I did indeed appear here intentionally. However, the person I was waiting for is not you. I was waiting for another human, simr to you."


    The Mechanical Duke''s response left Jeremy deeply puzzled.


    Could it be that The Mechanical Duke''s presence here wasn''t meant to target him specifically? Was The Mechanical Duke merely waiting for any powerful awakened individual?


    Jeremy found it utterly impossible to believe this exnation.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy manipted the High-Dimensional Data under his control to extract another portion of High-Dimensional Data from The Mechanical Duke''s body.


    "I have already answered your question, so why are you still doing this?!" The Mechanical Duke roared in anger.


    Jeremy responded coldly, "You definitely lied just now. The information in your answer simply doesn''t add up."


    Although the blue shadow that was The Mechanical Dukecked facial features, Jeremy could sense that it was ring at him intensely.


    "The Iron Lair instance was not designed for you; it was prepared for the humans favored by my master," The Mechanical Duke eventually argued.


    Jeremy''s expression grew somewhat hesitant upon hearing these words.


    MVLeMpYr-hosted


    Compared to the previous response, this answer seemed much more credible. Yet, Jeremy still couldn''t fully trust what was being said.


    "What evidence do you have to prove that The Iron Lair wasn''t intended for me? And if The Iron Lair was prepared for other humans, would these humans really pledge allegiance to your master?"


    After posing these questions, Jeremy fixed his eyes tightly on The Mechanical Duke.


    The Mechanical Duke answered Jeremy''s question without any hesitation.


    "If The Iron Lair instance were prepared for you, do you think I would be waiting for you at the very center of the instance? I would haveunched an attack on you the moment you entered the instance."


    "And if I knew your power was this immense, why wouldn''t I set up more traps? Do you think I have ced numerous traps in the mechanical town?"


    The Mechanical Duke''s exnation was indeed wless.


    However, Jeremy wasn''t so easily convinced by what was said. He awaited the Duke''s response to thest question he had posed.


    Jeremy was deeply concerned that some humans might already be nning to pledge allegiance to the deity of the apocalypse game.


    If such a situation were indeed unfolding, Jeremy would need to alert others in advance. The presence of traitors among humanity would cast a dark shadow over the future of all humankind.


    "As for thest question you mentioned, I find it utterly meaningless. My master wouldn''t prepare such an instance for those who haven''t already pledged their allegiance to Him."


    "In reality, the individual who was supposed to enter this instance has long since pledged their allegiance to my master. They have already be the agent of my master in your human world."


    The Mechanical Duke''s response not only made Jeremy''s expression extremely grim.


    Behind Jeremy stood Bonnie, Emma, and ire, all with equally grave expressions. After all, they now knew that there were traitors among humanity.


    Upon receiving such a response, Jeremy''s mood lifted slightly, no longer as oppressed as before.


    Even though the answer provided by The Mechanical Duke was not good news for Jeremy, it at least spared him from further wild guesses.


    After noting all the information, a faint smile appeared on Jeremy''s lips.


    "Since The Iron Lair instance was prepared for the humans who have already pledged allegiance to your master, it must contain many valuable skill books and equipment, correct?"


    "Where exactly are these skill books and equipment? You must provide me with all the skill books and equipment in the instance. If you can do that, I will let you go."


    Jeremy''s words left The Mechanical Duke utterly astonished. He hadn''t expected that Jeremy might actually consider letting him go.


    "Would you really do that? How do I know you''re not deceiving me?"


    Although overjoyed, The Mechanical Duke suppressed his inner excitement and hastily questioned Jeremy.


    Jeremy, unperturbed, responded, "Since you follow the White Tower, you can naturally gain some power from Him. You can use His power to form a contract with me."

 Chapter 148: Obtaining All Rewards from the Instance

    Regarding the deal proposed by Jeremy, it was evident that The Mechanical Duke was extremely interested.


    If The Mechanical Duke could indeed sessfully harness the power possessed by the White Tower, then he naturally could establish a contract with Jeremy that would be utterly unbreakable.


    Jeremy also observed that The Mechanical Duke was very intrigued by the deal he had put forward, so he proceeded to borate.


    "I am not sure how important you are to your master, thus I am uncertain whether you are capable of wielding your master''s power."


    The reason Jeremy made this statement was to employ a tactic of provocation, hoping topel The Mechanical Duke into agreeing to the deal.


    Jeremy''s strategy indeed met with sess.


    After hearing Jeremy''s words, The Mechanical Duke responded angrily.


    "Of course, I am extremely important to my master! I am the executor of my master''s will! My master would never abandon me! I am absolutely capable of receiving my master''s power!"


    By making this deration, The Mechanical Duke effectively agreed to the deal with Jeremy.


    "In that case, let''s not waste any more time. Go ahead and harness your master''s power to form an unbreakable contract with me!"


    After saying this, Jeremy took a few steps back.


    Simultaneously, Jeremy signaled Bonnie and the others to also step back a few paces.


    Upon seeing Jeremy''s actions, The Mechanical Duke seemed to realize that Jeremy had a certain level of understanding about his master.


    Thus, The Mechanical Duke directly questioned Jeremy: "Do you truly not know the extent of my master''s immense power? Were the things you said earlier deliberate falsehoods?


    Are you not at all concerned that I might use my master''s power to obliterate you within the instance of The Iron Lair?"


    Faced with The Mechanical Duke''s inquiry, a slight smile appeared at the corner of Jeremy''s mouth.


    "If the White Tower could so easily bestow its power upon you, I would have perished in the instance of The Iron Lair long ago. You wouldn''t be in such an awkward predicament now."


    With just one sentence, Jeremy effortlessly dismantled The Mechanical Duke''s probing.


    The Mechanical Duke couldn''t help but nod: "You are indeed much smarter than I initially thought. Since that''s the case, I won''t waste any more words with you. If you don''t want to be affected by my master''s power, you better step back even further."


    Jeremy believed in the words of The Mechanical Duke.


    He promptly led Bonnie and the others to retreat to a greater distance.


    At this moment, Bonnie, slightly anxious, reminded him, "We''re now so far from The Mechanical Duke, won''t he take this opportunity to escape our control?"


    Jeremy shook his head: "He can''t possibly do that because I''ve already sealed the illusory Portal at the top of the tower. Even if he manages to break through the barriers we''ve set up, he still has no way of returning to the world of the White Tower."


    Jeremy''s words temporarily put Bonnie at ease.


    Subsequently, Bonnie, along with the others, kept a close watch on The Mechanical Duke''s actions.


    Once Jeremy and his group had retreated to a sufficiently safe distance, The Mechanical Duke began to dismantle all the High-Dimensional Data he possessed. This High-Dimensional Data formed a structure resembling a spider web.


    At this moment, Jeremy could see that within the web-like structure woven from High-Dimensional Data, some new data streams seemed to be emerging. These data streams appeared to be able to establish a connection with the illusory Portal at the top of the central tower in the mechanical town.


    As the number of data streams within the web-like structure of High-Dimensional Data continued to increase, Jeremy suddenly felt that all the machinery in the mechanical town seemed toe to life at that very instant.


    Jeremy''s ears were suddenly filled with a low, menacing growl.


    Under the influence of this low growl, Jeremy experienced a severe headache once again.


    Previously, when Jeremy had such intense headaches, Bonnie, Emma, and ire would always find ways to alleviate his pain. However, this time, Bonnie, Emma, and ire had no strength left to help him.


    Bonnie and the others were also experiencing severe headaches.


    Despite the excruciating pain, Jeremy directed his gaze toward the web-like structure woven from High-Dimensional Data.


    At that moment, Jeremy saw an illusory towerposed of numerous High-Dimensional Data strands, and this illusory tower was pure white in color.


    The instant Jeremy saw the pure white illusory tower, he thought of the White Tower.


    "Could it be that The Mechanical Duke is not currently channeling the power of the White Tower? Could it be that The Mechanical Duke''s current actions are an attempt to invoke the descent of the White Tower within the mechanicalir instance?"


    Having gone through a series of previous troubles, Jeremy was extremely vignt.


    Jeremy felt an overwhelming need to prepare for the worst possible scenario.


    The worst-case scenario he could foresee was The Mechanical Duke sessfully summoning the essence of the White Tower into the mechanicalir instance.


    The moment this possibility crossed his mind, Jeremy shouted toward the web-like structure that The Mechanical Duke had be.


    "What exactly are you doing right now?! Stop immediately!"


    As soon as Jeremy shouted, the web-like structure formed by The Mechanical Duke quickly dissipated. The High-Dimensional Data that constituted The Mechanical Duke reconverged, and his illusory figure appeared before Jeremy.


    With The Mechanical Duke''s reappearance, the intense headache Jeremy felt rapidly subsided. Bonnie and the others also quickly found relief from their severe headaches.


    Angrily, Jeremy employed the Mechanical Puppet Technique. He directed a significant amount of High-Dimensional Data towards The Mechanical Duke''s essence.


    Facing Jeremy''s attack, The Mechanical Duke hurriedly eximed.


    "All my actions were solely to channel my master''s power. I have now sessfully channeled my master''s power and established the contract we are to fulfill."


    With The Mechanical Duke''s words, an illusory contract materialized before Jeremy.


    The contract wasden with uses written in a scriptpletely foreign to Jeremy.


    At this moment, Jeremy had already retracted all of the High-Dimensional Data.


    Gazing intently at the illusory contract for a while, he slowly asked The Mechanical Duke.


    "I can''t understand a single word written on this contract. How am I supposed to know if its contents match what we previously agreed upon?"


    Without any hesitation, The Mechanical Duke divulged the method to decipher the contract''s contents.


    "You don''t need to understand the script on the contract. In fact, I can''t read it either. These characters belong to thenguage of deities,prehensible only to true deities. your-chapter-source-MvLeMpYr


    What you need to do now is to use High-Dimensional Data to parse the contract''s contents. As soon as High-Dimensional Data interacts with the contract, its contents will naturally manifest in your mind."


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Jeremy followed The Mechanical Duke''s instructions.


    The instant the High-Dimensional Data manipted by Jeremy touched the illusory contract, its contents immediately formed in his mind.


    The contract''s contents were exactly the terms Jeremy and The Mechanical Duke had agreed upon.


    "Now you should be able to trust what I''ve said, right? If there are no further questions, let''s finalize the contract quickly! I will promptly help you locate all the rewards within the instance, and afterward, you must allow me to leave."


    After a moment of contemtion, Jeremy nodded.


    "Alright then, I''ll go ahead and finalize the contract with you right now!"


    Jeremy and The Mechanical Duke simultaneously imprinted their spiritual marks onto the illusory contract. In that instant, the contract split into two parts, each encircling Jeremy and The Mechanical Duke respectively.


    "If either of us vites the contract, it will immediately kill us!" The Mechanical Duke reminded Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement and proceeded to lift the seal ced on The Mechanical Duke. Bonnie also lifted the seal on The Mechanical Duke simultaneously.


    Once the seals were removed, The Mechanical Duke moved directly to the high tower at the center of the mechanical town.


    The Mechanical Duke spread the High-Dimensional Data thatposed him around the town''s central tower, and in that moment, all the information within the mechanicalir instance was disyed before Jeremy and the others.


    "The white light points you see now are the rewards within the mechanicalir instance. I will retrieve these rewards as swiftly as possible."


    With those words, The Mechanical Duke transformed into countless blue beams of light, darting off in various directions within the mechanicalir instance.


    In just a few minutes, The Mechanical Duke returned,den with a multitude of rewards.


    "I have fulfilled all the obligations stipted in the contract. Now it''s your turn to uphold your end of the agreement!"


    Jeremy looked at the myriad rewards before him, a slight smile appearing on his face.


    "Of course, I will uphold the terms of the contract!"


    Jeremy manipted the High-Dimensional Data to extract the data core lodged in the illusory Portal.


    The moment the data core was removed from the illusory Portal, the Portal was reactivated.


    "You can now leave The Iron Lair instance and return to your master''s divine realm!" Jeremy said this with a smile on his face. "Before you go, there''s one message I''d like you to deliver to your master."


    The Mechanical Duke did not leave immediately, curious about what Jeremy wanted to convey to his master.


    With a smile still on his face, Jeremy spoke calmly, "Tell Him to be prepared, I will being for Him soon!"

 Chapter 149: Meeting As Soon As Possible

    The Mechanical Duke stood motionless, staring at Jeremy, unable to fathom that Jeremy would dare utter such audacious words about his master.


    "What''s the matter? Are you not nning to leave?" Jeremy asked The Mechanical Duke, his smile unwavering.


    "Human, you are remarkably arrogant! I admit, your strength is indeed formidable. I acknowledge that your talent is exceptionally strong. But in the end, you are merely human. You do not possess the qualifications to challenge a deity."


    The Mechanical Duke spoke in his signature cold and raspy mechanical voice.


    In response to The Mechanical Duke''s words, a mocking smile appeared on Jeremy''s face.


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    "I recall someone else telling me something simr in the past. But in the end, the deity they followed still fell."


    The deity Jeremy referred to was, of course, the "Sun" of the Land of Eternal Night.


    The Mechanical Duke did not say another word to Jeremy.


    He simply transformed into High-Dimensional Data and swiftly passed through the illusory Portal at the top of the tower.


    After The Mechanical Duke left, Bonnie asked Jeremy with a hint of concern.


    "Are you really going to let him leave so easily? Why didn''t we take this opportunity to eliminate him?"


    In response to Bonnie''s question, Jeremy gave a wry smile.


    "I wanted to eliminate him too! But I simply don''t have the capability to destroy him."


    As he said this, Jeremy cast his gaze towards the top of the tower.


    After The Mechanical Duke departed, the illusory Portal quickly vanished. With the disappearance of the Portal, the central tower of the mechanical town also began to crumble gradually.


    "We can discuss these matters after we leave the instance. The Iron Lair instance is about to copsepletely. We must leave before it happens!"


    Thus, Jeremy led Bonnie and the others, sprinting towards the exit of The Iron Lair instance as fast as they could.


    Just before The Iron Lair instancepletely copsed, the four barely managed to escape.


    Bonnie, Emma, and ire were utterly exhausted.


    They couldn''t go any further, they needed to rest.


    Although Jeremy was also nearly out of strength, he knew it would be extremely dangerous to rest here.


    After all, before entering The Iron Lair instance, they had encountered a formidable monster in this very ce.


    That monster was none other than the named creature, the Furnace King.


    If they were to encounter the Furnace King in their current state, the likelihood of Jeremy and hispanions securing victory would be exceedingly low.


    "I know you''re all extremely tired right now, but this ce is far from safe! We must leave the industrial district and return to the safe zones of Moonlight City as quickly as possible." Jeremy urged.


    Prompted by Jeremy''s reminder, Bonnie and the others reluctantly stood up.


    The four of them supported each other, moving forward as fast as they could. However, they hadn''t gone far before a massive figure blocked their path.


    This figure was none other than the Furnace King, the very being Jeremy had been worried about encountering.


    "It''s just like they say, the more you fear something, the more likely you are to face it! Has the Furnace King been guarding the entrance to The Iron Lair instance this whole time?!"


    Understandably, Jeremy''s mood soured significantly at this turn of events.


    Though he could still fight if he had to, he couldn''t guarantee the safety of Bonnie and the others.


    As Jeremy pondered how to navigate this dire situation, the sound of intense gunfire erupted from a short distance away. A shadowy figure then darted toward them from afar.


    This figure turned out to be E, a member of the special operations team stationed in Moonlight City.


    E''s arrival brought a sense of relief to Jeremy and hispanions.


    Although E was Kean''s fianc¨¦e, she had always gotten along fairly well with Jeremy. Unlike Kean, E did not harbor any animosity towards Jeremy.


    E swiftly eliminated the Furnace King.


    "Are you all alright? I came here under Mayor Benjamin''s orders to rescue you!"


    E stated, her voice icy as she looked at Jeremy.


    Despite their decent rtionship, E couldn''t appear too friendly with Jeremy, given that Jeremy and her fianc¨¦ Kean were mortal enemies.


    Her presence here was not to rescue Jeremy.


    She hade solely to save Mayor Benjamin''s daughter, Bonnie.


    "They''re not seriously hurt, just exhausted."


    Jeremy responded to E''s inquiry, as Bonnie and the others were too tired to speak.


    E nodded. "More people will arrive shortly. You can leave with them in their vehicles. I''ll continue leading my team to clear out the monsters in the industrial district."


    With that, E quickly departed.


    Not long after E left, Jeremy and his group heard the roar of approaching cars.


    Eventually, Jeremy and hispanions boarded the vehicle headed towards the safe zone of Moonlight City, under the protection of the city''s police force. These officers were specifically dispatched by Mayor Benjamin.


    While on the vehicle, Jeremy received a phone call from Benjamin.


    "Why did you allow my daughter to enter such a perilous instance without informing me first?! Did you deceive her into going to the instance? If my daughter sustains even the slightest injury, I will never forgive you!" Benjamin''s voice seethed with fury.


    At this moment, Benjamin was unaware of the emotional bond between Jeremy and Bonnie.


    Therefore, when Benjamin spoke, his tone was exceedingly wrathful.


    Jeremy felt that if he were to face Benjamin in person, the mayor would undoubtedly strangle him without hesitation.


    "Mr. Benjamin, I did not intentionally deceive your daughter into entering The Iron Lair instance. Furthermore, I specifically sought her consent before the operation. She agreed to apany me, which is why I brought her into the instance." Jeremy exined.


    However, Jeremy''s exnation did not have any effect.


    On the other end of the line, Benjamin remained extremely enraged. After hearing Jeremy''s exnation, Benjamin proceeded to unleash a torrent of verbal abuse.


    "You damned bastard! Nothing you say now is going to make any difference. When you return, I will personally speak with my daughter. Whether or not you deceived her is not for you to decide!" Benjamin''s roar was loud enough for the three people sitting around Jeremy to hear clearly.


    Feeling slightly exasperated, Bonnie gently tapped Jeremy on the shoulder, signaling him to hand over the phone.


    "Dad, it''s me."


    Bonnie said as she took the phone, first identifying herself.


    On the other end of the line, Benjamin''s tone softened a bit, though he remained exceedingly angry.


    "My dear daughter! Why did you go into The Iron Lair instance with that scoundrel Jeremy? Don''t you know how dangerous that instance is? Did he trick you?"


    Benjamin believed he understood his daughter very well.


    Bonnie had always been a very cautious person, never one to take risks alone. This led Benjamin to assume that Jeremy must have deceived Bonnie.


    "Father, Jeremy did not deceive me. In fact, it was my own decision to enter The Iron Lair instance with him. Not only did I not encounter any danger this time, but I also gained a lot of rewards in The Iron Lair instance."


    "My abilities will see a significant boost. This way, I can provide substantial assistance to you, Father. We could expedite the process of clearing all the monsters from Moonlight City." Bonnie''s tone carried a gentle hint of joy.


    The prospect of increased strength made Bonnie feel she could offer greater help to others.


    Bonnie''s words rendered Benjamin silent.


    After several seconds, Benjamin slowly responded from the other end of the line.


    "I understand. You truly are my good daughter. However, next time you undertake something simr, you must inform me in advance. I know you want to help others, but you must first ensure your own safety."


    "I understand, Father! Next time, before heading to an instance, I will definitely inform you ahead of time. I won''t let you worry like this again."


    Bonnie''s words sessfully diffused Benjamin''s anger.


    "Alright, when you get home, we will have a proper talk. Now, hand the phone back to that bastard Jeremy!"


    Even though Benjamin now knew that Bonnie had not been deceived by Jeremy, his impression of Jeremy remained extremely poor.


    After Jeremy took the phone, Benjamin coldly said, "I hope to meet with you as soon as possible. Recently, a series of events have urred that have had a significant impact on Moonlight City.


    Moreover, you should be aware that your conflict with Kean could potentially affect the entire Moonlight City. Therefore, I hope you can reconcile with Kean."


    Benjamin''s words instantly infuriated Jeremy.


    "Did I hear that correctly? You are actually asking me to reconcile with him? He''s the one who has been deliberately targeting me all along! Shouldn''t he be the one apologizing and asking for my forgiveness?"


    Jeremy felt he had no reason to reconcile with Kean.


    In fact, even if reconciliation were to happen, Kean would have to kneel and beg for Jeremy''s forgiveness.


    Jeremy''s response left Benjamin at a loss for words for a moment.


    After a while, Benjamin slowly said, "Regardless, we should meet first."

 Chapter 150: Mediation by the Federal Top Brass

    After hanging up Benjamin''s call, neither Jeremy nor Bonnie uttered a single word.


    Their caravan took about two hours to reach the city hall in the center of Moonlight City.


    "Miss Bonnie, Mr. Jeremy, Mayor Benjamin is waiting for you in his office."


    As soon as Jeremy and Bonnie stepped out of the vehicle, they were greeted by one of Benjamin''s secretaries.


    Guided by the secretary, Jeremy and Bonnie quickly arrived at the door of Benjamin''s office.


    The secretary knocked on the office door.


    "Mayor, Miss Bonnie and Jeremy have arrived."


    "Let Jeremy wait outside for a moment! Have my daughtere in first!"


    Benjamin''s voice came from inside the office. -chapter


    The office door then opened, and Bonnie nced at Jeremy before walking into the office alone.


    After closing the office door, the secretary smiled warmly at Jeremy and said,


    "Mayor Benjamin wishes to speak with his daughter first. I believe this is understandable. So please bear with us and do not take offense at the Mayor for this."


    Jeremy nodded his head.


    He certainly wouldn''t take his anger out on Benjamin because of this matter.


    After all, Benjamin was Bonnie''s father. As a father, it was only natural for him to ensure his daughter hadn''t been harmed after encountering danger.


    Jeremy headed straight to the lounge area and took advantage of the free time to call Ritchie.


    "How are you doing? Your injuries should be almost healed by now, right?"


    Before heading to The Iron Lair instance with Bonnie and the others, Jeremy had specifically asked Emma to leave some medicinal supplies for Ritchie to treat his injuries.


    Although those supplies weren''t particrly rare, they should have taken effect by now, given the time that has passed.


    "You''ve got some nerve asking about my recovery!" Ritchie''s slightlyining voice came through the other end of the line.


    "Since you came out of the instance, you haven''t visited me at all! You''ve just been sticking to Emma and ire all day long!"


    Upon hearing this sentence, a slightly awkward expression crossed Jeremy''s face.


    Furthermore, he found himself unable to refute it, as what Ritchie had said was indeed the truth.


    After returning to the real world, he indeed hadn''t visited Ritchie, and he had spent the majority of his time with Emma and ire.


    "We''re best brothers, our bond is incredibly close! There''s no need for a visit to prove my concern for you!"


    After pondering for a while, Jeremy finally came up with an excuse to brush offRitchie.


    On the other end of the line, Ritchie seemed dismissive of Jeremy''s words. Nheless, he didn''t continue to berate Jeremy.


    "My injuries have mostly healed, but I believe I still need to rest for another week or two. During this period, I won''t be able to join you all in any actions.


    Feel free to focus all your attention on Emma and ire. Are you satisfied now?"


    "Just focus on your recovery! In the next week or two, I''ll be scouting other instances around Moonlight City. Whether or not I''ll be teaming up with Emma and ire can be decidedter."


    In reality, Jeremy wasn''t particrly keen on having Emma and ire join him on his missions.


    Although Emma and ire didn''t hold him back during The Iron Lair instance, they didn''t provide much assistance to Jeremy either.


    Evenbined, Emma and ire weren''t as useful as Bonnie alone.


    Ritchie seemed to have grasped Jeremy''s true feelings, and he sighed on the other end of the line, "Even though we were ssmates, the gap between our abilities is growing wider and wider.


    Even Emma and ire won''t be able to keep up with your rate of improvement. In time, even if we still want to help you, we might not be able to."


    The tone in which Ritchie uttered these words was markedly different from before.


    Ritchie had always been an extraordinarily optimistic individual, even though his thoughts tended to be rather erratic. However, he consistently managed to view situations from a positive perspective.


    This was the first time Jeremy had heard a hint of helplessness and frustration in Ritchie''s voice.


    Jeremy paused for a moment, then offered a word offort: "Your talents are notcking either. I believe your abilities can improve rapidly. Once I have cleared most of the instances around Moonlight City, I will assist you in swiftly enhancing your skills."


    After exchanging a few more words, Jeremy and Ritchie wrapped up their conversation. Ritchie chose to say goodbye, after all, he still needed to rest and recuperate.


    Ritchie had just hung up the phone when Benjamin''s secretary appeared directly within Jeremy''s line of sight.


    "Mr. Jeremy, Mayor Benjamin requests your presence immediately."


    Jeremy nodded, stood up, and followed Benjamin''s secretary straight to Benjamin''s office.


    As soon as Jeremy arrived at Benjamin''s office, the door was pushed open from the inside. Bonnie emerged with a slightly dejected expression on her face.


    Upon seeing Jeremy, Bonnie forced a faint smile.


    Although Jeremy wanted to exchange a few words with her, Benjamin''s voice came directly from inside the office.


    "Since you''re here,e on in! With the formidable strength you possess, you shouldn''t be afraid to face me directly, should you?"


    Given Benjamin''s direct invitation, Jeremy could onlymunicate briefly with Bonnie through a quick nce.


    After stepping into Benjamin''s office, the door closed firmly behind him from the outside.


    "Mayor Benjamin, if you summoned me here to reconcile with Kean, I can tell you right now, that''s absolutely impossible!"


    Jeremy would never make peace with Kean.


    After all, Kean had made a move against the person Jeremy cared about the most when Jeremy entered the instance.


    Although Kean''s actions did not seed, it was solely because Jeremy returned to the real world in the nick of time.


    Had Jeremy not returned promptly, Kean would have killed Emma, ire, and the others. Jeremy could never ept such an oue.


    Benjamin''s expression showed a hint of helplessness, he seemed to want to say something but ultimately remained silent.


    Benjamin pressed a button on his desk without hesitation.


    Immediately, a hidden door in the wall behind Benjamin opened.


    Jeremy was utterly taken aback by the presence of a secret door in Benjamin''s office.


    As the Mayor of Moonlight City, why would Benjamin have a secret door here? Jeremy quickly pondered the answer to this question.


    However, he didn''t have to think too long, because as the hidden door opened, a middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit emerged.


    The moment the suited man saw Jeremy, a broad smile spread across his face: "You must be Jeremy! As the rumors say, you truly are a handsome young man."


    Faced with the man''s overly enthusiastic demeanor, Jeremy felt a bit puzzled. He directed his gaze toward Benjamin for answers.


    "This gentleman is an envoy from the upper echelons of the Federation. He is here to mediate the conflict between you and Kean."


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy subtly scrutinized the envoy from the Federation with his peripheral vision


    However, regardless of who the envoy might be, Jeremy would never reconcile with Kean. If given the chance, he would definitely not let Kean off the hook.


    "Mayor Benjamin, Envoy, I wish to reiterate solemnly: I will never forgive Kean. If I find him, I will exert every effort to kill him."


    When Jeremy spoke these words, his tone was exceedingly resolute.


    Benjamin, having long anticipated Jeremy''s response, did not appear particrly surprised, he merely awaited the envoy''s reaction.


    The envoy, meanwhile, continued to wear a broad smile on his face.


    "Mr. Jeremy, I believe you must have heard the saying, ''To err is human, to forgive divine.'' Your current strength indeed surpasses Kean''s, but have you forgotten Kean''s identity?"


    "He is, after all, the young master of the Lannisters. If you continue to oppose him, do you not fear the Lannisters'' retaliation? Even if the Lannisters do not target you, how does your approach help in resolving the crisis faced by the Federation and all of humanity?"


    The envoy was indeed an envoy.


    After establishing a closer rapport with Jeremy, he abruptly posed two exceedingly challenging questions that left Jeremy struggling for answers.


    Indeed, Jeremy''s strength was formidable, but he couldn''t possibly contend with the vast power of the Lannisters. Although there were people within the Lannisters who did not get along with Kean, these individuals were still part of the Lannisters.


    Moreover, if Jeremy remained in opposition to Kean, the conflict between these two top humanbatants would undoubtedly lower humanity''s margin for error when facing crises.


    With Jeremy''s facial expressions shifted continuously, fully aware that the envoy''s words bore undeniable truth.


    Nevertheless, Jeremy ultimately resolved to adhere to his own beliefs.


    He lifted his head to meet the envoy''s gaze and dered with unwavering determination, "I will never reconcile with Kean! Should I encounter him, I will exert every ounce of effort to kill him! However, I will not actively seek him out!"

 Chapter 151: The Speculations of the Lannisters

    The Federal Envoy was indeed moved by Jeremy, and Jeremy''s response was something the Federal Envoy could ept.


    After all, Jeremy had already stated that he wouldn''t actively seek trouble with Kean.


    The Federal Envoy maintained the smile on his face, nodding as he said, "Very well, as long as you don''t directly seek trouble with Kean, that''s sufficient."


    After saying this, the Federal Envoy nced in Benjamin''s direction and then exited through the concealed door in the wall behind Benjamin.


    Jeremy watched the Federal Envoy leave, and once the hidden door was closed, Jeremy immediately questioned Benjamin.


    "Mayor Benjamin, is this hidden door present in every mayor''s office? Could it be that the Federal Envoy can ess the office of any mayor within the Federation through these hidden doors?"


    Facing Jeremy''s inquiry, Benjamin sighed and replied, "You are correct. The Federal Envoy can indeed use these hidden doors to ess the office of any mayor at any time."


    This essentially guarantees the federal leadership''s control over each city within the Federation. Otherwise, how do you think the federal authorities could support those cities caught in crisis situations?


    You must understand that at the dawn of the apocalypse, numerous cities were surrounded by monsters. If the Federation didn''t possess such rapid support mechanisms, the people in those cities would certainly not have been able to survive.


    Benjamin''s exnation indeed answered some of the questions lingering in Jeremy''s mind.


    "I have no further questions. If you have nothing else for me, I''ll be on my way! After all, I still need to check on the current situation of my friends."


    Having said this, Jeremy briskly walked towards the door of Benjamin''s office.


    Just as Jeremy was about to leave the office, Benjamin''s voice echoed from behind.


    "In theing period, Kean won''t be causing you any trouble. His actions have also angered the federal leadership, and the Lannisters are likely to confine him.


    However, his status is exceedingly important. Moreover, as the young master of the Lannisters, he is the most gifted among the family members. So, he will eventually be released.


    If you have anything of significant importance to aplish, you should do it swiftly. Once Kean is released, he is very likely toe after you."


    Hearing these words, Jeremy turned back to nce at Benjamin with a hint of surprise.


    Although Benjamin had previously offered him assistance.


    However, based on Jeremy''s understanding of Benjamin, Benjamin would never risk offending the Lannisters by speaking so inly with him.


    "I have nothing more to say. You should leave now, I have a lot of matters to attend to!" Benjamin waved his hand dismissively, effectively ushering Jeremy out.


    The reason Benjamin shared so much with Jeremy was because, during a recent conversation with his daughter Bonnie, he had vaguely discerned Bonnie''s feelings for Jeremy.


    Although Benjamin was somewhat opposed to the rtionship between Bonnie and Jeremy.


    But he deeply loved his daughter. He did not wish to see Bonnie upset, so he felt it necessary to offer Jeremy some assistance.


    Jeremy did not linger in Benjamin''s office, he left immediately and headed back to Flip-Flop Community as swiftly as possible.


    Almost simultaneously, in the Lannisters'' vi on the outskirts of the capital, Kean was facing the reproaches of the Lannister family members.


    "Why do you keep shing with Jeremy? Was it just because he took a weapon you wanted during a mission? Is that weapon worth all this trouble?"


    An elderly Lannister, with hair and beard as white as snow, admonished Kean in a quavering voice.


    "Grandfather! You have no idea how crucial that weapon is! It''s not just any ordinary weapon, it''s a divine artifact! If I could obtain that divine artifact, I would undoubtedly be the strongest awakened being in the entire Federation."


    Despite feeling immense pressure, Kean still believed he had done nothing wrong.


    Kean thought his only mistake was failing to eliminate Jeremy''s friends before Jeremy returned to the real world.


    Kean''s words only served to further enrage his grandfather.


    Beside Kean''s grandfather, a middle-aged man with an imposing presence could no longer remain silent. He mmed the table in front of him and stood up, shouting at Kean.


    "You unfilial son! Do you have any idea how much trouble your actions have caused for the Lannisters? Although our family is incredibly powerful.


    We have numerous rivals within the Federation. The other families in the Federation are eager to diminish our influence and authority.


    Your actions have given them the perfect excuse. They are now continuously exerting pressure on us, demanding that we make concessions and surrender the power that rightfully belongs to the Lannisters."


    Facing the reprimands, Kean''s expression remained defiant.


    With a slightly mocking tone, Kean said, "Uncle! You''ve always been entangled in power struggles with the other families in the Federation. You simply don''tprehend the significance of the apocalypse game for all of humanity.


    As long as I can be the most formidable presence in the apocalypse game, as long as I can wield deity-like power, the other families won''t even be as significant as ants before the Lannisters! I could crush them with a mere flick of my finger."


    Kean''s words caused his uncle''s expression to fluctuate between anger and contemtion.


    Kean''s uncle, having a military background, held a deep respect for power.


    It''s not that Kean''s uncle didn''t want Kean to be the most powerful awakened being. His current anger stemmed from the fact that Kean had messed things up.


    While Kean''s uncle pondered what to say next, a woman adorned with exquisite jewelry slowly emerged from the shadows.


    "Father, Brother, I think you''re making a mountain out of a molehill. Although our nephew''s actions have indeed brought some trouble upon the Lannisters.


    Our family''s foundation and strength remain robust. Even if the other high-ranking families in the Federation exert pressure on us, we can withstand it."


    The speaker was Kean''s aunt, who also held the highest position among the Lannisters in the Federation''s upper echelons. She currently served as the Deputy Speaker of the Federal Parliament.


    "I''ve reviewed Jeremy''s information countless times. How could he elevate his power so rapidly after the apocalypse game descended?


    Don''t you suspect that there might be other underlying reasons behind this? Perhaps Jeremy isn''t just an ordinary person. Maybe he''s a pawn deliberately cultivated by other high-ranking families in the Federation."


    Kean''s aunt''s words cast a shadow of uncertainty over the faces of the Lannisters.


    If what Kean''s aunt suggested was true, then the Lannisters shouldn''t be too harsh on Kean. In fact, they might need to stand behind him and offer their support.


    "You have no evidence to support these ims." Kean''s uncle, in truth, did not agree with his sister''s assertions. He immediately voiced his opposition.


    Kean''s aunt smiled at this moment.


    "Brother, I''ve always held you in high regard. But I also ask that you respect me, considering I''ve worked within the upper echelons of the Federation for a longer time. I am more familiar with the power struggles among the Federation''s elite."


    Kean''s aunt had, in fact, already convinced the majority of the Lannisters'' members.


    However, Kean''s aunt was correct, Jeremy was indeed a pawn of other high-ranking families within the Federation. The Lannisters also needed to impose symbolic punishment on Kean.


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    "Even if what you say is true, if we don''t impose any punishment on Kean, the other families won''t easily ept it." Kean''s grandfather directly addressed his daughter.


    "Naturally. Hence, we should simply confine Kean to the detention room for a while." Kean''s aunt proposed the final solution outright.


    Although Kean wouldn''t be able to target Jeremy while in detention, he could focus on honing hisbat skills.


    Furthermore, within the Lannisters'' detention room, Kean wouldn''t have to worry about any threats from others.


    "Grandfather, Uncle, Aunt, I believe confining me is a very reasonable solution. I can use this time to continue enhancing my strength.


    Once my power has grown enough to defeat Jeremy, I will challenge him to a duel. At that point, we will discover which high-ranking family in the Federation Jeremy is a pawn of."


    Since Kean had already agreed to this punitive measure, the Lannisters naturally proceeded to confine him immediately.


    The duration of Kean''s confinement was set at half a month, a period that is neither too long nor too short.


    Although some high-ranking families within the Federation were extremely dissatisfied with this form of punishment, they couldn''t target the Lannisters any further.


    After all, the Lannisters'' influence remained immensely powerful. The few families that maintained good rtions with the Lannisters had already decided not to trouble them further, making it difficult for other families to overpower the Lannisters even if they united.


    Thus, the conflict between Kean and Jeremy was temporarily quelled.


    However, both Kean and Jeremy, as well as the Lannisters and the Federation''s upper echelons, understood that this peace was merely temporary.


    The underlying tension between Kean and Jeremy remained unresolved.

 Chapter 152: Ritchies Current Situation

    After departing from Benjamin''s office, Jeremy hastened back to Flip-Flop Community with all possible speed.


    The first thing he did was to check on Emma and ire''s status. Upon learning that neither of them had faced any trouble and had already returned to their ce, Jeremy felt a sense of relief.


    "It seems like it''s time to check on Ritchie''s situation."


    Jeremy thought that since he had already handled the most pressing matters, it was only natural to visit his good brother Ritchie and see how he was doing.


    When Jeremy arrived at the door of Ritchie''s ce in Flip-Flop Community, he was surprised to see ire.


    "Why aren''t you resting at home?" Jeremy believed that ire should take some time to rest after the ordeal in The Iron Lair instance.


    ire responded with a smile on her face.


    "I didn''t encounter too many difficulties in the instance, and even when I did face some danger, you and Bonnie provided me with significant help.


    Besides, Ritchie''s injuries haven''t fully healed yet. So I felt it was necessary for me to offer him some assistance. You came here to check on Ritchie as well, didn''t you?"


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    Given that the two of them had coincidentally met here, it made perfect sense for them to visit Ritchie together.


    Upon facing the joint arrival of Jeremy and ire, Ritchie, as always, couldn''t resist making a yful remark about Jeremy.


    "You actually came to visit me with ire. It seems that my previous remarks were indeed spot on. You are focusing almost all your energy on women."


    Facing Ritchie''sment, Jeremy felt only mildly embarrassed. ire, on the other hand, experienced a much higher level of awkwardness.


    "I didn''te to visit you with him."ire rified hastily, her tone tinged with unease. "I just happened to bump into Jeremy downstairs at your ce. We didn''t n this in advance toe together."


    ire muttered a few words in her defense, her voice barely above a whisper.


    At this moment, Jeremy wrapped his arm around ire and said, "There''s no need to exin ourselves. He''s just jealous because he still hasn''t found a girlfriend."


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Ritchie feigned an expression of deep anguish, theatrically clutching his chest with one hand.


    "My heart aches so much! Did you reallye here just to visit me?" he eximed, his voice dripping with mock distress. "Or did youe here to drive me to my grave?"


    Ritchie, with a look of exaggerated agony, posed a rhetorical question to Jeremy.


    In response to Ritchie''s dramatic inquiry, Jeremy, wearing a faint smile, replied, "Of course, I came to visit you. But who can me me for jesting when you still manage to tease me in such a situation?"


    After saying that, Jeremy''s expression turned more serious than before.


    In a solemn tone, he asked Ritchie, "How are you really doing now? How much longer will it take for you to recover fully? Yourbat strength is crucial to us."


    Among Jeremy''s group, Emma and ire were the weakest in terms ofbat power. During battles, they could hardly provide much assistance.


    While Bonnie''sbat prowess was undoubtedly strong, she couldn''t always apany Jeremy and the others. The only one who could meet thebat requirements and also consistently be with Jeremy was, of course, Ritchie.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s question, a trace of worry finally appeared on Ritchie''s face.


    "Actually, the supplies Emma provided have almost healed my injuries. But I suddenly realized that I can''t use my skills as flexibly as before.


    Kean''s attack seems to have sealed my abilities. This means that in the uing battles, my performance will be significantly reducedpared to before."


    Ritchie''s words sparked a thought in Jeremy''s mind.


    Jeremy''s skills were sealed during the battle with "The Sun." Ritchie''s skills were sealed during his fight with Kean.


    Other than these two, who could seal abilities, Jeremy hadn''t encountered anyone else with such a power. Could this imply a close connection between Kean and "The Sun"?


    Even if Kean wasn''t coborating with "The Sun."his ability to seal skills likely came from an instance rted to "The Sun."


    Thinking this, Jeremy''s hatred for Kean intensified even further.


    "It seems that his grudge against me is not merely because of a divine artifact. It''s more likely that he has already allied himself with the nners of the apocalypse game. His ability to seal opponents'' skills must havee from the hands of those nners."


    Upon considering this possibility, Jeremy felt an urgent need to elerate his own power enhancement.


    The information provided by Benjamin confirmed that Kean was merely confined by the Lannisters.


    For someone like Kean, this was practically equivalent to receiving no punishment at all.


    Although Jeremy pondered extensively in his mind, he had no intention of sharing all his thoughts with Ritchie and ire.


    Because, in Jeremy''s view, divulging this information to others would only increase their burden.


    Jeremy needed to resolve these troubles on his own.


    "Having your skills sealed is actually not a big deal. As long as your injuries can heal, you still have a chance to unlock your sealed skills in the uing battles.


    Besides, you might even acquire some other skills duringbat. Who knows, the skills you gainter might be more useful than those you had before."


    Jeremy''s words were, in fact, merely an attempt tofort Ritchie. NovelBin-the-story-tform


    Jeremy was acutely aware that his previous skills had been sealed, causing his capabilities to plummet dramatically.Without the gemstone provided by the World, it was virtually impossible for him to triumph over any slightly stronger adversaries.


    After hearing Jeremy''s words, Ritchie forced a faint smile and nodded, outwardly acknowledging Jeremy''s statement.


    However, deep inside, Ritchie still felt that his current situation was quite dire. Not only was he unable to assist Jeremy, but he was also constantly bing a burden.


    Upon noticing the expression on Ritchie''s face, Jeremy decided it was time to offer some assistance.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy pulled out several skill books from his pocket.


    These skill books had all been acquired from the Iron Lair instance.


    All the rewards from the Iron Lair instance had been handed over to Jeremy by the Mechanical Duke.


    Apart from distributing a few skill books suitable for Emma, ire, and Bonnie, the rest remained in Jeremy''s possession.


    Jeremy had chosen not to learn the skills from these books.


    The reason being, the skill levels in these books were far too low, even if Jeremy learned them, they wouldn''t offer much help in battles.


    Moreover, Jeremy needed powerful skills, not a multitude of mediocre ones.


    With a look of astonishment on his face, Ritchie couldn''t help but ask Jeremy, "Did you really manage to acquire so many skill books from the Iron Lair instance?


    But I heard you encountered some dangers there. If it weren''t for the people sent by E and Benjamin to meet you at the entrance, you might have been wiped out by the monsters at the entrance of the Iron Lair."


    In response to Ritchie''s query, Jeremy simply replied in a calm tone.


    "Our situation wasn''t as perilous as E and Benjamin imagined. Even without their assistance, we could have ensured our own safety."


    As Jeremy spoke these words, he turned his gaze towards ire.


    ire''s expression remainedrgely unchanged, as shepletely trusted Jeremy''s words.


    "Alright, let''s cut the chatter. Do you want these skill books or not? If you don''t, I''ll trade them all to someone else!"


    Although these skill books weren''t particrly valuable to Jeremy, he could still use them to trade with others who had awakened relevant talents.


    Perhaps he could obtain some treasure chests or energy crystals from the trade, which were far more significant to Jeremy than ordinary skill books.


    Upon hearing this, Ritchie hurriedly responded.


    "My dear brother! Since you''ve already taken out the skill books, there''s no reason to put them back. Even if the skills in these books aren''t exceptionally powerful, the fact that you''ve selected them means they must be highlypatible with my talents."


    Ritchie epted the skill books, though he currently had no way to learn the skills contained within them.


    After all, he needed about one or two more weeks to fully recover his health. Only after aplete recovery, and passing Emma''s evaluation, could he determine if he was fit to learn new skills.


    "It seems you are nearly fully recovered! Once you''repletely back to health, you''ll have to join me in action."Jeremy remarked, giving Ritchie a thorough once-over.


    Ritchie nodded. "In fact, I''ve always hoped to act alongside you. During our missions, I will do my utmost to assist you and follow yourmands."


    Although Ritchie might appear unreliable on the surface, in reality, he was extremely dependable during missions. He would absolutely follow Jeremy''s orders.

 Chapter 153: Howards Collaboration Invitation

    After chatting with Ritchie for a while longer at his home, Jeremy and ire decided it was time to bid him farewell. After all, they both had other pressing matters to attend to.


    "Alright, I am genuinely pleased that you both came to visit me. However, I understand that you must have more important matters to handle during this time.


    So, there''s no need for you to stay with me any longer. I am well aware of my own health, and with Emma''s assistance, I should be fine."Ritchie remarked, sensing that Jeremy and ire had other significant tasks to focus on.


    Ritchie could perceive that both Jeremy and ire had other crucialmitments. Thus, he chose to let them attend to their priorities.


    Jeremy and ire promptly took their leave from Ritchie.


    As they reached the ground floor of Ritchie''s building, Jeremy and ire also parted ways.


    "I need to check on Bonnie''s situation. Although after leaving the instance, Bonnie and I headed to the city government office together, I didn''t get a chance to talk much with her there."


    Jeremy stated, hoping to ascertain Bonnie''s condition.


    He had an uneasy feeling that Bonnie and Benjamin had had a fierce argument. He wanted to make sure Bonnie wouldn''t do something foolish.


    ire nodded with a gentle smile.


    "I am also slightly worried about Bonnie''s situation. Her father probably still hasn''t epted her decision, has he?"


    "Mayor Benjamin seems like he will never ept Bonnie''s decision. Benjamin has always hoped that Bonnie wouldn''t take risks. But you know, Bonnie is a very determined person."Jeremy responded.


    Both Jeremy and ire could see that Bonnie would never easily follow someone else''s orders.


    The reason Bonnie was willing to cooperate with Jeremy was simply because she was deeply moved by how he had protected her meticulously during previous dangers. source-at-NovelBin


    "Alright, there''s no need for you to waste any more time here with me. Go find Bonnie quickly!" ire said with a smile.


    Jeremy could tell that ire''s mood was not as light-hearted as she appeared.


    However, Jeremy did not intend to say anything further, as no amount of words could ease the turmoil within ire''s heart.


    After Jeremy left in haste, ire sighed deeply, deciding to go look for Emma.


    ire and Emma had stayed together the entire time while Jeremy was inside the instance.


    They remained together for two main reasons: to ensure each other''s safety and to be the first to receive any information about Jeremy.


    Jeremy made his way from Flip-Flop Community to Bonnie''s residence in the upscale vi district of Moonlight City as quickly as possible.


    This time, Jeremy didn''t need to use a covert method to enter the vi. He chose to walk straight to the main entrance and rang the doorbell.


    It wasn''t long before the front door of the vi swung open.


    Relying on his memory, Jeremy headed directly to the room where Bonnie was staying.


    At this moment, Bonnie was seated by the window, engrossed in a book she held in her hands.


    "Since you''re already here, why are you just standing there? Do you expect me to personally invite you over?" Bonnie asked with a smile, putting down her book.


    Jeremy nodded and stepped into the room where Bonnie was situated.


    "You didn''t have an argument with your father, did you? Your rtionship with him should still be quite harmonious, right?"


    Jeremy inquired cautiously.


    A faint, bitter smile appeared on Bonnie''s face. "You don''t understand my father. Although he constantlyins about you over the phone, he would never lose his temper with me."


    Bonnie''s words somewhat surprised Jeremy.


    "My father has always spoken to me in a gentle tone ever since I was a child. No matter how much trouble I got into, he never directly med me but instead tried to reason with me."Bonnie reminisced.


    As she recalled the bits and pieces of her childhood with her father, a look of joy and happiness spread across Bonnie''s face.


    "But I saw you storm out of your father''s office in a fit of rage. Are you telling me you didn''t have an argument with him before that?" Jeremy questioned, his voice tinged with disbelief.


    Bonnie nodded affirmatively in response to Jeremy''s query.


    "My father and I did not argue. In his office, he expressed his desire for me to stop apanying you on your missions. He believes that the risks involved in being with you are far too high for me."Bonnie exined calmly.


    "However, given the apocalyptic circumstances we find ourselves in, I believe everyone must urgently enhance their abilities. And, of course, encountering risks is inevitable in that process. So, I countered his viewpoint directly."she continued.


    "Neither of us could convince the other, and ultimately, he decided not to waste any more time debating with me. That''s why I chose to leave abruptly, mming the door behind me."Bonnie borated.


    Bonnie''s exnation finally resolved the biggest question that had been troubling Jeremy.


    "So, I don''t need to worry about any argument between you and your father?" Jeremy asked, seeking confirmation.


    "Actually, you never needed to worry about that. My father would never scold me for making even the slightest mistake."Bonnie reassured him with a gentle smile.


    After Bonnie gave a very definitive answer, Jeremy finally began to rx a bit.


    "Although you and your father didn''t have a heated argument, you still won''t be able to join me on missions for a while. I certainly don''t want to anger your father."Jeremy stated firmly.


    As he said this, he prepared to turn and leave.


    Since he had confirmed that Bonnie and Benjamin''s rtionship remained harmonious, there was no longer any need for him to be overly concerned about Bonnie''s situation.


    Jeremy still had to quickly clear out other instances around Moonlight City and gather suitable skills from these instances.


    Just as Jeremy reached the door, his phone suddenly rang.


    To his surprise, it was Howard calling him.


    Although slightly taken aback, Jeremy didn''t hesitate to answer the call.


    "Mr. Jeremy, you must be less busy than you were before, right?" Howard asked directly as soon as the call connected.


    "I still have some misceneous tasks to handle. But as you mentioned, I''m indeed not as busy as I was previously."Jeremy responded, finding an excuse for himself.


    He thought it was quite likely that Howard would be seeking his help next. If assisting Howard didn''t yield substantial benefits for Jeremy, he could use this excuse to decline.


    "Minor tasks are trivial for someone like you! Just delegate those to your friends! I called to propose a coboration."Howard''s voice rang with enthusiasm.


    "You must be quite concerned about the instances around Moonlight City, right? I am equally invested in those instances. So, how about we join forces to clear them all out?" Howard suggested.


    Jeremy hadn''t anticipated that Howard would reach out to propose a coboration.


    Although Jeremy had met Howard a few times and knew that Howard held him in high regard, they had never coborated before.


    After all, Howard was a general of the Federation, and his actions were highly restricted.


    Even if Howard wanted to coborate with others, he would typically have to prioritize working within the Federal jurisdiction, such as teaming up with E''s special operations unit.


    "What prompted you to suddenly want to team up with me? After all, I''m just an ordinary Awakened individual."


    Jeremy inquired, seeking to understand Howard''s true motives.


    Jeremy''s words elicited heartyughter from Howard on the other end of the line.


    "Mr. Jeremy, you im to be just an ordinary Awakened. Do you believe that yourself? If you are considered ordinary, then what does that make the rest of us?" Howard eximed, hisughter echoing through the phone.


    Howard''s rhetorical question left Jeremy in an awkward situation.


    Jeremy''s talent was widely recognized as the strongest among the Awakened. If even he could only be considered ordinary, then where would that leave the other Awakened?


    "Alright, since you want to know the real reason I want to team up with you, I''ll tell you."Howard''s voice came through the phone again.


    "The instances around Moonlight City are appearing at an increasingly rapid pace. If we don''t swiftly handle the more dangerous instances, Moonlight City will soon be surrounded by hordes of instance monsters.


    This is something none of us can afford to ept. My duty is to ensure the safety of Moonlight City, and you must ensure the safety of your friends, right?


    So, of course, there is room for coboration between the two of us. Furthermore, E''s special operations team will be joining us this time. You must be prepared."Howard exined.


    Jeremy ultimately agreed with Howard''s exnation.


    On his way to the Iron Lair instance, Jeremy had also noticed the increasing number of instances appearing around Moonlight City. Alongside this surge, the frequency of monster appearances in Moonlight City had also escted.


    It seemed that the nners of the apocalypse game had initiated a new wave of actions.

 Chapter 154: I Want Half of the Rewards

    Although Jeremy had already decided to team up with Howard.


    But he felt that it was imperative to rify everything before the operationmenced. This was to avoid any conflicts with the officials over the distribution of spoils once the action started.


    "I can certainly cooperate with you in eliminating the instances around Moonlight City, but there''s one thing I must make clear beforehand. During the process of clearing these instances, I must receive half of the rewards."Jeremy stated firmly.


    Jeremy''s words brought a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.


    "How many people can you bring to support my operation?" Howard asked in a low tone.


    "I will bring at least two people to join the operation with you. Of course, if Bonnie isn''t considered a member of my team, I may only bring one person to support your mission."


    Jeremy responded with utmost honesty.


    Ritchie''s current physical condition had not yet recovered, making it impossible for Jeremy to include him in Howard''s operation.


    At most, he could only bring either Emma or ire along with Bonnie.


    The reason Jeremy did not n to take both Emma and ire was that he believed theirbat abilities were not particrly strong.


    NovelBin-unofficial-text


    He could only protect one of them, so to ensure their safety, it was better to bring just one.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Howard fell silent for a few seconds on the other end of the phone.


    "Do you know how many subordinates I need to mobilize for this operation? Are you aware that E will be bringing the entire ck Dragon Squad to support my mission this time?


    Our efforts will far exceed yours. Don''t you think it''s a bit excessive to demand half of the rewards for yourself?"


    Howard''s voice grew louder and louder, nearly reaching the point of shouting.


    However, his outburst did not have the desired effect, as Jeremy believed that requesting half of the rewards was actually quite modest.


    "You may indeed have arge number of people involved in the operation. But, if I''m being brutally honest, whether it''s your subordinates or the members of the ck Dragon Squad, there''s only one word to describe them: useless."


    Jeremy held a very low opinion of Howard''s subordinates.


    This was because Howard''s subordinates had performed exceptionally poorly when faced with crises in the past. If not for Howard''s ability to remain calm during operations and suppress his subordinates'' urge to flee,


    Those subordinates might have fled at the first sign of danger.


    As for the members of the ck Dragon Squad led by E, Jeremy held them in even lower regard.


    After all, from Jeremy''s current perspective, E was a potential enemy. There was absolutely no way he would speak favorably about his adversary.


    Jeremy''s response infuriated Howard enormously.


    "Your skills might indeed surpass ours. But don''t you think your remarks are a bit too arrogant? If you continue to insist on half of the rewards, I won''t be able to coborate with you on this mission."


    Although Howard had previously held a rtively good impression of Jeremy.


    There was simply no way he could ept giving away half of the mission''s rewards. Even if he coulde to terms with it, his subordinates certainly could not.


    Howard had no way to exin to his subordinates why such arge portion of the rewards should go to Jeremy.


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy responded nonchntly, "Alright then, you can proceed with the operation on your own."


    After saying this, Jeremy promptly hung up the phone. From Jeremy''s perspective, Howard and his team''s solo operation was destined to be futile.


    This was because the nners of the apocalypse game had actually strengthened the instance.


    The speed at which Howard and his team were improving their skills was simply not fast enough. Given their current capabilities, they stood no chance against the enhanced monsters in the instance.


    Next to Jeremy, ire wore a slightly worried expression.


    She had actually overheard the entire conversation between Jeremy and Howard. ire felt that Jeremy shouldn''t have been so rude.


    "I don''t think you should have been so rigid. And why must you insist on getting half of the rewards if you are cooperating with Howard''s team? As far as I remember, you never cared much about rewards before."


    Facing ire''s remarks, Jeremy immediately provided an exnation.


    "The truth is, I am unwilling to cooperate with Howard and his team because coborating with the official forces poses more risks than benefits for me. Don''t forget, Kean is also part of the official forces.


    Moreover, this operation doesn''t involve just Howard and his subordinates. E and the ck Dragon Squad will also be participating. If I don''t demand half of the rewards, then those rewards will go to E.


    E is Kean''s fianc¨¦e. Do you think it''s wise to let E gain more rewards?"


    Jeremy''s counter-question left ire speechless.


    Of course, ire absolutely did not want Kean''s fianc¨¦e to receive too many rewards.


    "Actually, you don''t need to worry. Although I had an argument with Howard, it doesn''t mean I''vepletely fallen out with the official forces. Howard''s next operation is bound to fail."


    "After they suffer a significant defeat, they will surelye back to seek my help. At that point, we can offer our assistance without raising our price. This will greatly improve their perception of us."


    ire didn''t quite understand why Jeremy was so confident while saying this.


    However, she had always trusted Jeremy deeply. Since Jeremy said that Howard would definitelye to him for help, she believed it would happen.


    ire nodded, "If that''s the case, then I have no issue with it. I have some other matters to attend to, so I''ll be going now."


    Jeremy watched ire leave.


    After ire disappeared into the horizon, Jeremy decided to return to his residence.


    His home had not seen visitors for a long time. Although ire and Emma woulde regrly to clean.


    The ce still inevitably felt somewhat unfamiliar.


    Jeremy flopped directly onto hisfortable bed, eximing, "It''s still the best to be in my own home! Even though Emma and ire have taken care of me, staying at someone else''s ce just doesn''t feel right."


    Jeremy enjoyed a few hours of blissful sleep and woke up around midnight, grabbing a quick bite to eat.


    "Howard and his team''s operation should have started by now. They are most likely already in the first instance. I''m curious to see if they can actually handle the instance they encounter."


    While checking the rewards he had obtained from The Iron Lair instance, Jeremy also kept an eye out for any updates from Howard''s side.


    If Howard managed to easily clear the first instance, he would undoubtedly boast about it to Jeremy.


    This would prove that Howard and his team could handle the instances around Moonlight City, even without Jeremy''s help.


    As Jeremy went through his rewards, he suddenly noticed that in addition to the skill books, experience points, and some low-quality chests, he had also obtained several storage cards for high-dimensional data.


    These storage cards didn''t hold much High-Dimensional Data, but they were sufficient to control an ordinary machine.


    This meant that Jeremy could use these High-Dimensional Data storage cards in conjunction with his [The Mechanical Puppet Technique] to create mechanical puppets at a very low cost.


    Upon realizing this possibility, Jeremy immediately sprang into action.


    He first retrieved a mechanical dog that he had brought out from The Iron Lair instance. Then, he inserted the High-Dimensional Data storage card into theputational core of the mechanical dog.


    Afterpleting all the preparations, Jeremy employed [The Mechanical Puppet Technique].


    With the assistance of [The Mechanical Puppet Technique], he clearly observed the High-Dimensional Data gleaming within theputational core of the mechanical dog.


    He swiftly adjusted theposition of the High-Dimensional Data within the mechanical dog''sputational core. Thus, a mechanical puppet entirely under Jeremy''s control was born.


    Moreover, this mechanical puppet differed in several ways from the puppets Jeremy had previously created by forcibly using [The Mechanical Puppet Technique].


    The primary distinction was that the mechanical puppets made using the High-Dimensional Data storage cards exhibited a higher degree of autonomy.


    Even without Jeremy''s direct instructions, the mechanical dog could independently perform certain tasks.


    Jeremy suddenly discovered that creating mechanical puppets seemed to be an incredibly fascinating endeavor.Over the next hour or two, he proceeded to craft three mechanical puppets in session.


    For Jeremy, he had no intention of using these three mechanical puppets as allies inbat.


    This was because the core bodies of these mechanical puppets inherentlycked significantbat capabilities. Even though he used [The Mechanical Puppet Technique] to manipte the High-Dimensional Data and enhance the mechanical puppets, theirbat effectiveness remained rtively weak.


    Jeremy''s n was to ce these three mechanical puppets in his home.


    These mechanical puppets could serve as guardians for Jeremy''s residence. In the event of an intruder, they could record the intruder''s every move and appearance without alerting them.


    "With you all here, I no longer need to worry about hostile intruders invading my home."he said.


    After fine-tuning the settings of his mechanical puppets, Jeremy immediately set them to work.

 Chapter 155: All the Rewards Belong to You

    While Jeremy was busy fine-tuning the settings of his mechanical puppets at home, Howard, E, and their team found themselves in a near-hopeless situation in an instance on the outskirts of Moonlight City.


    The instance Howard and his team had entered was not initially considered to be of high difficulty.


    Howard''s original intention was to use this instance to help his subordinates get ustomed to the rhythm ofbat. Afterpleting the first instance, he nned to lead his subordinates to a more challenging one.


    However, the moment they entered the instance, E alerted Howard that the difficulty level of the instance had changed.


    At first, Howard dismissed her concerns, thinking that perhaps E''s perceived decline in strength was due to personal reasons.


    However, as they delved deeper into the instance, he suddenly realized that the enemies they encountered were significantly stronger than before.


    Even monsters whose levels were close to his own could inflict severe damage upon him.


    Howard and E, along with their respective subordinates, had advanced less than a third of the way through the instance when they suffered substantial losses.


    Howard had entered the instance with twenty subordinates, and now four of them had already been killed by monsters. Additionally, he had lost contact with fourteen of his subordinates.


    Around Howard, besides E and the two members of E''s ck Dragon Squad, only two of his own subordinates remained.


    "What should we do now? Continuing deeper into the instance is incredibly dangerous! But our retreat has already been cut off by those monsters."


    One of Howard''s subordinates asked, his face pale with fear.


    E and the two members of the ck Dragon Squad wore expressions of intense concentration, yet they had not descended intoplete panic.


    E and the members of the ck Dragon Squad remained vignt, carefully scanning their surroundings, seemingly in search of an escape route from the perilous situation.


    In response to his subordinate''s inquiry, Howard''s face twisted into a grimace.


    His current emotions were a vtile mixture of regret and anger.


    If given the chance to reconsider, he would never have recklessly led his subordinates into this instance.


    Howard''s anger stemmed from his own perceived ipetence.


    Had he possessed the formidable strength of someone like Jeremy, his subordinates would not have found themselves in such a dire predicament.


    In an unguarded moment, Howard''s mind flickered to the name Jeremy.


    "It''s now impossible for us to leave the instance on our own, so we must seek the help of others."Howard stated bluntly to the few people behind him.


    The faces of Howard''s two subordinates grew even paler. They knew that the nearest military base to Moonlight City was 200 kilometers away.


    Even if the military could rush over at the fastest possible speed, it would still take them more than half a day. There was no way they could hold out in the instance for that long.


    However, E seemed to grasp the true meaning behind Howard''s words.


    Stepping forward, E asked in a low voice, "How do you n to ask him for help? He would nevere just to save me. In fact, my presence decreases the likelihood of himing to your aid."


    E was acutely aware that, due to her fianc¨¦''s actions, she and Jeremy were already subtly opposed to each other.


    Howard''s expression shifted continuously, and finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "I know of one condition Jeremy would never refuse. But this condition requires your consent."


    E remained silent, merely looking at Howard.


    "In our uing actions, we must allocate half of all the rewards we obtain to Jeremy. If we propose this condition, he will definitelye to rescue us."Howard dered.


    After Howard articted this condition, the expressions on the faces of his two subordinates and the two members of the ck Dragon Squad behind E turned slightly disgruntled.


    If Jeremy were to take half of the rewards, it would leave them with significantly less.


    However, none of them dared to voice opposition, as there was no one else who coulde to their rescue in time other than Jeremy.


    E sighed deeply, "Aside from proposing such a condition, there''s no other viable option. I can agree to letting Jeremy receive half of the rewards from our subsequent actions."


    With E''s consent, Howard promptly took out amunicator.


    As themunicator powered up, Howard, E, and the others held their breath. If themunicator failed to reach Jeremy, they would indeed be in a dire predicament.


    Meanwhile, at Jeremy''s home, after adjusting all the settings on his mechanical puppets, a broad smile spread across his face.


    "Your names are Little ck, Little White, and Little Gray! From now on, it will be up to you three to guard my home!" Jeremy announced with a touch of warmth in his voice.


    Having received the names given by Jeremy, the three mechanical puppets appeared quite pleased.


    At that moment, themunicator on Jeremy''s bedside table began to emit a red glow and produced a ticking sound.


    "It seems someone wants my help now."Jeremy remarked casually, looking at the three mechanical puppets before him.


    He did not rush to answer themunicator, intending to let Howard feel even greater pressure.


    Back with Howard, nearly two minutes had passed since themunicator was activated, yet themunication channel remained unconnected. This seemed to indicate that within the instance, themunicator was unable to establish contact with the outside world.


    Howard''s two subordinates and the two members of the ck Dragon Squad wore increasingly grim expressions. They all believed there was no escaping this time.


    Just then, themunication channel finally connected.


    From the other side of themunicator came Jeremy''s voice, "Are you calling to share some good news with me this time? You must have handled quite a few instances tonight, right?"


    Jeremy''s tone was notablynguid.


    Faced with Jeremy''s inquiry, Howard''s expression turned slightly awkward.


    "We haven''t resolved any instances yet. In fact, the reason I''m reaching out to you this time is solely to seek your assistance. We are trapped in the Shadow City instance on the outskirts of Moonlight City.


    I have lost contact with many of my subordinates. If you cannote to rescue us promptly, my subordinates are very likely to perish within the Shadow City instance."


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    Howard did not let pride get in his way.


    He was acutely aware that the most crucial matter at hand was to get Jeremy toe over as quickly as possible. As long as Jeremy could arrive swiftly, Howard was prepared to endure any amount of Jeremy''s mockery.


    "Your mission ended in failure, huh? It appears your capabilities are somewhatcking. But if I were to provide you with support, what kind ofpensation would you offer me?" Jeremy inquired, his voice dripping with a hint of condescension.


    "After all, you previously declined to team up with me. Given that you had no intention of cooperating with me, it seems I have no obligation to rescue you."


    Though Jeremy was fairly certain that Howard would agree to share half of the rewards.


    He wouldn''t lift a finger to help until he heard a direct confirmation.


    Jeremy''s response didn''te as a surprise to Howard. After all, theirstmunication had ended in a heated argument.


    "I have already agreed to give you half of the rewards earned from resolving the instance. Besides me, Captain E has also consented to this arrangement. She is right here with me, and like me, she''s trapped."


    Upon hearing the first half of Howard''s statement, Jeremy had already decided to set out immediately to rescue them.


    However, after listening to thetter part of the statement, Jeremy hesitated slightly.


    At this moment, Jeremy was contemting dying his actions, waiting for the monsters of the Shadow City instance to kill E first before rescuing the others.


    "Captain E is there too? Then why don''t you get her fianc¨¦ to help? Isn''t Kean an extraordinarily powerful awakener? With Kean''s intervention, you all should be saved, right?"


    Howard could clearly discern that Jeremy''s words were meant to mock E and Kean.


    Under normal circumstances, he would prefer not to get entangled in the conflict between Howard and Kean. However, this time it was he who had asked E to join him on this mission.


    Therefore, Howard feltpelled to speak a few good words on E''s behalf.


    "E is indeed Kean''s fianc¨¦e, but she has never targeted you. In fact, when Kean went after your friends, E even tried to stop him."


    Howard''s words eased Jeremy''s mood slightly. Every time Jeremy thought about Kean, his mood would turn sour.


    "Since that''s the case, I suppose I''ll go ahead and rescue you. Send me the exact location of the Shadow City instance. It''s alreadyte, and even if I proceed at my fastest pace, it will take me about half an hour to reach you."


    Jeremy had agreed to rescue Howard, which made Howard overjoyed.


    "I''ll send you the coordinates of the instance right away. We''ll try to hold out for about half an hour. However, you must hurry, as I''m afraid my subordinates won''t be able to hold on that long."


    "Alright, I got it! I''ll definitely arrive within half an hour. Let''s reconnect once I enter the instance."


    With that, Jeremy ended themunication abruptly.


    At this moment, Howard and his team felt a bit less tense than before. After all, their task now was simply to hold out for another half hour.


    "Jeremy is on his way, we''ll be rescued soon!"

 Chapter 156: Shadow City Instance

    After ending themunication with Howard, Jeremy quickly organized his gear and set off at his fastest speed.


    The Shadow City instance was located in the outskirts of Moonlight City, and Jeremy''s residence was also in the outskirts of Moonlight City. However, the distance between these two ces was incredibly vast.


    Even at his maximum speed, it would take Jeremy approximately 20 minutes to reach the Shadow City instance.


    Upon entering the instance, there was no way to predict how long it would take to locate Howard and his team.


    When Jeremy arrived at the entrance of the Shadow City instance, he was surprised to find supplies left behind by Howard and his team. It seemed they had been camped at the entrance for several days.


    "For such a low-difficulty instance, encountering insurmountable problems even after several days of observation? I might need to reassess whether partnering with you is a wise decision."


    At this moment, Jeremy found himself at a bit of a loss for words.


    In his perspective, even if a low-difficulty instance had received some enhancements, the strength of the monsters inside shouldn''t be too formidable.


    Both Howard and E had undergone extensive training over a long period.


    Given their experience, these two should not encounter any unexpected issues when dealing with suddenly strengthened monsters.


    "Perhaps it''s because these two have been a bit too careless. It seems I need to exercise caution as well, who knows what unforeseen powerful monsters might appear within the instance?"


    Before entering the instance, Jeremy made some preparations.


    He ced a coordinate marker tool, which he had previously acquired, at the entrance of the instance.


    The coordinate marker tool would continuously inform Jeremy of the distance between himself and the instance entrance. This allowed Jeremy to have a clear understanding of his approximate location while exploring the Shadow City instance.


    Although Jeremy had never been to the Shadow City instance, he could roughly deduce the characteristics of this instance from the intelligence provided by E.


    ording to those who had previously ventured into the Shadow City instance, the ce was teeming with all sorts of bizarre and grotesque monsters. Each person''s description of these creatures varied significantly from others''


    This implied that the Shadow City instance induced hallucinations in those who entered it.


    The coordinate marker tool enabled Jeremy to swiftly assess his situation when confronted with illusions.


    The closer he was to the instance''s entrance, the weaker the enemies would be.


    Conversely, the farther he was from the instance''s entrance, the stronger the enemies would be.


    After making all necessary preparations, Jeremy entered the Shadow City instance without hesitation.


    Upon passing through the instance''s entrance, Jeremy found himself facing a deep, seemingly bottomless passageway that appeared to lead straight to an infernal abyss.


    Descending through the dark corridor, Jeremy spent roughly ten minutes before finally reaching the official entrance of the Shadow City instance.


    The entirety of Shadow City was nowid out before Jeremy.


    Shadow City appeared to be an ordinary city shrouded in shadows, albeit an ancient one rather than a contemporary metropolis.


    The whole of Shadow City was encircled by a towering wall, upon which vague silhouettes seemed to linger.


    As Jeremy directed his gaze towards the indistinct figures, it felt as though those vague silhouettes were also gazing back at him.


    "The Eye of Omniscience hasn''t provided any hints, which implies that, for the moment, I''m not in any immediate danger nor have I encountered any useful clues."


    Jeremy promptly made certain determinations based on the reactions from The Eye of Omniscience.


    If there were any crucial information within his current observations, The Eye of Omniscience would undoubtedly have given some indication.


    Although Jeremy felt that the information he was currently seeing posed no immediate threat.


    He prudently decided to take out the data core he had brought with him. Jeremy adeptly manipted the High-Dimensional Data to survey his surroundings.


    While High-Dimensional Data couldn''t investigate anything beyond mechanical constructs, it could at least provide Jeremy with some understanding of the entire Shadow City.


    After spending a few minutes, Jeremy finally grasped a general understanding of Shadow City''syout.


    There were no mechanical monsters within Shadow City, so the High-Dimensional Data didn''t react significantly. However, in a few specific areas within Shadow City, the High-Dimensional Data did locate some mechanical items.


    These areas were likely the ces where Howard and his team were situated.


    Aside from identifying the probable locations of Howard and hispanions, Jeremy also got an idea of Shadow City''s overall area.


    Shadow City was a square-shaped metropolis, with both its length and width measuring around 10 kilometers. Although Shadow City didn''t appear overwhelmingly vast, it also had an underground section.


    The underground part of Shadow City resembled an inverted pyramid, with each descending level having a smaller area.


    At the very bottom of Shadow City''s underground section, there seemed to be an extremely important item stored. This item might be the key to maintaining the existence of the Shadow City instance.


    It could also potentially be the most valuable reward within the entire Shadow City instance.


    "Should I prioritize rescuing Howard and the others? Saving them could waste valuable time, possibly preventing me from obtaining the reward in the deepest part of Shadow City."


    Jeremy found himself slightly hesitant at this moment.


    He reasoned that Howard and E weren''t particrly significant to him. Although future cooperation with them might be necessary, their rtionship was purely professional.


    If Howard and E were reced by Ritchie and Bonnie, he wouldn''t hesitate for a second to undertake the rescue.


    .


    After all, those two were not just friends, but alsorades who had shared life-and-death experiences with him. He would never stand idly by while suchpanions faced danger.


    After deliberating for a while, Jeremy ultimately decided to prioritize rescuing Howard and the others.


    Even though he wouldn''t regret it if E were to perish within the instance, he knew that exining Howard''s death to Benjamin would be difficult.


    Considering that Benjamin was Bonnie''s father, Jeremy feltpelled to show him some respect.


    Having made his decision, Jeremy immediately proceeded at top speed towards the locations identified by the mechanical signals.


    The first mechanical signal Jeremy found was actually amunicator carried by one of Howard''s subordinates.


    These subordinates of Howard had already fallen into a state of unconsciousness, leaving Jeremy with no choice but to ce some defensive items around them. He then continued his advance towards the deeper parts of the Shadow City instance.


    At the very center of Shadow City''s surface section, Howard, E, and the others had already been waiting for over half an hour.


    Their moods had shifted from initial excitement to a feeling of time dragging endlessly, eventually transforming into the current state of restless anxiety.


    "Captain, do you think Jeremy might have deceived us? Is he reallying to rescue us?"


    One member of the ck Dragon Squad whispered to E, unable to contain his apprehension.


    E shook her head.


    In truth, she wasn''t sure if Jeremy woulde to save her. After all, their rtionship had never been particrly good before.


    Upon hearing this, the expressions on Howard''s subordinates'' faces turned slightly grim.


    If Jeremy had no intention of rescuing E, would he note to save them either?


    "General, is there really someoneing to rescue us? If Jeremy has deceived us, should we consider taking action to save ourselves?" Howard''s subordinate asked a question that weighed heavily on his mind.


    Howard shook his head at this moment.


    "You don''t need to entertain the illusion of relying on your own strength to escape this predicament. We''ve already tried that before, and no matter which direction we advance, it''s impossible to leave this ce."


    "What we need to do now is wait patiently, and during this waiting period, we must absolutely conserve our energy. Even if Jeremy arrives, he won''t be able to carry all of us out by himself."


    "We still need to rely on our own physical strength to walk out under Jeremy''s guidance."


    Despite the immense danger they''ve encountered and theck of options besides hoping for Jeremy, Howard was still contemting how to rescue all of his subordinates.


    E found Howard''s words quiteughable.


    Considering how to rescue others without ensuring one''s own safety first¡ªisn''t that a rather arrogant notion?!


    As everyone waited with anxious anticipation, the sound of rapid footsteps suddenly echoed nearby.


    When they turned to look in the direction of the footsteps, they saw Jeremy approaching with a smile on his face.


    "So, it turns out all of you are hiding here! I thought you had already ventured into the underground section of Shadow City. It seems your exploration progress is exceedingly slow."


    Though Jeremy''s words were dripping with sarcasm towards Howard and E.


    His mere appearance was enough to lift their spirits slightly.


    "You''ve finally shown up! I have other subordinates scattered elsewhere, we need to rescue all of them as quickly as possible, so let''s not waste any more time."


    Howard hoped to urge Jeremy into action to save the others.


    However, Jeremy remained motionless, simply stating to Howard, "Rescuing your subordinates is something you can handle on your own. My task is topletely resolve this instance."


    "And I must inform you, the rewards within this instance are exclusively mine. You are not entitled to any share because you have made no contributions towards solving it."

 Chapter 157: The Deepest Part of Shadow City

    Jeremy''s words unsurprisingly left Howard and E feeling quite irate.


    Howard couldn''t help but step forward and say to Jeremy, "It''s true that we haven''t contributed much to solving the instance of Shadow City. However, we did help explore the above-ground portion of Shadow City.


    "If you intend topletely resolve the instance of Shadow City, you will undoubtedly need to venture into its underground section. Does our exploration of the above-ground part not count as a contribution?"


    "Without our exploration, would you have been able to reach here so easily?"


    In response to Howard''s retort, Jeremy''s expression remained remarkably calm.


    "I hope you understand that if it weren''t for me, you would have perished here long ago. You haven''t even figured out what the most dangerous aspect of the Shadow City instance truly is."


    Jeremy''s words left those around him feeling slightly puzzled.


    Upon entering the Shadow City instance, they had encountered an abundance of monsters.


    They were well aware that some of these monsters were mere illusions. Therefore, they had specifically brought items capable of counteracting illusions, but after reaching the center of the above-ground section of Shadow City, those items became ineffective.


    They could no longer distinguish between illusions and real monsters.


    Under such circumstances, it was perfectly understandable that they encountered danger.


    "Isn''t the most dangerous aspect of the Shadow City instance the illusions? Although we carried items to counteract illusions, they lost their effectiveness as we ventured deeper into the instance." Howard asked, his tone tinged with a hint of doubt.


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy couldn''t help but burst intoughter.


    "As I said, you truly haven''t grasped the essence of the Shadow City instance. On the surface, it appears that the most perilous aspect is indeed the illusions."Jeremy exined, a smirk ying on his lips.


    "Moreover, when you first enter the Shadow City instance, you encounter a series of monsters within these illusions. But didn''t you notice that these illusory monsters could actually cause you harm? Can monsters that inflict real damage still be considered mere illusions?"


    Jeremy''s questions sent waves of realization crashing through the minds of Howard, E, and the others.


    Only now did they understand why they had found themselves in such dire straits shortly after entering the Shadow City instance.


    From the very beginning, they hadpletely misunderstood the true danger lurking within the Shadow City instance.


    It seemed that the illusions in the Shadow City instance were merely superficial phenomena, likely sustained by some immensely powerful monster.


    E finally pieced it together and directly asked Jeremy.


    "So, you must have already identified the most dangerous entity within the Shadow City instance, right? What you need to do next is to eliminate this formidable threat and then im the rewards of the Shadow City instance, correct?"


    What E said was undoubtedly urate, yet Jeremy had no intention of entertaining her inquiry.


    Howard, too, refrained from further questioning. He realized that if Jeremy''s assertions were true, they indeed had no im to any rewards from this instance.


    "Our understanding of the instance is clearly inferior to yours. Therefore, the rewards of this instance should rightfully go to you. What we need from you now is simply to ensure our safe passage out of here."Howard conceded, his tone resigned but respectful.


    "We''ll handle the rest on our own. While our strength may not match yours, we''re still capable of managing less severe predicaments."


    In the end, Jeremy and the others reached a consensus.


    Jeremy escorted Howard, E, and the others to a safe location. Howard and E''s next task was to ensure that everyone they brought into the instance would be safely led out.


    Jeremy, on the other hand, bid them farewell and ventured towards the deepest part of the Shadow City instance.


    Jeremy knew that on the surface level of Shadow City, he wouldn''t encounter any crises he couldn''t resolve. However, he was certain that in the underground section of Shadow City, he would face some formidable challenges.


    But no matter what difficultiesy ahead, Jeremy was confident in his ability to ovee them.


    After all, the level of the Shadow City instance wasn''t particrly high.


    The monsters Jeremy had encountered so far were at least ten levels lower than him.


    With such a significant level disparity, Jeremy didn''t need any boratebat techniques, he could simply bulldoze his way through. The downside, however, was that the experience points he earned from defeating these monsters were minimal.


    While Jeremy pressed onward to the deepest parts of Shadow City, Howard, E, and the others finally seeded in escaping from the instance.


    Despite Jeremy''s assistance and the fact that they managed to rescue most of theirpanions.


    Some of theirrades still perished in the Shadow City instance.


    Howard and E felt a twinge of guilt for those who had sacrificed their lives.


    "I should have epted Jeremy''s proposal from the very beginning. If I had agreed to give him half of the rewards at the start, he would have definitely acted alongside us."


    "In that case, those brothers of mine who sacrificed their lives wouldn''t have perished. They would be here to celebrate our survival from the instance, just like us."


    Howard''s words left E feeling deeply moved.


    E''s ck Dragon Squad also lost a member during this mission. Although Howard''s losses were greater, the ck Dragon Squad had fewer members to begin with.


    Losing a squad member was profoundly heartbreaking for E as well.


    "What''s done is done. Regretting it now won''t change anything. What we need to do next is to cooperate well with Jeremy."


    "After offering him half of the rewards, he will surely coborate with us to the fullest. Once we clear the instances surrounding Moonlight City, we''ll have the capacity to handle other matters."


    E''s ambitions were, in fact, quite grand.


    The reason she became Kean''s fianc¨¦e was to leverage the power of the Lannisters to further enhance her own strength. She had never anticipated that Kean would be an adversary of Jeremy.


    Moreover, it was astonishing that Jeremy possessed such formidable strength.


    E was now contemting whether she should break off her engagement with Kean. After all, Kean''s previous behavior had already demonstrated that he was not a person of noble character.


    Additionally, Kean''s enmity with Jeremy had ced E''s ck Dragon Squad in a more precarious position.


    If E could reconcile with Jeremy, the speed at which she and her ck Dragon Squad could enhance their abilities would undoubtedly elerate. This was because Jeremy would certainly provide assistance during their missions.


    At this moment, Howard nodded in agreement.


    "You''re absolutely right, what''s past is past, and there''s no use dwelling on it. Let''s get these injured people to the hospital as quickly as possible. I will stay here today."


    "Although Jeremy is unlikely to encounter any danger, as allies and in gratitude for Jeremy saving us, it is only appropriate for me to wait here until he finishes the entire instance."


    After saying this, Howard promptly sat down at the entrance of the Shadow City instance.


    E hesitated slightly.


    She knew well that waiting here with Howard for Jeremy''s return could potentially improve Jeremy''s impression of her.


    However, she also felt the need to tend to the injured members of the ck Dragon Squad.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, E finally spoke to Howard.


    "I''ll take responsibility for getting all the injured to the hospital, and you stay here to wait for him. After all, seeing me aftering out of the instance might just sour his mood further."


    After saying this, E immediately chose to leave.


    Howard let out a sigh, fully understanding why E had said that.


    Yet, there was nothing Howard could do about it, as the conflict between Kean and Jeremy seemed irreconcble.


    Both Benjamin and the federal envoy had already made efforts, but Jeremy had consistently refused to reconcile with Kean.


    On Kean''s part, he was equally unwilling to make peace with Jeremy.


    Kean had even epted punishment from the Lannisters rather than apologize to Jeremy.


    Howard wanted to say something to E, but in the end, he remained silent. He could only watch as E departed.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy was already not far from the deepest part of Shadow City.


    At this position, he could sense an extraordinarily powerful presence deep within Shadow City. Moreover, this formidable entity was filled with hostility towards him.


    "No matter what kind of monster you are, you will ultimately be defeated! For my strength is far greater than you can possibly imagine!"


    Jeremy was exceedingly confident at this moment.


    He had been inside the Shadow City instance for nearly an hour. During this time, he hadn''t encountered any exceptionally powerful monsters.


    This indicated that the overall difficulty of the instance wasn''t particrly high.


    Given that the instance itself was of a lower level, even with enhancements by the apocalypse game developers, the final instance boss wasn''t likely to be overwhelmingly strong.


    Although Jeremy''s reasoning was entirely logical, his assessment turned out to be incorrect.


    What existed in the deepest part of the Shadow City instance was not the instance boss. Instead, it was another monster far more powerful than the Shadow City instance boss.


    The enemy Jeremy faced this time was not one that could be defeated easily.


    Whether Jeremy could safely exit the Shadow City instance was now an uncertain matter.

 Chapter 158: The Dark Tree

    As Jeremy drew closer to the innermost depths of Shadow City, his initial confidence began to wane significantly.


    Jeremy could sense a presence within the heart of Shadow City that harbored intense hostility towards him. Moreover, the formidable strength of this presence was beyond anything he had anticipated.


    When Jeremy arrived at the point where only a single step remained between him and the deepest part of Shadow City, he came to a halt.


    "Why am I feeling so panicked now?" Jeremy muttered to himself.


    At this moment, Jeremy''s heart was void of any confidence, beating rapidly. This rapid heartbeat seemed to signify his profound anxiety about the forting actions.


    Jeremy was acutely aware of his own danger-sensing abilities.


    However, these abilities had never activated before. He had no understanding of what sensations would apany the activation of his danger sense.


    Jeremy found himself pacing back and forth in front of thest dark gate.


    He was hoping to regain hisposure before proceeding further.


    But just as he was trying to calm himself, an incredibly terrifying and iprehensible sound emanated from within the dark gate. The sound seemed to bemunicating something to Jeremy.


    The instant this sound emerged, Jeremy instinctively took a step back.


    Suddenly, he felt himself collide with something.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Jeremy bolted towards the direction he was certain to be safe.


    Heavy footsteps suddenly echoed behind Jeremy.


    "The creature lurking behind me must be the one that had been hiding all along! It refrained from attacking earlier, merely to bide its time for this very moment!" Jeremy thought to himself.


    Since entering Shadow City, Jeremy had indeed sensed the presence of a creature nearby.


    However, up until he reached the deepest part of Shadow City, he paid little heed to the creature that lingered around him. He believed that these creatures were not particrly powerful.


    Yet, after hearing the terrifying sound emanating from the heart of Shadow City, the creature that had been lurking by his side seemed to grow significantly stronger.


    Jeremy sprinted several hundred meters without stopping.


    Only after ensuring that the creature was at a considerable distance did Jeremy nce back over his shoulder. What he saw was a towering tree-entity with a twisted visage


    [Name: Dark Treant]


    [Level: 45]


    [Skills: Dark Diffusion, Rapid Growth]


    [Description: A creature birthed from the dark world, endowed with both dark power and the power of life. It has an inherent aversion to light and will avoid any illumination.]


    The Eye of Omniscience immediately disyed the information about the Dark Treant before Jeremy.


    "Its level is almost identical to mine! However, it''s been empowered by that terrifying presence in the depths of Shadow City. There''s no way I can easily defeat the Dark Treant right now!" Jeremy thought.


    Although Jeremy often appeared overly confident, even somewhat arrogant, in front of Howard and E, in reality, he was an exceedingly cautious individual.


    He would only take risks when necessary and would always y it safe when the situation demanded it.


    Jeremy resolved to bypass the Dark Treant and head straight into the deepest part of Shadow City.


    After all, Jeremy reasoned, if the terrifying presence in the depths could attack him directly, it wouldn''t need to manipte the Dark Treant to obstruct his path.


    Jeremy promptly retrieved an illumination device from his backpack.


    This illumination device was brought into the Shadow City instance by one of Howard''s subordinates. After Jeremy found it, he utilized his [Basic Mechanical Mastery] skill to repair it.


    Jeremy hurled the repaired illumination device in the direction of the Dark Treant.


    The moment the device was thrown, Jeremy activated it, instantly bathing the Dark Treant in a warm yellow glow.


    As described in the information provided by the Eye of Omniscience, the Dark Treant let out a wretched howl the instant it was exposed to light. It then swiftly retreated into the depths of the darkness.


    Seizing this opportunity, Jeremy returned once again to the ominous gate.


    This time, he wouldn''t hesitate. He pushed the ominous gate open without a second thought. Immediately, a bone-chilling wind blew against his face.


    "How can there be such a bone-chilling wind in the underground depths?"


    As the freezing wind struck him, Jeremy''s mind was flooded with questions.


    However, he did not stand still to ponder over these questions. The moment he felt the cold wind, he instinctively leapt to the side.


    Jeremy''s swift action sessfully saved his life.


    The bone-chilling wind only grazed Jeremy for a moment, but even that brief exposure caused his body temperature to drop several degrees. His movement speed also became noticeably slower.


    In contrast, the Dark Treant, which had been caught fully in the icy st just behind Jeremy, was nowpletely frozen. It could neither move nor make a sound.


    "You actually tried to ambush me!"


    Jeremy was shocked to realize that the Dark Treant had been so close behind him. Had he not pushed open the ominous gate, the Dark Treant might have seeded in its ambush.


    Since the Dark Treant was now immobilized, Jeremy seized the opportunity. He effortlessly dispatched the Dark Treant.


    After all, the Dark Treant''s health had been critically depleted by the bone-chilling wind.


    Upon receiving the prompt indicating that he had gained experience points, Jeremy finally exhaled a sigh of relief. He no longer needed to worry about the threat from the Dark Treant behind him.


    However, he still had to confront an even more terrifying menace¡ªwhatever lurked beyond the ominous gate.


    Jeremy hesitated for a moment. Ultimately, he decided to throw an illumination device through the gate first. The device illuminated the space within the ominous gatepletely.


    Jeremy discovered that beyond the gate was a vast, empty hall. In the center of the hall stood a pitch-ck tree.


    The moment Jeremyid eyes on the pitch-ck tree, the Eye of Omniscience provided information about it.


    [Name: The Dark Tree]


    [Level: Unknown]


    [Rank: Unknown]


    [Skills: Dark Corrosion, Shadow Growth, Mental Storm]


    [Description: A sapling of the divine tree from the Land of the Gods, it is still in the process of growing and cannot yet unleash its full power. Once fully grown, the branches of The Dark Tree will reach towards the sky and pierce the Land of the Gods.]


    In addition to the description of The Dark Tree, the Eye of Omniscience appended a crucial tip.


    [Tip: The Dark Tree was intentionally nted here by the nners of the apocalypse game, with the purpose of facilitating the game''s influence to extend into the real world.]


    .


    Upon reading the Eye of Omniscience''s tip, Jeremy resolved to destroy The Dark Tree as swiftly as possible.


    Jeremy retrieved a data core from his pocket and manipted the High-Dimensional Data within it tounch an assault towards The Dark Tree.


    Although the High-Dimensional Data wouldn''t pose a significant threat to The Dark Tree, it would at least serve to disrupt it. Jeremy wanted to observe the effects of The Dark Tree''s skills.


    At the very moment when the High-Dimensional Data made contact with The Dark Tree, the tree suddenly emanated a ck radiance, consuming all the High-Dimensional Data.


    Witnessing this, Jeremy swiftly put the data core away. He had no desire to see his painstakingly collected High-Dimensional Data entirely devoured by The Dark Tree.


    After absorbing the High-Dimensional Data, The Dark Tree visibly grew taller by several centimeters.


    Simultaneously, its branches began to thrash about incessantly. With each swing of the branches, countless dark forces coalesced into tangible forms within the vast hall.


    One by one, twisted dark creatures began to manifest.


    The moment these dark creatures materialized, they locked onto Jeremy as their target.


    Even though Jeremy remained outside the door of the deepest hall in Shadow City, he could feel the surrounding dark energy growing increasingly potent.


    His body temperature was also rapidly plummeting.


    "Could this be The Dark Tree''s Dark Corrosion skill?" Jeremy immediately suspected that the deteriorating conditions he was experiencing were due to The Dark Tree''s Dark Corrosion skill.


    After all, the other two skills of The Dark Tree, judging by their names, couldn''t possibly produce such an effect.


    As Jeremy hesitated slightly, uncertain of what action to take, fragments of the Dark Treant began piercing into the ground not far from him.


    These fragments seemed to gain power from The Dark Tree once they entered the soil. Rapidly, they started to grow and sketch out one humanoid form after another.


    "That must be the skill, Gloomy Growth! I can''t stay here any longer. I must leave immediately! This ce is far too perilous!"


    Jeremy suddenly realized that the fragments of the Dark Treant were quickly growing into new Dark Treants.


    Battling a single Dark Treant was already a headache for Jeremy, it was impossible for him to contend with so many at once. Moreover, the new Dark Treants would receive assistance from The Dark Tree inside the hall.


    This battle was unwinnable under any circumstances. Jeremy had to seek help from others. Only by joining forces with other powerful individuals could he hope to quickly destroy The Dark Tree.


    In the moment he made his decision, Jeremy sprinted towards the entrance of Shadow City at top speed.


    Not long after he started running, he heard the roars of the Dark Treantsing from behind him, apanied by countless heavy footsteps.


    This meant that the Dark Treants hadn''t let him go but had chosen to pursue him instead.

 Chapter 159: Temporarily Sealing the Instance

    Near the entrance of the Shadow City instance, Howard was still patiently awaiting Jeremy''s return.


    Although Howard believed that Jeremy wouldn''t encounter any real danger within the Shadow City instance, he couldn''t help but feel a twinge of doubt.


    After all, Jeremy had been inside the Shadow City instance for quite some time.


    "General, I think we shouldn''t wait any longer."Howard''s subordinate suggested softly. "Jeremy''s strength ensures that he wouldn''t face any major threats inside the Shadow City instance. Why don''t we return to the camp and prepare for the uing operations instead?"


    Howard shook his head.


    "Since I''ve decided to wait for him here, I will certainly wait for him. Besides, I believe the Shadow City instance is not as straightforward as we might think."


    "If the difficulty of the Shadow City instance were normal, we wouldn''t be able to handle other instances at all. After all, without Jeremy, we couldn''t even tackle the Shadow City instance."


    Howard''s words left his subordinate deeply discouraged.


    Initially, Howard and the others thought that without Jeremy, their operations would merely proceed at a slower pace.


    Who could have imagined that without Jeremy, they wouldn''t be able to clear a single instance?


    "I''ll head back to the base first. After all, there are many affairs that need attending to there."Howard''s subordinate said, realizing he needed to return promptly. Hence, he approached Howard to convey this message.


    Howard nodded.


    "There''s nothing left for you to do here. You should head back as quickly as possible."


    Upon receiving Howard''s order, the subordinate departed swiftly.


    Not long after his subordinate had left, Howard heard strange noises emanating from the entrance of the Shadow City instance.


    Howard slowly walked towards the entrance of the Shadow City instance, intending to discern the source of the peculiar sounds.


    Just at that moment, Jeremy suddenly burst out from the entrance.


    Howard''s expression showed a hint of surprise, for he noticed a look of sheer panic on Jeremy''s face.


    "What happened? Why did it take you so long toe out? Did you encounter danger inside the Shadow City instance?"


    Howard fired off three questions to Jeremy in quick session.


    .


    However, Jeremy did not answer any of his questions. Instead, he panted heavily and said, "Quickly seal the entrance to the Shadow City instance! There''s no time for idle talk!"


    Although Howard did not fully grasp Jeremy''s words, he chose to trust Jeremy''s judgment after everything they had been through.


    He and Jeremy immediately returned to the camp they had set up near the entrance of the Shadow City instance. The camp was stocked with a significant amount of explosives.


    The two of them quickly piled the explosives at the entrance of the Shadow City instance and then detonated them.


    The explosives were not capable of destroying the Shadow City instance, nor could they obliterate its entrance. Their purpose was to copse the mountain around the entrance.


    In this manner, the entrance to the Shadow City instance waspletely sealed off.


    Moreover, since every instance that descended into the real world was bound by specific rules, once the entrance was sealed, the monsters unable to reach the entrance in time could no longer emerge from the instance.


    Having sessfully sealed off the Shadow City instance, Jeremy finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Thankfully, we acted quickly enough, otherwise, Moonlight City might have been swiftly annihted."Jeremy said with lingering fear.


    Howard remained deeply puzzled, as Jeremy had yet to answer any of his questions.


    "What exactly did you encounter inside the Shadow City instance? When you rescued us from the instance, didn''t you say its difficulty level wasn''t that high?"


    "The difficulty level of the instance is indeed not particrly high. However, in the deepest part of the instance, there exists an unexpectedly terrifying entity. This entity is far more powerful than all the monsters in the instancebined."


    Jeremy directly mentioned the presence of The Dark Tree at the deepest part of the Shadow City instance.


    "Let me be straightforward with you. In the deepest part of the instance, there''s a Dark Tree growing towards the surface. If the Dark Tree reaches the surface, a multitude of dark creatures will emerge.


    If we cannot destroy the Dark Tree, it will not stop growing. Moreover, if the Dark Tree continues to grow, it might eventually extend into the world of the gods.


    I recall mentioning to you before that the masterminds behind the apocalypse game''s descent are the nners. And those nners are what I referred to as the gods."


    Jeremy stopped at this point, knowing that Howard would piece everything together.


    An exceptionally rare expression of shock appeared on Howard''s face.


    He asked Jeremy in disbelief, "Are you saying that The Dark Tree can ultimately connect the real world with the apocalypse game worldpletely? Wouldn''t that mean the total destruction of the real world?"


    Jeremy nodded in affirmation, indicating that was exactly what he meant.


    Upon receiving Jeremy''s confirmation, Howard sat on the ground, utterly stunned.


    "How can this be?! If a low-difficulty instance like Shadow City has such a terrifying entity as The Dark Tree, doesn''t that mean we have no way to handle the other instances?"


    Howard muttered to himself.


    Jeremy felt that Howard was under immense pressure at the moment, so he calmly walked over to him.


    "You don''t need to be so stressed right now. After all, The Dark Tree has only just begun to grow. Moreover, we''ve sessfully sealed the entrance to the Shadow City instance.


    This also means that The Dark Tree won''t be able to obtain more nutrients to elerate its growth rate. It will take at least about a year for it to reach the surface.


    We just need to find a way to destroy The Dark Tree within this year. I can''t possiblybat such a powerful entity on my own."


    After hearing Jeremy''s words, Howard seemed to remember something.


    He abruptly stood up and grabbed Jeremy''s hand.


    "What are you doing? I warn you, even if I can''t fight The Dark Tree, I can easily defeat you."Jeremy warned Howard.


    Although Jeremy didn''t know what Howard intended to do, he was extremely annoyed by his actions. Therefore, he feltpelled to warn him.


    "Didn''t you say we need to find a way to destroy The Dark Tree? I''ll take you to our camp right now. We have a lot of data there that you haven''t seen before."


    After saying this, Howard quickly led Jeremy to the edge of the camp.


    There, a fully operational helicopter was parked.


    Howard didn''t instruct his subordinates to wait for him here, as he was perfectly capable of piloting the helicopter himself.


    "What are you standing there for? Get in quickly! Now that we''re aware of The Dark Tree''s existence, we can''t afford to waste a single moment."


    Thus, Howard flew the helicopter, taking Jeremy back to the base at maximum speed.


    On the way back to the base, Jeremy made a call to Emma and ire.


    "In the uing period, it''s very likely that I won''t be able to meet you. I need to go to our military base in the outskirts of Moonlight City to review the data there.


    You must take good care of yourselves, and if you have the time, you should also look after Ritchie. If Bonniees looking for me, just tell them I''m at the military base in the suburbs."


    Jeremy felt it was imperative to arrange everything for his teammates.


    Over the phone, Emma and ire agreed without hesitation.


    Because they all knew that Jeremy had to address the imminent danger facing Moonlight City.


    As for why Jeremy didn''t call Bonnie, it was because he thought it might be somewhat inappropriate to contact her now.


    Bonnie had already returned to her parents'' ce, which meant that calling her could potentially rm Benjamin.


    Jeremy certainly didn''t want Benjamin to know that Moonlight City was currently facing an unprecedented and massive threat.


    While Jeremy was en route to the military base in the outskirts of Moonlight City, Bonnie received a call from a long-lost friend at her home.


    "Why did you suddenly think of calling me? I remember it''s been a year and a half since west met."Bonnie said, sounding extremely delighted upon receiving the call.


    After all, the person calling was her dearest friend.


    The reason they hadn''t seen each other for a year and a half was simply because Bonnie hade to Moonlight City for her studies.


    A melodious and clear voice came from the other end of the line: "The reason I''m calling is to give you a heads-up. The ce you''re currently in, Moonlight City, is extremely dangerous. You need to leave as soon as possible."


    Upon hearing the warning, Bonnie felt a bit puzzled.


    After all, her dear friend was all the way in the capital, so how could she possibly know that Moonlight City was perilous?


    "How do you know that Moonlight City is extremely dangerous? In fact, you don''t need to worry about me because my own abilities have grown much stronger than before. Besides, we have sufficiently powerful federal troops stationed here."


    Bonnie did not mention Jeremy, as she felt it unnecessary to let too many people know about his existence. After all, the conflict between Jeremy and Kean had not yet been resolved.

 Chapter 160: The Complete Enhancement of the Monster

    After concluding the conversation with her friend, Bonnie couldn''t shake off a persistent sense of unease. She had a nagging feeling that her friend''s warning was not as straightforward as it seemed.


    It appeared that her friend was concealing some crucial information, but Bonnie had no way to continue probing. The call had been abruptly terminated by the friend.


    This meant that even if Bonnie tried calling back, the other party wouldn''t divulge anything further.


    Troubled and restless, Bonnie paced back and forth in her room.


    Unable to calm herself down, she decided to seek help from others.


    The first person who came to Bonnie''s mind was, of course, Jeremy.


    After all, among everyone Bonnie knew, only Jeremy possessed a vast amount of crucial information. Moreover, he was the only one she could trustpletely.


    With this in mind, Bonnie picked up her phone, intending to call Jeremy directly.


    However, Bonnie suddenly hesitated once more.


    Bonnie knew that Jeremy hoped she could stand on her own. If she relied on Jeremy for everything, wouldn''t she be someone who only held him back?


    Thinking this, Bonnie managed to calm herself a bit.


    After carefully contemting for a while, she ultimately decided to seek help from her father.


    Although Benjamin might not know as much as Jeremy, he was still a significant federal official. He surely had ess to some ssified information from the federation.


    Having made her decision, Bonnie immediately took action.


    Half an hourter, Bonnie arrived at Benjamin''s office.


    Although it was only 6:30 in the morning, Benjamin was already immersed in handling a series of affairs for Moonlight City.


    Benjamin did not appear overly surprised by his daughter''s arrival.


    He merely inquired in a nonchnt tone, "What brings you here now? Are you nning to move back home? If that''s truly your intention, there''s no need to seek my approval."


    Upon hearing this, a slight look of embarrassment appeared on Bonnie''s face.


    She knew her mother had always wished for her to move back home.


    However, after everything that had happened, Bonnie felt she needed to focus on improving her own abilities.


    If she lived at home, her every move would be closely monitored by her parents. In such an environment, it would be impossible for her to rapidly enhance her skills.


    "Father, the reason I came to see you isn''t about moving back home. I''m here to discuss something far more important. This issue concerns the safety of Moonlight City."


    At this moment, Benjamin lifted his head and scrutinized his daughter.


    "You mean to tell me that the matter you wish to discuss is concerning the safety and security of Moonlight City? What exactly do you want to say? Stop beating around the bush."


    When it came to the safety of Moonlight City, Benjamin naturally took it very seriously. After all, he was the mayor of Moonlight City.


    Bonnie recounted the details of a recent conversation she had with her best friend to Benjamin.


    After listening to Bonnie''s ount, Benjamin''s expression rxed slightly from its previous tension.


    With a smile, Benjamin said, "Your friend didn''t lie to you, what she said is indeed true. However, it''s not just Moonlight City that will face danger. In fact, every part of the federation is going to encounter threats.


    I''ve received top-secret information from the federation that within the next day or two, all known instances and creatures outside of instances are going to get stronger.


    Even those creatures that were not very high level before are now powerful enough to pose a threat to well-trained warriors. So, under no circumstances should you take any risks during this period."


    Bonnie stared at her father in utter disbelief.


    She had never imagined that the truth would turn out to be like this.


    "Father, I can''t believe you can still smile in this situation. The monsters have been significantly strengthened, and we might soon be killed by them.


    We must quickly enhance our own abilities. Moreover, you need to allocate additional resources to Awakeners with exceptional talents. Only by rapidly boosting their capabilities can they ensure our safety."


    The exceptionally talented Awakener Bonnie was referring to was, of course, Jeremy.


    Benjamin nodded in agreement. "You don''t need to remind me of that. In fact, the reason I''m in the office so early today is precisely to deal with this matter."


    Benjamin slid the document on his desk toward Bonnie.


    Bonnie nced down and saw that the content of the document was indeed about providing additional resources to highly talented Awakeners. And the most talented Awakener in Moonlight City was undoubtedly Jeremy.


    "The city government will soon provide Jeremy with additional resources to enhance his abilities. Although Jeremy already possesses a substantial array of powerful items and numerous gemstones, he certainly won''t refuse any extra resources offered to him."


    Having reached this point in the conversation, Benjamin paused momentarily.


    He nced at his daughter and let out a sigh.


    As Bonnie''s father, he was naturally very well-acquainted with his daughter. He knew that she had already fallen for Jeremy.


    "If you want to personally deliver this good news to Jeremy, go ahead and tell him. Even if you don''t, he will find out about it soon enough."


    Upon hearing these words, Bonnie felt a surge of happiness inside, but she didn''t immediately agree. She still preferred to keep her rtionship with Jeremy somewhat concealed from her father.


    "Besides this, are there any other countermeasures from the federation?"


    While Bonnie believed that providing additional resources to highly talented Awakeners could rapidly boost their abilities, enabling them to better protect others,


    she also felt that this approach was too slow. Explore m,v,l,e,mpyr today.


    Someone with Jeremy''s level of talent was almost one in a million. Apart from Jeremy, no one else had talent that could match his caliber.


    Even with overwhelming strength, Jeremy alone cannot be powerful enough in a short period to protect all of humanity.


    Benjamin''s expression grew slightly grim.


    "The federation does have other countermeasures, but in my opinion, they are almost destined to fail."Benjamin remarked, pushing another folder toward Bonnie.


    "The contents of this file contain the federation''stest directive. The federation hopes that each city will conscript a sufficient number of soldiers from among the civilian poption.


    Every city is mandated to form an adequate reserve force. If the enhanced monsters dounch an assault on human-inhabited cities and the federal military suffers significant losses, these reserve forces will be deployed intobat.


    Although these reserve units are not particrly strong, they can at least be used as expendable assets."


    When Benjamin spoke these words, he harbored an intense sense of revulsion within his heart.


    He consistently felt that the Federation''s decision was nothing short of utterly insane.


    Such a decision by the Federation essentially treated the lives of civilians as expendablemodities. Moreover, it used them in a manner that rendered their sacrifice utterly meaningless.


    If even the federal army cannot effectivelybat the enhanced monsters, how could these civilians possibly hold them off?


    Bonnie, with an expression of disbelief, slowly finished reading the entire document.


    "Father! You must stop the federation''s leadership from taking such actions! This is utterly irresponsible."Bonnie eximed, her tone filled with agitation.


    Benjamin, with a tinge of helplessness, responded.


    "I did voice my opposition, but it was to no avail. The federation''s leadership has been deliberating this n for a long time.


    It was only in a state of utter desperation that the federation''s top brass approved such a n. If they had the power to counter the enhanced monsters, they would undoubtedly prefer not to resort to this."


    Benjamin''s words rendered Bonnie utterly speechless.


    After all, while the federation''s n was admittedly brutal, it also seemed to be the only potentially viable solution at this juncture.


    At that moment, Bonnie suddenly grasped the deeper meaning behind Jeremy''s earlier words.


    The only way to protect those she cherished was to rapidly enhance her own abilities to counter the formidable monster threats.


    After Bonnie recalled Jeremy''s words, her gaze suddenly became remarkably resolute.


    With a firm and resolute tone, she addressed her father, "Father, I hope you will no longer hinder my actions. I understand you don''t want me to face any risks.


    But let me ask you, do you wish for me to remain under your protection forever? In a time when all of humanity is threatened, do you expect me to stay sheltered under your wing and pretend everything is fine?


    I must swiftly enhance my own strength, even if it means facing immense danger, I believe it is truly worth it."


    "For it is only through this path that I will have the chance to protect those I care about."


    Benjamin waspletely taken aback by his daughter''s words.


    He had initially intended to say a few words to dissuade his daughter from continuing to fight the monsters.


    But after hearing her impassioned speech, Benjamin suddenly found himself at a loss for words to offer any further dissuasion.

 Chapter 161: Dangerous Cooperation Plan

    Benjamin attempted several times to say something to persuade his daughter to change her mind.


    However, in the end, Benjamin chose to respect his daughter''s decision. He saw a reflection of his younger self in her.


    Benjamin stood up and nodded towards Bonnie.


    In a gentle tone, he said, "Since you have made your final decision, as your father, I will undoubtedly support you. In the current situation, everyone must exert their utmost effort to have a chance at saving humanity."


    Benjamin''s words deeply moved Bonnie as well.


    She had originally prepared herself for aplete estrangement from her father.


    She never expected Benjamin to be so agreeable this time.


    "Judging by your expression, you seem quite surprised right now. Did you think I would certainly stop your actions? Did you believe I would try to persuade you to change your mind?"


    Benjamin asked his daughter with a smile on his face.


    With a somewhat embarrassed look, Bonnie slowly nodded.


    "I did think you would do that, because you have always opposed my taking risks."


    "The reason I opposed your taking risks before was that I felt you didn''t truly understand what you were doing.


    I initially thought you wanted to take risks simply because you found it thrilling. You treated venturing into instances and fighting monsters like a game.


    However, after hearing what you just said, I now understand your determination. As your father, I will respect your decision! The city government will soon provide you with the necessary resources."


    Benjamin''s words finally resolved thest emotional barrier between the father and daughter.


    Tears glistened at the corners of Bonnie''s eyes as she excitedly embraced her father.


    "Father, I knew you would understand me."


    Benjamin patted his daughter''s shoulder, "Of course I understand you. However, I must remind you that since you have chosen this path, no matter how rough the road ahead is, you must continue to move forward."


    Bonnie nodded firmly.


    "Father, I can promise you right now that no matter what kind of difficulties I encounter, I will press on without hesitation! I am determined to improve my abilities, and I ammitted to making a contribution to the survival of humanity!"


    Bonnie''s words filled Benjamin with immense satisfaction.


    "Since you have such determination, you should start taking action right away. However, before you begin, I hope you will make thorough preparations.


    At the very least, you should have a general understanding of the instances you will be heading to and the monsters you will be facing. If you want to gather information about the instances and monsters around Moonlight City, head to the military base in the suburbs.


    The base has a vast repository of information. General Howard will certainly not make things difficult for you. As long as you request it, he will definitely allow you to ess those records."


    Benjamin advised his daughter onest time.


    Bonnie nodded and promptly exited Benjamin''s office.


    As he watched Bonnie leave, Benjamin couldn''t help but sigh, "It seems I have somewhat underestimated my daughter. After all, she has grown up and it''s time for her to stand on her own."


    After uttering these words, Benjamin lowered his head and continued to attend to the documents on his desk.


    At the same time, in the outskirts of the capital,


    Kean was in the deepest part of the Lannisters'' confinement chamber.


    Although the building where Kean was confined was officially known as the Lannisters'' confinement chamber, in reality, it also served as the Lannisters'' doomsday fortress. In the event of a severe crisis in the capital, members of the Lannisters would retreat here.


    Even though Kean was currently in confinement, he could still keep abreast of events happening in the outside world.


    Kean had some mild suspicions regarding the sudden andprehensive enhancement of the monsters. Nevertheless, he could only dispatch his subordinates to investigate the specifics of the situation.


    "The fact that the monsters outside have undergoneprehensive enhancement in such a short time implies that the apocalypse game has entered a new phase. You all must swiftly improve your skills."Kean instructed his subordinates who had failed in their confinement mission.


    "Young Master, we certainly will exert every effort to enhance our abilities as quickly as possible. However, we believe that you should also expedite the improvement of your own skills! If you remain confined here indefinitely, Jeremy might surpass you in terms of strength."


    Although Kean''s subordinates were well aware that Kean had already lost to Jeremy several times, none of them dared to mention in Kean''s presence that his abilities were inferior to Jeremy''s.


    Upon hearing these words, Kean''s expression twisted into a fierce grimace.


    "Do not mention Jeremy''s name in front of me! No matter how much his strength increases, he will ultimately lose to me. Once I get out of this confinement chamber, I will seize the opportunity to tear him limb from limb."


    Kean snarled viciously at his subordinates.


    However, after uttering these words, Kean calmed down. He realized that losing his temper at his subordinates here was utterly pointless.


    "Alright, you don''t need to stay here any longer. I have understood the information you''ve provided. I will find a way to get out of this confinement chamber as soon as possible."he said, regaining hisposure.


    After saying this, Kean waved his hand dismissively. His subordinates quickly scrambled to escape from the confinement chamber.


    These days, Kean''s subordinates were not having an easy time either.


    Kean had been defeated by Jeremy once again and was subjected to reprimands from both the federal authorities and the Lannisters, which had made him considerably more irritable than before.


    No matter how cautious they were, Kean''s subordinates could inadvertently provoke his anger.


    Once all the subordinates had left, Kean slowly rose from his seat.


    He furrowed his brow, contemting for a moment, before finally deciding to walk over to arge floor-to-ceiling mirror.


    Kean stared intently at his reflection in the mirror.


    "ording to our agreement, you should be appearing now."Kean muttered to himself.


    The moment he finished speaking, a sudden chill swept through the room, brushing against the surface of the mirror. Instantly, the reflection of Kean began to speak.


    "Isn''t it a bit toote for you to contact me now? If I''m not mistaken, you must have lost to Jeremy again. I told you before, without my assistance, you stand no chance of defeating Jeremy."


    The mirrored Kean said in a mocking tone. story source m vl e mp yr


    "If you''re going to talk to me with that attitude, then I see no reason for us to continue this conversation. I will not coborate with someone who holds me in contempt."


    Kean retorted, preparing to walk away from the mirror.


    In a hurry, the mirrored Kean eximed, "I''m not belittling you, I just think it''s truly regrettable that you didn''t choose to coborate with me earlier."


    Even if you decide to coborate with me now, our uing endeavors will undoubtedly be fraught with significant challenges. I even harbor doubts about the potential sess of our partnership."the mirrored Kean remarked.


    Upon hearing these words, Kean''s expression turned noticeably impatient.


    "I have only one question for you. Are you willing to coborate with me or not?" Kean demanded.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, the mirrored Kean responded, "Of course, I am eager to coborate with you. However, the terms of our coboration this time around differ somewhat from our previous agreements."


    Kean remained silent, merely waiting for the other to spell out the terms of this coboration.


    "This time, not only will you need to sacrifice several of your subordinates, but you must also personally beseech my master for the gift of power."the mirrored Kean stated coldly.


    Kean''s expression became slightly conflicted upon hearing these terms.


    Sacrificing his subordinates wasn''t something he particrly cared about.


    Being a scion of the Lannisters, he had an abundant number of subordinates at his disposal. Moreover, he could offer them terms they simply couldn''t refuse.


    However, pleading for the blessing of power from an unknown entity posed an immense risk.


    If Kean were to take that step, he might very well end up being entirely controlled by this mysterious force. Furthermore, his innate ability allowed deities to descend upon his very being.


    If the master mentioned was indeed the deity from the apocalypse game, Kean could potentially be used as a vessel for divine descent.


    "I understand your hesitation now, after all, the terms of this coboration are far more stringent than before. But I must remind you, you must make a decision promptly. With the monsters growing stronger, your leverage will wane significantly."the mirrored Kean warned.


    After saying this, the reflection reverted to Kean''s usual visage.


    Simultaneously, a cold breeze swept across the mirror and dissipated into the room.


    The situation Kean faced was indeed dire. There was no way he could easily agree to such a perilous coboration proposal.


    However, without epting this proposal, he had no means of swiftly gaining the power necessary to defeat Jeremy.


    Though he often disyed an air of arrogance, deep down, Kean was far from confident. Having suffered multiple defeats at Jeremy''s hands, he was desperate to avoid another loss.


    After agonizing over it for an hour or two, Kean finally made his decision.


    "No matter how dangerous this coboration may be, I''ve reached a point of no return! To defeat Jeremy, I am willing to bear such immense risks!"


    Kean resolved to seek the blessing of power from the unknown entity.

 Chapter 162: Contacting Allies to Gather Intelligence

    In the military base on the outskirts of Moonlight City, Jeremy, under Howard''s guidance, was engrossed in perusing the documents within the base.


    The vast majority of the documents were stored in the innermost sanctum of the base. Without Howard''s clearance, Jeremy would have had no ess to these materials.


    Jeremy spent the better part of half a day poring over a significant volume of documents.


    Howard remained by his side the entire time, silently observing without uttering a single word or performing any other action.


    "To be honest, I can''t immediately digest such an overwhelming amount of information." Jeremy confessed, a slight look of confusion clouding his features as he finished reading thest document Howard had handed him.


    The documents Jeremy reviewed were all rted to the rtionships between different types of monsters after the apocalypse and their respective strengths and weaknesses.


    Although these documents did mention Moonlight City and the instances and monsters within the vicinity, such content constituted only a minor portion.


    This implied that Howard brought Jeremy here not merely to resolve the crisis facing Moonlight City but also with the hope that Jeremy could devise a solution for all the monsters.


    Among all the information, what intrigued Jeremy the most was, of course, the changes in the monsters'' strengths.


    Jeremy noticed that the significant increase in monster strength coincided precisely with the time when he entered the instance and, in coboration with [The World], sessfully killed [The Sun].


    Although Jeremy had already harbored simr suspicions before, he found it difficult to ept the reality once his hypothesis was confirmed.


    The current situation essentially proved that other nners of the apocalypse game had already made their moves.


    This meant that the situation Jeremy faced had be even more severe. He didn''t even have the luxury of considering Kean''s threat at this moment.


    your chapter source NovelBin EMPYR


    "I brought you here not merely to inform you about the significant increase in monster strength. More importantly, I want you to understand that only through our concerted efforts can we face the increasingly dire situation."Howard exined.


    Initially, Howard hoped that Jeremy could find some insight within the military''s archives to counter the Dark Tree. However, after seeing Jeremy''s expression, Howard realized that his objective had not been achieved.


    Consequently, Howard swiftly adjusted his focus.


    If Jeremy could fully cooperate with him from this point onward, they could expedite the elimination of all instances around Moonlight City.


    While this would ensure the safety of Moonlight City, it would also allow Howard and his subordinates to offer support elsewhere, thereby alleviating the monster pressure on other cities.


    Howard''s words seemed to strike a chord with Jeremy.


    Snapping back to reality, Jeremy looked at Howard and said, "You''re right. In the face of such a severe situation, we must coborate closely. However, I have more pressing matters to attend to right now."


    With that, Jeremy walked out of the archives without even informing Howard of the more important matters he needed to address.


    "Where exactly are you nning to go? Besides these documents, I hope you can review some additional materials. Our military base has an extensive archive."


    Howard called out in Jeremy''s direction.


    Jeremy didn''t turn back in response to Howard''s words. In fact, before Howard could even finish his sentence, Jeremy had already vanished.


    A hint of disappointment shed across Howard''s face.


    He let out a sigh and muttered to himself, "The situation is far worse than I anticipated. Coborating with a genius like Jeremy is proving to be exceedingly challenging."


    Jeremy was unaware of Howard''s reaction, nor did he care.


    What Jeremy aimed to do was to return home as quickly as possible and establish contact with the ss Change Goddess Janna or [The World].


    Jeremy believed that the information he currently possessed was exceedingly limited.


    While the military could provide some details about the real world, the most crucial information was undoubtedly beyond their reach.


    Only powerful entities like the ss Change Goddess Janna and [The World] could provide such crucial information.


    Upon returning home at the fastest speed, Jeremy immediately locked his front door.


    Jeremy took out the gemstone given to him by [The World], then began to silently recite the names of the ss Change Goddess Janna and [The World] in his mind.


    After a brief moment of disorientation, Jeremy found himself standing before the ss Change Goddess Janna.


    The ss Change Goddess Janna appeared to be in excellent condition. Upon seeing Jeremy, she even had the mood to tease him.


    "It looks like you finally remembered me. Have you run into some trouble again? If you hadn''t, you probably wouldn''t be seeking me out."she joked.


    Jeremy gave an awkward smile and said, "I have indeed encountered some trouble. The strength of the monsters in the real world has significantly increased. Is this the doing of the apocalypse game nners?


    Do you have any relevant information? If you do, I hope you can provide it to me. Only then can I quickly eliminate the monsters in the real world and weaken the power of the apocalypse game nners."


    Faced with Jeremy''s question, the ss Change Goddess Janna responded without any hesitation.


    "Of course, I have relevant information. And I can tell you very clearly right now, the reason for the increased strength of those monsters in the real world is indeed due to the intervention of two apocalypse game nners.


    These two nners are our greatest enemy, [Fool], and another who is highly skilled in manipting machinery, [The White Tower]. As exceptionally powerful beings, they have sessfully coordinated to enhance the strength of the monsters in the real world."


    Upon receiving the answer from the ss Change Goddess Janna, Jeremy nodded.


    "What exactly should I do to weaken the strength of these two individuals? The monsters in the real world have already be powerful enough to annihte all of humanity.


    I must quickly find a way to diminish the monsters'' power. Moreover, I have a strong feeling that the strength of these monsters will continue to escte.


    If I don''t act swiftly, their power will soon reach a level that could lead to the total destruction of humanity."


    After hearing Jeremy''s words, the ss Change Goddess Janna smiled and said, "Your assessment is absolutely correct. If you wish to halt the increase in monster strength, you must severely damage one of the apocalypse game nners."


    "Do you mean to say that I must directly challenge [Fool] or [The White Tower]? That is an utterly impossible task.


    Even disregarding the fact that my power is far inferior to theirs, I have no means of locating their current whereabouts. They are certainly not in the real world."


    Jeremy felt a slight headache as the solution provided by the ss Change Goddess Janna seemed utterly impossible to achieve.


    "You are absolutely right, they are not in the real world at all. Furthermore, neither the ss Change Goddess Janna nor I can transport you to the world they inhabit."


    The voice of [The World] came from behind Jeremy.


    Jeremy quickly turned his head to look at the speaker. "Did you just arrive, or have you been here all along without revealing yourself?"


    "I have been here all along. The reason I didn''t show myself earlier was merely to assess whether you have sufficient strategic awareness.


    Now that you know the two apocalypse game nners have intervened directly, can you guess their objective? If they intended to annihte all of humanity, they could have done so long ago."


    Faced with the question posed by [The World], Jeremy hesitated for a moment before arriving at an answer that he found hard to believe.


    "Are you implying that the reason these two apocalypse game nners are doing this is to target me specifically?"


    Jeremy asked [The World], his confidence wavering significantly.


    In Jeremy''s view, even if he possessed extraordinary talent and was a one-in-a-million human genius. It still didn''t make sense for the two apocalypse game nners to see him as such a threat. Shouldn''t their primary targets be the ss Change Goddess Janna and [The World]?


    "You must be deceiving me! If these two apocalypse game nners wanted to target me, they could just strike directly. There''s no need for them to go to such great lengths."


    [The World] nodded, seemingly agreeing with Jeremy''s statement.


    "In the past, they could indeed have targeted you directly. Even if you hid in the safest ce in the real world, you would still be instantly killed by these immensely powerful beings.


    However, after the fall of [The Sun], the overall strength of the apocalypse game nners isn''t as formidable as it once was. They can''t easily project their power into the real world.


    They must have some sort of medium to bring their power into the real world.The reason they have significantly enhanced the monsters'' strength is clear.


    They aim to restrain human actions through this method.This will prevent humanity from having the chance to stop their arrival.


    [The World] spoke these words with a smile.


    "If I haven''t missed any information you''ve mentioned, can I draw the following conclusion?


    One of the nners of the apocalypse game, who possesses deity-like power, is about to descend into the real world.


    And their sole purpose for doing so is to eliminate me?"


    Jeremy asked [The World], his disbelief evident.


    [The World] nodded silently.

 Chapter 163: The Power of the Deitys Gift

    In the capital, inside the Lannisters'' confinement room.


    Kean knelt in the center of the room, surrounded by nine different oil paintings. Each of these paintings depicted an iprehensible scene.


    "I''ve made all the preparations. The ritual can begin at any moment."Kean murmured to himself.


    With his words, a cold wind swept through the room.


    This gust of wind blew one of the oil paintings directly in front of Kean.


    Kean buried his face into the painting without hesitation.


    Immediately, a violent blue sh erupted throughout the room, distorting everything within it.


    The remaining eight paintings around Kean all turned nk simultaneously.


    The only painting that remained unchanged was the one firmly adhered to Kean''s face.


    At that moment, Kean felt waves of information merging into his mind.


    As more and more information flooded his brain, he felt it could no longer contain it all. His mind was on the verge of exploding from the overload.


    "When will this ritual end? I can''t hold on much longer. Even with items that enhance my mental resistance, I can''t withstand this terrifying influx of information."he thought.


    Although Kean was uncertain about the specifics of the information flooding into his mind, he had previously battled simr creatures.


    Kean possessed a certain degree of understanding regarding the insidious nature of information infiltration.


    Kean certainly did not wish to experience irreversible information erosion as a result of the ritual before he had obtained the divine power bestowed by the deity.


    If a human were to encounter severe information erosion, they would gradually be transformed into a monster.


    "Don''t worry! I can ensure your safety. You are a very powerful awakened one, so don''t be too afraid."an old and raspy voice echoed from the mirror in front of Kean.


    "It''s not you experiencing the information erosion right now. If you were in my ce, you wouldn''t havested this long."Kean retorted, knowing full well his words wouldn''t change the other''s decision.


    However, Kean waspelled to engage in conversation with the other party, for it was only through this means that he could maintain his own lucidity.


    "I will continue to talk to you because ensuring your rity is crucial for me too. If you can''t withstand the power during the process of receiving the deity''s gift, you will be killed by it."


    "And all my previous arrangements would failpletely. So you must seed."


    The old and raspy voice emanated from the mirror once more.


    However, this time, Kean did not offer any response. The excruciating pain he was enduring rendered him incapable of uttering a single word.


    Kean felt a slight pang of regret at that moment. stay updated with m,v,l,e,m p _y,r


    He thought he shouldn''t have agreed to the proposal of that mysterious coborator. The ritual they provided seemed highly likely to go wrong from the start.


    As these thoughts raced through Kean''s mind, a strange and divine voice suddenly echoed within his consciousness.


    "What blessing do you seek from me? What do you intend to do with the power I bestow upon you?"


    The moment Kean heard this voice, the intense pain he had been experiencing vanished entirely.


    Not only was he free from any torment now, but he also felt his mind had be significantly clearer than before.


    "I wish to receive a blessing from you that will allow me to defeat my adversary! Whatever form the blessing takes, I am willing to ept it, as long as it enables me to triumph over my enemy!"


    Kean responded to the divine voice''s question without a moment''s hesitation.


    "Tell me your enemy''s name, and I will decide whether to grant you the corresponding blessing."the divine voice neither agreed immediately nor outright refused Kean.


    "The name of my nemesis is none other than Jeremy!"


    The instant Kean uttered the name Jeremy, he was overwhelmed by an immense fear, as if some immensely powerful entity had fixed its gaze upon him.


    "Repeat your enemy''s name once more."the divine voice reappeared, but this time with a hint of urgency in its tone.


    "The name of my nemesis is none other than Jeremy!"


    Naturally, Kean would not lie. He knew that lying at this moment would certainly cause the other party to abort the entire ritual.


    Kean once again uttered the name of Jeremy.


    The divine voice fell silent for a long while before finally deciding to bestow the corresponding power upon Kean.


    "I can grant you immense power, but you must promise me one thing."


    The divine voice spoke once more, this time with a tone significantly more solemn than before.


    "What do you wish for me to promise you? As long as it is within my power, I will surely do it. Provided, of course, that you bestow upon me a power strong enough."


    "The task I require of you is quite simple. You need only travel to the instance within the river on the eastern outskirts of the capital. I need you to take the power I bestow upon you to that location."


    Kean agreed without a moment''s hesitation.


    "I can take your bestowed power to that ce!"


    Although Kean was unsure of the exact instance mentioned on the eastern outskirts of the capital, he knew that the instances around the capital were generally not very dangerous.


    The capital''s surrounding difficult and perilous instances had long been cleared out by the federal army.


    "Very well, I shall now grant you immense power!"


    With the divine voice''s deration, Kean felt his body being reshaped by an overwhelming force. He noticed that all of his physical attributes were significantly enhanced.


    More importantly, he suddenly realized he could perceive the entirety of this world''s essence.


    Everything within Kean''s line of sight was transformed into a stream of dataprehensible to him. By mastering this data stream, Kean could swiftly ascertain all information about whatever he observed.


    This ability would be immensely useful, whether in battle or in ordinary activities.


    Inbat, Kean could directly see his opponent''s data stream. Consequently, he could identify their weaknesses and possibly even predict their next moves.


    In everyday actions, Kean could use the data stream to uncover missed information and locate critical clues that would be difficult to find through normal means.


    "You have now been granted immense power, the next step is to fulfill your promise."the divine voice concluded. Immediately after, Kean''s consciousness returned to the room.


    The room Kean found himself in was now inplete disarray.


    The nine oil paintings surrounding Kean had all turned nk.


    "Did the ritual seed? Did you receive the bestowed power? From which great entity did you obtain this power?"


    The elderly and raspy voice from the mirror urgently questioned Kean.


    Kean stood up slowly and confidently dered, "I have received the bestowed power. All my attributes have been significantly enhanced. More importantly, I have gained the ability to see data streams."


    "With this special ability, I can easily defeat Jeremy! I can quickly identify his every weakness."


    Kean''s response left the person in the mirror utterly astonished.


    "You''ve actually received such immense power? Is that great entity truly willing to bestow so much power upon you?"


    Faced with the other''s skepticism, Kean felt a tinge of confusion.


    For in Kean''s view, the ritual had clearly been provided by the person in the mirror. How could they possibly be unaware of what would happen upon its sessfulpletion?


    "This ritual was given to me by you. How could you possibly not know what the oue would be?!"


    Confronted by Kean''s interrogation, the person in the mirror could only reveal the truth with a sense of helplessness.


    "The ritual I provided you wasn''t actually known to me. It was given to me by someone else. When I performed the ritual, I didn''t receive the legendary bestowed power."


    "The reason I passed the ritual on to you is that you had no other options left. I genuinely didn''t expect you toplete the ritual so effortlessly and receive such powerful bestowal."


    Upon hearing this, Kean was truly furious.


    Kean felt that the other person had treated him like a mereb rat for an experiment.


    However, the situation was not entirely dire for Kean. Although the assistance given was somewhat ill-intentioned, the ritual ultimately seeded beyond his expectations.


    Even though he remained unsure of which great entity''s divine voice he had heard during the ritual, he had nheless obtained the power he desired.


    "Since the ritual has seeded, I won''t dwell on your deception. Now, the only thing I hope for is your cooperation in my forting endeavors."


    Kean was resolute, he must use his newly bestowed power to eliminate Jeremy. Therefore, he needed as many allies as possible to ensure the sess of his mission.


    Although Kean was still a young master of the Lannisters, the events that had transpired left him unable to wield the family''s power as he once did.


    Thus, Kean could not afford to lose any potential allies now.

 Chapter 164: The Person in the Mirror

    Although Kean believed he could not afford to lose any more allies, after acquiring sufficiently formidable power, he still wanted to ascertain the true identities of those coborating with him.


    "I am about to embark on the instance mentioned by the great deity. However, before I leave, I hope you can reveal your true identity to me. Only in this way can our forting cooperation be truly seamless."


    If I remain unaware of your true identity and your genuine intentions, how can I ce my full trust in you during our subsequent coboration?"


    Kean"s tone had now be markedly calmer than it was before.


    Having acquired sufficiently formidable power, Kean no longer needed to be as anxious as he had been previously.


    Faced with Kean"s question, the voice from within the mirror did not immediately provide an answer.


    After a prolonged silence, the voice from the mirror slowly remarked, "You may refer to me as "the person in the mirror." The reason I am offering you assistance is that I hope you can enable me to gain a greater ability to interfere with the real world."


    The response from the person in the mirror inadvertently provided Kean with a wealth of information.


    From the other party"s answer, Kean could deduce that they currentlycked the capacity to significantly interfere with the real world.


    Moreover, the name "the person in the mirror" seemed more like a codename.


    This also implied that "the person in the mirror" could very well represent an organization rather than just the individual conversing with him.


    "How can I enable you to gain a greater ability to interfere with the real world? You are providing me with assistance now, yet you seem to demand nothing in return."


    Kean did not directly press whether "the person in the mirror" was an individual or an organization.


    He understood that this question was likely the most closely guarded secret of the other party. Therefore, Kean decided to start with other pertinent inquiries.


    Upon hearing Kean"s question, the voice from the mirror sighed softly. "Since you"ve already utilized the ritual I provided, a portion of all the power you gain henceforth will be allocated to me."


    Upon hearing this response, Kean"s expression suddenly turned exceedingly grim.


    Kean raised his weapon and pointed it at the floor-to-ceiling mirror before him. "How dare you! If a portion of my acquired power is diverted to you, doesn"t that mean my progression speed will be significantly slower than before?!"


    At this moment, Kean was overwhelmingly furious.


    He had not anticipated that coborating with "the person in the mirror" woulde at such a steep cost.


    If his level-up speed became too slow, Jeremy might very well have a significant advantage over him in terms of levels at the moment of their final showdown.


    The voice in the mirror also sensed Kean"s anger.


    It hurriedly exined, "While I will indeed receive a portion of the experience points you gain, I can assure you that the amount I take is minimal. It will not hinder your leveling speed."


    "Moreover, if the power you acquirees from an exceedingly strong entity, I will be unable to transfer that power to myself."


    After listening to the exnation, Kean felt his rage subside somewhat internally.


    However, Kean maintained the same expression on his face. He feigned an appearance of extreme anger and shouted at the other party.


    "How do I know you"re not deceiving me right now?! If you wish to continue coborating with me, you must show greater sincerity."


    Kean"s intent behind these words was topel the other party to provide him with more assistance.


    Whether it was assistance in terms of intelligence or help with items and equipment, Kean was willing to ept it.


    What Kean could not tolerate was the other party hiding in the shadows, seeking to enjoy the final victory without paying any price whatsoever.


    The voice in the mirror seemed to grasp Kean"s thoughts.


    In the center of the massive floor-to-ceiling mirror, a vortex began to form, slowly transmitting a broken pocket watch through it.


    "This broken pocket watch serves as proof of the sincerity of "the person in the mirror."


    This pocket watch was once a very powerful piece of equipment owned by Jeremy. Although it is damaged, you can still use it to gain an advantage in your battle against Jeremy."


    Kean picked up the broken pocket watch and examined it carefully. He immediately recognized it as the Hourss of Time.


    "Isn"t this the divine artifact that Jeremy obtained? How did it get damaged? Where did you acquire this divine artifact?"


    Kean fired off a series of questions in quick session.


    However, the other party offered no answers. They merely responded indifferently, "Now, can you trust my sincerity? If so, then proceed with your actions quickly."


    Kean scrutinized the broken Hourss of Time closely.


    "I can trust your sincerity now, but you must still agree to one final condition of mine."


    The voice in the mirror provided no response.


    Kean continued speaking to himself, "Since you can obtain a divine artifact that Jeremy once possessed, it means you can absolutely provide assistance in my battle against Jeremy."


    "The final condition I need you to agree to is this: If I truly face Jeremy in a showdown, you must provide me with ample assistance."


    "No problem at all."


    The voice in the mirror responded without any hesitation this time, agreeing immediately after Kean stated his final condition.


    "I have epted your terms. Now, all you need to do is swiftly carry out the task assigned to you by the great entity that bestowed power upon you."


    After saying thest sentence, the person in the mirror vanished.


    The surface of the enormous mirror in front of Kean returned to normal. powered by NovelBin|empyr


    Kean carefully put away the broken Hourss of Time. Then, he immediately called his butler, Farmer.


    "Master, did you call me because you want me to bring you something?" Farmer answered the phone quickly.


    At that moment, Farmer assumed that Kean was calling to request items to be sent to the confinement room where he was currently located. Therefore, Farmer wasn"t overly concerned.


    "Ick nothing here. The purpose of my call is to have youe over immediately, I need to leave the confinement room as soon as possible."


    Kean"s words left Farmer utterly stunned.


    For a moment, Farmer even forgot to breathe.


    After a while, Farmer finally regained hisposure. In a tone filled with astonishment, he asked, "Master, you can"t be serious, can you? You"ve only been in confinement for less than a week. ording to your grandfather"s orders, the head of the Lannister family, you should be confined for at least two weeks. How can you leave now?"


    Kean was fully aware that Farmer"s words made perfect sense.


    However, once Kean had made up his mind, he wouldn"t be easily swayed by anyone.


    "Stop wasting time. I am well aware of my grandfather"s words. The reason I need to get out immediately is, of course, for the future of our entire Lannister family."


    "As my butler, it is imperative that you follow my orders. I am well aware that you possess the keys to the confinement room. If you dare toe here, I can leave this ce immediately. Should you fail toe, I will ensure you understand the true meaning of suffering."


    Kean did not hesitate to begin threatening Farmer.


    Farmer found himself in a dire dilemma.


    If he dared to release Kean directly, the consequences for him would undoubtedly be dire.


    Conversely, if he did not release Kean, he would still face severe repercussions. After all, as Kean"s butler, failing to maintain a good rtionship with him could be tantamount tomitting social suicide.


    As Farmer hesitated, Kean"s mood grew increasingly foul.


    "What are you still deliberating about? If your indecisiveness dys my actions and ultimately causes my ns to fail, you will not be able to bear the consequences."


    Kean threatened Farmer once again.


    However, this time Kean"s threat had no effect, instead, it backfired.


    Farmer had calmed down by now.


    After carefully weighing the pros and cons, he ultimately decided not to release Kean.


    "Master, as your butler, I must offer you some advice. Even if your actions are urgent and crucial for the Lannister family.


    You should still obtain the head"s permission before leaving the confinement room. It is absolutely impossible for me to release you directly as you are asking."


    If you believe that my actions show you disrespect, then you can simply relieve me of my duties as your butler. However, regardless of the oue, I will stand firm in my judgment: you must remain in the confinement room for the full duration of the two weeks."


    After delivering these words, Farmer promptly ended the call.


    Though Farmer"s tone over the phone was confident andposed, the trembling of his hands after hanging up revealed the immense pressure he had felt while speaking.


    Kean had never imagined that his butler would dare to hang up on him.


    In a fit of rage, Kean hurled his phone to the ground.


    "What a damned fool!"


    Kean cursed Farmer aloud, but at this moment, there was nothing else he could do but vent his anger.


    Moreover, Kean couldn"t count on any assistance from the person in the mirror.


    Although the person in the mirror had previously aided Kean, bestowing upon him the powers of a deity, there was no way they could help Kean escape from the Lannisters" confinement room.


    After all, the person in the mirrorcked sufficient influence over the real world.

 Chapter 165: The Method to Sever the Connection Between Two Worlds

    While Kean was contacting his butler Farmer, attempting to get released early from the Lannisters" confinement room, Jeremy was deep in discussion with Janna, the Goddess of ss Change, and [The World] about their next steps.


    Jeremy had already learned that one of the apocalypse game"s masterminds could manifest directly in the real world to try and eliminate him.


    This revtion left Jeremy utterly shocked and profoundly terrified.


    Although Jeremy had previously confronted one of the apocalypse game"s masterminds, specifically "The Sun."at that time, he had the assistance of Janna, the Goddess of ss Change, and "The World."


    "The Sun."in most circumstances, did not regard Jeremy as his primary adversary.


    However, if one of the apocalypse game"s nners were to arrive in the real world, neither Janna, the Goddess of ss Change, nor [The World] would be able to provide Jeremy with any assistance.


    "How could I possibly defeat a deity? Shouldn"t you bothe up with a solution to our current predicament?"


    Jeremy, unable to devise a way out himself, naturally ced his hopes on the other two.


    After all, the strength of the other two was significantly greater than Jeremy"s.


    Janna, the Goddess of ss Change, shook her head.


    "I don"t know how to help you. Your current level hasn"t reached 50 yet, which means you can"t undergo the next ss change swiftly.


    If you could reach level 50 quickly, I might be able to grant you more formidable powers through the ss change process."


    Janna"s words left Jeremy deeply disappointed.


    He was still far from reaching level 50,cking a significant amount of experience. Furthermore, with the apocalypse game"s instances and monsters having been substantially strengthened, gaining experience had be much more challenging than before.


    Since Janna, the Goddess of ss Change, had no solutions, Jeremy naturally pinned hisst hope on "The World."


    In Jeremy"s view, [The World] had never let him down before.


    No matter what formidable enemy they faced or what crisis loomed, [The World] always managed toe up with a strategy and provided Jeremy with powerful assistance.


    [The World] looked at Jeremy with a gentle gaze.


    "I indeed have a method that might allow you to defeat the apocalypse game"s nner. However, using this method is extremely dangerous. You must be mentally prepared."


    Jeremy nodded.


    No matter how perilous the method might be, it would be far safer than facing one of the apocalypse game"s nners unprepared.


    "The method I propose is that you can use a ritual to sever the connection between the two worlds.


    Even if the apocalypse game"s nner sends the majority of his power into the real world, you can use this ritual to block his power from entering the real world."


    "The strategy provided by [The World] certainly seemed highly feasible to Jeremy.


    However, Jeremy thought that any method capable of severing the connection between two worlds would undoubtedly be incrediblyplex. It"s quite possible that Jeremy himself would face enormous dangers during the ritual.


    "Just tell me the method now."Jeremy said.


    Despite knowing that employing this method would undoubtedly bring peril, Jeremy had no other options left.


    [The World] raised its left hand, and an exceptionally intricate diagram appeared before Jeremy.


    "These are the symbols required for the ritual. You must memorize them thoroughly."[The World] said, cing a whistle into Jeremy"s hand.


    "If you want to perform the ritual, you must draw this symbolpletely around yourself. Then, stand at the very center of the symbol and blow this whistle.


    During the ritual, you will feel as if you are entering another world. In such a situation, you must remain calm because if you panic, you will be drawn into that unknown world."


    [The World] exined the method to sever the connection between the two worlds in detail.


    Although Jeremy memorized the ritual procedure, he couldn"t shake the feeling that it would be impossible to perform the ritual in the midst of a battle."


    "During the ritual, it seems I won"t be able to move. Does this mean that if I am suddenly attacked, the ritual can"t be performed at all?" Jeremy asked, a hint of concern in his voice.


    [The World] nodded slightly, a trace of solemnity on its face.


    "You are correct. This is the biggest w of the method I have provided you. You must remain vignt at all times. If the apocalypse game"s nner finishes all preparations and appears before you, you won"t have time to conduct the ritual."


    [The World]s" response made Jeremy"s mood even worse.


    "Aside from this method, is there really no other assistance you can offer me? Both of you seem to be in great condition right now. Can"t you at least provide me with some equipment or additional experience points?"


    "Even if those are not possible, can"t you give me some extra skills? My previous skills have been sealed."


    The Goddess of ss Change, Janna, and [The World] were well aware of Jeremy"s skills being sealed.


    However, they were powerless to help.


    Jeremy"s skills had been sealed by [The Sun] using its authority over the rules before it fell.


    Even though the Goddess of ss Change, Janna, and [The World] had somewhat recovered, they were still incapable of breaking the final seal set by "The Sun."


    Upon seeing the expressions on their faces, Jeremy understood everything.


    "It seems you truly have no other solutions. In that case, I won"t linger here any longer. I should return to the real world and find ways to level up as quickly as possible."Jeremy said.


    Jeremy promptly decided to end the conversation.


    After Jeremy"s figure vanished, the Goddess of ss Change, Janna, asked [The World] with a hint of concern, "Do you truly believe he can face such a massive crisis on his own this time?


    To my knowledge, he won"t just be up against [The White Tower.] Other apocalypse game nners will also make their moves in the shadows. Not to mention, the remnants of [The Sun] will never let Jeremy off."


    [The World] listened quietly to what Janna had to say and then responded in a calm tone, "This is something Jeremy must achieve. If he cannot aplish this, he has no right to be the savior.


    Jeremy is already the most gifted among all humans. If even Jeremy isn"t qualified to be the savior, then humanity has no right to continue to exist."


    [The World] maintained a remarkably calm expression while saying these words.


    Although [The World] was aplete adversary of the apocalypse game nners led by "The Fool."he actually cared very little about humanity.


    [The World] merely wished for humans to join forces with him inbating "The Fool."


    The Goddess of ss Change, Janna, understood [The World]s" true intentions at this moment. She sighed and continued, "If I were in Jeremy"s situation, I would never be able to maintain suchposure as he does."


    Despite having had some conflicts with Jeremy before, the Goddess of ss Change, Janna, always held a high opinion of him. She believed Jeremy had the potential to be the hero capable of saving everyone.


    [The World] did not utter a single word. He simply gazed silently at the iridescent lights in the distance.


    "We should be more concerned about our own situation right now. In the real world, Jeremy is unlikely to encounter [The White Tower] directly in the near future."she said.


    "And we are about to meet [The Hanged Man] and [The Magician.] Those two will surely show us no mercy."


    As [The World] spoke these words, the iridescent lights in the distance grew increasingly dazzling.


    Two indistinct figures emerged from the radiant glow. These figures were none other than the apocalypse game nners, as mentioned by [The World.]


    "You should be prepared for battle by now, shouldn"t you? In the uing fight, I won"t be able to offer you much assistance. It"s impossible for me to contend with two apocalypse game nners simultaneously."


    [The World] asked the Goddess of ss Change, Janna, in a subtle tone.


    Without hesitation, the Goddess of ss Change, Janna, replied, "Although my strength isn"t as formidable as yours, I won"t be easily vanquished by the apocalypse game nners.


    The fact that [The Fool] could severely wound me doesn"t mean the other apocalypse game nners can do the same. I don"t need your help because I can face one of them on my own."


    As soon as Janna finished speaking, the two figures stepped out of the iridescent glow.


    [The Magician] smiled as he looked at [The World] and the Goddess of ss Change, Janna.


    "Well, well, it''s been quite some time since west crossed paths. The fact that you actually managed to bring down [The Sun] is truly beyond my wildest expectations. I must concede, the two of you did have a bit of luck.


    Said [The Magician,] as the smile on his face quickly vanished.


    "But your luck ends now. I will absolutely see to your annihtion. However, you needn''t worry, I intend to torment you slowly, ensuring you find no easy escape."he added, his voiceced with malice.


    experience NovelBin,mp|y|r


    No sooner had he finished speaking, [The Magician] snapped his fingers. Immediately, one searing me after another began to plummet rapidly from the boundless sky, their target unmistakably "The World" and the Goddess of ss Change, Janna.

 Chapter 166: The Notion of Rapidly Leveling Up

    Jeremy, having returned to the real world, did not sumb to panic despite the imminent crisis. In fact, he was now markedly calmer than before.


    Jeremy''s first action was to dial Howard''s number.


    "How are things? Have you already found a way to resolve the crisis we''re facing?" Howard''s voice on the other end of the line wasposed as he inquired of Jeremy.


    Howard wasn''t overly upset about Jeremy''s sudden departure without notice.


    In Howard''s perspective, a genius''s approach to matters is undoubtedly different from that of ordinary people. Furthermore, Jeremy''s strength affords him the luxury of not adhering to conventional methods.


    "I haven''t found a solution to the crisis we are facing. After some calm reflection, I''ve decided to immediately begin clearing the instances surrounding Moonlight City."


    Jeremy, without a moment''s hesitation, articted his thoughts clearly.


    After all, his primary reason for calling Howard was to inform him of his uing actions.


    He hoped to garner Howard''s support in the forting endeavors.


    "When do you n to initiate this operation?" Howard, naturally, was highly supportive of Jeremy''s n.


    After all, Howard had been contemting the elimination of all instances around Moonlight City for some days. However, his solo efforts were insufficient to aplish this task.


    Now that Jeremy was willing to step up and tackle this mission, Howard was more than eager to assist.


    "I n to head to the suburbs immediately to clear those instances that aren''t particrly difficult."


    Although Jeremy had resolved to swiftly eliminate all instances around Moonlight City, he was acutely aware that, following theprehensive enhancement of instances and monsters, he could not recklessly challenge the more difficult ones.


    Thus, Jeremy decided to utilize these less challenging instances to elevate his level.


    Once he reached level 50, he nned to seek another ss change from the ss change goddess, Janna.


    Once he could achieve another ss change, his strength would significantly increasepared to before.


    On the other end of the line, Howard was ted after hearing Jeremy''s n.


    He felt that Jeremy had finallye to understand what the most crucial task was.


    "You probably aren''t very familiar with the instances around Moonlight City. How about this: head to the train station near Moonlight City first. There''s a rtively low-difficulty instance there. I will lead my subordinates to meet you."


    "Although I know you can handle that low-difficulty instance on your own, with our help, it can be cleared faster, and we can also bring out all the rewards from the instance."


    This time, Jeremy did not reject Howard''s proposal.


    He also realized that to achieve his goal of rapidly leveling up, he must receive assistance from others.


    "Alright, I''ll head to the train station immediately. I''ll be waiting for your arrival there."


    After saying this, Jeremy hung up the phone directly.


    He then headed to Moonlight City''s train station at the fastest possible speed. Just as he arrived at the station, a helicopternded not far away.


    Howard, apanied by several of his highly skilled subordinates, descended from the helicopter.


    "You must have just arrived, right? I hope we didn''t keep you waiting too long?" Howard asked with a smile on his face.


    Jeremy nodded. "Now is not the time for small talk. Since you mentioned you''re well-acquainted with the instances here, give me a rundown of the basic situation. Once we understand the essentials, we''ll dive into the instance and clear it as quickly as possible."


    At this moment, Jeremy felt a slight sense of urgency.


    Upon arriving at Moonlight City''s train station, he realized that there wasn''t just one instance in the vicinity.


    Besides the low-difficulty instance closest to the train station, there was also a medium-difficulty instance and two other low-difficulty instances nearby.


    The other three instances were rtively far from the train station, so Jeremy decided to tackle the nearest one first.


    Howard quickly adjusted his demeanor. Initially, he thought Jeremy wouldn''t be in such a hurry, which is why he engaged in a bit of small talk.


    However, upon realizing Jeremy''s strong desire to swiftly resolve all the instances, Howard naturally switched to work mode at the fastest possible pace.


    Howard provided a detailed introduction to the low-difficulty instance closest to the train station. Immediately afterward, Jeremy led Howard and his subordinates into the instance.


    Simultaneously, in a low-difficulty instance some distance from the train station, Bonnie was fighting with all her might against the instance''s boss.


    The instance Bonnie had entered was teeming with Spider-Man-like monsters.


    Even though the overall difficulty of the instance wasn''t exceptionally high, Bonnie found herself in a bit of trouble since she was operating alone this time.


    Facing the final boss of the instance, Bonnie had already deployed what she believed to be her most powerful skill. However, the instance boss appeared to be unscathed.


    Bonnie was now feeling a tinge of regret.


    She acknowledged that she might have overestimated her own abilities. Had she coordinated with Jeremy and acted together, she certainly wouldn''t be in her current predicament.


    "Now is not the time for regrets! Even if I regret it now, it won''t solve the crisis I''m facing!"


    After temporarily fending off the instance boss''s attack, Bonnie hurriedlyposed herself.


    "I must observe my opponent as calmly as Jeremy does. If I can identify a weakness, I might be able to defeat the instance boss."


    Before Bonnie stood an enormous spider.


    This spider was the mother and queen of all spiders within the instance.


    In addition to summoning smaller spiders during the battle, the Spider Queen could also continuouslyy webs throughout thebat area.


    The websid by the Spider Queen effectively slowed down Bonnie''s movements.


    This made it exceedingly difficult for Bonnie to evade the Spider Queen''s skill attacks.


    At this moment, Bonnie had almost exhausted all her supplies. If she got hit by the Spider Queen''s skills again, she would have no more resources to restore her health or cure the poison.


    "It seems that I truly have no chance of defeating this instance boss! I should escape from here as quickly as possible!"


    After carefully assessing the situation, Bonnie concluded that sess was out of her reach.


    Given these circumstances, Bonnie naturally chose to flee immediately.


    She waved her staff and conjured a barrier of ice behind her.


    This barrier of ice would temporarily hold back the Spider Queen, giving Bonnie time to escape from the instance.


    The moment the barrier of ice materialized, Bonnie sprinted toward the instance''s entrance at full speed.


    She hadn''t run far when she heard the sound of the barrier of ice shattering behind her.


    The Spider Queen had nearly instantaneously destroyed Bonnie''s barrier of ice and was now pursuing her at top speed.


    As she fled, Bonnie didn''t forget to cast one slowing spell after another with her staff.


    Although these slowing spells didn''t deal significant damage, they did manage to reduce the Spider Queen''s movement speed. This increased Bonnie''s chances of a sessful escape.


    After several minutes of a high-stakes chase, Bonnie finally saw the light at the entrance of the instance.


    "I''ve finally made it out! Even if I can''t defeat the instance boss, at least I can ensure my safety within the instance."


    Just as this thought crossed Bonnie''s mind, she suddenly felt a sharp pain as her leg was impaled.


    With the corner of her eye, Bonnie nced back and saw the Spider Queen just a short distance behind her. Her right leg had been pierced by the Spider Queen''s pincer.


    At that moment, Bonnie let out a blood-curdling scream.


    Despite enduring excruciating pain, Bonnie continued to wave her staff, casting spell after spell. She hoped these abilities would overwhelm the Spider Queen.


    However, these spells had little to no effect on the Spider Queen.


    The Spider Queen began to pull Bonnie backward with great force, intending to drag her back into the depths of the instance. The Spider Queen nned to devour Bonnie slowly.


    Facing such a dire situation, Bonnie was extremely panicked.


    Seeing that none of her spells could drive away the Spider Queen, Bonnie ultimately had no choice but to seek help from others. She took out her phone and called Jeremy directly.


    At that moment, Jeremy was deep within another instance. Despite his remarkable speed, it was impossible for him and Howard to clear an instance within just a few minutes.


    When Jeremy saw Bonnie''s call, he was slightly puzzled.


    "Why is Bonnie calling me now? Shouldn''t she be at home recuperating? Could it be that she has something incredibly urgent to discuss with me?" Jeremy wondered aloud, his mind racing with possibilities.


    Although Jeremy had no idea why Bonnie was calling, he answered her call without hesitation.


    The moment the call connected, Bonnie''s frantic voice came through loud and clear from the other end.


    "I''m trapped in the instance near the train station! If you don''te to save me right away, I''m going to be killed by the instance boss!"

 Chapter 167: Rescue Bonnie at the Fastest Speed Possible

    Upon hearing Bonnie''s cry for help over the phone, Jeremy''s expression turned exceedingly rmed.


    "What exactly is going on? Why are you alone in the instance? Didn''t Uncle prevent you from taking action?" Jeremy asked three questions in rapid session.


    However, it was clear that Bonnie on the other end of the line wouldn''t be answering any of these questions.


    Bonnie''s call had barelysted a moment, and her plea for help was abruptly cut off before she could finish speaking. This unequivocally indicated that the situation Bonnie was facing was extremely dire.


    At this juncture, Jeremy found himself unable to further coborate with Howard and the others in delving deeper into the instance.


    With a tone tinged with a slight sense of regret, he remarked, "You all must have heard Bonnie''s call just now, right? She''s in grave danger, and we must expedite our efforts to rescue her."


    Howard had indeed heard Bonnie''s cries for help over the phone.


    However, from Howard''s perspective, even if they rushed to her aid immediately, it would still be toote.


    The reason being, they were currently situated within an instance, and extricating themselves from it would require a significant amount of time. Additionally, Bonnie hadn''t specified which instance she was trapped in.


    "You go rescue her, we''ll remain in this instance. Once you have sessfully brought her back, we''ll regroup here and then deal with this instance."


    Although Howard believed that, despite Jeremy''s swift actions, the likelihood of sessfully rescuing Bonnie was slim at best.


    Nheless, he had to show some respect to Bonnie''s father, Benjamin, who was, after all, the mayor of Moonlight City. Naturally, Howard couldn''t prevent Jeremy from attempting to save Bonnie.


    "Alright, let''s proceed ording to your n!"


    With those words, Jeremy immediately dashed towards the instance''s entrance at breakneck speed.


    Watching Jeremy''s figure gradually fade into the distance, Howard couldn''t help but let out a sigh and remarked, "Humanity indeed faces an enormous crisis, but in my view, these challenges stem not only from the apocalypse game. The more significant issue lies in the fact that there are simply too many among us holding everyone back."


    After making this statement, Howard turned his gaze toward his subordinates.


    "Under no circumstances should you engage in actions like Bonnie did. Without my explicit orders, do not act alone. Even though the instances around the train station aren''t particrly challenging.Once their intensity esctes, those who aren''t exceptionally powerful awakened beings will certainly not be safe within them."


    Upon hearing these instructions, Howard''s subordinates naturally nodded in agreement.


    In truth, Howard''s subordinates also felt that Bonnie''s decision to act alone this time was somewhat hasty.


    While they were unaware of the precise extent of Bonnie''s abilities, it was evident from Jeremy and Howard''s reactions that neither had foreseen Bonnie''s solo endeavor.


    To Howard''s subordinates, Bonnie''s actions clearly illustrated that she was a youngdy more likely to ruin things than achieve sess.


    At this moment, Howard''s thoughts diverged from those of his subordinates.


    Howard was contemting whether to inform Benjamin of Bonnie''s current predicament.


    After all, Benjamin had the capacity to mobilize additional resources. If Howard informed Benjamin of Bonnie''s situation, Benjamin could potentially persuade E to mount a rescue mission for Bonnie.


    Although, even if E set out immediately, it is highly unlikely she would be able to rescue Bonnie in time.


    However, as long as E manages to reach the vicinity of the train station, she probably wouldn''t leave easily. By then, E could assist Howard in clearing the instances around the train station.


    With this thought in mind, Howard, after pondering for a while, ultimately decided to inform Benjamin about the situation.


    Howard took out his phone and directly called Benjamin.


    At this moment, Benjamin was in his office at Moonlight City Hall, dealing with various matters both big and small.


    Benjamin unhesitatingly answered Howard''s call.


    "Aren''t you supposed to be incredibly busy right now? With the instances having been significantly strengthened, shouldn''t all your focus be on clearing the instances around Moonlight City? So why do you have time to call me?"


    Benjamin asked Howard in a rxed tone.


    In actuality, over the past few days, Benjamin hadn''t had many opportunities to meet with Howard.


    This was because Howard had been preupied with handling the instances and monsters around Moonlight City.


    "I need to inform you of some rather unpleasant news. Try not to get too anxious upon hearing it, as Jeremy is already addressing the issue."


    Howard''s tone was exceedingly cautious.


    Upon hearing this, Benjamin''s expression turned somewhat tense. He set down the pen he was holding and asked Howard seriously.


    "What exactly has happened? From what I remember, you''re not someone who hesitates. Why aren''t you telling me directly what''s going on?"


    Since Benjamin had already inquired in such a manner, Howard had no choice but to divulge the situation.


    "I just received information that your daughter Bonnie is trapped in an instance near the train station. Based on the intelligence I have, her current situation appears to be extremely perilous.


    Although Jeremy has already set out to rescue her, I believe that relying solely on Jeremy might not be sufficient for a sessful rescue. If you can mobilize others to assist in rescuing Bonnie, I think the chances of sess would be higher."


    Upon hearing what Howard had said, Benjamin''s expression turned extremely panicked.


    "Which specific instance around the train station is my daughter trapped in? You need to rify this immediately! If you can''t provide clear information, how can I send people to rescue her?!"


    As Bonnie''s father, Benjamin was undoubtedly very concerned about his daughter''s safety.


    "I don''t know the exact instance in which your daughter is trapped, so if you want to send people, just deploy them around the train station. I will assist them."


    After saying this, Howard waited for Benjamin''s response. However, he waited for a long time, and there was still no sound from the other end of the line.


    Upon learning the general situation, Benjamin rushed out of his office immediately.


    Benjamin stormed into his secretary''s office, saying, "You need to immediately gather every awakened individual we can muster. Have them head to the vicinity of the train station at once!"


    Benjamin''s secretary was startled by his abrupt behavior.


    He asked Benjamin, slightly confused, "Mayor, why are we doing this? And honestly, we don''t have that many awakened individuals avable. Most of them are in the military and the ck Dragon Squad."


    Benjamin was infuriated by his secretary''s questioning.


    He shouted directly at him, "Just follow my orders immediately and don''t ask why!"


    Faced with Benjamin''s current demeanor, his secretary naturally dared not offer any objections. He could only hastily contact all the awakened individuals he knew.


    However, when it came to reaching the ck Dragon Squad, Benjamin''s secretary ran into some trouble.


    The captain of the ck Dragon Squad was E.


    Ewould not take orders from Benjamin''s secretary. When she received the call, she bluntly told him:


    "You have no authority to issue orders to me. If you want the ck Dragon Squad to be deployed, let Mayor Benjamin personally issue themand."E retorted.


    No sooner had E finished speaking than Benjamin''s voice came through the other end of the line.


    "Captain E, since you require me to issue the order, I am doing so now. You must lead all members of the ck Dragon Squad and get to the train station as quickly as possible.


    At the train station, you will meet Howard, who will inform you of the specific situation. All I can tell you right now is that my daughter is trapped in an instance, and you must rescue her as swiftly as possible."Benjamin instructed urgently.


    Having said so much in one breath, Benjamin left E on the other end of the line deeply shocked.


    "Why is your daughter trapped in an instance? Wasn''t she supposed to enter the instance with Jeremy? Given Jeremy''s capabilities, there shouldn''t be any significant trouble."E questioned, still in disbelief.


    E had barely finished asking her questions when Benjamin''s furious roar echoed through the phone.


    "Now is not the time for these questions! My daughter''s situation is extremely dire. What you need to do is get to the vicinity of the train station immediately and rescue her from the instance."Benjamin bellowed.


    It was only then that E finally grasped the urgency of the situation.


    She hastily hung up on Benjamin and, with the utmost speed, sent out a mobilization order to all members of the ck Dragon Squad. However, many members of the ck Dragon Squad were currently on leave, making it impossible for them to return promptly.


    After E had gathered all the ck Dragon Squad members who were closest to her location, she addressed them directly and forthrightly.


    "We cannot afford to wait for those members who are on leave to return. We must depart for the train station immediately! Mayor Benjamin''s daughter is trapped in an instance near the train station."

 Chapter 168: A Moment of Peril

    Even though Jeremy had already set out to rescue Bonnie, and even though E, under Benjamin''s orders, was leading her ck Dragon Squad toward the train station,


    No matter how swift their movements, it was simply impossible for them to arrive immediately.


    Bonnie had to rely on her own abilities to dy for as long as possible.


    Although one of her feet had already been caught in the jaws of the Spider Queen, Bonnie could still rely on her hands to continue casting spells with her staff.


    Bonnie brandished her staff, casting one frost spell after another.


    Although these frost spells did not significantly impact the Spider Queen, they sessfully slowed down the Spider Queen''s efforts to drag Bonnie back into the depths of the instance.


    While casting frost spells with one hand, Bonnie retrieved a special item she had on her person with the other.


    Before heading to this instance, she had obtained an artifact from the Moonlight City government warehouse that could temporarily decelerate the flow of time in its vicinity.


    Though this artifact would not have much effect under normal instance conditions,


    In this particr situation, the item that can decelerate the passage of time proves to be genuinely invaluable.


    Without hesitation, Bonnie hurled the artifact in the direction of the Spider Queen. The moment it struck the Spider Queen, the flow of time around the creature began to slow.


    Seizing the opportunity, Bonnie once again grasped her staff firmly in both hands.


    Without hesitation, she opted to unleash the most potent frost spell within her current repertoire.


    A white light gleamed at the tip of her staff, and the temperature around Bonnie plummeted rapidly. Frost began to form swiftly on the walls of the instance on either side of her.


    Although Bonnie''s actions had achieved some measure of sess.


    However, the Spider Queen had not sustained any severe injuries, and once the time-slowing artifact''s effect wore off, she elerated her movements.


    She mustered all her strength and viciously dragged Bonnie deeper into the instance.


    In the absence of any viable alternatives, Bonnie found herselfpelled to thrust her staff into the adjacent wall.


    The staff was sufficiently sturdy, and the instance''s walls were solid enough. Thisbination effectively dyed the Spider Queen''s progress.


    Nheless, after the previous series of battles, Bonnie''s stamina had dwindled to a critically low level.


    She was acutely aware that her current course of action was merely a desperate attempt to buy some time.


    "I must hold on! Jeremy will arrive to rescue me soon! He must be on his way!"


    Bonnie kept repeating this phrase in her mind, to her, aside from Jeremy, no one else could save her now.


    In this life-threatening crisis, Bonnie ultimately chose not to call out to her father or mother for help, she chose to believe in Jeremy.


    Though Bonnie had been fervently praying for Jeremy''s arrival,


    Jeremy''s figure still remained conspicuously absent from her line of sight.


    As the Spider Queen grew increasingly powerful, the staff wedged into the instance wall became progressively more fragile.


    With the passage of time, Bonnie suddenly heard a crisp cracking sound emanating from the staff.


    When she directed her gaze toward the staff, she was horrified to find it had broken right in the middle. In the instant the staff snapped, Bonnie plummeted rapidly into the depths of the instance.


    Without any means of resistance, Bonnie was ultimately dragged to the deepest part of the instance by the Spider Queen.


    At this moment, Bonnie had exhausted all the items she possessed, and she waspletely out of supplies. The staff she once relied on had shattered as well.


    Thus, Bonnie found herself, devoid of anybat capability, falling to the deepest recesses of the instance.


    Directly in front of her stood an enormous, irate spider.


    The Spider Queen''s eyes were fixed intently on Bonnie. After just a few breaths, the Spider Queen suddenly lunged at Bonnie with incredible speed, its mandibles aimed directly at her neck.


    Bonnie could see the Spider Queen''s movements with unnerving rity.


    However, at this very moment, she found herself utterly devoid of any means to counter the situation.


    She didn''t even have the strength left to dodge the spider''s imminent attack.


    Bonnie had resigned herself to her fate, she believed that her destiny was to perish in this very instance.


    Slowly, Bonnie closed her eyes, bracing herself for what she presumed to be the final moments of her life.


    Just at that moment, she suddenly felt a gust of wind behind her. Immediately afterward, she heard the Spider Queen''s agonizing howl.


    When Bonnie opened her eyes again, a familiar and dependable figure appeared before her.


    Jeremy had finally arrived at the critical juncture to face Bonnie.


    Seeing Jeremy, Bonnie''s eyes turned red, and a tear trickled down her cheek.


    "You finally made it! I knew you woulde to save me!"


    Jeremy''s arrival had brought Bonnie back from the brink of death. However, Jeremy felt this was not the time for such words.


    Although his recent attack had repelled the Spider Queen, it had not inflicted serious damage. Moreover, the weapon he wielded was not particrly effective against spider-type monsters.


    "The uing battle is mine to handle. This ce is far too perilous, you should retreat to a safer location on the surface for now."


    With a reassuring smile, Jeremy directed these words to Bonnie and thenunched an attack on the Spider Queen.


    Although Jeremy did not have an optimal weapon, his current level and attributes alone posed a significant threat to the Spider Queen.


    After Jeremy made his appearance, the Spider Queen no longer kept her focus on attacking Bonnie.


    Given that the Spider Queen was the boss of this instance, she inherently possessed a considerable degree of intelligence. The Spider Queen was able to discern that Jeremy posed the greatest threat.


    While Jeremy engaged inbat with the Spider Queen, Bonnie made her way through the instance''s corridors towards its entrance.


    It wasn''t long before Bonnie spotted Howard near the instance''s entrance.


    Howard was not there to rescue Bonnie. He was merely following Benjamin''s orders to await E''s arrival at that location.


    Howard had not anticipated that Bonnie would make it to the instance''s entrance all by herself.


    Hastily approaching Bonnie, Howard inquired with evident concern.


    "Are you hurt? Everyone''s been very worried about you. Now that you''re safe, please call your father right away."


    Upon hearing the other''s words, a subtle expression of confusion flickered across Bonnie''s face.


    "My father already knows I''m in danger? Did Jeremy inform him about this?"


    In response to Bonnie''s question, Howard shook his head.


    "It wasn''t Jeremy who told your father. I was the one who informed him. I believed that once you were in danger, you needed additional help.


    I didn''t think Jeremy could rescue you all by himself. So, my subordinates and I came here as well, and I also asked your father to send other Awakeners to assist."


    When it came to Howard''s response, Bonnie could actuallyprehend his reasoning.


    Nevertheless, Bonnie couldn''t shake off the feeling that informing her father about this matter was rather intrusive on Howard''s part.


    Just as Bonnie was about to say something, a helicopter appeared nearby. This helicopter was emzoned with arge ck dragon.


    It was evident that this was the ck Dragon Squad''s helicopter.


    The helicopter hovered in mid-air, and a figure leapt directly from it.


    Uponnding, E quickly approached Howard and Bonnie. She nced at Howard and then at Bonnie.


    "It seems our Benjamin has already been rescued. So, was our trip here in vain?"


    As E posed the question, members of the ck Dragon Squad began leaping out of the helicopter one after another.


    "You haven''te in vain. Jeremy is still deep within the instance. He''s currently battling the instance''s boss. If you''re willing to offer him some assistance, I believe the fight could end swiftly."


    Bonnie promptly informed everyone about Jeremy''s current predicament.


    Howard nodded in agreement, stating, "I think Bonnie is right. Since Jeremy has already engaged the instance boss, it''s only natural that we should provide him with some support."


    Having said that, Howard led his subordinates into the instance.


    Though E hesitated slightly, she eventually turned to her team and said,


    "Since we''re already here, let''s give them some assistance. We need to show them that the strength of the ck Dragon Squad far surpasses theirs."


    With those words, E decisively took the lead and entered the instance.


    Behind E, the members of the ck Dragon Squad showed no hesitation as they followed their captain into the instance.


    Bonnie nced into the instance with a concerned expression.


    "With so many people offering assistance, Jeremy shouldn''t face too much danger, right?" Bonnie muttered to herself, her worry evident.


    After voicing her concern, Bonnie suddenlyughed, "I''m worrying too much. Even without their help, Jeremy should be able to defeat the instance boss on his own."


    ...

 Chapter 169: The Three Spoils of War

    Deep within the instance, Jeremy was engaged in a fierce battle against the instance boss, the Spider Queen.Naturally, he waspletely unaware of the arrival of the others.


    Thus, Jeremy was contemting how he could, relying solely on his own strength, utterly annihte the Spider Queen.


    During the recent skirmish, he had already gained a certain understanding of the Spider Queen''s abilities.


    As a creature aligned with the dark attribute, the Spider Queen''s abilities are categorized into three distinct types.


    The first type, naturally, consists of power-based attack skills.


    Throughout the battle, the Spider Queen incessantly hurls its webs, which serve to decelerate Jeremy''s movements. Additionally, these webs can coalesce to form an enormous spider web.


    Moreover, during thebat, the Spider Queen persistently attempts to slice Jeremy in half with its razor-sharp legs.


    The probability of these power-based attack skills hitting Jeremy is quite low, mainly due to Jeremy''s exceptional agility.


    Nevertheless, Jeremy must asionally clear away some of the webs from the battlefield''s surroundings.


    Should the webs form a colossal spider web, it would indeed pose a considerable challenge for Jeremy.


    The second type of skill revolves around venom-based attacks.


    During the battle, the Spider Queen continuously emits a grayish-green mist into the surrounding area. This mist possesses extremely potent toxicity.


    Even though Jeremy''s current level is roughly equivalent to that of the Spider Queen, the toxicity of the grayish-green mist still puts him in a poisoned state.


    Were it not for Jeremy''s passive skill that enhances his poison resistance.


    He might have already sumbed to the venomous fumes released by the Spider Queen.


    In addition to the grayish-green mist, the Spider Queen also attempts to strike Jeremy with its pincers, which undoubtedly areced with deadly poison.


    The third type of skillprises spell-based attacks.


    All of the Spider Queen''s spell-based abilities are dark magic.


    Duringbat, the Spider Queen can hurl a ck orb at Jeremy. Although the orb travels rtively slowly, if it hits Jeremy, his health points would drop significantly.


    Beyond the ck orb, the Spider Queen can also channel dark energy into the ground during the battle.


    This ability slows down the movement speed of anyone in thebat zone. Simultaneously, it allows the dark energy to gradually erode these individuals.


    If someone bespletely overwhelmed by the dark energy during the battle, they will be transformed into one of the Spider Queen''s puppets.


    After bing familiar with all the Spider Queen''s skills, Jeremy no longer faces significant pressure when countering her attacks.


    Although Jeremy cannot quickly eliminate the Spider Queen, her attacks also fail to pose substantial trouble for him.


    For a moment, both sides are locked in a stalemate at the deepest part of the instance.


    Just as the stalemate persists, the arrival of Howard and his team disrupts the bnce between the two sides.


    Upon leading his subordinates to the deepest part of the instance, Howard immediately opted tounch an assault on the Spider Queen.


    Although they were unfamiliar with the Spider Queen''s abilities, they could discern that she was already being held in check by Jeremy.


    They merely needed to seize the opportunity andunch a surprise attack while the Spider Queen was too upied to respond to them.


    Seeing Howard and his team arrive, Jeremy promptly addressed them.


    "You need to be cautious of the Spider Queen''s venom and dark magic. As long as you avoid these two types of attacks, you won''t face much threat."


    Jeremy''s rapid assessment was due to his sessful engagement with the Spider Queen, holding her attention and efforts predominantly on him.


    The Spider Queen''s power attack skills were entirely focused on Jeremy.


    This implied that for the Spider Queen to attack others, she would have to employ the other two types of skills.


    With the assistance of Howard and his team, Jeremy quickly gained the upper hand.


    Jeremy even began tounch a counterattack against the Spider Queen.


    The Spider Queen was gradually forced into a corner, her entire body riddled with numerous wounds. Furthermore, her health had already dwindled to less than a third.


    In such dire circumstances, the Spider Queen chose to activate her ultimate state.


    The Spider Queen''s entire form became shrouded in a ck radiance.


    Although Howard and Jeremy wanted to continue their assault on the Spider Queen, the ck glow impeded their actions.


    Both of them, along with Howard''s subordinates, could only step back and observe for the time being.


    The ck luminescence flickered for a moment before vanishing.


    The Spider Queen absorbed all the ck light into her body. The wounds that had previously marred her form were nowpletely gone.


    Moreover, the Spider Queen''s health points were fully restored to maximum capacity.


    Empowered by the dark forces, the Spider Queenunched another assault on Jeremy and Howard, and this time, neither of them could easily fend off her attacks.


    Both of them found themselves constantly retreating during the battle.


    Eventually, they were pushed back to the entrance of the deepest chamber of the instance, where they had the option to exit.


    However, leaving the instance would mean abandoning their n to eliminate the Spider Queen. By the time they re-entered the same instance, the Spider Queen would likely have grown even stronger.


    "We can''t give up just like this! Although the Spider Queen is extremely formidable, we still have a chance of sess if we work together!"


    Jeremy''s words served to solidify the resolve of his teammates.


    Howard found himself in a dilemma.


    He was deeply concerned about unforeseen events within the Shadow City instance. He did not want his subordinates to perish due to his mistakes within the instance.


    Jeremy, sensing Howard''s hesitation, raised his voice to address him.


    "Even if you choose to retreat now, it''s impossible to safely exit the instance. The Spider Queen will not let us off so easily.


    If we leave the instance without sealing it, the Spider Queen might even lead her spider legion to burst out from the instance.


    Do you want to see the spider legion appearing directly in Moonlight City? Do you think Moonlight City can withstand a direct assault from the spider legion?"


    Jeremy''s barrage of questions left Howard unable to provide a response.


    Howard, of course, did not wish to witness such a scenario. However, he was still reluctant to ce his subordinates in tremendous danger.


    "I will temporarily let my subordinates leave! I believe the two of us can handle the Spider Queen."


    After making this statement, Howard waved his hand.


    His subordinates promptly chose to make a swift exit.


    Howard''s subordinates were not entirely in agreement with his decision. However, being soldiers, they were bound to obey theirmanding officer''s orders.


    "Your actions will only bring us harm."Jeremy remarked to Howard with a cold tone.


    "We don''t have the luxury to debate this now. Our priority is to eliminate the Spider Queen as swiftly as possible."


    After making this statement, Howardunched an attack on the Spider Queen without hesitation.


    At this point, Jeremy had no other options. He could only join Howard in attacking the Spider Queen.


    While the two were locked in an intense battle with the Spider Queen, E arrived with her ck Dragon Squad.


    Upon seeing the Spider Queen, E murmured softly.


    "I never imagined that even a boss in such a low-difficulty instance could be this powerful. But there''s no need to worry, both of you. Our ck Dragon Squad has arrived."


    With the addition of E''s ck Dragon Squad to the battle.


    The Spider Queen could no longer hold on. Through the coordinated efforts of all three forces, the Spider Queen was ultimately vanquished.


    The moment the Spider Queen was defeated, three distinct pieces of loot emerged from her body.


    The first piece of loot was a skill book of exceptionally high rarity, the second was a golden chest, and the third was a mysterious, pitch-ck orb.


    Upon seeing these three pieces of loot, the three factions nced at each other''s expressions simultaneously.


    For Howard and E, the first two pieces of loot were undoubtedly more significant. However, in Jeremy''s eyes, the third piece of loot was of paramount importance.


    Because Jeremy had already received a prompt from The Eye of Omniscience.


    [Note: You have now found the first Dark Core. The Dark Core can bestow you with immense power when you obtain divinity.]


    Jeremy saw the word "divinity" again in the prompt from The Eye of Omniscience.


    Jeremy believed that without acquiring divinity, he would not be qualified to face off against the masterminds behind the apocalypse game.


    Thus, Jeremy had made up his mind that he must obtain the Dark Core.


    Ultimately, it was Howard who spoke up first: "We have three pieces of loot here, and we are three factions. That means each of us can choose one piece of loot.


    I believe it''s only fair that Jeremy, who contributed the most, gets to pick first. Captain E, I assume you have no objections?"


    Howard directly turned his gaze to E, considering that the ck Dragon Squad had the most members in the instance. If E objected, Jeremy might not get to pick first.


    After hearing this, E shook her head, indicating she had no objections.

 Chapter 170: The Dark Core

    With everyone''s eyes fixed intently on him, Jeremy spoke his mind without hesitation.


    "I believe we have a good chance of seeding this time, even though I contributed the most effort."he remarked confidently.


    "However, when ites to dividing the spoils, I think it would be best if we each take what we need."he added, emphasizing fairness and practicality.


    After making this statement, Jeremy nced at both Howard and E.


    Their expressions remainedrgely unchanged, they were simply waiting for Jeremy to continue speaking.


    "I believe that for the ck Dragon Squad, a treasure chest isn''t particrly valuable, but a skill book is indeed extremely precious. Therefore, Captain E, you should take this rare skill book."


    "As for General Howard, I believe that, from an official standpoint, a golden treasure chest holds significantly more value. So, you might as well take this golden chest."Jeremy suggested thoughtfully.


    "As for myself, I will im this final piece of loot."he continued with a hint of anticipation.


    "What I have acquired is, in fact, an artifact known as the Dark Core."he disclosed, his voice tinged with a mixture of intrigue and satisfaction.


    "This item wouldn''t be of much use to either of you. However, I believe I might be able to use the Dark Core to address the issue of the Dark Tree."


    Jeremy''s arrangement was exceedingly reasonable.


    He had made this decision only after meticulously considering everyone''s circumstances.


    Howard and E both wholeheartedly agreed with Jeremy''s decision.


    E promptly picked up the precious skill book, her expression gentle as she addressed Jeremy and Howard, "Since we''ve already regrouped here, why don''t we clear out all the surrounding instances?"


    Howard nodded in agreement.


    "You''re absolutely right. However, we must first ensure Bonnie''s safety. Mayor Benjamin is likely very worried at this moment. We should, at the very least, let him know that his daughter is safe."


    After dividing the loot, the trio made their way back to the surface.


    Once everyone had exited the instance, itpletely sealed off. After all, the Spider Queen had been vanquished, and all the monsters within the instance had been eliminated.


    With no monsters left, the instance naturally closed down rapidly.


    Upon seeing the group''s return to the surface, Bonnie finally allowed a smile to spread across her face.


    "You''ve finally returned! I was worried you might encounter numerous dangers in the depths of the instance. But I knew you could defeat the Spider Queen."


    Originally, Bonnie wanted to embrace Jeremy, but seeing the others, she settled for a handshake with him.


    "We did face some dangers in the depths of the instance. Fortunately, Jeremy''s strength is formidable, otherwise, I might have been in by the Spider Queen."


    Howard naturally held Jeremy in high regard.


    Thus, he recounted the events of their battle with the Spider Queen. Upon hearing about the many dangers Jeremy faced to save her, Bonnie''s face showed a look of guilt.


    "I am deeply sorry. My reason foring here was solely to enhance my own abilities. I know my skills are woefully inadequate.


    If I don''t improve quickly, I will surely be a burden in our future endeavors. I never anticipated that my reckless actions would subject you all to such peril."


    Bonnie directly apologized to Jeremy and the others.


    However, Jeremy and the others did not mind.


    "Alright, let''s not speak any more of such formalities. You are very important to me, so naturally, I woulde to rescue you."


    Jeremy looked at Bonnie earnestly and said slowly.


    "Since we''ve dealt with this instance and Bonnie is now safe, we should proceed with our next actions. I''ll assign a few of my men to escort Bonnie back to the city center.


    The rest of us need to cooperate to handle the other surrounding instances. We must clear all the instances around the train station within the remaining half-day."


    Howard made a decisive call.


    After all, he held the highest authority among everyone present.


    No one would oppose his decision.


    Although Bonnie wished to join Jeremy and the others in their actions, after the recent dangers, she felt that her presence would only hinder the group''s progress.


    Once everything was arranged, Bonnie, escorted by two soldiers, boarded a helicopter and returned to the city center.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy, Howard, and E swiftly began dealing with the other instances around the train station.


    The difficulty of the instances surrounding the train station was not particrly high.


    With the coordinated efforts of the three, they managed to clear all the instances in less than half a day.


    After dealing with thest instance around the train station, the trio divided the rewards they had earned.


    The rewards obtained from the other instances were not abundant, Jeremy only received two fairly ordinary skill books and a few energy gemstones.


    The majority of the treasure chests were allocated to Howard, while the rewards that E''s ck Dragon Squad received were quite simr to those Jeremy acquired.


    After distributing the rewards, Jeremy bid farewell to the other two.


    "We''ve cleared numerous instances today, and the area around the train station is nowpletely secure. So, let''s call it a day. There are still many instances around Moonlight City, but we don''t need to rush to clear them all in one day."


    Jeremy was eager to return to his own ce.


    Because he had resolved to thoroughly examine the Dark Core, despite the fact that The Eye of Omniscience had provided him with some information about it, Jeremy felt that the information was not entirelyprehensive.


    Jeremy was eager to swiftly and meticulously inspect the Dark Core.


    Neither Howard nor E voiced any objections.


    They also believed that handling such arge number of instances within a single day was beyond their expectations.


    "You''re right, the number of instances we''ve dealt with today is more than sufficient. Besides, I think everyone is exhausted, so let''s take a well-deserved rest.


    I also need to promptly bring all the loot we''ve acquired, as well as the information I''ve gathered from these instances, back to the base. There are specialists at the base who will analyze this data.


    If they uncover any crucial findings, I will make sure to share those results with all of you."


    After saying this, Howard led his subordinates away.


    E didn''t exchange many words with Jeremy, as their rtionship was still somewhat awkward.


    After everyone else had left, Jeremy quickly made his way back to his residence.


    After returning to his home, Jeremy proceeded to seal all the entrances. He did not wish to be disturbed by anyone while studying the Dark Core.


    Uponpleting the sealing process, Jeremy ced the Dark Core directly in the center of the room.


    The current state of the Dark Core was not significantly different from before. On the surface, it appeared to be merely a ck sphere.


    However, to Jeremy, the Dark Core was vastly different from an ordinary ck sphere.


    Jeremy could perceive the presence of anomalous energy fields around the Dark Core. These energy fields seemed to resemble the patterns of High-Dimensional Data.


    "Could it be that the Dark Core is also capable of generating High-Dimensional Data?" Jeremy pondered this intriguing possibility.


    Acting on this thought, Jeremy immediately employed the [Mechanical Puppet Technique]. He hoped to manipte the High-Dimensional Data surrounding the Dark Core using this method.


    However, to Jeremy''s slight bewilderment, the [Mechanical Puppet Technique] failed to control the anomalous energy field surrounding the Dark Core. This indicated that the energy field around the Dark Core was not High-Dimensional Data at all.


    After a moment of careful contemtion, Jeremy finally formed a rough hypothesis.


    "The anomalous energy field around the Dark Core must be the so-called divine power. High-Dimensional Data itself is also an embodiment of divine power. It is precisely because both are manifestations of divine power that they possess simr forms."


    Upon reaching this conclusion, Jeremy suddenly recalled the scene of his first encounter with Janna, the ss change goddess.


    During their initial meeting, the ss change goddess Janna was also surrounded by an anomalous energy field.


    Given that Janna is undoubtedly a deity, it is entirely natural for divine power to envelop her presence.


    "The Dark Core possesses divine power, and so does the Dark Tree. Perhaps I can indeed use divine power to counteract divine power."Jeremy mused.


    When he first obtained the Dark Core, he had mentioned to Howard and E that he might be able to use it to deal with the Dark Tree sessfully.


    However, the words he had spoken at that time were merely an exnation for why he had chosen an unremarkable ck sphere in the eyes of others.


    It didn''t necessarily mean that he genuinely believed the Dark Core could eliminate the Dark Tree.


    "It seems I inadvertently made a remarkably urate prediction at that time. However, if I truly intend to use the Dark Core to destroy the Dark Tree, I need to strategize meticulously."Jeremy contemted.


    "At the very least, I must find the correct method. I cannot afford to act rashly before discovering the right approach."


    Although Jeremy hadn''t faced significant danger when he first encountered the Dark Tree, he still preferred to err on the side of caution.

 Chapter 171: Bonnie Faces Reality

    Jeremy meticulously examined the Dark Core before cing it in the deepest recesses of his storage space.


    The Dark Core was undoubtedly one of the most important items in Jeremy''s possession, second only in significance to the gemstone entrusted to him by the "World."


    After attending to all necessary matters, Jeremy copsed onto his bed, sumbing to sleep almost immediately.


    In the past couple of days, Jeremy had been overwhelmingly busy, leaving him utterly exhausted.


    He absolutely needed a good rest, after his break, there would still be numerous other matters to attend to.


    After all, there had been an overwhelming number of recent events in Moonlight City.


    While Jeremy was resting, Bonnie, under the protection of two soldiers, finally arrived at the Moonlight City government building by helicopter.


    At the helipad of the government building, Benjamin, apanied by his secretary, stood waiting with a furrowed brow as the helicopter descended.


    During the descent of the helicopter, Bonnie gradually discerned the expression on her father''s face.


    She knew that her father must be extremely furious at that moment.


    Once the helicopter hade to aplete stop, Bonnie disembarked and slowly walked toward her father.


    Benjamin stared at his daughter with a nk expression.


    "Father, I can exin why this situation urred."


    She said, hoping to offer an exnation. From her perspective, her actions had been merely a bit reckless but not gravely problematic.


    However, Benjamin immediately shook his head, cutting her off.


    "The wind here is too strong, let''s discuss this once we''re back in the office."he said.


    After uttering those words, Benjamin turned and headed back to his office, leaving Bonnie behind.


    Benjamin''s secretary felt slightly awkward but waited for Bonnie for a moment.


    "You don''t need to worry too much, Mayor Benjamin has been very concerned about you. Now that he knows you''re safe, he can finally attend to other matters."the secretary reassured.


    He isn''t indifferent to you, nor is he extremely furious about your previous actions."


    In response to Benjamin''s secretary''s exnation, Bonnie gave a slight smile.


    "You don''t need to exin my father''s feelings to me, I am his daughter, after all. I know exactly what he''s thinking."


    After saying that, Bonnie followed the secretary to Benjamin''s office.


    When Bonnie entered Benjamin''s office, he was busy working on some documents at his desk.


    "Since you''re here, close the door. It''s time for a private conversation between father and daughter. Even if we argue, no one else should hear it."Benjamin said without looking up.


    Bonnie nodded and promptly closed the office door.


    "I wonder if you still remember what you once told me."Benjamin said gravely, lifting his head the moment the door closed behind Bonnie.


    "I''m not sure what you''re referring to. There are many things I''ve said to you before. If you don''t give me a hint, I honestly can''t figure out which words you''re talking about."


    "Very well, let me remind you then."


    Benjamin said, standing up from his seat. He walked over to the window, his tone tinged with a hint of anger.


    "You once told me that you understood the need to take responsibility. You also said that to take responsibility, you must improve your own capabilities. Only by enhancing your strength can you ensure the safety of those you care about."


    At that moment, Bonnie realized what Benjamin was referring to, she had said those words to him not too long ago.


    It was because of that conversation that Benjamin had allowed her to continue her risky endeavors within the instance.


    Seeing the expression on Bonnie''s face, Benjamin understood that she had recalled the words he had mentioned.


    "It appears you remember now. You imed to understand what it means to take responsibility, but were your recent actions truly responsible? Acting alone¡ªis that not simply showing off?"


    "Even if you had acted together with Jeremy, I wouldn''t be as furious as I am now. At least with him, your safety could be ensured."Benjamin continued, his voice filled with frustration.


    "Do you have any idea the lengths I went to in order to rescue you? I not only sought Howard''s assistance but also personally issued directives to the ck Dragon Squad."he said, emphasizing each word.


    "The ck Dragon Squad is an intelligence agency subordinate. As the mayor of Moonlight City, it was highly inappropriate for me to give them direct orders."he exined, his tone reflecting the gravity of the situation.


    "Yet, Captain E of the ck Dragon Squad obeyed my instructions. This means I now owe him a favor, and repaying Captain E''s favor is no small task for me."Benjamin continued, his frustration palpable.


    Benjamin spoke at length.


    Hoping his daughter would grasp the gravity of her actions. He wanted her to understand that taking responsibility doesn''t mean recklessly rushing into perilous situations.


    Bonnie, faced with her father''s reprimand, merely lowered her head and listened.


    She knew she had no right to argue. Bonnie fully understood that her prior actions had been utterly irresponsible.


    After Benjamin had calmed down a bit, Bonnie spoke softly.


    "Father, I know I was wrong. You shouldn''t be so angry, it''s not worth risking your health over this. You''re the mayor of Moonlight City¡ªif something happens to you, the entire city would face immense trouble."


    Bonnie''s words managed to calm Benjamin somewhat.


    "It''s surprising to hear you show concern for me. If you truly cared, you wouldn''t have done something so reckless. I agreed to let you go on adventures to improve your skills, not to engage in foolish actions."he said, releasing some of his pent-up anger.


    Having expressed most of his frustration.


    Benjamin returned to his seat and thought calmly for a moment.


    "I won''t ground you. Although your recent actions were a bit reckless, I believe you did it with the intention of improving your abilities. Therefore, I can forgive you."


    Benjamin dered, much to Bonnie''s relief.


    She hadn''t expected her father to be so understanding this time.


    "But don''t start celebrating just yet, I''m not finished. Although I''ve forgiven your previous actions, this doesn''t mean I''ll allow you to act rashly as you did before."he continued sternly.


    "In your future endeavors, if you need to enter an instance, you must act alongside others. Preferably, you should team up with strong individuals like Jeremy or E."he concluded.


    "If both of them are upied and unable to apany you into the instance, then you must team up with General Howard''s subordinates."Benjamin stated firmly.


    "And if even General Howard''s subordinates are unavable, then you are required to act alongside the Awakened ones directly under Moonlight City''s jurisdiction."he added, leaving no room for argument.


    Benjamin''s intentions were crystal clear.


    He was willing to let his daughter continue her adventures and improve her abilities, but he refused to let her face undue peril.


    Bonnie''s expression turned visibly dejected after hearing her father''s words.


    "Father, the reason I want to improve my skills is so I won''t be a burden to others. If I always need these people to protect me every time I enter an instance, wouldn''t that make me a hindrance to them?" she protested.


    In response to Bonnie''s objection, Benjamin mmed his hand heavily on the table.


    "Don''t you get it yet? Even if you wish to act alone, you must wait until your abilities are strong enough. Until you reach the point where you can handle an instance on your own, you will have to act with others."he dered, his voice leaving no room for further debate.


    After finishing his statement, Benjamin waved his hand dismissively.


    "Alright, there''s no need for you to continue arguing with me. No matter what you say, I won''t change my decision. Now, go back home and get some rest."hemanded firmly.


    Since Benjamin had made his position clear, Bonnie had no other choice but to leave the office.


    Although she was no longer permitted to act alone.


    Her father had not forbidden her from entering instances altogether.


    Bonnie thought to herself that she could still team up with Jeremy. With Jeremy''s protection, she believed she wouldn''t face any significant danger.


    "It seems I really overestimated myself. Father is right, my current abilities are stillcking. I''ll act alone only when I''m truly strong enough."Bonnie murmured to herself as she headed back home.


    She nned to rest well and consider her next steps in the morning.


    Thus, Bonnie managed to navigate through one of the biggest crises she had faced.


    However, what Bonnie didn''t know was that the crises confronting Moonlight City were far from over. Even if she could temporarily rely on Jeremy''s protection to stay safe, new challenges would continue to arise.


    When Moonlight City faces an actual cataclysm, Jeremy will be unable to provide any protection for Bonnie.


    At that critical juncture, Bonnie will have no choice but to rely on her own strength to ensure her safety.


    However, even in such dire times, Bonnie can always count on her father. Regardless of the circumstances, Benjamin would never abandon his daughter.


    In the city government''s office, although Benjamin was extremely furious because of his daughter''s actions,


    after calming down, he acknowledged that his daughter indeed possessed a strong sense of ambition. At the very least, she aspired to be stronger through her own efforts.

 Chapter 172: The Healed Ritchie

    Early the next morning, Jeremy was jolted awake by the ringing of his phone, still half-asleep.


    Irritated, Jeremy picked up the phone and eximed, "Hello, why are you calling me so early?!"


    On the other end of the line, a voice that was very familiar to Jeremy resonated.


    "It''s already 6:00 AM, it can hardly be considered too early. I''m calling to let you know that I have fully recovered. We can now challenge the instance together."


    Ritchie excitedly informed Jeremy.


    "I get it! You''ve fully recovered. However, I still need to sleep a little longer, I''m not fully awake yet!" Jeremy replied dismissively before abruptly hanging up the phone.


    Just as Jeremy was about to drift back to sleep, the phone rang again.


    "Didn''t I tell you? Once I wake up, I''ll discuss our next course of action with you. Why are you calling me again?"


    Jeremy shouted at the phone, still grumpy from being roused.


    There was a moment of silence on the other end before Bonnie''s voice came through.


    "Jeremy, if you''re truly exhausted right now, then please, go ahead and continue sleeping. I only called to inform you about my current situation."


    Upon hearing Bonnie''s voice, Jeremy suddenly realized that he had directed his anger at the wrong person.


    Quickly, Jeremy adjusted his tone.


    "I''m not angry with you. Before you called me, my friend Ritchie had just phoned. You should be well aware of him, he''s notoriously unreliable.


    I was venting my frustration towards him. If you were in my shoes, you would undoubtedly feel the same way about his antics."


    Bonnie readily epted Jeremy''s exnation.


    "Alright, you don''t need to offer so many justifications. I haveplete trust in you. What I need to convey is that I am currently very safe.


    Moreover, in the uing operations, I may only be able to act alongside you. My father has stipted that unless I am apanied by someone he deems appropriate, he will not allow me to enter the instance."


    Jeremy could indeed empathize with Benjamin''s decision.


    After all, Benjamin was Bonnie''s father.


    Any father, upon witnessing his daughter facing perilous circumstances, would undoubtedly feel a deep sense of urgency. Thus, it is only natural that any father would strive to ensure his daughter''s forting actions were as safe as possible.


    Bonnie could only guarantee her safety by apanying Jeremy in her endeavors.


    "I understand. I will formte a n of action as quickly as I can. Once I''ve had sufficient rest, I will take you into the instance for an adventure."


    "I understand. So, you should rest well, I won''t disturb you any longer." After saying this, Bonnie promptly hung up the phone.


    After the call ended, although Jeremy had intended to resume his sleep, he suddenly found that his drowsiness had vanished.


    "It seems I won''t be able to rest for too long after all. Since sleep eludes me, I might as well consider which instance to head to next."


    Jeremy retrieved a map that Howard had given him.


    This map depicted Moonlight City, clearly marking all the instances within its bounds. On the map, the instances that had been resolved were indicated with red Xs.


    In contrast, the unresolved instances were all marked with ck circles.


    As Jeremy scanned the map, he noticed that the industrial district of Moonlight City and a small town in the suburbs were surrounded by numerous instances. His forting actions would need to revolve around these two areas.


    Although he yearned to swiftly address the troubles posed by Dark Tree, he felt that his understanding of Dark Core was still quite inadequate at this stage.


    He needed to have aprehensive grasp of Dark Core before he could venture into the instance where Dark Tree resided alongside it.


    If he were to act without sufficient knowledge of Dark Core, there was a risk that Dark Core and Dark Tree could merge. Such a catastrophic event could potentially lead to the immediate destruction of all of Moonlight City.


    After careful contemtion, Jeremy ultimately decided to focus his next course of action on the instances located in the Moonlight City industrial district.


    Although Jeremy and hispanions had previously resolved the most challenging instance in the industrial district, known as The Iron Lair,there remained several instances nearby that were of lesser difficulty.


    Moreover, the industrial district was also inhabited by monsters that had escaped from these instances.


    Upon finalizing his n of action, Jeremy promptly called Ritchie.


    "Have you finally awakened from your slumber? It seems you aren''t as fatigued as you im, after hanging up with me, you didn''t sleep for very long, did you?" Ritchie''s teasing voice came through as soon as the call connected.


    "That''s all because of you. After receiving your call, I simply couldn''t get any rest. Alright, enough with the small talk." Jeremy felt somewhat exasperated with Ritchie''s banter.


    However, Ritchie was, after all, his good friend. Moreover, before the onset of the apocalypse game, Jeremy had only Ritchie as a closepanion.


    "Are youpletely healed now? If you are not yet fully recovered, I strongly advise that you take some time to rest. Only when you are in good health will I allow you to apany me on this mission."


    "I can assure you with absolute certainty that I am indeed fully healed. If you have any doubts, feel free to call Emma and ire, they can vouch for me."


    "Furthermore, I am now able to utilize my skills once again. I can manipte shadows to provide you with substantial support duringbat."


    Jeremy nodded, as he was well aware of Ritchie''s abilities, after all, a significant portion of the skills Ritchie had acquired were ones he had helped to develop.


    "In that case, make your way to my house as quickly as possible. Once you arrive, we can set off together towards the city."


    Jeremy''s statement left Ritchie feeling somewhat puzzled.


    "Heading to the city? Why on earth are we going to the city? Are there still instances there? I heard that all the instances in the city have been dealt with by General Howard''s soldiers."


    "We''re not going to the city to tackle any instances. We are heading there to pick up another person who will join us in our endeavor."


    With that statement, Jeremy abruptly ended the call.


    "Ritchie is still the same as ever¡ªtotally missing the point."Jeremy muttered in exasperation.


    Jeremy did not have to wait long, within just a few minutes, Ritchie arrived at Jeremy''s residence.


    "Now can you finally tell me who we are going to pick up?" Ritchie asked directly as he stepped into Jeremy''s home.


    "We''re going to pick up Bonnie. She will be fighting alongside us in the uing mission."Jeremy stated calmly, revealing Bonnie''s name.


    Upon hearing Bonnie''s name, Ritchie could no longer maintain hisposure.


    "Bonnie is actually going to join us? Your rtionship with her doesn''t seem to be very cordial, does it? I remember she even mocked you not long ago."


    Ritchie''s question was entirely reasonable.


    After all, Ritchie had never experienced the instance in the Land of Eternal Night.


    He was unaware that Bonnie and Jeremy had not only reconciled but that their rtionship had also progressed to a deeper level.


    In response to Ritchie''s astonishment, Jeremy merely replied with a calm demeanor.


    "Indeed, Bonnie and I had some conflicts in the past, but those were merely trivial disagreements typical among ssmates. In the face of the impending apocalypse, we must work together to ensure the safety of Moonlight City."


    Although Jeremy''s words were an attempt to mask the true reason, they nheless seeded in touching Ritchie.


    Ritchie pped his hands and eximed, "You have truly changed significantly from the person you used to be. I believe the old you would never have uttered such profoundly moving words."


    "I never imagined you harbored such grand aspirations¡ªare you truly nning to save the entire Moonlight City? I initially thought your relentless extermination of monsters and clearing of instances was solely to enhance your own strength and ensure your safety."


    In response to Ritchie''s somewhat awkward remark, Jeremy simply stated with a measured tone,


    "If we cannot guarantee the safety of Moonlight City, then we cannot ensure our own safety either."


    After expressing this thought, Jeremy turned his gaze firmly towards Ritchie. "You should be ready by now, right? If so, let''s not waste any more time here. We need to hurry to the city and pick up Bonnie."


    Once Jeremy had gathered all the necessary equipment he needed to bring, he promptly led Ritchie out the door.


    Before leaving, Jeremy made a point to call Bonnie.


    "I have already decided on the next instance we will be tackling. I will send you the coordinates for the instance, so please prepare yourself quickly, I will be arriving in the city shortly."


    "I understand, and I will make all the necessary preparations immediately."


    Bonnie was taken aback by how quickly Jeremy intended to take her along to clear the instance. She had assumed that Jeremy would focus his energy on other matters.


    With determination, Bonnie carefully packed all the items she needed into her backpack. Among these, the most crucial piece of equipment was undoubtedly the new staff her father had provided for her.


    The staff she had previously used had been damaged during the instance. Her father, Benjamin, had specifically located a recement with simr attributes in the warehouse of Moonlight City.

 Chapter 173: The Industrial District Teeming with Monsters

    When Jeremy and Ritchie arrived at Bonnie''s doorstep, they were met by Bonnie, who was patiently waiting for them outside.


    Ritchie couldn''t help but exim, "I never anticipated that our ss monitor would take the initiative to wait for our arrival at the door. I had thought that a youngdy of her stature would never deign to greet us at the entrance."


    Ritchie''s judgment stemmed from the fact that his rtionship with Bonnie was not particrly close. He was not very familiar with Bonnie at all.


    Jeremy replied with a hint of indifference, "The reason you think that way is simply because you do not truly understand her. Once you acquire more information about her, your perspective will undoubtedly change."


    Ritchie nodded in acknowledgment and then inquired of Jeremy, "From what you say, it appears that you have a profound understanding of Bonnie. When did youe by such extensive knowledge about her?"


    Ritchie''s question left Jeremy feeling a bit awkward.


    He was uncertain about how to respond to Ritchie''s inquiry.


    While Jeremy was lost in thought, contemting how best to address Ritchie''s question, Bonnie rapped on the car door.


    "Now that you both have arrived, please open the car door promptly. We need to make haste to the industrial district where the instance is located, we cannot afford to waste any more time."


    Bonnie, standing outside the car door, addressed Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Jeremy quickly nodded and opened the car door.


    Once inside, Bonnie first turned her attention to Ritchie.


    With a look of concern on her face, she asked, "How is your health now? You should have fully recovered, right?"


    "I am indeed fully recovered. Otherwise, I wouldn''t be able to participate in this operation. You needn''t worry about my condition, I assure you that I will not be a burden to you."


    Bonnie''s words sessfully diverted the conversation, relieving Jeremy from having to respond to Ritchie''s earlier, somewhat awkward question.


    "By the way, I recall that the staff you were using before was damaged. Do you have a new staff now? Without one, your capabilities would surely be significantly hampered."


    Jeremy recalled that Bonnie''s staff had beenpletely destroyed.


    Thus, he made a point to inquire about it.


    If Bonnie did not possess a new staff, Jeremy would need to evaluate the overall strength of their trio.


    Bonnie nodded in affirmation, saying, "I have acquired a new staff from my father. Although this new staff has certain differences in attributespared to my previous one, I believe my overall capabilities remain roughly the same."


    After receiving Bonnie''s response, Jeremy felt a significant reduction in his earlier anxiety.


    Throughout the journey, Jeremy had been contemting the collective strength of the trio.Although Ritchie had indeed recovered, it had been a considerable amount of time since he had engaged in anybat.


    It was highly likely that Ritchie''sbat skills had be quite rusty. During the course of a battle, Ritchie might not be able to provide much assistance.


    If Bonnie did not possess a new staff, it would mean that her abilities would also be severely limited.


    This situation would ce all the pressure of their endeavors squarely upon Jeremy''s shoulders.


    While Jeremy was confident in his ability to clear the instance by himself,


    he would still find the task to be exceedingly arduous without the support of others.


    If both Ritchie and Bonnie could perform at their original levels of strength, Jeremy would have far less to worry about.


    "We should thoroughly discuss our action n before we reach the industrial district."Jeremy stated as he drove, outlining his strategy.


    "My n is, in fact, quite straightforward. Upon our arrival at the industrial district, if we find that there are an overwhelming number of monsters roaming about, we will first eliminate those creatures before proceeding to clear the instance we have designated.


    If the number of monsters present in the industrial district is manageable, we will head directly to the instance we''ve selected. After we clear that instance, we can then tackle another one.


    I believe it is feasible to clear two instances within a single day. If we are able to coborate with General Howard afterward, the speed at which we clear instances will certainly improve.


    However, if it''s just the three of us operating, clearing two instances in one day will be somewhat of a stretch."


    Both Ritchie and Bonnie concurred with Jeremy''s n.


    Clearing two instances in a single day would indeed ce a considerable amount of pressure on the three of them.


    Ritchie even felt that they might only be able to manage one instance in a day.


    Yet, Ritchie ultimately chose not to voice his thoughts.


    After all, he understood that both Jeremy and Bonnie were ambitious individuals. There was no doubt that they would not agree to the notion of only clearing one instance in a day.


    After approximately an hour of travel, the trio finally arrived at the outskirts of the industrial district.


    Upon observing the conditions at the entrance of the industrial district, Jeremy couldn''t help but exim, "It seems my previous n was a bit overly optimistic. I truly did not anticipate that the industrial district would be teeming with so many monsters now."


    At that moment, within the industrial district, each building housed at least three monsters.


    On the streets of the industrial district, monsters were continuously engaged in fierce battles with one another.


    Those monsters that were defeated were promptly devoured by their victorious counterparts.


    Through this brutal means, the monsters were constantly enhancing their own strength.


    When Jeremy and hispanions reached the entrance of the industrial district, the nearby monsters suddenly directed their attention toward them.


    Bonnie and Ritchie were both incredibly taken aback.


    Ritchie had never been to the industrial district before, so he assumed that it had always been popted by such a multitude of monsters. He felt a slight sense of grievance toward Jeremy in his heart.


    In Ritchie''s view, Jeremy had previously visited the industrial district and should have had some understanding of the number of monsters present.


    In his opinion, Jeremy should never have devised a n with such a high degree of difficulty from the outset.


    Bonnie''s perspective was entirely different from Ritchie''s.


    Not long ago, Bonnie had apanied Jeremy to the industrial district.


    At that time, the industrial district had not been overrun with such a vast number of monsters.


    Moreover, the monsters that roamed the industrial district at that time were not nearly as powerful as those currently inhabiting the area.


    After a considerable moment, Bonnie finally regained herposure.


    She turned her gaze to Jeremy and, with a trembling voice, asked, "What should we do now? Are we really going to proceed with your initial n? I feel that even a full day may not suffice for us to eliminate all the monsters wandering through the industrial district."


    Jeremy silently observed the monsters within the industrial district.


    After contemting for a moment, he shook his head.


    "I believe that the n I devised earlier is now doomed to fail. Furthermore, we cannot recklessly enter the industrial district at this point. There are simply too many monsters for just the three of us to handle.


    We must seek out additional assistance."


    Having stated this, Jeremy promptly returned to the vehicle, and naturally, Bonnie and Ritchie followed suit, climbing into the car as well.


    Jeremy swiftly turned the car around and headed directly toward the military base located in the outskirts of Moonlight City.


    On the way to the military base, Jeremy shared his new n with Bonnie and Ritchie.


    "I believe the situation in the industrial district has escted beyond what we can manage. We must promptly inform Howard about what''s happening.


    General Howard will undoubtedly provide us with considerable assistance, as he is responsible for the safety of Moonlight City."


    Bonnie and Ritchie wholeheartedly agreed with Jeremy''s course of action.


    Bonnie was very familiar with Howard. She was acutely aware that once he was informed of the situation, he would not remain idle.


    Ritchie merely thought that bringing in more help could only be beneficial.


    Initially, Jeremy had intended to ry this information to the ck Dragon Squad.


    However, after some contemtion, Jeremy decided it was unnecessary to inform the ck Dragon Squad. After all, the squad''s leader, E, was someone Jeremy could not fully trust at this moment.


    Although Jeremy had previously coborated with E, he could not ascertain how she truly viewed him.


    Regardless, E was engaged to Kean.


    Given theplete hostility between himself and Kean, Jeremy felt he needed to exercise caution around E as well.


    In any case, once Howard was apprised of the situation, it was highly likely he would inform E.


    Thus, Jeremy saw no need to directlymunicate the circumstances in the industrial district to her.


    Jeremy drove at an exceptionally fast pace, and it didn''t take long for them to reach the military base.


    Once Jeremy stepped out of the car, he made a beeline for Howard''s office within the military base.


    Behind him, Bonnie and Ritchie were unable to follow. They struggled to regain their bnce.


    "Next time, we really need to make sure Jeremy drives a bit slower! He can handle this speed, but the rest of us can''t!"


    Ritchieined to Bonnie while trying to steady himself.


    Bonnie nodded in agreement, feeling that Jeremy''s driving was indeed far too rapid for anyone not ustomed to it.

 Chapter 174: Can Only Be Handled Slowly

    Jeremy did not pay much attention to the condition of Ritchie and Bonnie. After all, from Jeremy''s perspective, the two of them shouldn''t face any significant issues.


    Jeremy, without wasting any time, quickly found Howard within the military base.


    At that moment, Howard was busy dealing with various mundane affairs within the military base. Upon seeing Jeremy''s arrival, he asked, with a hint of surprise in his voice.


    "Didn''t we agree to take a few days off? Why did you suddenlye to me today? Could it be that you''ve encountered some trouble and need my assistance?" Howard inquired, his tone tinged with curiosity.


    In response to Howard''s question, Jeremy simply shook his head.


    "I am here not because I''ve encountered trouble and need your help. I''vee to inform you about the situation in the industrial district. There are an rming number of monsters in that area.


    Are you not aware of this? Do you not intend to take action? I believe the walls of the industrial district are on the verge of failing to contain these creatures.


    If these monsters breach the walls of the industrial district, the other areas of Moonlight City will be in grave danger. We must take immediate action to deal with these creatures."


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Howard''s expression shifted to one of slight peculiarity.


    Howard gathered the documents on his desk and then slowly closed the door to his office.


    "I am very well aware of what you mentioned. I have known for quite some time that there are numerous monsters in the industrial district. Moreover, those monsters are exceptionally powerful."


    "If that''s the case, then why are you turning a blind eye? You can''t possibly think that those monsters will just disappear on their own, can you?"


    Jeremy asked, utterly perplexed and feeling that Howard was being quite irresponsible.


    In response to Jeremy''s blunt inquiry, Howard let out a faint, bitter smile.


    "I am not turning a blind eye. However, I don''t have the means to deal with these monsters. The strength of my subordinates is insufficient to swiftly eradicate the monsters in the industrial district."


    "Moreover, even if I were to seek your assistance, do you really believe that thebined strength of both our forces would be sufficient to handle the monsters in the industrial district? I''m merely contemting whether there might be an alternative solution."


    "As soon as I find a better solution, I will promptly deal with the monsters in the industrial district."Howard exined.


    Howard''s response left Jeremy highly dissatisfied.


    Jeremy felt that there was no such thing as a better solution. Given that they already knew about the numerous monsters in the industrial district, they should take immediate action to eliminate these creatures.


    "Stop looking for a better solution, there simply isn''t one! What we need to do now is join forces andunch an assault on the monsters in the industrial district."


    "If we can coordinate our actions properly, I believe we can gradually clear out the monsters in the industrial district. Moreover, with meticulous nning, we can ensure that our losses are minimal."Jeremy insisted.


    After hearing Howard''s words, Jeremy realized that a swift eradication of the monsters in the industrial district was impossible. However, he also felt that they could no longer afford to wait.


    Jeremy''s n involved having Howard divide the industrial district into several isted zones.


    Afterward, Jeremy, Howard, and their team could move into one of these zones and exterminate all the monsters there.


    This approach would not only ensure that they wouldn''t face overwhelming numbers of monsters during their operations, but it would also guarantee that no monsters would escape from the industrial district.


    Although Jeremy''s n was somewhat slow.


    In Jeremy''s perspective, a n that takes a bit longer to execute is far better than doing nothing at all.


    After listening to Jeremy, Howard''s expression still showed a hint of hesitation.


    "I can probably guess what your n is. However, I believe your n carries a certain degree of risk. How do you propose we divide the entire industrial district into isted zones?"


    "Since you already know there are numerous monsters in the industrial district, you should be well aware that some of these monsters possess formidable strength."


    "When we take action to divide the industrial district into isted zones, those powerful monsters will undoubtedlyunch attacks against us. We won''t be able to ensure our own safety."Howard borated.


    Howard''s words did not discourage Jeremy in the slightest.


    In fact, after hearing Howard''s concerns, Jeremy felt confident that he could soon persuade him.


    "You''re absolutely right. The riskiest part of my n is indeed the operation to divide the industrial district into isted zones."


    "However, I believe that if we can work together wlessly, we can minimize the risks involved. After all, the industrial district is filled with numerous factories."


    "We just need to cleverly use the ruins of those factories to construct walls that will segment the industrial district. While you carry out the operation, I will be stationed around you."


    "I can promise you this: no matter how powerful the monsters that attack us might be, I will be able to hold them off."


    Jeremy''s words left Howard deeply moved.


    "I truly did not expect you to have such unwavering determination. Since you have demonstrated your resolve, I am willing to undertake some risk as well."


    Howard stood up immediately, extending his right hand toward Jeremy. Jeremy, without hesitation, reached out his right hand and shook Howard''s hand firmly.


    Just as Jeremy and Howard reached an agreement, Bonnie and Ritchie arrived outside Howard''s office door.


    "Is this yourpanion? I recall his name is Ritchie. Has he fully recovered from his injuries?" Howard inquired upon seeing Bonnie and Ritchie.


    Howard was, of course, very familiar with Bonnie, but he was not as acquainted with Ritchie.


    Although Howard and Ritchie had met twice before, Howard did not know him very well.


    However, Ritchie had never been a particrly noticeable person. Therefore, Howard still couldn''t be entirely sure if the person he was seeing was indeed Ritchie.


    Jeremy nodded affirmatively.


    "You are correct. This is my friend Ritchie. His injuries have fully healed, and he is ready to fight alongside me. He can provide significant support duringbat."


    Howard nodded in acknowledgment and chose not to say more.


    "Since we''ve finalized our n of action, when do you think we shouldmence the operation?" Howard was keenly focused on the cooperative n he had established with Jeremy.


    Jeremy did not answer Howard''s question directly but instead posed a counter-question.


    "When will you be able toplete all the preparations for the operation? As soon as you''re ready, I believe we can initiate the action immediately."


    Jeremy was eager tomence the operation as soon as possible.


    He had a nagging feeling that the longer they dyed, the more numerous and powerful the monsters in the industrial district would be.


    Howard chuckled softly.


    "You certainly are a man of swift action, and that''s a quality I greatly admire about you. I will gather my subordinates in three hours, and they will require just one hour toplete all the pre-operation preparations.


    Therefore, the earliest we can start is in four hours."


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "In that case, let''s proceed in four hours. My friend and I will head to the industrial district first, we will closely observe the monsters there to better prepare for the uing operation."


    Howard nodded in acknowledgment and immediately reached for the phone on his desk.


    Howard began making phone calls to his subordinates to arrange the uing operation.


    Jeremy, without any hesitation, turned and left with Bonnie and Ritchie.


    Although Bonnie and Ritchie had overheard thetter part of Howard and Jeremy''s conversation, they hadn''t fully grasped the n.


    As the three of them departed from the military base, Ritchie couldn''t help but ask Jeremy.


    "What exactly is the n you and General Howard have agreed upon? Why the urgency?"


    Bonnie, though silent, was equally curious about the details of the n Jeremy and Howard had formted.


    "Our n is topletely eradicate the monsters in the industrial district. The reason we need four hours for preparation is that General Howard needs to gather his subordinates and ready a myriad of equipment."


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s response, both Bonnie and Ritchie were utterly astonished.


    "Are we really going to clear out all the monsters in the industrial district? Even with General Howard''s assistance, it''s impossible to seed. There are simply too many monsters there."


    Bonnie voiced her opinion before Ritchie had a chance to speak.


    Ritchie, whose thoughts mirrored Bonnie''s, quickly nodded in agreement after she finished speaking: "Yes, exactly! Bonnie is right, the monsters in the industrial district are overwhelmingly numerous."


    "The monsters in the industrial district are indeed numerous. Therefore, our strategy is to partition those monsters into disconnected sections and then gradually eliminate them.


    General Howard and his subordinates will be responsible for dividing the monsters in the industrial district. Our task is merely to ensure their safety during the operation."

 Chapter 175: A Difficult Operation

    Although Bonnie and Ritchie both believed that the chances of sess for Jeremy and Howard''s n were extremely slim, they still chose to follow Jeremy into action.


    After all, both of them shared a very close rtionship with Jeremy.


    Jeremy quickly drove the car to the edge of the industrial district.


    "What we need to do next is to meticulously observe the situation of the monsters within the industrial district. The more we understand these creatures, the easier our subsequent actions will be."


    As Jeremy spoke to Bonnie and Ritchie, he simultaneously made his way to a watchtower located outside the industrial district''s perimeter wall.


    When the apocalypse struck, numerous monsters had emerged in the industrial district.


    Initially, the military couldn''t eradicate all the monsters in the industrial district, so they constructed a wall around it. Outside the wall, watchtowers were erected at regr intervals.


    At this moment, there were no soldiers stationed at the watchtowers surrounding the industrial district.


    The reason for this situation was, of course, that the monsters appearing in other parts of Moonlight City posed a greater threat to humanity.


    Although the number of monsters within the industrial district was rtivelyrge, all these creatures were temporarily trapped inside the district.


    Upon reaching the watchtower, Jeremy and the others were finally able to get a clear view of the number of monsters in the industrial district. The quantity of monsters inside was even greater than Jeremy had anticipated.


    After all, when Jeremy first arrived at the industrial district, he hadn''t climbed the watchtower to observe carefully.


    "Jeremy, do you truly believe that your n with Howard can seed? If you have any second thoughts now, you still have the chance to call General Howard and halt the operation."


    Bonnie said, standing on the watchtower and looking at the dense horde of monsters in the industrial district, her voice trembling slightly.


    Although Jeremy was equally astounded, he was absolutely resolute in not abandoning his n so easily.


    Jeremy simply shook his head.


    "Even though I hadn''t previously imagined that the number of monsters within the industrial district would be so overwhelming, I believe that General Howard is well-informed about the quantity of these creatures in the industrial district."


    "Since he has deemed our coborative n as potentially sessful, we must certainly give it a try. How can we determine that the n will fail without first attempting it?"


    What Jeremy said, although it made some sense, was not entirely without ws.


    However, there was no way they were going to persuade Bonnie and Ritchie.


    Under normal circumstances, Jeremy wouldn''t care about others'' opinions. However, Bonnie and Ritchie were incredibly important to him.


    So, Jeremy turned around and exined with a smile on his face to Bonnie and Ritchie.


    "Even though our uing actions will undoubtedly be extremely challenging, I believe that with your help, I can definitely seed."


    "We''ve encountered dire situations before. At that time, the actions I took seemed impossible to seed from your perspective as well. But the final oue proved that my judgment was correct."


    "Why could you trust me before, but not now? I hope that, given our current situation, you can continue to support me."


    After listening to these words, Bonnie responded without any hesitation, "Since you''ve put it that way, I''ll make my stance clear. I will support your actions, no matter what dangers we may face."


    Ritchie nodded, "We''re like brothers, there''s no need for so many words. Just tell me if you need me to fight alongside you, and I''ll join the battle without hesitation."


    Jeremy was deeply moved by the responses from Bonnie and Ritchie.


    "In that case, let''s proceed with our original n immediately. I will quickly scout and ascertain the number and strength of the surrounding monsters. You two should head to the other watchtowers to observe the monsters'' numbers and strengths there."


    "In three hours, we''ll regroup here. By that time, General Howard and his subordinates should have arrived."


    Jeremy, Bonnie, and Ritchie each set off in different directions.


    The three of them quickly ascertained the strength and number of monsters on the outermost perimeter of the industrial district.


    In the outermost area of the industrial district, the region with the most numerous and powerful monsters was naturally the one adjacent to the main gate.


    Not only were there a multitude of level 46 monsters here, but there were even a few level 50 monsters. Jeremy had not yet reached level 50.


    In the areas surrounding the main gate of the industrial district, the number of monsters was somewhat lower, but their strength had not diminished.


    The majority of the monsters Jeremy and hispanions encountered were over level 40.


    At this point, neither Bonnie nor Ritchie had even reached level 40.


    This also implied that the vast majority of monsters within the industrial district were significantly stronger than both Bonnie and Ritchie.


    Three hours quickly passed, and Bonnie and Ritchie returned to the watchtower where Jeremy was stationed.


    The expressions on their faces were exceedingly grave.


    After all, they had witnessed that the monsters in other areas were also stronger than they were. This meant that in the forting actions, they might not even be able to offer much assistance to Jeremy.


    Perhaps the best they could do was to avoid being a burden to Jeremy.


    "From the looks on your faces, I can tell that the strength of the monsters in the surrounding areas is simr to what we have here, right?" Jeremy forced a faint smile.


    Bonnie and Ritchie both nodded in agreement.


    Bonnie then meticulously described the number, level, and characteristics of the monsters she had observed in her assigned area.


    "The area I observed is rtively far from the entrance to the industrial district. The number of monsters there is only about one-third of those at the entrance, but all of them are above level 40."


    Moreover, the majority of the monsters there are mechanical types. I am aware that the skills you currently possess give you a distinct advantage against mechanical monsters. Therefore, I believe we should first target the monsters in that area."


    After listening to Bonnie, Jeremy turned his gaze towards Ritchie.


    Ritchie''s tone was exceptionally subdued as he spoke: "The area I observed is not far from the entrance to the industrial district. The number of monsters there is roughly equivalent to those at the entrance. Additionally, the levels of the monsters are almost all above level 40.


    This implies that if we start eliminating the monsters from the entrance of the industrial district, the number of monsters we encounter will likely exceed our expectations. This is because monsters from the surrounding areas will also converge at the entrance."


    After making these remarks, Ritchie fell silent.


    Although he had immense confidence in Jeremy, no matter how he thought about it, he felt that Jeremy''s mission this time was bound to fail.


    Jeremy was at a loss for how to console his twopanions.


    He could clearly see that neither Bonnie nor Ritchie had any confidence left in the sess of the uing mission.


    As Jeremy was pondering, the three of them suddenly heard the roaring sound of helicopter engines in the sky.


    Simultaneously, Jeremy''s phone began to ring.


    After answering the call, General Howard''s voice came through from the other end.


    "I have gathered all my subordinates and brought over all the necessary equipment. I will have the helicopter I''m innd near your location first.


    We need to have a thorough discussion about where to start dividing the industrial district into separate, non-connected areas. My subordinates willplete all the preparatory work while we discuss."


    General Howard hung up the phone immediately after saying this.


    He did not even give Jeremy a chance to respond.


    General Howard''s helicopter swiftlynded beside the watchtower where Jeremy and hispanions were stationed.


    By this time, Jeremy and the others had already descended from the watchtower.


    Observing the expressions on Jeremy and hispanions'' faces, Howard smiled and said, "It seems your spirits aren''t particrly high right now. Have you lost all confidence in our uing mission?"


    None of the three responded to Howard''s question.


    After a brief pause, Jeremy directly asked Howard.


    "How much do you know about the number and levels of the monsters in the industrial district?"


    "I am extremely well-informed about the quantity and levels of the monsters in the industrial district. I know that the number of monsters is enormous and that their levels are all above 40."


    Howard answered without any hesitation.


    Jeremy nodded. "In that case, let''s promptly begin our discussion on how to divide the industrial district into separate, non-connected areas."


    Jeremy''s previous question was merely to confirm whether Howard was truly knowledgeable about the industrial district.


    If Howard had been unaware of the situation in the industrial district, the entire n might have needed aplete reevaluation. However, since Howard was well-informed, it implied that Howard believed there was a significant chance of sess for this mission.


    Given Howard''s confidence, why should Jeremy retreat?


    Howard looked at Jeremy and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.


    "I knew it, I didn''t misjudge you! You are indeed a person of great resolve!"


    Howard praised Jeremy and then retrieved a detailed map of the industrial district from his subordinate''s backpack.

 Chapter 176: The Distribution of Monsters in the Industrial District

    All eyes were riveted on the detailed map of the industrial district that Howard had produced.


    This map was densely annotated with all the monsters in the industrial district that were above level 50. Additionally, next to each monster''s annotation, there was a brief introduction to these creatures.


    "As you can see, the number of monsters above level 50 in the industrial district is exceedingly high. Given our current strength, it is virtually impossible for us to contend with these level 50 and above monsters."


    So, we must strategically iste the monsters above level 50 into different sectors. Once we have exterminated all the monsters below level 50, we might then possess the capability to eliminate those above level 50."


    Howard quickly pointed to the symbols representing level 50 monsters on the map as he spoke.


    While Howard was talking, Jeremy swiftly scanned the entire map. He discovered several pieces of information on this map that he had never noticed before.


    On Howard''s map, apart from the numerous level 40 monsters at the entrance of the industrial district, there were also some concealed level 30 monsters.


    However, during Jeremy and his team''s careful observations earlier, they had not detected any monsters below level 40 at the entrance of the industrial district.


    There are two possible exnations. The first exnation, of course, is that Jeremy and his team did not observe meticulously enough. They failed to notice the concealed level 30 monsters.


    The second exnation is that Howard''s map is somewhat outdated. The originally level 30 monsters may have already advanced to above level 40.


    Jeremy was deeply concerned that the second exnation might be the actual one.


    Thus, Jeremy directly asked Howard, "Why are there level 30 monsters at the entrance of the industrial district on the map you provided? We have just carefully observed the monsters at the entrance of the industrial district.


    We did not see any level 30 monsters, all we observed were those above level 40. Does this imply that your map might be somewhat outdated?"


    Howard smiled and shook his head.


    "I understand what you''re worried about, but I can assure you with absolute certainty that my map is not outdated. My subordinates use reconnaissance satellites and helicopters to meticulously observe the monster situation in the industrial district on a daily basis."


    "The reason you didn''t spot those level 30 monsters is simply that they are hiding in extremely concealed locations. Without precise satellite surveince, it''s impossible to detect them."


    Upon hearing Howard''s response, Jeremy finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "That puts my mind at ease. You may proceed with exining the information marked on this map."


    After exining the information about monsters above level 50, Howard began to borate directly on the partitioning n for the industrial district.


    "As I mentioned earlier, besides separating monsters above level 50 from each other, we must also be careful not to iste too many monsters above level 40 in one area."


    "So, after meticulous consideration, my subordinates and I ultimately devised this perfect partitioning n. The blue lines on this map indicate the predetermined locations for the partition walls in the industrial district."


    Under Howard''s prompting, Jeremy and his team focused all their attention on the blue lines marked on the map.


    Jeremy couldn''t help but marvel at how diligent Howard and his subordinates were.


    The locations they had chosen for the partition walls not only cleverly made use of the ruins within the industrial district but were also situated in areas where the number and strength of monsters were rtively low.


    After scrutinizing the entire map, Jeremy nodded and said.


    "I believe your n is wless. If there''s nothing else to discuss, let''s proceed with executing your n immediately. I feel we can''t afford to waste even a single moment longer."


    Jeremy was incredibly eager to take action right away.


    He had a nagging feeling that during the time they dyed, some monsters in the industrial district might have already leveled up.


    Howard nodded in agreement: "You''re absolutely right. Let''s start setting up the partition walls now. In the initial phase of setting up these walls, we must deploy sentry towers at the predetermined locations."


    "My subordinates will soon use helicopters to deploy a sentry tower at this location on the map. Your task is to defend this sentry tower until my subordinatesplete the construction of the partition walls on either side of it."


    Howard pointed to a factory ruin on the map as he spoke.


    Jeremy hadn''t expected that the first location Howard chose to deploy the sentry tower would be so close to the entrance of The Iron Lair instance.


    Upon seeing this location, Jeremy suddenly recalled what The Mechanical Duke had said within The Iron Lair instance.


    "What''s the matter? Do you think there''s an issue with my n?"


    Seeing the thoughtful frown on Jeremy''s face, Howard directly asked him.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "I''m just thinking it''s quite a coincidence. I didn''t expect the first location you chose to deploy the sentry tower would be so close to the entrance of The Iron Lair instance."


    Howard chuckled upon hearing this.


    "In fact, choosing this location indeed has something to do with The Iron Lair instance."


    Howard''s words piqued the interest of both Jeremy and Bonnie.


    "You sessfully cleared The Iron Lair instance, and after it closed, the number of monsters around here decreased significantlypared to before. This allowed us to calmly begin constructing the partition walls here."


    "If we were to build the partition walls in other areas, we would encounter far more monsters. Therefore, I must extend my gratitude to both of you."


    "If you hadn''t sessfully cleared The Iron Lair instance, our current operations would be much more challenging."


    Jeremy and Bonnie didn''t show any signs of amusement upon hearing these words. Both felt that this seemed like more than just a mere coincidence.


    It seemed as though everything they were experiencing now had been deliberately arranged by some unknown, powerful force.


    Realizing this, Jeremy''s expression grew even more serious than before.


    Bonnie, although better at managing her expressions than Jeremy, also disyed a contemtive look on her face.


    Ritchie, standing beside them, appeared much more rxed. He was simply listening intently to Howard and Jeremy''s conversation. Ritchie knew far less than the others.


    However, at this stage, the less information one knew, the more at ease they seemed to be.


    Howard did not inquire about the increasingly grim look on Jeremy''s face. He merely waited in silence for Jeremy to speak.


    After a while, Jeremy finally pushed aside all the useless doubts swirling in his mind.


    "I have no more questions. We can proceed with the action immediately."he said, then turned his gaze to Bonnie and Ritchie.


    Ritchie quickly nodded, and after a brief pause, Bonnie did the same.


    "Since you are all ready, I will now notify my subordinates tomence the operation."


    Howard opened hismunicator directly: "Preparations areplete. Begin the operation immediately! A1 squad, deploy at once!"


    As soon as Howard issued themand, the roar of helicopter engines quickly reached Jeremy and the others.


    A massive transport helicopter, carrying a sentry tower, flew towards the industrial district.


    "Another helicopter will be here shortly. The three of you will board it to fly to the designated location."Howard said.


    After Howard finished speaking, he intended to leave with his subordinates.


    At this moment, Jeremy directly asked Howard.


    "Aren''t you nning toe with us?"


    Howard smiled. "I can''t join you. I need tomand my own team."


    After saying this, Howard boarded the helicopter and flew away.


    Watching the helicopter carrying Howard depart, Jeremy had some new thoughts in his mind.


    "Howard is our ally, he is absolutely trustworthy. He would never do anything to harm us."Bonnie said softly from not far behind Jeremy.


    Bonnie had already noticed that Jeremy seemed somewhat suspicious of Howard.


    Jeremy nodded.


    "Of course, I believe he is absolutely reliable. But I can''t shake off the feeling that our current actions are being manipted by some unknown force. For all we know, our enemies could have already set an inescapable trap for us somewhere out of our sight."


    Jeremy''s words cast a shadow of dejection over Bonnie and Ritchie.


    After all, both Ritchie and Bonnie had previously fallen into traps set intentionally by their enemies.


    As the three remained silent, the helicopter dispatched by Howard gradually descended in front of them.


    "Alright, there''s no need to dwell on this any longer. Since the helicopter is here, let''s quickly board it and head to the designated location in the industrial district.


    Regardless of the circumstances, we must carry out our current n. Only by doing so can we reduce the threat posed by the monsters in the industrial district to the safety of Moonlight City.


    Moreover, it will provide us with a trial ground to rapidly increase our levels. It''s possible that for the foreseeable future, we will rely on the monsters in the industrial district to swiftly boost our levels."

 Chapter 177: The Sentinel Tower Defense

    Although there were various concerns and apprehensions, when the helicopter finally arrived, Jeremy, without a second thought, led the others to embark on their journey.


    Once aboard the helicopter, Jeremy could finally take in the full expanse of the industrial district from amanding vantage point.


    The number of monsters within the industrial district was no less than the number at its entrance. Moreover, the monsters inside the industrial district were of a higher levelpared to those at the entrance.


    "I finallyprehend what you previously meant."Bonnie remarked, also gazing down at the monsters within the industrial district from the elevated view of the helicopter.


    "Eradicating all these monsters seems like it would take an incredibly long time. If we ever manage to clear them all out, our levels should be significantly higher than they are now."


    Bonnie couldn''t help but express a sigh of exmation.


    Jeremy remained silent, thinking that Bonnie''sment was simply stating the obvious.


    Soon enough, the helicopter transported the trio to their predetermined location, where a sentinel tower was already standing tall.


    "Your task is to quickly reach the sentinel tower and hold off the monsters'' assault until reinforcements arrive. The moment your presence is detected on the tower, those creatures willunch an unrelenting attack."


    Before Jeremy and the others set off, the helicopter pilot specifically ryed this crucial information to them.


    The helicopter pilot, of course, was also one of Howard''s subordinates.


    He conveyed this message precisely because Howard had instructed him to do so.


    Jeremy and hispanions nodded in understanding, signaling to the pilot that they were ready to depart at any moment.


    The pilot opened the hatch of the helicopter, and then Jeremy, Bonnie, and Ritchie, each equipped with parachutes, leaped out of the aircraft.


    Jeremy was the first tond atop the sentinel tower.


    Upon reaching the sentinel tower, he swiftly took in his surroundings. There were, in fact, not many monsters in the vicinity. Hence, he decided against immediately engaging inbat.


    After all, the sooner he enteredbat, the quicker his stamina would deplete.


    Ritchie and Bonnie arrived at the sentinel tower shortly after.


    "It seems the situation isn''t as perilous as they described. We''ve made it to the outpost, and there''s still no sign of any monsters."Bonnie observed as she surveyed the area.


    Jeremy felt that Bonnie was bing a bit toocent.


    "Now is not the time to let our guard down. There''s a chance the monsters are hiding in ces we can''t detect."Jeremy cautioned.


    No sooner had Jeremy finished speaking than two scorpion-like monsters crawled up from the base of the sentinel tower.


    Both of these creatures were at level 42. Although Jeremy''s level was slightly higher, he knew that defeating them wouldn''t be a walk in the park.


    "Survey the surroundings from the top of the tower. I''ll deal with those two monsters."Jeremy instructed.


    After saying those words, Jeremy leaped directly from the top of the watchtower.


    The reason for his swift descent was simple: it was the quickest way to confront the scorpion-like monsters. Climbing down would have wasted precious time.


    Just as Jeremy left the top of the tower, Bonnie and Ritchie noticed a sudden influx of monsters surrounding the area.


    "Do you still think there are few monsters around us now?"


    Ritchie observed the rapidly gathering horde of monsters while simultaneously inquiring of Bonnie.


    Bonnie shook her head and responded, "Let''s quickly start eliminating these creatures. Attacking them from an elevated position should pose a significant threat to them."


    Bonnie drew her staff and unleashed a frost spell upon the monsters surrounding the tower.


    Though her frost spell wouldn''t annihte the monsters quickly, it would at least slow them down.


    Upon witnessing Bonnie''s movement, Ritchie immediately sprang into action.


    Ritchie maneuvered his own shadow to the base of the watchtower, and, under the guidance of Ritchie''s shadow, the shadows of the surrounding monsters suddenly sprang to life.


    The shadows of these monsters began tounch assaults on their own corporeal forms.


    Although the actions of Ritchie and Bonnie did not pose a significant threat to the monsters, they managed to slow their advance.


    A few minutester, Jeremy returned to the top of the tower.


    He had already dealt with the two scorpion-like monsters.


    However, upon seeing therge number of monsters gathered at the base of the tower, Jeremy''s expression turned slightly grim.


    "I never anticipated that Howard''s so-called ''sparsely popted'' area would have this many monsters. It seems we may have been a bit too reckless in our approach."


    In reality, Jeremy was starting to feel a twinge of regret.


    Had he known this mission would be so perilous, he surely would have made more thorough preparations.


    However, now that he and hispanions were here, there was no turning back. Howard had already set the n in motion, and it was not something that could be easily halted.


    "Despite the overwhelming number of monsters we''re facing, I believe ourbined strength is sufficient to take them all down. You two provide cover from the top of the tower, while I engage them directly at the base."


    With that deration, Jeremy once again leapt from the top of the tower.


    This time, he aimed tond right in the midst of the monster horde.


    As Jeremy made his bold move, the monsters at the base of the tower quickly shifted their attention toward him.


    The moment he touched down, every single monsterunched an attack on Jeremy.


    From their vantage point atop the tower, Ritchie and Bonnie immediately deployed their skills to assist Jeremy.


    One frost spell after another descended from the sky, slowing the multitude of monsters on Jeremy''s left side. Meanwhile, on Jeremy''s right, the shadows of the monsters swelled to an enormous size and began attacking their own forms without hesitation.


    Taking advantage of the disruption caused by Ritchie and Bonnie, Jeremyunched an assault on the nearest monster.


    Under Jeremy''s relentless assault, the lower-level monsters surrounding him were swiftly vanquished.


    Although the higher-level monsters weren''t obliterated outright, they quickly realized Jeremy''s formidable strength. A palpable sense of fear began to take hold of them.


    "Feeling scared now? Isn''t it a bit toote for that? You never should have gathered here in the first ce!"


    Seeing the monsters'' fear only fueled Jeremy''s excitement.


    With his weapon in hand, Jeremyunched an all-out attack on the densest cluster of monsters.


    As Jeremy shed head-on with the monsters, another helicopter approached the vicinity of the tower. This helicopter dropped construction materials around the tower, along with personnel tasked with building partition walls.


    Bonnie''smunicator suddenly buzzed, and upon answering it, Howard''s voice came through.


    "These personnel tasked with building the partition walls are incredibly valuable. You must ensure their safety. If they are eliminated by the monsters, we won''t be able to construct the walls."


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Bonnie responded.


    "I understand. I will absolutely ensure their safety! Don''t worry, even if you don''t trust me, surely you trust Jeremy?"


    Bonnie''s retort left Howard momentarily speechless.


    "Very well! I expect the first section of the partition wall to bepleted today." With that, Howard abruptly ended themunication.


    Although this n was spearheaded by Howard, it''s crucial to remember that Howard is an exceedingly busy individual. He has numerous other matters that require his attention.


    After Howard abruptly ended themunication, Bonnie immediately turned her gaze toward Ritchie.


    "We must ensure the safety of those people! So, unleash every ounce of your abilities! Jeremy once told me that your strength has significantly increased, but to be honest, I wasn''t entirely convinced."


    Upon finishing her sentence, Bonnie waved her staff once more, casting frost spell after frost spell.


    Ritchie, of course, understood that her words were merely intended to provoke him into giving his all against the monsters.


    Thus, Ritchie responded with a knowing smile.


    "My strength has indeed seen some improvementpared to before, but it''s certainly not ''significantly'' stronger. I will assist you to the best of my abilities.


    However, during the battle, I must prioritize my own safety. So don''t expect me to be able to rescue everyone in extremely perilous situations."


    Ritchie''s words left Bonnie feeling slightly exasperated.


    "Alright then, do what you can to assist us. You are responsible for ensuring the safety of those who just parachuted in, while I will focus on supporting Jeremy.


    If you find the battle too overwhelming, just let me know. I will immediatelye to your aid. Although Jeremy''s safety is of paramount importance, I believe he can navigate the crisis without my help."


    Bonnie promptly outlined the division of responsibilities between herself and Ritchie.


    Ritchie did not voice any objections, as Bonnie had already taken on the most arduous task herself.


    Ritchie then turned his attention to the newly arrived personnel tasked with building the partition walls. In reality, there weren''t many monsters surrounding them.


    Therefore, Ritchie did not need to be overly anxious.

 Chapter 178: The Soul Ravager

    Thanks to Jeremy''s relentless efforts, the number of monsters congregating around the watchtower swiftly diminished.


    Some of the creatures were eradicated by Jeremy himself, while a greater number chose to temporarily retreat upon witnessing Jeremy''s formidable prowess.


    "It seems that our n this time wasn''t as challenging as we had anticipated."


    Jeremy was so at ease that he even found time to chat with Ritchie and Bonnie up on the watchtower.


    Jeremy even spared a moment to check on the condition of the construction workers who had just been airlifted to the vicinity of the watchtower to build the partition walls. After all, those workers were the linchpin for the sess of this mission.


    Although Ritchie''sbat abilities weren''t particrly strong, he adeptly utilized his shadow-manipting skills to sessfully drive away all the monsters surrounding the construction workers.


    The perilous situation Jeremy and hispanions were facing was effortlessly and swiftly resolved.


    After vanquishing thest monster beneath the watchtower, Jeremy ascended back to the top of the watchtower.


    "There are some monsters in other areas heading this way, but it will take them some time to get here. During this interval, perhaps we should consider taking the initiative to strike."


    Jeremy directly shared his thoughts with Bonnie.


    A faint hint of hesitation flickered across Bonnie''s face.


    Although Bonnie also believed that there were no longer any creatures around their watchtower that could pose a significant threat to them, she still harbored some concerns.


    Nheless, Bonnie couldn''t entirely shake off a lingering sense of worry.


    "I think it''s better if we stick to our original n and defend the watchtower. Once the construction workers have finished building the partition walls around us, we can then move to other areas to eliminate the monsters there.


    Even though this approach might slow us down a bit, it''s the most cautious strategy. If we leave hastily and the hidden monstersunch an attack on the construction workers.


    And if the workers building the partition walls are wiped out by the monsters, wouldn''t our efforts be in vain? We would have no way to answer to General Howard then."


    Bonnie''s words sessfully convinced Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded, "You''re absolutely right! However, I don''t think we should just stand idle at the top of the watchtower. I''ll go down and provide close protection to the construction workers myself.


    Relying solely on Ritchie doesn''t seem sufficient to swiftly clear out all the monsters around the workers. It''s more prudent if I handle it directly."


    Having said that, Jeremy leaped down from the top of the tower without hesitation.


    With Jeremy taking action, the monsters surrounding the construction workers were quickly eliminated. At that precise moment, Jeremy also leveled up.


    Jeremy had now reached level 45, still five levels short of the ss change threshold at level 50.


    Nevertheless, Jeremy was quite pleased with his rate of leveling up.


    "In about ten more days, I should be able to reach level 50. At that point, I can seek out the ss change goddess, Janna, for another ss change. Once I undergo the ss change again, my power will undoubtedly see a significant boost."


    Jeremy couldn''t help but ponder in advance about which profession he should choose for his next ss change.


    At that very moment, he suddenly heard the voices of Ritchie and Bonnie from the top of the watchtower.


    "Prepare for battle! We can see a massive creature rapidly heading in your direction!"


    Jeremy looked up towards Ritchie and Bonnie and saw them pointing towards a direction southeast.


    Following their pointed direction, Jeremy soon spotted a monster resembling a mammoth not too far away.


    In the instant heid eyes on the creature, Jeremy received a prompt from The Eye of Omniscience.


    [Note: You are about to be attacked by The Soul Ravager. Please prepare for battle.]


    Along with the prompt, The Eye of Omniscience provided detailed information about The Soul Ravager.


    [Name: The Soul Ravager]


    [Level: 50]


    [Rank: Lord-level Boss]


    [Skills: 1. Soul Reaver. 2. Life Drain. 3. Phantasmal Storm.]


    [Attributes: ???]


    [Note: The Soul Ravager is extremely dangerous. If you cannot achieve a swift victory, The Soul Ravager''s power will rapidly increase. It is advisable to retreat if a quick victory seems unattainable.]


    "I can''t believe I''ve run into a level 50 monster here! Didn''t General Howard say that there wouldn''t be any level 50 monsters around the first watchtower?"


    Seeing the information about The Soul Ravager, Jeremy was utterly shocked.


    Jeremy initially assumed he only needed to defeat monsters around his level or just a level or two higher.


    He certainly did not expect to face a level 50 lord-level boss at the location of the first watchtower.


    Had all his skills been avable, he would have been confident in his ability to defeat The Soul Ravager. However, the majority of his skills were currently sealed.


    When confronted with a level 50 lord boss, he had almost no skills that could pose a significant threat to it.


    Although Jeremy was still in a state of shock, he instinctively prepared himself for battle.


    At this moment, Jeremy held a long spear in his hand, a weapon he had acquired in The Iron Lair instance.


    While it wasn''t exceptionally powerful, it was the most reliable weapon he currently possessed.


    Jeremy gripped the spear tightly and fixed his gaze on The Soul Ravager, which was rapidly charging towards him.


    Jeremy quickly realized that The Soul Ravager''s target was not him at all. Its actual target was the construction workers building the partition wall.


    "Damn it! It''s going after the construction workers! How does it even know that those people pose a greater threat to it?"


    Jeremy found himself deeply perplexed. He believed that even a level 50 lord-level boss shouldn''t have such high intelligence. How could The Soul Ravager so precisely target the construction workers of the partition wall?


    Jeremy knew he couldn''t find an answer to this question in such a short amount of time.


    Moreover, the current situation didn''t allow him any further contemtion.


    Gripping his weapon firmly, Jeremy charged directly toward The Soul Ravager.


    "No matter what, I must stop you! I absolutely cannot allow you to hinder the construction of the partition wall!"


    As he sprinted towards The Soul Ravager, Jeremy retrieved a mechanical Puppet from his pocket. He swiftly tossed the mechanical Puppet to the side.


    The mechanical Puppet Jeremy threw was enhanced by High-Dimensional Data.


    Although the mechanical Puppet wasn''t exceptionally intelligent, it could still offer some assistance to Jeremy in the battle.


    At the very least, the mechanical Puppet was capable of diverting the monster''s attention during the fight.


    Thus, the distance between Jeremy and The Soul Ravager rapidly closed.


    Ultimately, they confronted each other head-on at a point less than 500 meters from the watchtower.


    The Soul Ravager lunged at Jeremy with its fangs, while Jeremy parried the attack with his long spear.


    The initial sh between the two resulted in neither gaining the upper hand.


    Although The Soul Ravager possessed a higher level, Jeremy was fortified by gemstones bestowed by the [World].


    After the collision, both retreated a few steps backward.


    At that moment, the mechanical Puppet that Jeremy had just thrown advanced to the rear of The Soul Ravager.


    Without hesitation, the mechanical Puppetunched an attack towards The Soul Ravager''s hindquarters.


    The Soul Ravager didn''t even turn its head, its eyes radiated a purplish-red glow. Instantly, the mechanical Puppet behind it disintegrated into dust.


    The skill The Soul Ravager had just employed was Spectral Tempest.


    Even though the mechanical Puppetcked a soul and wasn''t a living entity, it was still made of matter, and anything material would sumb to the damage inflicted by the Spectral Tempest.


    Witnessing this scene, Jeremy''s expression grew even more solemn.


    "It appears that using the mechanical Puppet to divert your attention is futile. I have no choice but to confront you head-on and utterly annihte you,"he dered.


    The moment Jeremy finished speaking, he dashed towards The Soul Ravager with lightning speed.


    Just as Jeremy was about to collide with The Soul Ravager, he essed the High-Dimensional Data stored within his pocketed data core.


    An immense amount of High-Dimensional Data coalesced into a barrier directly in front of Jeremy.


    This barrier created a separation between Jeremy and The Soul Ravager.


    The Soul Ravager, initially poised for another confrontation with Jeremy, was caught off guard by the sudden emergence of a data barrier between them.


    In the instant that The Soul Ravager''s face twisted into an expression of panic, Jeremy maneuvered around the data barrier and appeared at The Soul Ravager''s nk.


    Grasping his spear firmly, Jeremy thrust it forcefully towards The Soul Ravager''s body.


    Although this attack did not kill The Soul Ravager, its agonized howl confirmed that it had indeed suffered a grievous wound.


    Having sessfully inflicted significant damage on The Soul Ravager, Jeremy did not stand there in a daze.


    Jeremy swiftly created distance between himself and The Soul Ravager.


    The reason Jeremy acted in this manner was his understanding that once a powerful creature is severely injured, it enters a state of desperate struggle.


    A creature in its death throes can exhibitbat prowess far superior to its normal condition.

 Chapter 179: Joining Forces to Defeat The Soul Ravager

    The very moment Jeremy distanced himself from The Soul Ravager, a sudden surge of crimson smoke materialized around The Soul Ravager''s form. This ominous red smoke voraciously absorbed the souls of all nearby creatures, drawing them into The Soul Ravager''s body.


    As the number of absorbed souls steadily increased, The Soul Ravager''s injuries began to heal at an rming rate.


    Although Jeremy was acutely aware that once The Soul Ravager''s injuries had healed, the danger he faced would increase exponentially, he couldn''t find a suitable opportunity tounch another attack against The Soul Ravager.


    The Soul Ravager''s wounds healed rapidly.


    Contrary to Jeremy''s expectations, a now fully healed Soul Ravager did not immediatelyunch an attack against him. Instead, The Soul Ravager appeared to be significantly more cautious than before.


    The Soul Ravager and Jeremy stood facing each other, separated by only a short distance.


    Both parties appeared to be assessing the true extent of the other''s capabilities, each seemingly waiting for the other to make the first move.


    Ritchie and Bonnie, positioned atop the watchtower, felt an intense sense of anxiety in light of the situation they were witnessing.


    Both of them could discern that The Soul Ravager possessed greater strength than Jeremy. Consequently, they were both eager to offer any assistance they could to Jeremy.


    During Jeremy''s recent maneuvers, Bonnie had thrown a frost spell at The Soul Ravager.


    However, Bonnie''s frost spell inflicted no damage on The Soul Ravager. It seemed as though The Soul Ravager had the ability to nullify long-range attacks.


    Ritchie attempted to manipte The Soul Ravager''s shadow, only to discover that The Soul Ravager had no shadow at all.


    "What should we do now? It appears that neither of our skills can harm The Soul Ravager in any way."


    Ritchie was extremely anxious, fervently hoping to provide assistance to Jeremy, yet his skills proved to be utterly ineffective in this situation.


    Bonnie, at this moment, was also somewhat anxious. However, she managed to maintain a slightly calmer demeanorpared to Ritchie.


    "We must not allow ourselves to be too anxious right now!


    Although our skills haven''t posed a significant threat to The Soul Ravager, Jeremy''s current situation isn''t too dire. We can seize opportunities to assist Jeremy in the ensuing battle between him and The Soul Ravager.


    What we need to do now is remain calm and vigntly observe our surroundings."


    In reality, Bonnie believed that The Soul Ravager wouldn''t attack Jeremy alone.


    There were likely other monsters lurking around Jeremy.


    However, those creatures were so well-hidden that none of them had been detected yet.


    At the precise moment Bonnie finished speaking, Jeremyunched a direct attack on The Soul Ravager.


    Jeremy''s current attack was vastly different from the previous one.


    This time, Jeremy resolved to unleash the entirety of his power. He was determined not to grant The Soul Ravager any opportunity to recover its strength.


    With an immense concentration of power converging upon the spear that Jeremy gripped tightly, the spear''s tip began to radiate a luminous silver glow.


    Jeremy and the spear seemed to meld into one entity, transforming into a bolt of lightning that zed towards The Soul Ravager with astonishing speed.


    The Soul Ravager made no attempt to evade Jeremy''s onught.


    On the contrary, The Soul Ravager intended to withstand Jeremy''s assault using its own formidable skills.


    The Soul Ravager stomped heavily on the ground, and a rapid formation of a rocky barrier emanated from its body.


    Within the protection of the rocky barrier, The Soul Ravager locked its gaze on Jeremy and unleashed its Soul Reaver skill.


    Even though Jeremy had merged with his weapon, he was still affected by the Soul Reaver skill.


    Jeremy felt as though his soul was being slowly tugged out of his body.


    Jeremy paid no heed to this sensation, knowing that any distraction during the battle would allow The Soul Ravager to exploit a weakness.


    Braving The Soul Ravager''s attack, Jeremy reached the rocky barrier surrounding The Soul Ravager.


    His spear shattered the rocky barrier, but this effort exhausted all of Jeremy''s strength. He suddenly realized that after breaking through the barrier, he could no longer pose any threat to The Soul Ravager.


    At this point, Jeremy was in extremely close proximity to The Soul Ravager.


    The Soul Ravager immediately deployed its second skill, Life Drain.


    In an instant, Jeremy''s blood seemed to boil, and he felt it streaming out of his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.


    From their vantage point atop the watchtower, Bonnie and Ritchie realized that Jeremy was in grave peril.


    Bonnie unhesitatingly leaped down from the watchtower.


    Upon reaching the ground, she swung her staff, instantly creating an extraordinarilyplex magic circle. With the aid of this circle, Bonnie cast a powerful blizzard spell.


    A blizzard suddenly formed directly above The Soul Ravager and Jeremy.


    The blizzard attacked both The Soul Ravager and Jeremy indiscriminately.


    The boiling blood within Jeremy''s body rapidly cooled down, and he took this opportunity to move to Bonnie''s side.


    "Thank you for your assistance, without it, I would have been killed by The Soul Ravager''s skill just now!"


    Jeremy swiftly expressed his gratitude to Bonnie.


    Bonnie merely nodded in acknowledgment, she was acutely aware that the ensuing battle would be even more arduous. She knew she had to focus all her attention on The Soul Ravager.


    The effects of the Blizzard skill dissipated swiftly.


    Emerging slowly from a cloud of white vapor, The Soul Ravager stepped forward.


    At this moment, The Soul Ravager red menacingly at Jeremy and Bonnie with itsrge eyes.


    "I willpletely annihte both of you today in the name of my master!" The Soul Ravager''s voice suddenly articted words that both Bonnie and Jeremy could understand.


    Bonnie and Jeremy both disyed slight expressions of surprise on their faces.


    However, neither of them allowed their attention to be diverted.


    The Soul Ravager, while invoking the Phantasmal Storm skill, simultaneously charged directly towards Bonnie.


    In that brief moment, The Soul Ravager had quickly assessed who was the weaker between Bonnie and Jeremy.


    The Soul Ravager decided to first defeat the less powerful Bonnie.


    When confronted with The Soul Ravager''s attack, Bonnie naturally chose to evade. After all, her physical endurance was far inferior to Jeremy''s.


    Even Jeremy couldn''t triumph in a direct confrontation with The Soul Ravager, so Bonnie certainly wasn''t foolish enough to engage head-on.


    As Bonnie evaded The Soul Ravager''s onught, Jeremyunched his own attack against The Soul Ravager from her side. However, The Soul Ravager was somewhat cautious of Jeremy.


    Even in the face of Jeremy''s assault, The Soul Ravager remained focused, keeping Bonnie as the primary target of its attacks.


    For a while, Jeremy and Bonnie''sbined efforts resulted in a stalemate with The Soul Ravager.


    Neither side could quickly eliminate the other, and neither had discovered any significant weakness in their opponent.


    As the battle reached an impasse, Ritchie slowly descended from the watchtower.


    Although Ritchie''s body had recovered its health.


    He still felt that it was unwise to jump directly from the top of the watchtower like Bonnie and Jeremy did.


    With the assistance of his shadow, Ritchie gradually made his way down to the ground.


    At this moment, he could finally see The Soul Ravager''s shadow under the brilliant sunlight.


    The Soul Ravager wasn''t without a shadow, in fact, its shadow was merely concealed by itself.


    The Soul Ravager possessed extensive knowledge about souls and ethereal beings. It naturally knew that shadows are intimately connected to the soul.


    To prevent others from controlling its shadow, The Soul Ravager had minimized it to a nearly unnoticeable size.


    Upon spotting The Soul Ravager''s shadow, Ritchie immediately employed his shadow maniption skill.


    Having sessfully controlled The Soul Ravager''s shadow, Ritchie forced it to revert to its normal size.


    With The Soul Ravager''s shadow restored to its normal dimensions, Ritchie could finally use it tounch an attack against The Soul Ravager.


    The Soul Ravager''s shadow separated from its original form, and under Ritchie''s control, it transformed into another Soul Ravager.


    During Ritchie''s maneuver, The Soul Ravager initially intended to intervene.


    However, Jeremy and Bonnie sessfully kept The Soul Ravager upied. This distraction prevented The Soul Ravager from stopping Ritchie from taking control of its shadow.


    Upon losing its shadow, The Soul Ravager''s power rapidly diminished.


    Its strength was being absorbed at an rming rate by its own shadow. After the shadow had siphoned off enough power, Ritchie directed it tounch an attack against The Soul Ravager.


    Through the coordinated efforts of the three, The Soul Ravager was ultimately defeated.


    Although Jeremy, Bonnie, and Ritchie were ted, they now faced a looming concern: they were in no condition to engage in further battles immediately.


    "Although we''ve managed to defeat The Soul Ravager, weck the stamina for additionalbat. We must temporarily retreat to the watchtower."


    Jeremy remarked, a hint of worry in his voice.

 Chapter 180: Incredibly Precious Spoils of War

    Bonnie and Ritchie both wholeheartedly concurred with Jeremy''s perspective.


    They, too, felt that they were no longer capable of engaging in another fiercely intense battle in such a short span of time. Therefore, they urgently needed to retreat back to the watchtower.


    However, before they could do so, they had to collect all the spoils that had dropped after defeating The Soul Ravager.


    As a level 50 lord boss, The Soul Ravager dropped a total of four different items upon its defeat.


    Among these four distinct pieces of loot, there were two pieces of equipment, a skill book, and a treasure chest.


    Without careful inspection, one could hardly discern the true rarity and value of the skill book and the treasure chest, so they nned to examine these items thoroughly once they returned to the watchtower.


    On the other hand, the two pieces of equipment could be roughly evaluated based on their appearance.


    The first piece of equipment was a staff, which would most likely be given to Bonnie. The other item was a pair of gloves.


    "We should really hurry and bring all of these items up there! Even if we want to examine them closely, we can do so at the watchtower. Inspecting them here is simply too dangerous."


    Jeremy reminded Bonnie and Ritchie.


    Bonnie was able to remainposed in the face of these spoils.


    However, Ritchie couldn''t maintain hisposure, after all, he had never seen a single monster drop four pieces of loot before.


    Jeremy and the others swiftly returned to the watchtower.


    At the watchtower, the three of them could finally scrutinize the four spoils obtained from defeating The Soul Ravager.


    With the aid of The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy quickly discerned the staff''s attributes and characteristics.


    [Name: Soul Devourer Staff]


    [Level: 46]


    [Type: Staff]


    [Attributes: Increases skill cooldown speed by 50%, enhances spell damage by 25%, boosts soul attack resistance by 50%]


    [Equipped Skills: 1. Soul Devour. 2. Soul Hunter''s Curse.]


    [Skill Description: 1. Soul Devour - Upon activation, this skill swiftly inflicts damage on the enemy target based on a percentage of their maximum health. Additionally, the staff''s wielder can recover a certain percentage of the damage dealt as health.


    Soul Hunter''s Curse - When activated, this skill causes the selected enemy target to enter a stunned state. The enemy''s movement speed is reduced, and any subsequent attacks from the staff deal double damage.]


    Jeremy read out the attributes of the Soul Devourer Staff directly in front of Bonnie and Ritchie.


    Bonnie and Ritchie were both extremely interested in the Soul Devourer Staff.


    Bonnie, being a frost mage, could significantly elerate her frost spell casting with the acquisition of the Soul Devourer Staff. Moreover, it would enhance her sustainedbat capability during battles.


    Ritchie desired the Soul Devourer Staff because he valued its skill cooldown speed attribute and the two exclusive weapon skills.


    Ritchie''s shadow maniption abilities, in a certain sense, could also be considered akin to mage skills.


    After examining the first piece of equipment, Jeremy turned his attention to the second item, which was the pair of gloves.


    [Name: Ravager''s Gloves]


    [Level: Level 44]


    [Type: Two-Handed Equipment]


    [Attributes: Increases maximum health by 45%, boosts skill damage by 25%, enhances all attribute damage resistance by 10%]


    [Equipped Skills: 1. Ravager''s Grasp. 2. Soul Concealment.]


    [Skill Description: 1. Ravager''s Grasp - Upon activation, this skill inflicts massive damage to the selected enemy''s soul. If the target''s soul strength is too low, Ravager''s Grasp can directly extract the soul from the target''s body.


    Soul Concealment - When activated, this skill enables the equipment user to enter a state ofplete invisibility for a short duration. The length of invisibility depends on the user''s level and other inherent attributes.


    During the invisibility period, the equipment user cannot be detected by any means. However, the user is also unable to activate any other skills.]


    When Jeremy revealed the pertinent information about the Ravager''s Gloves, Ritchie immediately altered his ns.


    "I''m no longer interested inpeting with Bonnie for the Soul Devourer Staff. Just give me the Ravager''s Gloves. This piece of equipment will be immensely beneficial to me.


    This equipment can amplify the skills I already possess, allowing me to wield even greater power in battle."


    Ritchie''s urgency in acquiring the Ravager''s Gloves was clearly driven by his interest in its two exclusive skills.


    The Ravager''s Grasp skill of the Ravager''s Gloves was exceptionallypatible with Ritchie''s shadow maniption abilities.


    If Ritchie possessed the Ravager''s Gloves, inbat he could first employ Ravager''s Grasp to extract the enemy''s soul. Subsequently, he could use his shadow maniption skill to transform the enemy''s soul into a puppet shadow under his control.


    In response to Ritchie''s urgent tone, Jeremy replied calmly.


    "There''s no need to rush. We still have two more spoils to examine. You might find those items even more intriguing."


    After saying this, Jeremy directed his gaze toward the skill book.


    [Name: Golden Skill Book]


    [Level: None]


    [Type: Skill Book]


    [Equipped Skill: 1. Necromancy]


    [Skill Introduction: The Necromancy skillprises two distinct applications. The first method involves swiftly employing the skill after vanquishing an enemy, thereby allowing the enemy''s soul to linger in the mortal realm. Upon sessful use of Necromancy, the practitioner can pose three questions to the soul. The soul cannot lie, ensuring that all responses are truthful.


    The second method entails utilizing Necromancy before the enemy ispletely in. Once Necromancy takes effect, the enemy''s soul will rapidly transform into a soul gemstone. This soul gemstone can be used to enhance attributes and skill levels.]


    Jeremy had not anticipated that The Soul Ravager would drop such a valuable item as a Golden Skill Book. Furthermore, the skill inscribed within this book was none other than Necromancy.


    Under normal circumstances, Jeremy did not deem Necromancy to be of significant necessity.


    He believed he could rely entirely on the insights provided by The Eye of Omniscience to obtain actionable intelligence and uncover hidden schemes.


    However, following a series of recent events, Jeremy felt that his knowledge was still too limited. Moreover, some information possessed by certain monsters was beyond his reach.


    With mastery over Necromancy, Jeremy could now y these monsters and extract all the information they possessed.


    Ritchie and Bonnie listened intently as Jeremy detailed the capabilities of Necromancy.


    After the exnation, Bonnie''s face contorted with disgust.


    "Necromancy is utterly abhorrent. After killing the monsters, we still have to exploit their souls! Wouldn''t that prevent these creatures from ever finding peace?"


    Upon hearing Bonnie''s words, Ritchie responded with a smile.


    "You pity them, but do they pity us?" he questioned. "These monsters are sent into our world with the sole purpose of annihting humanity. So, if utilizing Necromancy allows us to glean critical information from them."


    "I see no issue with it whatsoever." Ritchie continued, "Jeremy, if you don''t intend to learn Necromancy, you could hand the skill book over to me. I have no moral qualms about employing Necromancy."


    Jeremy paid little attention to the exchange between Bonnie and Ritchie.


    His focus was solely on thest treasure chest. As expected, the final chest was indeed a tinum-grade chest.


    The other three pieces of equipment dropped by The Soul Ravager were all below level 50. Considering The Soul Ravager was a level 50 boss, it was only fitting that it should drop an item exceeding level 50.


    Hence, the only chest above level 50 could be none other than a tinum-grade chest.


    Opening a tinum-grade chest requires a substantial number of tinum-grade gemstones.


    Even Jeremy couldn''t possibly possess such an abundant quantity of tinum-grade gemstones.


    Therefore, after surveying all the loot, Jeremy straightforwardly addressed Ritchie and Bonnie.


    "I can''t open the tinum-grade chest. Perhaps only by seeking assistance from General Howard can we obtain enough gemstones to unlock it. Let''s analyze the other three pieces of loot instead."


    Upon finishing his statement, Jeremy decisively picked up the Necromancy skill book.


    "I believe I contributed the most in the recent battle. Thus, I should have the first pick of the loot. I have decided to take this skill book. The rest of the equipment can be discussed between the two of you."


    Bonnie and Ritchie didn''t hesitate in the slightest. They promptly selected the Soul Devourer Staff and Ravager''s Gloves, respectively.


    Upon acquiring these two pieces of equipment, both Bonnie and Ritchie experienced a noticeable enhancement in their capabilities.


    "I suddenly feel that I no longer need to prolong my rest."Ritchie remarked with a smile directed at Jeremy. "I want to test the specific effects of Ravager''s Gloves in actualbat."


    Jeremy nodded in agreement. "You can stay here and engage with the weaker monsters around the area. However, I need to go meet General Howard immediately. I hope he can provide the tinum-grade gemstones necessary to unlock the chest we''ve obtained."


    After stating this, Jeremy turned his gaze towards Bonnie.


    Bonnie nodded in concurrence. "I believe Jeremy''s n is the most rational. If you insist on your course of action, you can stay here and continue protecting the construction workers. I will apany Jeremy to find Howard."

 Chapter 181: The Turmoil Sparked by the Platinum-Level Treasure Chest

    Regarding the proposal made by Bonnie and Jeremy, Ritchie epted without the slightest hesitation.


    "In that case, you should promptly go find Howard."he instructed, his voice carrying an air of urgency. "I believe the two of you will suffice for this task, rendering my presence unnecessary."he added, a note of finality in his tone.


    The reasons Ritchie provided were merely superficial justifications.


    In truth, Ritchie did not hold a particrly favorable impression of Howard. Ritchie always felt that when he and Emma, along with ire, were targeted by Kean, Howard had not exerted his utmost efforts to assist them.


    Consequently, Ritchie believed that Howard was merely exploiting him, Jeremy, and the others.


    Once they no longer held any value, Howard would promptly discard them without a second thought.


    "In that case, you should continue defending the watchtower here."Ritchie advised, his voice tinged with resolve. "I have immense confidence in you, and with the Ravager''s Gloves, you will no longer fear those lower-level monsters."


    With a smile on his face, Jeremy patted Ritchie on the shoulder.


    Ritchie nodded and said, "There''s no need for further discussion. Hurry up and set off with Bonnie. If you dy any longer, Howard might already have moved on to another location."


    Subsequently, the three parted ways.


    Ritchie remained at the watchtower, continuing to ensure the safety of the construction personnel working on the perimeter walls.


    In reality, Ritchie did not encounter any monsters in the following period. No monsters dared to approach the watchtower anymore.


    The Soul Ravager, a level 50 boss, had been easily defeated, instilling a state of extreme panic among the lower-level monsters.


    Although there were still other monsters above level 50 in the industrial district.


    Those monsters were located far from the watchtower where Ritchie was stationed. They had not detected any human activity.


    Ritchie''s intention to test the practical effectiveness of the Ravager''s Gloves in battle ultimately fell through.


    However, this might have been a blessing in disguise for Ritchie.


    After all, whenever Ritchie acted alone, he often found himself in inexplicable crises.


    Bonnie and Jeremy boarded a helicopter and departed from the industrial district.


    On the way to Howard''s military base, Bonnie asked in a slightly worried tone, "Are you sure it''s okay for him to guard the ce alone? I always feel like he''s not the most reliable person."


    Upon hearing this remark, Jeremy allowed a smile to spread across his face.


    "You are absolutely right, Ritchie isn''t the most reliable person. However, he is someone we can trust. At the very least, I am confident that he will sessfully protect the watchtower and those around it."


    Since Jeremy had put it that way, Bonnie decided not to pursue the matter further.


    Half an hourter, the helicopter arrived at the military base where Howard was stationed. However, this base was not located on the outskirts of Moonlight City but rather between the city center and the industrial district.


    Howard was somewhat puzzled by Bonnie and Jeremy''s arrival.


    Initially, Howard thought that their arrival signaled a failure in their n. But he quickly realized that his subordinates had not provided any such indication.


    This meant that the n was still proceeding smoothly overall.


    As Bonnie and Jeremy disembarked from the helicopter, Howard walked up to Jeremy with a smile and inquired directly.


    "There haven''t been any issues with the n, have there?"


    "Of course not! We have sessfully secured the safety of the first watchtower, and the first perimeter wall is nearlyplete."Jeremy replied, his expression remarkably calm.


    He spoke as if it were a task of trivial simplicity.


    Upon hearing this, Howard''s smile grew even broader.


    "I knew you could do it! So, since the mission is aplished, is there anything else you need from me? Are you suggesting we expedite our next phase of the n?"


    Howard assumed that Jeremy was there to urge him to expedite the deployment of additional watchtowers.


    In Howard''s n, over the next two weeks, he intended to set up one watchtower each day. Jeremy and his team would only need to ensure the safety of each watchtower daily.


    Once all 14 watchtowers were set up, the partitioning n for the industrial district would bergely sessful.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "I am not here to urge you to elerate your n. I am here to seek your assistance."


    After saying this, Jeremy stepped closer to Howard and lowered his voice.


    "You should be aware that after defeating monsters, we obtain chests corresponding to their levels. However, to open these chests, we require sufficient gemstones."


    "We killed a monster while guarding the watchtower and obtained a tinum-level chest as a result. Ick the gemstones required to open a tinum-level chest, which is why I havee here seeking your assistance."


    Howard''s expression had been one of calm andposed smile.


    However, the mention of a tinum-level chest caused a dramatic shift in his demeanor.


    He gazed at Jeremy with an incredulous look, and after a moment, he slowly asked.


    "Are you certain the chest you obtained is a tinum-level chest? Since the advent of the apocalypse game, I have never even heard of a tinum-level chest!"


    It goes without saying that Howard would not easily ce his trust in the words spoken by Jeremy.


    After all, even in the capital, there had been no news of a tinum-level chest. Jeremy, though a remarkably talented awakener, couldn''t possibly acquire such a chest merely by defeating a single monster.


    Jeremy nodded affirmatively.


    "The monster we defeated was a level 50 lord boss. After defeating it, we not only obtained the tinum-level chest but also a skill book and two pieces of equipment."


    As he spoke, Jeremy produced the tinum-level chest.


    The moment Howardid eyes on the tinum-level chest, his expression swiftly transformed from one of doubt to one of sheer tion.


    "You truly are a young hero! I never imagined you would be the first to obtain a tinum-level chest!" After expressing his amazement, Howard immediately spoke with unwavering determination.


    "You don''t need to fret about the gemstones! Even if Moonlight City can''t provide enough gemstones, I''m certain the capital would be more than willing to supply them to open a tinum-level chest."


    "After all, there are no records of a tinum-level chest in the military''s database. More importantly, no one knows what kind of rewards await inside a tinum-level chest!"


    With these words, Howard grabbed Jeremy and dashed toward his office at breakneck speed.


    Bonnie, trailing behind, struggled to keep up with their hastened pace.


    Both Jeremy and Bonnie had somewhat underestimated the true value of a tinum-level chest.


    The appearance of the tinum-level chest left everyone at Howard''s military base utterly astonished. Upon learning of this discovery, Howard immediately reported the news to the military headquarters in the capital.


    The military headquarters was equally stunned by the news of the tinum-level chest.


    Without dy, the military headquarters dispatched a special envoy, and concurrently, the federal government sent an emissary to Moonlight City.


    Howard hadpletely shelved his previous n.


    To Howard, the most crucial task now was to open the tinum-level chest as swiftly as possible.


    The news of Jeremy acquiring the tinum-level chest swiftly reached Benjamin''s ears.


    Benjamin was exceedingly astonished by the revtion, but upon learning that his daughter was also involved with Jeremy, he felt an overwhelming sense of pride.


    "It seems my daughter is indeed a remarkably gifted Awakener.


    After her initial setbacks, she quickly adapted her approach. The fact that she was acting alongside Jeremy means she also shares in the credit for acquiring the tinum-level chest."


    Although Benjamin outwardly appeared indifferent towards his daughter, deep down, as a father, he harbored a profound love for her.


    Apart from the people in Moonlight City, the factions in the capital also reacted with remarkable speed.


    Soon, the major families in the capital learned about the discovery of a tinum-level chest in Moonlight City.


    The reactions of these prominent families varied significantly in response to this news.


    Several families nned to win over Jeremy, as they had never had any conflicts with him and held him in high regard.


    If they could sessfully align Jeremy with their family factions, their power would be significantly augmented.


    However, for the Lannisters, the situation was exceedingly dire.


    Kean had not yet been released from the confinement room when he heard the news from his butler, Farmer.


    With incredulity etched on his face, Kean loudly questioned Farmer, "Are you messing with me right now?! You should be well aware that toying with me will cost you dearly!"


    Farmer wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and, trembling, said, "How could I possibly mess with you on this matter? I only just learned of this news myself. The upper echelons of the Lannisters are currently holding an emergency meeting. They are deliberating on the appropriate course of action moving forward."


    "However, regardless of the oue, Jeremy''s strength has increased significantlypared to before. You should also prepare yourself as soon as possible."

 Chapter 182: The Lannisters Remaining Aloof

    "You don''t need to tell me, I already know!" Kean roared furiously at his butler, Farmer, who had attempted to remind him.


    Kean felt that the butler''s reminder was utterly pointless. Being confined to the detention room, there was absolutely nothing he could do in response.


    "I must get out of here immediately! No matter what, you have to release me from this detention room!" With unwavering determination, Kean fixed his gaze intently on the butler, Farmer.


    At this moment, Kean had already made up his mind, if the butler truly had no intention of releasing him, he would not hesitate tounch an attack.


    "My lord, it''s not that I am unwilling to let you out. The higher-ups of the Lannisters have explicitly forbidden me from doing so. Besides, the head of the family has clearly stated that if I do release you, he will make me pay a heavy price."


    Farmer exined, but his words had no effect whatsoever.


    Kean was now seething with rage, he had absolutely no intention of listening to any exnations.


    "Spare me your nonsense! I ask you one thing and one thing only: Will you release me or not?"


    Kean had already gripped his weapon tightly.


    Should Farmer refuse to release him, he was prepared to break out by force. He had even steeled himself for the possibility of bing an enemy to his own family.


    Farmer was well aware of Kean''s resolute nature.


    Upon seeing the expression on Kean''s face, it was clear that he would no longer be constrained by any considerations.


    If Farmer truly refused him, Kean would undoubtedly kill him once he got out of the detention room.


    "Since you have put it this way, my lord, as your butler, I naturally must follow your orders. However, I must give you one final reminder: such actions will undoubtedly enrage the higher-ups of the family."


    "I am fully aware of that, I don''t need your reminder. As long as I can defeat Jeremy, the family''s higher-ups will never hold it against me. On the contrary, they will even have to reward me."


    Butler Farmer nodded and then proceeded to unlock the door of the detention room.


    As Kean stepped out, he nced at Butler Farmer.


    "You know what to do once I leave, right?"


    "Of course, my lord. Rest assured, I will do my utmost to stall and divert the attention of the family''s higher-ups. I will dy them from discovering that you have left the detention room for as long as possible."


    Farmer''s response greatly satisfied Kean, who smiled and nodded approvingly.


    "d you understand! As long as you canplete this task, I promise you will receive a very generous reward once I seed."


    Having said this, Kean immediately set off with his weapon towards an instance in the outskirts of the capital.


    After Kean departed, Butler Farmer''s expression underwent a dramatic shift.


    At this moment, Butler Farmer''s face was clouded with deep gloom. He bitterly regretted his recent decision.


    "I should have withstood the pressure! Now that Kean has left the detention room, if he truly goes after Jeremy and something unexpected happens, I''ll be in deep trouble too."


    Although Butler Farmer was already filled with regret, his remorse held no significance at this point.


    After pondering for a bit longer, Butler Farmer decided to inform the higher-ups of the Lannisters in advance to secure a way out for himself.


    Butler Farmer immediately took out his phone and dialed Kean''s uncle.


    "If it''s not something incredibly urgent, do not call me. I am currently in an emergency meeting with the family''s senior members."


    Kean''s uncle''s voice was notably stern over the phone.


    Butler Farmer hastily replied, "I have something extremely important to inform you. Master Kean has left the detention room. He might be going to confront Jeremy."


    Upon hearing Butler Farmer''s information, Kean''s uncle was profoundly shocked.


    "How did he get out? Weren''t the keys in your possession? Didn''t I explicitly instruct you not to let him leave the detention room under any circumstances?"


    Facing Kean''s uncle''s interrogation, Butler Farmer could only scramble to exin.


    "I truly did not want to let Master Kean out, but his emotions were extremely agitated at the time. If I hadn''t let him out, he likely would have killed me on the spot.


    At that point, I wouldn''t have been able to stop him from leaving the detention room anyway. Since you now have this information, you should quickly discuss it with the other senior members of the family."


    Kean''s uncle was naturally very dissatisfied with Butler Farmer''s exnation.


    However, he had no other options at the moment.


    After all, he was still standing outside the emergency meeting room of the Lannisters'' senior members, and he needed to return to continue the urgent family discussions.


    "Alright, I understand what you have told me. Do not inform anyone else of this matter until I give you further instructions."


    Although Kean''s uncle was extremely angry, he had not lost hisposure.


    He knew this matter absolutely could not be disclosed to others. So, he specifically reminded Butler Farmer to maintain confidentiality.


    "Rest assured, I will definitely not tell anyone about this." Butler Farmer quickly responded.


    After hanging up the phone, Kean''s uncle returned to the emergency meeting of the Lannisters'' senior members.


    "Everyone, I have something very important to tell you."Kean''s uncle announced, standing at the doorway of the meeting room upon his return.


    All the senior members of the Lannisters turned their attention to Kean''s uncle.


    "Just now, I received news from Kean''s butler, Farmer. Kean has left the detention room, and he is likely going to confront Jeremy."


    After delivering this news, all the senior members of the Lannisters were extremely shocked.


    "How could he do such a thing? If he really goes to confront Jeremy, our family, the Lannisters, will face even greater peril. Many families would be willing to back Jeremy."


    One of the senior members stood up and eximed loudly.


    Kean''s uncle nced at the speaker, a trace of displeasure appearing on his face.


    Everyone in the meeting room was discussing the news they had just received.


    Only Kean''s grandfather, who was also the head of the Lannisters, remained calm while sitting at the head of the table.


    The head of the Lannisters family coughed twice, drawing everyone''s attention to himself.


    "Did any of you deliberately let Kean out?" the Lannisters'' patriarch asked calmly in his aged voice.


    No one responded to the question.


    They had all only just learned of this information. Even Kean''s uncle, who had been responsible for overseeing Kean, had only known a few minutes earlier than the others.


    The family head of the Lannisters nodded calmly.


    "Since none of you deliberately let Kean out, then the person who did must be Butler Farmer, correct?"


    As he said this, the head of the Lannisters turned his gaze towards Kean''s uncle.


    Kean''s uncle nodded in agreement.


    "You are correct, it was indeed Butler Farmer who let Kean out."


    Upon receiving this confirmation, the head of the Lannisters allowed a slight smile to appear on his face.


    "In that case, this entire matter has nothing to do with us. If Kean has indeed gone to confront Jeremy, then so be it.


    If he can seed, it would mean that our Lannisters possess the most formidable high-endbat power in the entire federation. If he fails, we can simply ce all the me on Butler Farmer.


    Isn''t this a situation with minimal risk and significant potential reward for us, the Lannisters? Why are all of you so rmed?"


    The patriarch''s words brought a sense of calm to everyone present.


    "You are indeed correct, but will the other families in the federation truly ept our exnation?


    The other families in the federation will certainly believe that Kean''s actions had our covert support."


    Upon hearing this, the head of the Lannisters let out a coldugh.


    "The families that oppose us will criticize us no matter what we do. Therefore, we don''t need to consider their attitudes at all.


    As long as our family can publicly distance itself from Kean''s uing actions, that will suffice.


    Even the federation''s high-ranking officials won''t be able to use this incident against us, the Lannisters."


    The patriarch''s wordspletely dispelled the concerns of the others.


    The Lannisters began making preparations around Kean''s actions. However, none of them nned to offer Kean any assistance. They merely hoped to share in the benefits of his sess.


    Even so, the Lannisters'' actions provided significant support to Kean.


    At least in the short term, Kean need not worry about being attacked by the federation''s armed forces.


    This is because the federation is still unaware that Kean has already left the confinement chamber.


    At this moment, Kean had arrived near the entrance of the instance that he had agreed upon with the mysterious deity.


    Gazing at the entrance of the instance, a trace of hesitation appeared on Kean''s face.


    The entrance to the instance was located within a cave halfway up the mountain. From outside the instance, Kean could only see various colors of strange energies constantly flowing.


    Suddenly, an ethereal voice echoed in Kean''s mind.


    "Since you''ve alreadye this far, there is no need for any hesitation. Quickly enter the instance."

 Chapter 183: Becoming the Deitys Puppet

    For Kean at this moment, there truly was no way to turn back.


    Upon hearing the ethereal voice, he gritted his teeth and ultimately walked into the cave halfway up the mountain.


    First, he extended his hand into the entrance of the instance, and immediately, he felt an endless surge of power flowing into his body.


    Under normal circumstances, Kean would have been extremely pleased.


    After all, his primary objective had always been to enhance his own strength, to acquire the power capable of defeating Jeremy.


    However, Kean now felt a slight tinge of concern.


    He had a persistent feeling that this boundless power, upon entering his body, swiftly reached his brain, attempting to ce his mind under its formidable control.


    "What on earth is happening? This is entirely different from our original agreement! I only promised to bring you into this instance, and in return, you were supposed to bestow me with immense power.


    Why is this power trying to control my brain? Are you nning to turn me into your puppet? I will never ept such a fate."


    Kean shouted loudly.


    However, at this point, Kean''s regret was utterly futile.


    Kean realized that he was entirely unable to withdraw his hand from the entrance of the instance.


    After numerous unsessful attempts, he red furiously in the direction of the instance and roared, "I will never allow you to turn me into a puppet! Our coboration ispletely over!"


    Kean retrieved his most formidable weapon from his backpack, channeling all his strength into hurling it violently towards the instance.


    What appeared to be an ordinary instance disyed an extraordinarily powerful defense under Kean''s full-force assault.


    Kean''s attack did not inflict any damage whatsoever on the entrance of the instance.


    The ethereal voice once again resonated in Kean''s ears.


    "You need not struggle any further. At the moment you decided to coborate with me, your fate to be my puppet was sealed. Your current resistance is merely a waste of our time.


    Haven''t you always aspired to decisively defeat Jeremy? I can help you achieve that goal! All you need to do is relinquish control of your body to me."


    The ethereal voice grew increasingly tangible.


    Kean felt as though this voice was emanating from within his very own body.


    Kean nced at his chest with a hint of panic, and immediately witnessed a baby-sized head sprouting from it.


    The head even lifted and gazed directly at Kean.


    "Who are you?"


    "I am a great deity! I shall use your body to manifest sessfully in this world!"


    The ethereal voice filled Kean''s mind.


    Kean found himself incapable of contemting anything else. His brain was utterly disrupted by what seemed like an infinite force.


    Under the influence of this overwhelming power, Kean''s thoughts quickly dissipated.


    Kean copsed right at the entrance of the instance, and after an indeterminate amount of time, he opened his eyes again. But his eyes had now turned a deep shade of purple.


    In that moment, Kean had been transformed into the deity''s puppet, controlled by the very deity he had once sought help from.


    Kean slowly rose from the ground, took a deep breath, and a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.


    "I have finally arrived in this world, at longst, I can help the Foolpletely eradicate the scourge that is Jeremy!"


    After uttering these words, Kean swiftly disintegrated into a stream of data.


    At that moment, the deity inhabiting Kean''s body was none other than one of the masterminds behind the apocalypse game, the most intelligent subordinate of the Fool, known as the White Tower.


    Under the control of the White Tower, Kean''s body was entirely transformed into High-Dimensional Data.


    Freed from the constraints of Kean''s physical form, the White Tower could more easily manipte Kean for uing actions.


    Furthermore, the White Tower could channel the immense power of its divine realm into the real world through high-dimensional data.


    Under themand of the White Tower, Kean swiftly made his way to Moonlight City.


    Naturally, no one was aware that Kean had been transformed into a deity''s puppet.


    Even the Lannisters, who had intended to remain aloof and observe the unfolding events, had not anticipated such a turn of events.


    In Moonlight City, Jeremy was even less likely to suspect that Kean had be an adversary nearly impossible to defeat.


    At that moment, Jeremy was busy hosting envoys from both the military headquarters and the federal government alongside Howard.


    The envoy from the military headquarters was a colonel, while the federal envoy was the deputy minister responsible for security.


    Both were eager to learn how Jeremy had acquired the tinum-grade treasure chest.


    Jeremy recounted the process of defeating the Soul Ravager.


    The two envoys, upon hearing the ount, disyed expressions of admiration on their faces.


    "You should join the military, the military can provide you with an abundance of resources. With the military''s support, you would undoubtedly be able to enhance your abilities at a much faster pace."


    The envoy from the military headquarters openly extended an olive branch to Jeremy.


    The federal envoy''s expression turned slightly awkward upon hearing these words. Although he had heard rumors about the arrogance of the military headquarters'' members, he hadn''t anticipated such tant disregard for his presence.


    "Please, don''t be hasty. Jeremy is not only a highly valued talent for the military headquarters but also a crucial asset for the federal government. The federal government also hopes that he will serve our interests."


    The federal envoy spoke in a gentle tone.


    However, the military envoy didn''t even spare a nce at the federal envoy.


    "No matter what, the military headquarters is your best choice. Besides, haven''t you always coborated with General Howard while in Moonlight City?


    Has the federal leadership ever provided you with any assistance? The federal leaders absolutely won''t prioritize Moonlight City because they have numerous other areas to defend."


    The envoy from the military headquarters was, in fact, offering a semnce of face-saving to the federal envoy.


    Upon hearing these words, the federal envoy felt a twinge of dissatisfaction internally. However, he ultimately chose to remain silent.


    Everyone''s gaze then shifted towards Jeremy.


    Only Jeremy himself could make the final decision.


    After a moment of calm contemtion, Jeremy slowly spoke.


    "I deeply appreciate your kind offers. However, my decision will not please either of you because I will neither join the military nor serve the federal leadership."


    Jeremy''s words left all three individuals present utterly astonished.


    Howard further cautioned Jeremy, "You shouldn''t make a hasty decision, this matter is extremely significant for you. You must think it through calmly before arriving at your final conclusion."


    In response to Howard''s reminder, Jeremy nodded and expressed his gratitude.


    "I am very grateful for your advice. However, what I just said reflects my true inner thoughts. I have grown ustomed to operating independently.


    Whether I join the military or serve the federal leadership, it would significantly impair my future performance. I believe you wouldn''t want my abilities to diminish, would you?"


    Jeremy''s words caused the two envoys to feel slightly disheartened.


    However, the two envoys eventually epted Jeremy''s decision.


    After all, they both understood that a highly powerful awakened individual would surely have their own principles.


    The envoy from the military headquarters stood up with a smile and said, "Since you have made your decision, we will respect it. However, should you change your mind in the future, the military will still wee you."


    The federal envoy also nodded and said, "The federation wees you as well."


    Jeremy expressed his gratitude to both envoys.


    Subsequently, apanied by General Howard, Jeremy escorted the two envoys out.


    After the envoys had left, Howard hesitated before asking Jeremy.


    "Do you really disregard the resources provided by the military and the federal leadership? Without their resources, you will face significant challenges in enhancing your strength.


    Your current level is already quite high, to further elevate it, you will need more resources. The resources from Moonlight City alone are far from sufficient."


    Jeremy turned back to look at General Howard with a smile.


    "Are you suggesting that the military and the federal leadership will no longer provide me with any assistance? Would they really maliciously withhold the resources I need?"


    Howard shook his head.


    "Not to that extent. Although you have neither joined the military nor served the federal leadership, you are still our ally. Your strength is crucial for all of humanity.


    Therefore, the military and the federal leadership will still provide assistance, but they won''t do so proactively. They will only help when you seek their assistance."


    Upon hearing Howard''s words, Jeremy replied calmly.


    "That will be sufficient. In fact, I don''t need them to go out of their way to help me. All I need from them now is to provide the gemstones to open the tinum-tier treasure chest."


    Howard sighed, realizing he could no longer change Jeremy''s decision.


    "This time, the two envoys brought enough gemstones, you will soon be able to open that tinum-tier treasure chest."

 Chapter 184: Astonishing Treasure Chest Rewards

    After bidding farewell to the two envoys, Jeremy waited for an additional half day.


    That very evening, Howard and Benjamin finally arrived, bringing with them a substantial number of gemstones.


    "Though the two envoys have departed, they left us with a critical task. When you unlock the tinum treasure chest, we must be present to observe the entire process."


    Howard, while saying this, handed Jeremy a secure safe.


    Jeremy nodded, taking the safe from him.


    Jeremy was acutely aware that the gemstones provided by the military headquarters and federal authorities were certainly not without strings attached.


    Even though the military headquarters and federal authorities might not necessarily intend to seize the rewards from the tinum treasure chest, they undoubtedly wanted to know what kind of rewardsy within.


    "If you are ready, you can proceed to open the tinum treasure chest now."Howard said, striving to maintain a calm tone, though Jeremy could discern the excitement in his voice.


    Benjamin remained silent, but the expression on his face clearly indicated his high anticipation.


    Jeremy retrieved all the gemstones from the safe, then took a deep breath.


    As all the gemstones were gathered near the tinum treasure chest, Jeremy extended his hand and opened the chest.


    The moment the tinum treasure chest was unlocked, a dazzling silver light forced Jeremy, Howard, and Benjamin to close their eyes.


    The dazzling burst of light quickly faded away.


    The tinum treasure chest vanished as well, leaving behind a skill book and a long sword where it had once been.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy activated the Eye of Omniscience skill.


    When the Eye of Omniscience skill disyed the detailed information of the skill book and the long sword before Jeremy''s eyes, he was rendered speechless by astonishment.


    [Name: tinum Skill Book]


    [Level: None]


    [Type: Skill Book]


    [Equipped Skill: Spatial Seal]


    [Skill Description: The Spatial Seal skill has three modes of application. The most direct method is to seal the enemy into an unknown space duringbat, with the duration of the seal depending on the enemy''s level and their equipment.


    The second method involves using it on oneself and allies, in this scenario, the user and their allies will enter an unknown space to evade imminent damage.


    The third application method is to use it on equipment and items. In this case, any equipment below level 70 and itemscking divine power will be sealed in the unknown space until the user lifts the seal.


    A special note: The unknown space generated by the Spatial Seal skill is exclusively owned by the skill''s user. No other individual can enter the unknown space without the user''s permission.


    The unknown space can be destroyed by external divine forces. By destroying the unknown space, external divine forces can extract or eliminate the people or items hiding within it.]


    At first nce, the Spatial Seal skill appears to be quite ordinary.


    However, upon examining the skill description, Jeremy discovered that the Spatial Seal could affect all equipment below level 70.


    This also means that if a monstercks divinity and intelligence, as long as its level is below 70, the Spatial Seal skill can almost always take effect quickly and be impossible to counter.


    Moreover, the Spatial Seal skill is extremely versatile in its application.


    It can be used as an offensive skill, and it can also serve as a defensive skill.


    The most crucial aspect is that when facing items that are difficult to carry, the unknown space created by the Spatial Seal skill can provide substantial assistance.


    After thoroughly reading the skill book on the Spatial Seal, Jeremy briefly exined the key information about the skill.


    Howard and Benjamin were both visibly stunned after hearing this information.


    "Can the Spatial Seal skill actually work against all monsters below level 70? Does this mean we can easily deal with the monsters in the industrial district?"


    "Considering that the majority of monsters in the industrial district are below level 40, with only a few exceeding level 50, these monsters should have no resistance against the Spatial Seal skill."Howard asked Jeremy, his excitement barely contained.


    Jeremy nodded in affirmation.


    "I believe there shouldn''t be any issues with what you said. However, after learning the Spatial Seal skill, it''s necessary to practice a bit to unleash its full potential."


    Jeremy cautiously remarked, leaving himself some room for error.


    Howard smiled and shook his head, saying, "Ipletely understand that. You don''t need to feel too pressured. Even if you learn the Spatial Seal skill now.


    I won''t immediately force you to single-handedly eliminate all the monsters in the industrial district. Both Mayor Benjamin and I will continue to support you."


    As Howard finished speaking, he nced back at Benjamin.


    Benjamin, naturally, nodded with a smile as well, since he was counting on Jeremy to keep his daughter safe in the uing actions.


    "Then, I gratefully ept your kindness. Let''s quickly take a look at the attributes of that piece of equipment."


    Jeremy said, shifting his gaze to the longsword. The Eye of Omniscience instantly revealed the sword''s attributes before Jeremy''s eyes.


    [Name: Longsword of the Undying]


    [Level: 58]


    [Type: One-Handed/Two-Handed Weapon]


    [Attributes: Max HP +70%, Attack Power +45%, Skill Damage +50%, All Attribute Damage Resistance +200]


    [Equipment Skills: 1. Curse of the Undying, 2. Resentment of the Forgotten]


    [Skill Description: 1. Curse of the Undying is categorized as a passive skill. When the wielder employs the Longsword of the Undying tounch attacks against an adversary, each sessful hit umtes corresponding curse attributes on the enemy. Once these curse attributes reach a critical threshold, the enemy will incur true damage calcted as a percentage of their maximum health.


    The damage inflicted by Curse of the Undying scales with the wielder''s level. Should the wielder''s level exceed that of the enemy, the damage dealt by this skill can escte to 100% of the enemy''s maximum health.


    Resentment of the Forgotten is designated as an active skill. Duringbat, when the wielder wields the Longsword of the Undying, they can actively trigger Resentment of the Forgotten when the enemy is in an abnormal state.


    This skill can plunge the enemy into a state of mental copse and simultaneously inflict damage on a divine level. The higher the enemy''s divinity, the greater the damage inflicted by Resentment of the Forgotten.]


    After reading the description of the Longsword of the Undying, Jeremy found himself utterly speechless.


    This piece of equipment, in terms of both level attributes and skills, was a perfect match for Jeremy.


    Moreover, the active skill Resentment of the Forgotten possessed by the Longsword of the Undying could even inflict damage on deities. The higher the enemy''s divinity, the greater the damage dealt.


    If Jeremy could elevate his level above 50, he could potentially use the Longsword of the Undying to confront the designers of the apocalypse game directly.


    After all, the designers of the apocalypse game were beings with exceptionally high levels of divinity.


    It took Jeremy quite a while to regain hisposure after the initial shock.


    Jeremy condensed the attributes of the Longsword of the Undying into a more simplified version.


    He also discreetly withheld information about the two skills possessed by the Longsword of the Undying.


    He then shared the simplified information about the Longsword of the Undying with Howard and Benjamin.


    Despite Jeremy downying the equipment, Howard and Benjamin were still utterly astonished upon hearing his description.


    "You actually acquired a level 58 piece of equipment?! I remember that the highest-level equipment possessed by the military headquarters is only level 49." Howard eximed.


    While Howard found the attributes of the Longsword of the Undying already exceedingly impressive, he was even more astounded by its level.


    It''s important to note that level 50 is a critical milestone, as surpassing it allows for the third ss change. The third ss change is crucial for significantly enhancing human capabilities.


    For equipment, reaching level 50 is also a remarkably significant benchmark.


    Equipment that surpasses level 50 can almost achieve an instant kill effect when facing monsters below level 50.


    Benjamin was even more overwhelmed than Howard, he was renderedpletely speechless by the revtion.


    "After all, it came from a tinum-level treasure chest, and it only provided two rewards. It''s natural for the skill book and equipment to be exceptionally powerful."


    Jeremy offered as an excuse in the face of Howard and Benjamin''s extreme astonishment.


    Although Howard and Benjamin epted Jeremy''s exnation, they still believed that Jeremy''sbat power had significantly increased with the acquisition of the spatial seal skill and the Longsword of the Undying.


    Once Howard regained hisposure, he patted Jeremy on the shoulder.


    "With these two items, you are undoubtedly the main force in Moonlight City against the apocalypse game. I will follow your lead in the uing operations."Howard dered.


    "Moreover, I will order my subordinates and the ck Dragon Squad led by E to follow yourmands. I don''t think they would object to that."


    "After all, their levels are all below 40. When facing someone with level 58 equipment, they wouldn''t dare to question you."Howard continued.


    Howard was thoroughly convinced. He had firmly decided to follow Jeremy from now on.

 Chapter 185: Perfect Opportunity to Test the Weapon

    Although Howard and Benjamin were both astounded by the skill book and equipment Jeremy had acquired.


    They would never even consider attempting to seize them. Both of them firmly believed that these items would be far more effective in Jeremy''s hands.


    "Why don''t you quickly take these two items away? I assume you''re eager to put this skill book to use?" Howard inquired with a beaming smile directed at Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "You are absolutely right. Most of the skills I originally possessed have already been sealed. The new skills I''ve acquired recently haven''t been particrly helpful inbat.


    Hence, I must learn the spatial seal skill as soon as possible. Additionally, I need to familiarize myself with the Longsword of the Undying promptly. Only then can I swiftly re-enter the battlefield."


    Howard and Benjamin were both exceedingly pleased with Jeremy''s response.


    "That''s great! I am eagerly looking forward to your next performance!"


    Having said that, Howard promptly took his leave.


    He needed to ry the specific details of the rewards obtained from the tinum chest to the military headquarters as soon as possible.


    Jeremy and Benjamin watched Howard depart.


    After Howard left, Benjamin, with a smile on his face, turned to Jeremy and asked,


    "Has my daughter caused you much troubletely?"


    Upon hearing the question, Jeremy''s expression disyed a hint of surprise.


    "Bonnie is not only my ss leader but also a very good friend of mine. How could she possibly cause me any trouble? In fact, Bonnie has always been able to assist me during battles.


    Without her help, my previous endeavors wouldn''t have gone so smoothly."


    Hearing these words, Benjamin''s smile grew even brighter.


    "That''s reassuring! I''ll be counting on you to look after my daughter in the days toe.


    She has always aspired to enhance her own abilities, but as you know, her current strength is not sufficient to guarantee her safety.


    Therefore, I hope she can continue to act alongside you moving forward."


    Jeremy nodded without any hesitation.


    "There''s absolutely no problem with that. In fact, Bonnie is a partner I hold in very high regard. I''m confident that our forting endeavors will yield excellent results."


    Jeremy''s response left Benjamin extremely satisfied.


    Benjamin nodded, and then chose to leave as well. After all, he had a task quite simr to Howard''s.


    Howard needed to ry the rewards obtained from the tinum chest to the military headquarters, while Benjamin had to inform the higher-ups of the Federation about the same content.


    After the two had departed, Jeremy wasted no time in using the tinum Skill Book.


    A vast amount of information about the Space Seal skill surged into Jeremy''s mind. Consequently, part of Jeremy''s brain adapted to amodate the new skill.


    Jeremy suddenly realized that he could perceive slightly irregr spatial structures in the real world.


    Upon observing these irregr spatial structures, Jeremy had an epiphany. Perhaps he could leverage these subtly wed spatial structures to more conveniently create his own unique spatial domain.


    "It seems that the Space Seal skill requires consideration of numerous factors during its activation.


    If the Space Seal skill is deployed in an open area, it would likely face significant limitations. However, if it is activated in a terrain withplex structures, it should yield excellent results."


    After pondering for a brief moment, Jeremy decided to use the newly acquired Space Seal skill directly.


    Jeremy''s eyes fixated on a spot on the ground not far away, and in the next instant, a glowing entrance materialized out of thin air where he was looking.


    Behind this entrancey the unknown space that Jeremy had created using the Space Seal skill.


    If Jeremy chose to use this unknown space offensively, the enemy would be trapped within it. If he opted for defense, he could now leap into this unknown space himself.


    Jeremy repeatedly tested the Space Seal skill.


    Only after confirming that he had mastered the Space Seal skill proficiently did Jeremy shift his focus to the Longsword of the Undying.


    The Longsword of the Undying boasted an impressive level of 58.


    Moreover, the weapon as a whole is exceedingly heavy, even though its description categorizes it as suitable for both one-handed and two-handed use.


    However, at least for the present Jeremy, he could only barely wield the Longsword of the Undying with both hands gripping it tightly.


    "It appears that at my current level, wielding the Longsword of the Undyinges with certain limitations. Perhaps once I reach level 50, I will be able to unleash its full potential."


    After pondering briefly, Jeremy arrived at this conclusion.


    Having familiarized himself with the skill and the weapon, Jeremy decided to seek out Emma and ire directly.


    He intended to include the two of them in his uing actions.


    After all, with his newly acquired formidable Space Seal skill and a level 58 weapon, he could now ensure the safety of Emma and ire during their missions.


    As Jeremy headed towards Emma and ire''s residence, Ritchie was also on the lookout for Jeremy''s whereabouts.


    Ritchie had sessfullypleted his own mission.


    However, he was unsure of what to do next, so he decided to find Jeremy and ask him what tasks he could undertake moving forward.


    Eventually, Ritchie and Jeremy crossed paths at the entrance of ire''s house.


    "Where have you been? It was just about finding Howard to open the tinum-level treasure chest. Why did you waste so much time?"


    Ritchieined directly upon seeing Jeremy.


    Jeremy responded with a smile on his face.


    "The way you speak makes it seem as if tinum-level treasure chests are asmon as dirt. You must understand that tinum-level treasure chests are extremely rare.


    Even the military headquarters and the federal highmand have never obtained one. Therefore, opening a tinum-level treasure chest requires the assistance of the military headquarters and the federal elite.


    The reason I took so much time was because I had to negotiate with the envoys from the military headquarters and the federal highmand."


    Hearing Jeremy''s exnation, a look of astonishment appeared on Ritchie''s face.


    "You actually met with the envoys from the military headquarters and the federal highmand? Did they mention any rewards they might offer you?"


    "Rewards? You wish! The military headquarters and the federal highmand merely invited me to join their ranks. But I outright declined because I believe that working with you guys is far more enjoyable."


    Upon hearing these words, Ritchie stepped forward and ced his hand on Jeremy''s shoulder.


    "That''s the wisest decision you could make! After all, we are a team! Even if you joined the military headquarters and the federal highmand, they wouldn''t treat you like one of their own."


    Jeremy cast a nce at Ritchie.


    "If we are truly a team, then why were you justining about me?"


    "When did I everin about you?! What I said earlier was merely out of concern for you!" Ritchie quickly defended himself.


    "Alright, since we are already at ire''s doorstep, why are we still standing here? Let''s go meet ire and Emma. They must be getting impatient by now."


    Ritchie hastily changed the subject, pushing open the door to ire''s house and walking right in.


    Jeremy shook his head with a smile and followed suit.


    ire and Emma were visibly excited to see Jeremy, as they hadn''t seen him for several days.


    "You finally have some free time toe see us. I''ve heard that you''ve been spending a lot of time with Bonnietely."


    ire remarked, seemingly casually.


    Before Jeremy could respond, Ritchie nodded and said.


    "Indeed, that''s the case. Jeremy here has been spending all his time with Captain Bonnietely. They''ve even left me out in the cold."Ritchie said, his words causing Jeremy to feel a bit awkward.


    As Jeremy was pondering what to say, he suddenly heard a deep, distant voice.


    "I have pinpointed your location. I will soon be by your side to eliminate you." The moment Jeremy heard this voice, he instinctively recognized it as the voice of the White Tower.


    "I just heard an unfamiliar voice. It must belong to one of the apocalypse game''s orchestrators. They are about tounch an attack on me."


    Jeremy dered, his words casting a pall of terror over everyone present.


    ire, in a rush, asked Jeremy, "Why is this happening? How can the orchestrator of t


    he apocalypse game enter the real world? What should we do now? Should we hide?"


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy let out a coldugh and said.


    "There''s absolutely no need for us to hide! The arrival of the White Tower is, in fact, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us. We can seize this moment to test out the new weapon I''ve acquired."


    Jeremy then revealed the Longsword of the Undying.


    The instant the Longsword of the Undying made contact with the air, everyone in the room felt the temperature plummet rapidly. Ritchie, ire, and Emma were all captivated by the Longsword of the Undying.


    "Why does this weapon look so sinister? Just looking at it makes me feel uneasy all over."Ritchie remarked, wearing a visibly ufortable expression as he stared at the Longsword of the Undying in Jeremy''s hand.

 Chapter 186: The Deity Appearing in Mortal Form

    Aside from Ritchie, both ire and Emma looked at the Longsword of the Undying with eyes full of fear.


    Jeremy said with a smile on his face.


    "Weapons are meant to y foes! Only a weapon that instills fear in the enemy can be considered truly worthy. Although you are not my enemy but my ally, the fact that this weapon can make you feel fear just proves how exceptional it really is, doesn''t it?"


    After listening to Jeremy''s exnation, Ritchie nodded in acknowledgment.


    Although Ritchie knew that Jeremy''s exnation was mere nonsense, he chose not to dwell further on Jeremy''s weapon.


    After all, Jeremy had just mentioned that a formidable enemy, one they had never encountered before, was about to arrive.


    "Didn''t you just say that we are about to face an attack orchestrated by one of the nners of the apocalypse game? Shouldn''t we be preparing for that? Do you have any ns?"


    Ritchie hurriedly steered the conversation back to the imminent assault from the White Tower.


    Jeremy nodded and spoke with an air of utmost confidence.


    "Even though I only recently detected this information, I have already formted aprehensive strategy in my mind to counter the White Tower''s attack."


    Despite Jeremy''s confident tone, Ritchie couldn''t help but feel a tinge of worry.


    After all, Ritchie had not apanied Jeremy into The Iron Lair instance.


    Thus, Ritchie was unaware that Jeremy had already acquired some critical information rted to the White Tower during his venture into The Iron Lair instance.


    The most crucial piece of information Jeremy now possessed was that the White Tower''s power directly manifested as High-Dimensional Data. Therefore, in Jeremy''s estimation, the impending attack by the White Tower would undoubtedly involve a massive swarm of mechanical monsters.


    "I am fully prepared to swiftly annihte numerous mechanical monsters."Jeremy dered, his voice resolute. After finishing his statement, he retrieved two data storage devices from his pocket.


    "These two devices contain High-Dimensional Data. During the battle between me and the White Tower, you must find a way to use this High-Dimensional Data to obliterate all the mechanical monsters they summon."


    Ritchie epted one of the data storage devices from Jeremy''s hand.


    ire and Emma, on the other hand, took the other data storage device from Jeremy''s hand.


    After receiving the data storage device, ire, slightly worried, asked Jeremy.


    "Will this really provide you with significant support? High-Dimensional Data shouldn''t pose a threat to the White Tower, right?"


    "After all, as you mentioned, High-Dimensional Data is the tangible manifestation of the White Tower''s power. We can''t possibly use its own power to defeat it."


    Jeremy nodded gently, his expression softening.


    "You''re right. I can handle the White Tower on my own. You just need to neutralize the other threats."


    Although Jeremy had never engaged inbat with the White Tower before.


    Merely from their name alone, Jeremy could infer that the strength possessed by the White Tower was undoubtedly inferior to that of the Fool and the Sun.


    Moreover, from the information Jeremy had gathered, it was quite evident that the White Tower was not a mastermind in the apocalypse game who excelled at directbat.


    Jeremy''s words, instead of reassuring Ritchie and the others, only served to heighten their anxiety.


    "I honestly believe that challenging the mastermind of the apocalypse game alone is bound to fail. We should contact Howard and Benjamin as soon as possible. They will certainly provide us with some assistance."


    Ritchie suggested, immediately thinking of seeking help from others.


    "You are correct. You can inform them right now. However, if you proceed with this n, you won''t be able to assist me in the imminent battle."


    Jeremy responded, not dismissing Ritchie''s strategy entirely.


    Jeremy understood that Ritchie''s n was impractical given the circumstances. The moment Jeremy sensed the presence of the White Tower''s power, it meant the White Tower was already very close.


    Just as Jeremy finished speaking, before Ritchie could ask why, a familiar and despised figure appeared not far from the group.


    Kean''s lips curled into a cold sneer, his eyes fixed icily in the direction of Jeremy and the others.


    Upon seeing Kean, Emma and ire''s faces twisted in disgust. However, knowing full well they were no match for Kean, they instinctively took cover behind Jeremy.


    "You all don''t need to worry! This time, he ising for me, not for any of you!"


    Jeremy, gripping the Longsword of the Undying tightly in his hand, murmured in a low voice.


    "He speaks the truth. This time, my sole objective is to eliminate him, it has nothing to do with any of you. If you choose to leave now, I will grant you a reprieve."


    Kean stated in an uncharacteristically gentle tone.


    When Ritchie, ire, and Emma heard Kean''s words, their faces were marked with profound confusion.


    "What is going on? To my knowledge, you are not a patient person. You should be eager to attack us right now."


    Ritchie remarked, furrowing his brow as he scrutinized Kean closely.


    Kean chuckled softly.


    "People change. Since my previous attempt failed, I must seek alternative methods to achieve sess. I believe my earlier failure was due to the sheer number of my adversaries.


    Therefore, in this endeavor, I will consider Jeremy my only enemy. As long as you do not aid Jeremy, I will not regard you as my foes."


    Kean''s words naturally failed to convince anyone.


    Upon hearing Kean''s statement, Jeremy''s expression grew more solemn.


    "Stop wasting time. You are not Kean at all! You are the mastermind behind the Apocalypse Game, ''the White Tower''!"


    Jeremy dered, directly naming ''the White Tower.''


    At the mention of the White Tower, Kean burst into loudughter.


    "Did you make this deduction because I gave you a hint just now?" he asked, smirking.


    "Even without your hint, I would have sensed your presence. Your appearance in the real world, as the mastermind behind the Apocalypse Game, would surely cause significant energy fluctuations."Jeremy retorted.


    Kean nodded and, in an instant, dissolved into a torrent of High-Dimensional Data.


    The stream of High-Dimensional Data,den with information, surged rapidly toward Jeremy.


    With Ritchie and the others unable to react in time, Jeremy calmly extended his left hand forward.


    Immediately, a phantom-like unknown space materialized in front of Jeremy. As soon as the unknown space formed, Jeremy swiftly tossed the data storage devices held by Ritchie and ire into the spatial void.


    "The situation here is far too perilous! What you need to do now is leave immediately and let me handle this alone. I no longer require your assistance!"


    Jeremy quickly instructed his friends.


    Upon witnessing ''the White Tower'' manifest in Kean''s form, Jeremy had already gauged the circumstances he was up against.


    The fact that ''the White Tower,'' the mastermind behind the Apocalypse Game, could appear in the real world indicated that Kean had provided substantial assistance.


    Moreover, based on Jeremy''s understanding of Kean, he knew that Kean had the ability to allow a deity to descend upon him.


    However, Kean''s unique ability was not without its drawbacks. The greatest w of his ability was that when a deity descended upon him, the deity would also be constrained by Kean''s physical limitations.


    Kean had never possessed any skills capable of manipting High-Dimensional Data before this moment.


    This implied that once ''the White Tower'' descended upon Kean, it could only transform Kean''s body into High-Dimensional Data. However, it would be unable to use High-Dimensional Data to control other mechanical monsters.


    Having made this precise judgment in the blink of an eye, Jeremy naturally urged the others to leave.


    Ritchie followed Jeremy''s instructions without hesitation.


    As he departed, he made sure to drag ire and Emma along with him, fearing that their reaction speed might not be quick enough.


    ire and Emma, caught off guard, failed to react in time.


    They were both terrified by Kean''s sudden transformation into High-Dimensional Data.


    It wasn''t until Ritchie had dragged them several meters away that ire and Emma finally snapped out of their shock.


    "Kean used a skill remarkably simr to that of The Mechanical Duke! We might be able to counter Kean the same way we countered The Mechanical Duke!"


    Emma, ever the one for sudden inspirations, voiced hertest idea.


    However, ire immediately dismissed her suggestion the moment Emma mentioned it.


    "The enemy we are facing is not Kean, our adversary is ''the White Tower.'' Kean''s own strength already surpasses that of The Mechanical Duke. And the power that ''the White Tower'' possesses is even more formidable.


    Your approach not only has no chance of sess but might also plunge us into a perilous situation. We must ensure our own safety, only then can we avoid being a burden to Jeremy."


    After delivering her stern warning, ire promptly took out her phone.


    She dialed Bonnie''s number without hesitation. Despite her personal dislike for Bonnie, ire understood that in this dire circumstance, only Bonnie could offer substantial assistance to Jeremy.

 Chapter 187: A Battle with Nearly No Hope of Victory

    Upon witnessing ire calling Bonnie, Ritchie promptly reacted as well, he immediately took out his own phone and dialed Howard''s number.


    Both ire and Ritchie, with utmost urgency, ryed the situation that Jeremy was facing to Bonnie and Howard.


    Upon learning the pertinent information, Bonnie and Howard took immediate action.


    At that moment, Bonnie was not far from where Jeremy and the others were located. Therefore, she could reach the battlefield within a few minutes, whereas Howard, stationed at the military base, would need about half an hour to arrive.


    While everyone else was scrambling into action, Jeremy was also putting forth his utmost effort to battle the White Tower.


    Although the Longsword of the Undying could not directly destroy High-Dimensional Data, its abilities sessfully influenced the effects of the High-Dimensional Data.


    The White Tower found itself unable to utilize its High-Dimensional Data to directly annihte Jeremy.


    After the initial sh, the White Tower once more assumed the form of Kean.


    "It seems I have indeed underestimated you, the power you possess is sufficient to defeat my careless brothers."the White Tower remarked with a hint of admiration.


    However, immediately after, the White Tower followed up with a vicious statement: "But, it is impossible for you to defeat me using such methods. The power I wield far surpasses your imagination!"


    The White Tower, now in the guise of Kean, extended its left hand forward in a deliberate motion.


    Immediately, a weapon almost identical to the Longsword of the Undying materialized in the White Tower''s left hand.


    With a smile on its face, the White Tower addressed Jeremy.


    "Every weapon you wield, every skill you employ¡ªI can replicate them! Moreover, the power of the weapons and skills I create is far superior to the originals you use."


    With those words, the White Tower charged at Jeremy, clutching the replica of the Longsword of the Undying.


    The opponent''s advance was astoundingly rapid, leaving Jeremy with no time to evade.


    Hence, all Jeremy could do at this moment was to use his own Longsword of the Undying to parry the replica weapon in his adversary''s hand.


    When the two identical weapons collided head-on, an entirely unexpected scene unfolded before Jeremy''s eyes.


    The replica in the White Tower''s hand remainedpletely undamaged.


    However, the de of the true Longsword of the Undying in Jeremy''s hand suddenly developed a crack.


    The moment the crack appeared, Jeremy could feel the power contained within the Longsword of the Undying rapidly dissipating.


    "How is this possible?! How can you defeat the genuine weapon I hold with a mere replica?!"


    Jeremy asked incredulously, his voice filled with disbelief.


    A slight smile yed on the White Tower''s lips.


    "Didn''t I just tell you? The weapons and skills I replicate are far more powerful than the originals."


    As soon as these words were spoken, the Longsword of the Undying in Jeremy''s hand snapped cleanly in half.


    Seeing this, Jeremy decided not to engage the White Tower in directbat any longer. He resolved to leave the battlefield immediately and retreat to a safer location.


    Jeremy needed some time to contemte his next move.


    However, Jeremy''s opponent had no intention of granting him any time to think.


    The instant Jeremy utilized his spatial sealing skill to evade the White Tower''s attack, the White Tower immediately replicated Jeremy''s spatial sealing skill and pursued him in the same direction.


    Jeremy had not anticipated that every single one of his chosen tactics would utterly fail.


    A slight sense of bewilderment crept over Jeremy.


    In his recollection, defeating the apocalypse game''s nner didn''t seem like such an insurmountable task.


    In reality, Jeremy had only managed to triumph over the apocalypse game''s nner because he had received assistance from other deities of equivalent rank.


    Without the aid of the ss change goddess Janna or the "World."Jeremy would never have been able to defeat the "Sun."


    Although Jeremy couldn''t gain the upper hand in the battle, he could still rely on his own strength to ensure his safety.


    After all, even if the White Tower could project its power into the real world, that power would be correspondingly diminished.


    And so, Jeremy and the White Tower found themselves locked in a relentless game of chase and escape.


    When Bonnie and Howard arrived at the battlefield, Jeremy and the White Tower had already departed.


    "Where exactly did Jeremy go? And why isn''t that extremely powerful enemy you mentioned on the phone here either?"


    Bonnie asked Ritchie, ire, and Emma with a hint of urgency upon her arrival.


    "They were just here fighting, but after some intense exchanges, it seemed they both decided it would be more advantageous to battle elsewhere.


    They headed in that direction, if you follow the path we''re pointing to, you should find them quickly."


    Ritchie pointed directly in the direction where Jeremy had departed.


    Bonnie nodded affirmatively and then quickly hurried off in that direction.


    After watching Bonnie leave, Ritchie turned back and addressed ire and Emma.


    "In the current situation, I must also take responsibility. I need to go with Bonnie to offer support to Jeremy." Ritchie dered, his tone resolute.


    "You two stay here and ry everything that just happened to General Howard. Once he''s briefed, he can make an independent decision."


    After Ritchie had finished speaking, he decisively chose to hasten forward in the direction Jeremy had gone.


    Following Ritchie''s departure, both ire and Emma felt a slight pang of nervousness.


    After all, they had never ventured out on their own before this moment.


    "Do you think Jeremy is in grave danger? Is it possible he might not survive this battle?" Emma, though older, was actually the most fragile among them.


    Hearing Emma''s concern, ire shook her head calmly, her face an unreadable mask.


    "I think you don''t need to be so pessimistic. We all know Jeremy''s strength very well. He can absolutely defeat any enemy. We just need to wait patiently for his sess in the fight."ire reassured.


    ire''s words managed to calm Emma down.


    However, deep down, ire herself wasn''t entirely convinced by her own reassurances.


    Since the moment Jeremy and the White Tower began their battle, ire had already assessed that Jeremy''s strength was certainly no match for the White Tower.


    However, for ire, there was no other option but to trust Jeremy now.


    ire and Emma waited patiently for over ten minutes before Howard finally arrived in a flurry.


    "Where are Jeremy and Ritchie? Ritchie just called me saying they encountered an exceptionally formidable enemy and requested my assistance.


    Not only did Ie to provide support myself, but I also brought all of my subordinates. Although their strength may not be the greatest, they can certainly offer some assistance in the battle."Howard exined hastily.


    As he spoke, numerous helicopters appeared behind him, carrying Howard''s best warriors.


    Seeing these soldiers, ire and Emma felt slightly more at ease.


    Although these soldiers were not exceptionally powerful, their sheer numbers provided a significant advantage. In a scenario of many against few, even the White Tower would find it difficult to gain the upper hand in battle.


    ire and Emma recounted all the events that had transpired.


    Upon hearing this information, Howard''s expression turned grim.


    "I had previously warned Kean to stay away from Moonlight City! It seems he ignored my warning. After this incident is over, I will make sure he pays a heavy price."Howard dered with a resolute tone.


    Previously, Howard only harbored a slight disdain for Kean.


    However, after this incident, Howard''s feelings toward Kean had escted to extreme hatred.


    Finishing his statement, Howard led his subordinates in the direction Jeremy and the others had gone.


    To ensure the safety of ire and Emma, Howard took them along as well.


    While others pursued Jeremy, Jeremy had finally been cornered by the White Tower. He found himself at the entrance of a high-difficulty instance, with no way out.


    The White Tower once again transformed into the visage of Kean before Jeremy''s eyes.


    "I told you before, you have no chance of defeating me. Your current actions are nothing but a waste of time. If you choose to surrender right now, I can grant you a swift and painless death, sparing you from much suffering."the White Tower said with a smug smile.


    The expression on its face was one of sheer confidence.


    It believed that victory was already within its grasp.


    Jeremy was out of powerful weapons. His allies were in no position to provide him with immediate assistance.


    However, Jeremy''s next move left the White Tower utterly astonished.


    The White Tower had assumed that Jeremy had fallen into despair, that he had lost all hope in this battle.


    But at that moment, Jeremy spoke with a smile on his face.


    "Do you really think you are already won? Luring you here is actually part of my n. I''m going to use this high-difficulty instance to utterly defeat you now."

 Chapter 188: Utilizing Instances to Combat the Enemy

    Jeremy''s words caused the smile on the face of the White Tower to vanish abruptly.


    It seemed that the entity realized what kind of action Jeremy was about to take.


    "Such measures you n to employ are doomed to fail! The monsters in your world are utterly incapable of posing even the slightest threat to me."


    "For even those very monsters were created by me and the other architects of the apocalypse game. How could a creation ever stand against its creator?"


    The White Tower, after an initial moment of panic, swiftly regained itsposure.


    At this moment, the entity believed it had seen through Jeremy''s intentions.


    The words Jeremy had just spoken were perceived merely as an attempt to cloud its judgment.


    The White Tower was utterly unconvinced that Jeremy''s n could seed, which was precisely what Jeremy had anticipated.


    The smile on Jeremy''s face did not waver, he replied with an air of nonchnce.


    "Since you are unwilling to believe, then let us simply wait and see!"


    After uttering these words, Jeremy conjured an enigmatic space right before him. This unknown realm effectively isted Jeremy from the White Tower.


    Seizing the moment when the White Tower could not swiftly traverse the unknown space, Jeremy leapt directly into a high-difficulty instance.


    Jeremy''s maneuver left the White Tower in a dilemma.


    Although it had previously exuded immense confidence.


    The prospect of entering a high-difficulty instance stirred a slight unease within it.


    The earlier derations made by the White Tower were, of course, not mere fabrications.


    All the monsters in the real world were indeed crafted by the architects of the apocalypse game. However, each architect designed different creatures.


    This implied that, apart from the most formidable existence known as the Fool, none of the other architects were privy to the weaknesses of all the monsters.


    Even utilizing Kean''s inherent talents, the White Tower''s power was not yet so formidable as topletely disregard the limitations of a mortal body.


    Should the White Tower rashly follow Jeremy into the high-difficulty instance, it risked facing abined assault from both Jeremy and the instance''s formidable boss.


    After a moment of careful contemtion, the White Tower opted for a more cautious approach.


    The White Tower relinquished control over Kean''s mind, allowing Kean''s consciousness to finally resurface.


    Regaining his senses, Kean shouted vehemently, "You were going to turn me into your puppet?! I will never let your n seed!"


    Kean, while shouting loudly, instinctively reached towards his pocket.


    He hoped to find a handy weapon in his pocket. Although Kean knew the power gap between himself and the deity was immense.


    He was unwilling to bepletely turned into a puppet, so he was prepared to fight to the death.


    Kean couldn''t feel his pocket because the White Tower had discarded it long ago. The White Tower did this to ensure that, even in unforeseen circumstances, Kean couldn''t escape its control.


    "You don''t need to waste any more time! First, understand where you are right now."


    Although the White Tower had relinquished its control over Kean''s mind, the bulk of its power still resided within Kean. If it wished, it could quickly reassert control over Kean.


    Kean felt slightly bewildered. Though he did not trust the entity, heplied with its instruction.


    Upon observing his surroundings, Kean''s face disyed an expression of utter astonishment.


    "Why am I in Moonlight City?"


    Kean immediately regretted the question as soon as it left his lips.


    Because he recalled the conditions he had negotiated with the unknown deity.


    It turned out that the unknown deity also wished to use Kean to eliminate Jeremy.


    Although Kean did not understand why this situation had arisen, it seemed that cooperation with the unknown deity was indeed possible.


    The White Tower discerned Kean''s thoughts.


    Thus, it addressed Kean directly.


    "I understand that you are extremely angry about my previous actions, but anger holds no significance for either of us. Your enemy is Jeremy, and your ultimate goal is to eliminate him.


    I can provide you with immense power, you only need to follow my instructions."


    Upon hearing these words, Kean''s expression showed a hint of hesitation.


    After a few seconds of contemtion, Kean nodded and said, "I can follow your instructions, but you must agree to some additional conditions of mine."


    The White Tower felt a tinge of anger upon hearing Kean''s words.


    Of course, the White Tower knew that it was best to agree to Kean''s conditions at the moment.


    "If your conditions are not too excessive, I can agree to them directly. As long as you cooperate with me to eliminate Jeremy."


    "My conditions are certainly not excessive."Kean said coldly.


    "My conditions are threefold.


    First, you must reveal your true identity to me.


    Second, you must tell me why you want to eliminate Jeremy.


    Third, if we indeed severely wound Jeremy, you must allow me to kill him with my own hands."


    The three conditions Kean proposed were indeed not overly excessive.


    He did not ask the White Tower to grant him the power it possessed. Because after the previous events, Kean had be very wary of the unknown deity''s bestowed power.


    The White Tower did not hesitate for too long.


    "Your conditions are indeed not excessive. I will tell you the information you want to know. Additionally, I will allow you to kill Jeremy with your own hands."


    After saying these words, the White Tower proceeded to reveal its true identity and the reasons for wanting to eliminate Jeremy.


    As Kean listened, an expression of extreme shock appeared on his face.


    Kean never imagined that the one he had been cooperating with all along was actually the mastermind behind the apocalypse game.


    What Kean found even more astonishing was that Jeremy posed such a significant threat to the mastermind behind the apocalypse game. From what the White Tower said, Kean even inferred that one of the masterminds had perished because of Jeremy.


    "Are you really not deceiving me? How could Jeremy possess such formidable power?"


    Kean still did not believe the White Towerpletely. He felt that the portrayal of Jeremy''s power was excessively exaggerated.


    Although Kean had never gained the upper hand in his previous confrontations with Jeremy.


    Although Kean was far inferior to Jeremy, both in one-on-onebat and in coborating with others to solve instances.


    Kean believed that if he worked hard to improve his own strength, one day he would be able to defeat Jeremy.


    However, if Jeremy was indeed as powerful as the White Tower described, no matter how hard he tried, it would be impossible for him to ovee Jeremy.


    "I have already agreed to your terms and fulfilled my side of the bargain. Now, you must act ording to my orders. This is not the time for hesitation."


    These words from the White Tower sessfully jolted Kean back to reality.


    "You''re right! Since Jeremy possesses such formidable strength, we must seize this opportunity topletely annihte him. We absolutely cannot afford to give him any chance of aeback!"


    Kean could no longer afford to worry about anything else.


    He now had no retreat, only by utterly destroying Jeremy could he justify all his previous actions.


    Kean nned to nder Jeremy by using him of coborating with the masterminds behind the apocalypse game after eliminating him. His long-standing opposition to Jeremy was merely to prevent such a coboration.


    To achieve this goal, both Jeremy and his friends must be entirely eradicated.


    "What should we do next? Has Jeremy hidden himself in that distant instance? If that''s the case, we should act immediately."


    Kean was already impatient, he wanted to find Jeremy as soon as possible and kill him with his own hands.


    "Your guess is correct, but we can''t directly enter the instance right now. I will bestow upon you all the skills I possess. Use the skills I give you to control some mechanical monsters."


    "We will manipte these mechanical monsters to enter the instance ahead of us. This way, we can discern what kind of traps Jeremy has prepared for us in secret."


    "Once we have thoroughly investigated the depths of the instance, we will enter it ourselves. By then, Jeremy will be incapable of posing any threat to us, and we can swiftly eliminate him."


    The White Tower was indeed renowned as a mastermind of the apocalypse game, known for its cunning intelligence.


    Although Jeremy''s previous actions had put the White Tower in a state of dilemma.


    The White Tower wasted no time in devising a perfect counter-strategy.


    Kean nodded solemnly, "In that case, give me your skills! I will immediately control the surrounding mechanical monsters."


    The White Tower imparted its skill of manipting mechanical monsters to Kean, who then dashed towards the nearest mechanical monsters at lightning speed.


    Countless streams of High-Dimensional Data shot out in the direction Kean''s eyes were fixed upon, and in almost an instant, arge number of mechanical monsters were transformed into mechanical puppets.


    "Your skills are indeed incredibly powerful! Perhaps we can use them tobat Jeremy!"


    Kean spoke after he had controlled several mechanical monsters.

 Chapter 189: Mutual Probing Between Opponents

    As Kean manipted the mechanical puppets to enter the instance, deep within its recesses, Jeremy was meticulously perfecting his traps.


    To ensure that the traps within the depths of the instance could defeat the White Tower, Jeremy had deliberately brought the Dark Core to the innermost part of the instance.


    The Dark Core, since it can provide Jeremy with additional power when he attains divinity, is naturally also capable of countering enemies who possess divinity.


    Even though Jeremy already had the Longsword of the Undying, a weapon capable of inflicting damage on divine enemies.


    However, in previous battles, the Longsword of the Undying had not been particrly effective.


    "It seems the White Tower must have some sort of divine-level protection skill. If I want to hurt him, I must first diminish his divinity."


    Jeremy muttered to himself while setting up the traps.


    At that moment, an unusual tremor suddenly reverberated through Jeremy''s surroundings.


    Jeremy cautiously surveyed the area.


    After confirming that he did not detect any information rted to the White Tower, Jeremy muttered to himself again.


    "The tremor just now must have been caused by the instance boss. I should try not to disturb the instance boss. Once the enemy enters the instance, I''ll take action."


    After meticulously setting up the traps in the depths of the instance, Jeremy departed from his established traps and proceeded toward the upper levels of the instance.


    During his ascent, Jeremy did not forget toy down a series of smaller traps along the way.


    He hoped that these minor traps would slow down the White Tower''s movements once he entered the instance.


    Moreover, these smaller traps could serve the purpose of probing the White Tower''s strength.


    In the previous battles, Jeremy had not actually exerted his full power. At that time, Jeremy had already devised a n to utilize the instance to defeat his opponent.


    Had he disyed his full strength then, the White Tower might have been deterred from pursuing him.


    Jeremy did not encounter a single enemy within the instance, and he quickly arrived at a spacious hall within the instance.


    The location of this spacious hall was of paramount importance.


    There were four different pathways in the spacious hall. One pathway led to the entrance of the instance, while another one led to the depths of the instance where Jeremy had prepared his traps.


    The other two pathways each led to one of the instance''s formidable bosses.


    The high difficulty of this instance was precisely because it housed two powerful bosses.


    Both Jeremy and Howard had decided to tackle this instancest after learning about its details. They prioritized dealing with the rtively easier instances first.


    "If I can seize this opportunity to eliminate the two bosses within the instance, our subsequent actions will be much easier."


    Jeremy mused to himself.


    At that very moment, the sound of gears turning echoed from the direction of the instance''s entrance.


    Upon hearing this noise, Jeremy swiftly concealed himself in the shadows.


    Holding his breath, Jeremy focused intently on the entrance of the pathway leading from the instance''s entry to the spacious hall.


    After a short while, a mechanical Puppet resembling a transport vehicle appeared in the pathway.


    The mechanical Puppet did not immediately enter the spacious hall, it seemed to be using its cameras to survey the surroundings.


    The instant Jeremy saw the mechanical Puppet, he realized it was the White Tower''s attempt to probe him.


    Thus, Jeremy had no intention of destroying the mechanical Puppet outright. In his mind, this was an opportunity to gauge the White Tower''s strength in the real world.


    After contemting for a moment, Jeremy retreated to the depths of the instance.


    He had already prepared traps there specifically targeting the mechanical Puppet.


    At the entrance of the instance, both the White Tower and Kean were intently watching the footage transmitted back by the mechanical Puppet, falling into a state of deep contemtion.


    "The mechanical Puppet can''t proceed any further. There''s some force within the instance that limits my control over it. If the Puppet delves any deeper, I''ll lose allmand over it."


    Kean stated in a cold, detached manner.


    The White Tower remained silent, for he knew that what Kean had just said was indeed an undeniable truth.


    After a while, the voice of the White Tower resurfaced.


    "In that case, perhaps you should enter the instance yourself."


    Kean responded with a cold, mockingugh.


    "If you don''t dare to enter the instance, why would you think I would? I refuse to be your sacrificial pawn."


    Hearing Kean''s reply, the White Tower felt a slight surge of anger.


    "You and I are different! You''re human! The dangers you face inside the instance are the same as those faced by any other human. If Jeremy isn''t afraid, why should you be?"


    The White Tower hoped to provoke Kean into entering the instance immediately.


    However, Kean merely responded with a frosty tone.


    "Jeremy is far stronger than I am. Without your assistance, I wouldn''t even dare to face him head-on."


    In reality, Kean was not easily swayed by the White Tower''s words.


    "So, what do you propose we do? Are we just going to stand here and wait like fools?"


    The White Tower, unable to directly control Kean''s body, was left with few viable options.


    "Didn''t you grant me the skill to control mechanical monsters before? Can you bestow upon me more skills? Perhaps with additional abilities, I could observe Jeremy more effectively."


    Kean suggested, hoping to leverage this opportunity to learn more about the White Tower''s capabilities.


    In this way, even if Kean had to face the White Tower as an adversary in the future, his chances of victory in battle would be higher.


    The White Tower responded in a slightly regretful tone.


    "I have no more skills to offer. Moreover, it''s evident that Jeremy is aware of our probing attempts. He seems to be using this opportunity to gauge us as well.


    If weck the courage to enter the instance, he will surely wait within, anticipating the arrival of his allies. Do you think the other Awakened in Moonlight City haven''t caught on yet?"


    The White Tower''s words suddenly made Kean realize the gravity of the situation.


    "Why didn''t you tell me sooner?! Ipletely forgot about the other Awakened in Moonlight City! Howard and Bonnie must be on their way!"


    At that moment, Kean was visibly panicked.


    Though he knew that Howard and Bonnie were not his equals, their assistance to Jeremy could significantlyplicate his subsequent actions.


    "How was I supposed to know you''d forget such a crucial detail?! Surely, you won''t continue to dawdle now! Hurry up and enter the instance!" The White Tower urged impatiently.


    Under the White Tower''s prodding, Kean quickly made his way to the instance''s entrance.


    Just as Kean was about to step into the instance, the roaring sound of helicopter des suddenly filled the air.


    Howard had finally arrived with his subordinates in tow.


    From his vantage point in the helicopter, Howard immediately spotted Kean. His expression was a mix of disappointment and fury.


    "Jeremy must be inside the instance!


    Kean is deliberately blocking the entrance, intending for the instance''s boss to eliminate Jeremy. General Howard, you must act swiftly! You can''t let Jeremy be harmed by Kean!"


    From the helicopter, ire and Emma urgently addressed Howard.


    Howard nodded affirmatively, "No need for further exnation, I''m already on it!"


    Having said that, Howard immediately picked up his radio, "Attention all units! Our adversary is right below, at the entrance of the instance!


    Let''s refrain from engaging directly for now. First, we''llunch a missile strike from the helicopters. Once the missile barrage is over, I will personally lead you down to engage him inbat."


    Following Howard''smand, the two armed helicopters unleashed their entire arsenal of missiles.


    Although the missiles posed little direct threat to Kean and the White Tower, their explosions could very well enrage the boss within the instance.


    If the instance''s boss were to be drawn toward the entrance, the ensuing actions for Kean and the White Tower would be exceedingly challenging.


    So, the moment he saw the missiles beingunched from the helicopter, Kean swiftly entered the instance, advancing rapidly towards its depths.


    Ultimately, the missiles fired from the helicopter failed to hit Kean.


    After the intense explosions, the terrain at the entrance of the instance waspletely obliterated. The entrance itself was partially buried under the copsed mountain caused by the missile strike.


    Bonnie, who was already very close to the instance, heard the deafening sound of the missile explosions.


    Slightly irritated, she muttered to herself, "Why resort to such measures?! Doesn''t Howard realize that this is utterly pointless?! All he''s doing is alerting the enemy."


    With that, Bonnie quickened her pace.


    Ultimately, she arrived at the entrance of the instance just before Howard''s helicopter touched down.


    As the helicopternded, Howard immediately disembarked. He nced at Bonnie and inquired, "You didn''t encounter any dangers earlier, did you? There''s no need for you to be involved in the next phase, my subordinates and I can ensure Jeremy''s safety."


    Upon hearing these words, Bonnie let out a derisiveugh and said,


    "I don''t trust you to ensure Jeremy''s safety."

 Chapter 190: Ritchie, Unnoticed by Anyone

    In reality, it wasn''t just Bonnie who doubted Howard''s ability to ensure Jeremy''s safety.


    Even ire and Emma had lost faith in Howard.


    Having apanied Howard on the helicopter, they too witnessed the disastrous consequences of his order tounch the missiles.


    The entrance of the instance was already halfway covered, and it was highly likely that the boss within the instance would be enraged by the explosions caused by the missile attacks.


    Jeremy, now inside the instance, was undoubtedly in even greater peril.


    Howard paid no heed to Bonnie''s words.


    "If you don''t trust me, what course of action do you intend to take? If you wish to enter the instance, I can permit you to apany me.


    After all, you are the daughter of an old friend of mine, and I must ensure your safety during the operation. I certainly don''t want to be med by your father should you encounter any danger."


    In truth, Howard had never fully trusted Bonnie.


    Howard always felt that everything Bonnie had aplished in the past was only possible with Jeremy''s assistance.


    Upon hearing his words, Bonnie responded calmly.


    "I will enter the instance to provide aid to Jeremy. However, I will not be apanying you. You and your subordinates would only serve to hinder me."


    With that, Bonnie resolutely stepped into the instance.


    In reality, Bonnie wouldn''t encounter any danger whatsoever, as all the threats within the instance were far from the entrance at this moment.


    When Kean first entered the instance, he immediately confronted a colossal monster right at the entrance.


    This gigantic creature was one of the two bosses of the instance.


    Following the missile attacks, one of the monsters within the instance charged toward the entrance, while the other rushed deeper into the instance.


    This meant that Kean had to defeat the instance''s monsters with the assistance of the White Tower if he wanted to delve deeper into the instance and find Jeremy


    During the battle, Kean fought with utmost seriousness, but he suddenly realized he couldn''t easily defeat the instance boss.


    "What on earth is going on? Why is an instance boss of this level so difficult to defeat? Can you provide me with some assistance?! If I end up failing, it will be a mutual failure for both of us! You absolutely cannot stand idly by now!"


    Kean hoped that the White Tower could provide him with some assistance.


    Under normal circumstances, the White Tower was indeed willing to aid Kean. After all, its objective was to eliminate Jeremy, and to achieve that, cooperation with Kean was essential.


    However, during Kean''s battle with the instance boss, the White Tower suddenly sensed that something was amiss within the instance.


    The White Tower had an unsettling feeling that this instance had been tampered with. Furthermore, the tampering seemed to involve the power of an apocalypse game designer.


    The White Tower wanted to quickly ascertain which apocalypse game designer''s power was present within the instance. However, due to its own power being weakened in the real world, it couldn''t make a swift determination.


    Because the White Tower was preupied with other matters, Kean had to face the instance boss alone. This made the battle exceedingly difficult for Kean.


    In the deepest part of the instance, Jeremy was also engaged in a fiercely difficult battle.


    Jeremy had to ensure that the traps he had set in the depths of the instance were not destroyed by the instance boss.


    One of the instance bosses had already blocked the entrance to the area where Jeremy''s deepest trap was located. The instance boss seemed intent on breaking into the trapden zone.


    While fending off the instance boss, Jeremyined aloud.


    "There''s nothing in there that you want! Even if you get in, you''ll only be severely injured by the traps inside."


    Of course, it was impossible for Jeremy to sessfully persuade the instance boss through mere words to stop being his adversary.


    The words Jeremy had just uttered were merely a form of venting.


    Jeremy had never imagined that this particr mission would be fraught with so many unforeseen events.


    Although Jeremy was unaware of the exact cause behind the violent explosion at the instance entrance, he could roughly surmise that it was the doing of his allies.


    While wielding the Longsword of the Undying against the instance boss, Jeremy pondered his next course of action.


    As everyone within the instance was entangled with their respective opponents, a shadow emerged from the vast, empty hall within the instance. This shadow was none other than Ritchie.


    Ritchie first nced upward towards the instance entrance, then cast his gaze downward towards the deeper parts of the instance.


    "It seems I should assist Jeremy first! Once I team up with Jeremy to eliminate the instance boss, the two of us can easily take down Kean."


    After making his decision, Ritchie once again shifted into his shadow form, swiftly advancing through the darkness towards the deeper parts of the instance.


    In actuality, Ritchie had arrived at the instance earlier than both Howard and Bonnie.


    Ritchie had overheard the argument between Kean and the members of the White Tower.


    During their heated exchange, Ritchie seized the moment when both parties were distracted to slip into the instance.


    Despite his early arrival, Ritchie was an exceedingly cautious individual. In this mission, his caution bordered on excessive.


    Only after ensuring that he would encounter no danger did Ritchie begin his operations within the instance.


    Ritchie quickly arrived at the battlefield where Jeremy was engaged with the instance boss.


    By this time, the instance boss had been significantly weakened by Jeremy. Seizing the opportune moment, Ritchie immediately employed the Ravager''s Gloves.


    With the enhancement provided by the Ravager''s Gloves, Ritchie''s control over shadow-manipting skills had be significantly more potent.


    The shadow of the instance boss was directly seized by Ritchie, who cunningly manipted it to turn against the instance boss itself.


    Under such circumstances, the instance boss''s strength rapidly diminished, and it could no longer focus its attention on battling Jeremy.


    Seizing this opportunity, Jeremy swiftly used the Longsword of the Undying to y the instance boss.


    Although the instance boss was defeated, no rewards were given. This was because the instance was, after all, a dual-boss instance. Only by vanquishing both bosses would the corresponding rewards be bestowed.


    "It seems your support arrived just in the nick of time. Where are the others now? They haven''t encountered any danger, have they?"


    Jeremy inquired calmly, turning towards Ritchie.


    Ritchie shook his head. "I don''t actually know if the other two have encountered any danger. After you and Kean left, I hurriedly followed in your direction."


    "However, I believe they should be safe. Before I set out, I specifically gave General Howard a call."


    "If my judgment is correct, General Howard and Bonnie should have already arrived."


    Upon hearing Ritchie''s words, Jeremy''s expression finally rxed a bit.


    "This time, our mission should be sessful. However, I still have no confidence that we canpletely eliminate Kean. At best, we can only severely wound him."


    Ritchie showed a momentary look of confusion upon hearing this.


    "I really don''t understand. Why can''t we finish him off? Kean has already lost to you several times before. Can''t you take this opportunity to defeat him once and for all?"


    Facing Ritchie''s inquiry, Jeremy responded softly, "Now is not the right moment to eliminate Kean. I have a feeling that Kean will only be defeated by me at a very pivotal moment."


    "If I eliminate him prematurely, we might not reap as many benefits. We must wait for the most opportune moment to strike."


    Jeremy''s words left Ritchie even more puzzled.


    However, one of Ritchie''s strengths was that when he encountered something he couldn''t understand, his strategy was simply to stop thinking about it.


    "What you''re saying has really confused me. But honestly, I don''t care whether we canpletely eliminate Kean this time or not. Since you believe we can''t, I''ll trust your judgment."


    "My only question now is, what should our next move be? Since we''ve already taken down one instance boss, should we go after the other instance boss next?"


    "Or should we head directly to the instance entrance to confront Kean?"


    Ritchie proposed two different courses of action. However, Jeremy knew that these two options were essentially the same.


    "We just need to wait here a bit longer. Although Kean isn''t as strong as I am, I doubt that a mere instance boss could hold him back. Moreover, he now has even more powerful assistance."


    Just as Jeremy finished speaking, the sound of footsteps echoed from not far away.


    "Impressive as always, Jeremy! Your assessment of the situation is quite urate. However, this time, there is no way you can escape my grasp."


    Kean''s voice emerged from the shadows.


    As the footsteps grew louder, Kean''s detestable face gradually came into view.


    Ritchie could only see Kean alone, but from Jeremy''s perspective, he could discern another figure faintly floating behind Kean.


    That figure behind Kean was the true formidable adversary Jeremy needed to confront, [the White Tower].

 Chapter 191: The Unexpected Appearance of The Person in the Mirror

    Neither Jeremy nor Ritchie had any interest in responding to Kean''s provocative words.


    Jeremy nced at Ritchie from the corner of his eye, and Ritchie immediately understood Jeremy''s intent. Without hesitation, Ritchie slipped into the shadows, disappearing from view.


    Gripping the Longsword of the Undying with both hands, Jeremy charged directly at Kean.


    "It seems you truly have no idea how powerful I have be! I am not fighting you alone."


    Kean stood his ground, making no effort to dodge, confident that [the White Tower] behind him would provide the necessary support.


    As Jeremy, wielding the Longsword of the Undying, reached Kean, a barrierposed of High-Dimensional Data materialized, blocking Jeremy''s advance.


    Seizing the moment while Jeremy was hindered, Keanunched an attack on the close-proximity Jeremy.


    However, Jeremy had anticipated such a scenario all along.


    Thus, their weapons merely shed against each other.


    At that very instant, Kean suddenly felt as if his shadow was being manipted by someone else.


    Kean immediately reacted, extending his left hand. In an instant, a me materialized in the palm of his left hand.


    In the instant the me materialized, Kean''s shadow broke free from Ritchie''s control.


    "Your friend is just as sneaky as ever, always resorting to these petty tricks. Do you really think such methods can defeat me?! You are gravely mistaken!"


    Kean spat these words venomously before raising his weapon and shing fiercely at Jeremy.


    At this moment, Kean wielded one of the most formidable weapons ever possessed by the Lannisters.


    Though this weaponcked an array of abilities, its strengthy in its sheer power, able to withstand and counter nearly any other weapon in directbat.


    Even Jeremy''s Longsword of the Undying struggled to gain a swift advantage against the formidable weapon Kean wielded.


    Simultaneously, Jeremy sensed a violent shift urring within the High-Dimensional Data surrounding him.


    Jeremy''s heart skipped a beat as he suddenly realized that [the White Tower] might have already detached itself from Kean. The High-Dimensional Data surrounding Jeremy was likely under the control of [the White Tower].


    The moment this possibility dawned on him, Jeremy pushed Kean back and advanced toward the deepest part of the instance.


    Kean, of course, was not about to let Jeremy slip away.


    Regaining his footing, Kean quickly pursued him.


    Ritchie, still lurking in the shadows, did not act hastily. He knew that moving too fast would reveal his position to others.


    Hence, Ritchie moved forward at anguid pace, cloaked in the darkness.


    This strategy left Jeremy to face thebined assault of Kean and [the White Tower].


    Although [the White Tower] no longer controlled Kean''s body, limiting the power it could exert, the threat remained significant.


    However, [the White Tower] could still manipte the High-Dimensional Data. The immense control exerted by the multitude of High-Dimensional Data significantly hindered Jeremy''s movements.


    Jeremy began to lose ground in his battle against Kean.


    Nevertheless, Jeremy didn''t perceive his situation as entirely dire.


    This was because he was now very close to the trap he had meticulously set up beforehand. As long as he could lure Kean and [the White Tower] into the trap, his n would essentially seed.


    While Jeremy fought and retreated strategically, Ritchie finally arrived at the battlefield.


    Upon seeing Jeremy''s precarious situation, Ritchie unleashed his most powerful skill without hesitation.


    Ritchie extended his mind, spreading his consciousness to control nearly all the shadows in their vicinity. These shadows seemed toe to life, crawling towards Kean.


    Although Kean''s strength far surpassed that of any single shadow, he had to ensure his safety when faced with the onught of so many shadows.


    "Nicely done!" Jeremy couldn''t help but exim in admiration.


    Although at the start of their operation, Jeremy had thought no one else could offer him any assistance.


    But now, it was undeniable that he owed his escape from the predicament to Ritchie''s efforts.


    Hearing Jeremy''s praise, Ritchie did not let it get to his head.


    He knew the battle was far from over, at the very least, they needed to defeat Kean before any celebrations could be considered.


    As Jeremy, Ritchie, Kean, and [the White Tower] engaged in a chaotic four-way battle, not far from the battlefield, in an empty room within the instance, a mirror suddenly materialized on the wall.


    Within this mirror, numerous dark silhouettes began to appear.


    The moment these shadowy figures emerged, they scrambled to climb out of the mirror.


    Had Kean been present, he would have instantly recognized these emerging shadows as The Person in the Mirror, who had once provided him with assistance.


    The Person in the Mirror, after emerging from stillness, did not head towards the battlefield.


    They seemed disinterested in the ongoing battle involving Jeremy and the others.


    Upon arriving in the instance, The Person in the Mirror moved directly towards the instance''s entrance.


    By this time, Howard''s subordinates had already repaired the entrance to the instance.


    Although Bonnie was initially unwilling to team up with Howard, he eventually persuaded her.


    "Acting alone will inevitably lead to encounters with insurmountable dangers. Even if you look down on the capabilities of my subordinates, they can still provide you with some level of assistance.


    When faced with an undefeatable enemy, do you really expect to escape sessfully on your own? If we act together, we can at least scatter and flee when encountering an unbeatable foe."


    After listing numerous advantages, Howard managed to convince Bonnie to join forces with him.


    Once inside the instance, Howard, Bonnie, and their group advanced rapidly.


    Despite their confidence in Jeremy, they still perceived Kean as a significant threat. Therefore, they aimed to reach the battlefield as quickly as possible to assist Jeremy in defeating Kean.


    Just minutes into their progress within the instance, they encountered arge number of The Person in the Mirror emerging.


    The moment they encountered The Person in the Mirror, Howard immediately ordered his subordinates tounch an attack.


    "Those dark silhouettes must be our enemies. Do not let your guard down. Eliminate them quickly, and then we shall continue our advance!"


    Under Howard''smand, his subordinates relentlessly attacked The Person in the Mirror.


    However, during their assault, they suddenly realized that these entities seemed impervious to any harm.


    "General, they are immune to our weapons. What should we do next? They are closing in on us!" Howard''s foremost subordinate shouted with a hint of panic in his voice.


    "Do not panic! Perhaps these shadowy figures are only immune to our damage. Keep engaging them in battle. I will reach your position as swiftly as possible."


    After saying this, Howard lowered his voice and spoke to Bonnie.


    "My subordinates are encountering some trouble up ahead. I must rush to their aid immediately. You don''t need toe with me. Just ensure your own safety here."


    Bonnie nodded in agreement.


    Although she believed she could be of assistance, since Howard had already spoken in such a manner, she found no need to argue further.


    If she were to quarrel with Howard now, this operation would surely end in failure.


    Even if Bonnie didn''t consider herself, she would definitely consider Jeremy''s well-being.


    While Bonnie, Howard, and the others were facing difficulties, Jeremy finally lured Kean and [the White Tower] into the trap he had set up.


    However, outwardly, Jeremy maintained an expression of despair and anger on his face.


    "You need not continue to struggle. I told you before, you are no match for us."[the White Tower] dered, feeling assured of victory upon seeing the despair on Jeremy''s face.


    However, Kean remained vignt at this moment.


    Kean coldly remarked, "Since we have already won, let''s not waste any more time! Let me kill him now!"


    Kean wished to execute Jeremy swiftly, believing this was the only way to prevent any unforeseen circumstances.


    [The White Tower] had intended to say more, but upon hearing Kean''s words, he realized that Kean''s reasoning was quite sound.


    "You are absolutely right! In that case, the two of us should join forces to severely wound him first, and then I will leave the final execution to you."[the White Tower] quickly formted a detailed action n.


    Just at that moment, the sound of a te shattering suddenly echoed from the corner of the room.


    Immediately thereafter, a ck orb rolled to Kean''s feet.


    "You probably don''t recognize this object, do you? Let me enlighten you¡ªit''s called the Dark Core!"


    Jeremy said with a smile, directing his words toward Kean.


    No sooner had Jeremy finished speaking than the Dark Core ascended into the air. Instantly, it began absorbing vast amounts of High-Dimensional Data into its own structure.


    [The White Tower] felt his strength rapidly waning.


    He shouted in disbelief, "This is impossible! What kind of method have you used to drain all my power?!"


    After yelling this, [the White Tower] urgently turned to Kean and said, "Stop standing there like an idiot! Hurry up and save me! Without me, you will be annihted by Jeremy as well!"

 Chapter 192: Suddenly Turning Against Each Other

    Under the urging of the White Tower, Kean immediatelyunched an attack on Jeremy.


    However, Kean''s assault did not meet with sess. The reason being that the Dark Core stood as an obstacle between Kean and Jeremy.


    At this moment, the Dark Core had absorbed a substantial amount of divine power from the White Tower. Surrounding the Dark Core was a thick,yered shroud of ck mist.


    The dense ck mist not only hindered the movements of those nearby but also obscured their senses.


    Kean was immediately lost within the swirling darkness. On the other side of the ck mist, Jeremy''s situation was far from favorable as well.


    Although Jeremy was not directly affected by the Dark Core.


    His senses were still somewhat impaired. He could no longer discern the exact locations of Kean and the White Tower.


    This made Jeremy feel a bit anxious.


    "I must quickly pinpoint their positions! Only then can I defeat them!"


    After a brief moment of contemtion, Jeremy decided to utilize the High-Dimensional Data at his disposal.


    Using High-Dimensional Data in front of the White Tower was an exceedingly perilous endeavor, yet Jeremy found himself with no other options.


    As Jeremy''s High-Dimensional Data began to spread, he gradually started to detect the position of the White Tower.


    However, the current state of the White Tower was beyond Jeremy''s expectations.


    The divine power that the White Tower possessed was rapidly diminishing. Yet, not all of this divine energy was being absorbed by the Dark Core.


    A significant portion of the divine power was converging onto Kean.


    This resulted in a swift amplification of Kean''s strength.


    Owing to this rapid surge in power, Kean sessfully broke through the dense ck mist surrounding the Dark Core.


    But as Kean reached the vicinity of the White Tower, a voice all too familiar to him echoed in his mind.


    That voice belonged to the Person in the Mirror, with whom Kean had previously coborated.


    "You should not offer him any assistance, if you do, we will plunge into an abyss from which there is no return."


    The Person in the Mirror''s aged and raspy voice not only shocked Kean but also heightened his sense of caution.


    Though Kean ceased advancing toward the direction of the White Tower, he had not abandoned the idea of rescuing it.


    Kean merely wished to listen to what the Person in the Mirror intended to convey.


    "What do you mean by that? When we coborated, I made it clear that my goal was topletely annihte Jeremy. Right now, only with the power of the White Tower can I achieve that.


    If you''re telling me not to save the White Tower, aren''t you essentially asking me to forgo my long-held objective?"


    No sooner had Kean voiced his question than the Person in the Mirror''s voice resounded in his mind once more.


    "I am well aware that your goal is to eradicate Jeremy. But why do you insist on relying on the White Tower to willingly transfer its power to you? Why can''t you simply seize all the power it possesses directly?"


    The raspy words of the Person in the Mirror stunned Kean into silence.


    However, Kean did not hesitate for long.


    For he quickly realized that all the divine power he had absorbed earlier had originated from the White Tower.


    This realization meant that perhaps he truly had a way to seize the power of a deity, just as the Person in the Mirror suggested.


    If such a n could indeed seed, Kean''s strength would not only surpass Jeremy''s. He might even ascend to a level akin to that of a deity.


    "Can your n truly seed? You had better not deceive me now. If you deceive me, I will have no opportunity to coborate with you again."


    In reality, Kean was already quite tempted.


    However, before taking concrete action, Kean felt it was imperative to seek final confirmation.


    The Person in the Mirror responded bluntly, "Mypanions and I have already entered the instance. With our assistance, you will undoubtedly be able to seize all the power the White Tower possesses.


    You need only follow our instructions to achieve this goal. If you choose to decline, then mypanions and I will depart immediately."


    Kean, without any hesitation, responded straightforwardly.


    "Hurry up and give your instructions! I will coordinate with your actions!"


    As Kean spoke these words, his eyes were resolutely fixed on the direction of the White Tower and the Dark Core.


    "What you need to do next is quite simple: cooperate with Jeremy to annihte the White Tower! Once the White Tower is sessfully destroyed, we will have a way to channel all its power into you.


    With such immense divine power, you will then be able to effortlessly eliminate Jeremy and his allies."


    The Person in the Mirrorid out the specific n to Kean.


    At this moment, Kean still harbored some doubts. However, after everything that had transpired, he would rather coborate with the Person in the Mirror than with the White Tower.


    After all, Kean had no way of ascertaining whether the White Tower would once again transform him into a Puppet during their subsequent cooperation.


    Resolute in his decision, Kean raised his weapon and struck heavily in the direction of the White Tower and the Dark Core.


    Kean''s actions left both the White Tower and Jeremy utterly astonished.


    The White Tower''s piercing voice echoed directly within Kean''s mind.


    "What on earth are you doing?! Have youpletely lost your mind?! Jeremy is our enemy, why are you attacking me?!"


    The White Tower''s sharp voice was not only a question directed at Kean but also an attempt to halt his actions.


    However, the White Tower''s strategy proved to be utterly ineffective.


    Kean''s weaponnded heavily on the already somewhat ethereal figure of the White Tower, dealing significant damage to the Dark Core as well.


    "I should have known better than to coborate with you humans! You are all ungrateful and despicable scoundrels!"


    Apanied by the unwilling wails of the White Tower, its ethereal form vanishedpletely.


    All the divine power possessed by the White Tower converged into Kean''s body.


    Under Jeremy''s watchful eyes, Kean''s strength surged rapidly.


    Even the divine power of the Dark Core was absorbed by Kean into his own body.


    What had just transpired was beyond anyone''s anticipation, Jeremy, in particr, could not fathom that the two enemies who had been working together against him would suddenly turn on each other.


    Kean had astonishingly vanquished the White Tower right in front of Jeremy.


    Although Jeremy knew that what had been destroyed was merely a portion of the White Tower''s power in the physical world, he understood that the White Tower''s subsequent actions would be severely hampered.


    Suffering such a significant blow in the physical world meant that the White Tower had also been gravely injured in its own divine realm.


    Although deeply shocked by the recent events, Jeremy swiftly regained hisposure.


    Jeremy was acutely aware that Kean''s power had significantly increasedpared to before.


    Thus, withstanding Kean''s assault would now be far more challenging.


    Jeremy''s eyes were locked onto Kean, he had to keep track of Kean''s every move. This was crucial to ensure that he wouldn''t be swiftly eliminated in the ensuing battle.


    Kean''s gaze was also fixed intently on Jeremy.


    The two stood in a tense standoff for what felt like an eternity, but was actually just several seconds.


    Just as Jeremy was contemting whether he should seize the initiative andunch an attack, Kean''s expression suddenly turned ethereal.


    Within a mere second or two, Kean vanished without a trace.


    As Kean vanished, The Person in the Mirror, who had been obstructing Howard and Bonnie, also disappeared without a trace.


    Confronted with Kean''s sudden disappearance, Jeremy remained exceedingly cautious, moving forward slowly.


    Deep down, Jeremy was convinced that Kean hadn''t truly left but was lurking in the shadows of the instance, poised tounch a surprise attack.


    After Jeremy had cautiously advanced for a while, Ritchie''s voice abruptly shattered the eerie silence surrounding him.


    "Where did that scoundrel Kean go? I clearly saw him enter this room with a spectral figure earlier."


    Ritchie spoke while emerging from the shadows.


    Ritchie''s appearance caused Jeremy to experience a mix of slight disappointment and profound relief.


    Ritchie''s safe arrival indicated that Kean had indeed departed from the instance.


    "I don''t know, he was just here."Jeremy responded calmly.


    Ritchie scanned the surroundings meticulously.


    At that moment, other than the ever-rotating Dark Core, there was nothing else in Jeremy''s vicinity. All the traps Jeremy had previously set up had been obliterated by the White Tower.


    "Did you actually manage to eliminate both Kean and the spectral figure he brought along? Have you grown so powerful already?!"


    Ritchie asked Jeremy in disbelief, his eyes widening considerably. Clearly, Jeremy''s formidable strength had left Ritchie utterly astonished.


    Jeremy remained silent, he merely stared at the still-spinning Dark Core.

 Chapter 193: An Event Shrouded in Mystery

    In the absence of any response from Jeremy, Ritchie fell silent as well.


    The two of them remained quietly in the deepest part of the instance until Howard, Bonnie, and the others arrived.


    When Howard, Bonnie, and their group reached the innermost part of the instance, they saw only Jeremy and Ritchie. Moreover, they observed no signs of a recent battle in the surroundings.


    "Has the battle already concluded? Have you sessfully eliminated Kean?"


    After carefully surveying the surroundings, Howard addressed Ritchie and Jeremy with a question.


    Ritchie shook his head and gazed at Howard with a puzzled expression.


    Although Ritchie remained silent, Howard discerned what Ritchie intended to convey through his eyes.


    Howard stepped closer to Jeremy and asked him softly.


    "What exactly transpired here? Were you able to defeat Kean on your own? If your strength is truly that formidable, I believe we need to expedite our ns."


    Upon hearing Howard''s words, Jeremy lifted his head to look at him.


    "Now is not the time to discuss this matter. What just happened was beyond my expectations. Nevertheless, the crisis has been sessfully averted.


    We''ll discuss the details of this event once we are back in a safe ce. Besides, many here do not need to know the specifics of what transpired."


    When Jeremy spoke these words, he deliberately cast his gaze towards Howard''s subordinates.


    Howard nodded in agreement.


    "You are absolutely right. Let''s promptly return to the military base on the outskirts of Moonlight City. That ce is undoubtedly the safest, and even if we encounter other crises, we can receive immediate support from others there."


    Howard refrained from asking further questions.


    He understood that pressing the matter now would only serve to anger Jeremy, without yielding any useful information.


    The recent series of events had left Howard extremely perplexed.


    At this moment, the only person who could provide him with answers was Jeremy. Therefore, Howard was determined not to provoke him.


    Subsequently, Howard directed the group to exit the instance.


    Although both bosses within the instance had been defeated during the battle, the rewards they yielded were not particrly generous.


    Therefore, Howard wasn''t overly concerned about the rewards given by the bosses.


    He merely instructed his subordinates to take all the rewards back with them.


    On the way to the military base, Bonnie, ire, and Emma looked at Jeremy with concerned eyes.


    Despite the fact that there were no visible injuries on Jeremy''s body.


    The three of them could tell that something was very off with Jeremy''s current state.


    Ultimately, it was ire, Jeremy''s former psychologist, who took the initiative to inquire.


    "Jeremy, is there something particrly troubling you right now? Why does it seem like your face is marked with worry? If there''s anything you can''t resolve on your own, you can tell us.


    While we may not necessarily be able to help, we can at least provide some emotional support. After all, we are here to listen to your troubles."


    ire''s words, however well-intentioned, did not elicit a significant response.


    Jeremy nced at ire and nodded calmly.


    Witnessing this, Bonnie straightforwardly asked Jeremy a question.


    "Did you suffer substantial losses during your battle with Kean? Did you expend all your equipment and items just to defeat him?"


    "If you''re worried about your gear and items, let me assure you that I can help you out. Moonlight City''s warehouse still has some supplies."


    "Although the items and equipment in the Moonlight City warehouse may not be as good as what you had before, they can temporarily maintain yourbat effectiveness."


    Bonnie''s words were spoken with genuine sincerity.


    Despite the fact that her assumptions werergely incorrect, Jeremy feltpelled to rify.


    "My equipment and items have not been entirely depleted. The only item that posed a problem was the Dark Core. Losing the Dark Core was something I had anticipated long ago."


    Jeremy''s response only deepened Bonnie''s confusion.


    "If it''s not about your equipment and items, then what else could you be worried about? All your friends are perfectly safe. We are even apanying you to the military base."


    Bonnie probed further.


    Eager to get to the bottom of Jeremy''s concerns.


    She was genuinely anxious to understand what exactly was troubling Jeremy at this moment.


    Jeremy, overwhelmed by Bonnie''s barrage of questions, found himself increasingly agitated.


    In the end, he could only lower his voice and say.


    "In reality, during this battle, I did not fight Kean to the end. Kean turned against the White Tower, which he relied on, in the midst of the conflict."Jeremy exined, his voice tinged with frustration.


    "Kean utterly destroyed the White Tower. He absorbed almost all of its divine power."he continued, his words heavy with significance.


    "Although Kean''s strength increased dramatically, he chose not to fight me. Instead, he left immediately."Jeremy added, his tone perplexed.


    "This entire sequence of events is incredibly baffling to me. I can''t find a reasonable exnation, but I am convinced there is arger conspiracy at y. That''s why I look so worried."Jeremy concluded, his voice filled with concern.


    As Jeremy finished speaking, the expressions on the faces of the other three turned equally puzzled.


    ire and Emma exchanged nces, clearly notprehending Jeremy''s ount.


    However, they wisely chose not to continue pressing the issue.


    Bonnie seemed to grasp the gist of Jeremy''s words. She also agreed with Jeremy''s assessment, feeling certain that a more significant conspiracy was indeed lurking behind these events.


    "You are absolutely right, there must be arger conspiracy behind this. It might even be closely connected to the Lannisters, who back Kean."Bonnie asserted, her voice filled with determination.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "Once we arrive at the military base, I will brief General Howard on all the details. He should be able to offer us some assistance."he stated confidently.


    The group soon arrived at the military base.


    General Howard first instructed his subordinates to return to their respective duties. He also ordered some of them to protect Jeremy''s friends, who weren''t particrly strong.


    Howard, Jeremy, Bonnie, and Ritchie then made their way to Howard''s office.


    Howard had invited Bonnie and Ritchie, in addition to Jeremy, for specific reasons.


    The reason being that Bonnie possessed considerable strength, and she was also Benjamin''s daughter.


    As for Ritchie, it was because he was the second person, after Jeremy, to reach the final battleground.


    If Jeremy''s memory of the previous events was somewhat unclear, Ritchie could provide some supplementary exnations.


    Once all the extraneous individuals had left the room, Howard addressed Jeremy directly.


    "Now that there''s no one else here, you can recount everything that happened in detail. If you have any concerns, feel free to share them as well."Howard said, his tone straightforward.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment and then began to describe everything he had witnessed in the deepest part of the instance.


    After listening to Jeremy''s ount, Howard''s expression grew exceedinglyplex.


    "If what you are saying is urate, it signifies that we have barely scratched the surface of understanding what has just transpired.


    Why did Keane looking for you in the first ce? Why did Kean suddenly attack his own ally? And why did Kean leave immediately after gaining such formidable power?" Howard pondered aloud, his voiceden with contemtion.


    "These are questions for which we can find no answers."


    Howard articted his concerns.


    Jeremy and the others nodded in agreement, acknowledging that these were indeed the most pressing questions. However, they also recognized that these questions were seemingly impossible to answer.


    The entire situation was shrouded inyers of mystery.


    "The only way to find answers now is to locate Kean."Howard dered as he stood up, his eyes fixed resolutely on Jeremy.


    "I understand that you and Kean have significant conflicts, so I won''t ask you to find him. The day after tomorrow, I will return to military headquarters. Once I am back, I will arrange a meeting with the Lannisters.


    If we can obtain more information from the Lannisters, we might be able to unravel the mysteries we are currently facing. If we''re fortunate, I might even be able to find Kean.


    Although you and Kean are adversaries, my rtionship with him isn''t as dire. I might be able to understand what he''s thinking."Howard''s words were filled with determination.


    Howard''s remarks brought a sense of relief to Jeremy.


    If Howard could indeed meet with the Lannisters, and even with Kean, he would certainly obtain crucial intelligence.


    Jeremy nodded and said to Howard, "If you can truly aplish these tasks, I will be immensely grateful to you. During your absence, I will make every effort to cooperate with your subordinates to swiftlyplete the division n for the industrial district."


    The purpose of Jeremy''s words was to alleviate Howard''s concerns.


    Only if Howard had no worries, could he devote all his energy to dealing with the Lannisters.


    Howard nodded in agreement.


    "That''s good! If there''s nothing else, you all may return to your duties."Howard said, dismissing the group.

 Chapter 194: The Real Purpose of The Person in the Mirror

    In a concealed spot in the outskirts of Moonlight City, Kean was acquainting himself with the formidable divine power he had recently acquired.


    Directly before Kean stood a colossal full-length mirror, the surface of which was, at that moment, shrouded in a substance akin to an eerie, obsidian liquid.


    "What exactly are your intentions? Why did you assist me in seizing the formidable divine power possessed by the White Tower?"


    Kean inquired, his face devoid of any emotion, murmuring to himself.


    Soon, a little girl''s voice emanated from the massive full-length mirror directly in front of Kean.


    "We helped you for a very significant reason, of course. However, you cannot know this reason for now, because once you discover it, you will no longer cooperate with us."


    Upon hearing these words, Kean chuckled softly.


    "If you refuse to divulge your true intentions, I will also refuse to cooperate with you. Moreover, I must warn you that I have now mastered formidable divine power.


    Even without your cooperation, I am fully capable of annihting Jeremy using the power I''ve already harnessed. I highly doubt Jeremy can elevate his strength beyond mine in such a short span of time."Kean dered with unwavering confidence.


    His tone brimmed with certainty at this moment.


    After absorbing all the divine power the White Tower had left in the real world into his own body, Kean could arguably be considered the most powerful being in existence.


    Although Kean could no longer use the skills the White Tower had once bestowed upon him.


    He found that as long as he could manipte the divine power within his body, he could elevate his abilities to an astonishing level.


    The voice of the little girl in the mirror swiftly transformed into a raspy and aged voice that Kean recognized all too well.


    "You will not proceed in that manner.


    For if you do, you will undoubtedly be ridden with regret. Our power far surpasses your imagination. Just as we were able to imbue you with the divine power of the White Tower, we can just as easily strip you of every ounce of that sacred power."the voice warned.


    Kean nodded calmly, his expression remaining serene.


    He indeed believed that the Person in the Mirror would implement such measures.


    After all, the Person in the Mirror''s previous series of actions had sessfully entangled Kean, the White Tower, and Jeremy in a web of deception.


    Though all three parties took various actions, ultimately, they only facilitated the Person in the Mirror''s n.


    "We''ve been coborating for a long time now. Do you still not trust me? Do you think I would divulge your true intentions to others?"


    Kean lifted his head and gazed at therge floor mirror before him.


    "Do you genuinely wish to know our purpose?"


    "Of course! Do you intend to turn me into a puppet like the White Tower aimed to do?"


    "Our objective is certainly not to convert you into a puppet. However, once our goal is achieved, the divine power you possess will not remain entirely intact."


    The raspy and aged voice from the mirror finally revealed some information intimately rted to Kean.


    Kean wasn''t particrly surprised by these words.


    For Kean had originally believed that there was absolutely no way to retain all of the divine powers he had acquired.


    After all, in the previous operations, Kean had not actually contributed much effort. The one who had truly exerted significant effort was the Person in the Mirror.


    "I can certainly ept that you will take away arge portion of my divine powers. I only need you to leave me with enough to defeat Jeremy."


    Upon receiving Kean''s unequivocal answer, the Person in the Mirror finally revealed their true objective.


    "Since you are able to ept this, I shall disclose our true purpose to you.


    Our ultimate goal is to resurrect a great deity. And to resurrect this deity, we must possess an exceptionally powerful amount of divine energy."


    Hearing these words, Kean''s face disyed a look of astonishment.


    "You actually intend to resurrect a deity? Are you saying that the deity you aim to resurrect is the one defeated by Jeremy?"


    Kean immediately connected this revtion to the information the White Tower had previously shared with him.


    The White Tower had explicitly mentioned that Jeremy had once caused the downfall of a deity in the world where the apocalypse game was nned.


    "You are absolutely correct, the deity we seek to revive is the great Sun."


    The moment the raspy and aged voice finished speaking, a dazzling sun appeared on the surface of therge floor mirror in front of Kean.


    Even though this radiant sun was confined within the mirror, it still managed to project an immense amount of light and heat into the world beyond the mirror.


    Kean never imagined that the Person in the Mirror''s objective was to resurrect a deity.


    However, after calming down, Kean suddenly realized that if the Person in the Mirror''s n seeded, he too would reap significant benefits.


    "If the great Sun you speak of is sessfully resurrected, would it target Jeremy as its primary adversary?"


    Kean inquired of the Person in the Mirror.


    "Indeed, that is certain. After all, it was Jeremy who caused the downfall of the great Sun. Should the great Sun be sessfully revived, it would undoubtedly seek retribution against Jeremy."


    The Person in the Mirror provided an unequivocal response.


    After hearing the other party''s response, a slight smile appeared at the corner of Kean''s mouth.


    "In that case, I will fully cooperate with your actions from now on. If taking all the divine powers from me can revive the Sun, then go ahead and take them all right now."


    If he could truly gain the assistance of a deity, Kean was naturally willing to pay the corresponding price.


    Moreover, in Kean''s view, if the Person in the Mirror sessfully resurrected the Sun, then the Sun would surely be able to manifest directly in the real world.


    A deity capable of appearing directly in the real world would undoubtedly wield far greater power than the White Tower.


    "It''s not the right time yet, we mustplete other preparations before we can initiate the deity''s resurrection process."


    The Person in the Mirror, of course, believed in Kean''s sincerity.


    Thus, the Person in the Mirror also disclosed the next phase of their n.


    "Reviving the great Sun naturally requires an ample amount of divine power. However, divine power alone is insufficient for a sessful resurrection.


    We must gather enough equipment and artifacts rted to the great Sun. By concentrating all the Sun''s essence from these items, we can proceed to the next step."


    Kean nodded in agreement.


    "The equipment and weapons I currently possess have no connection to the Sun. However, from my recollections, my family''s warehouse contains items somewhat rted to sunlight.


    I will promptly return to my family and bring you all the relevant equipment and weapons from our storage. Following that, I will swiftly gather other items associated with sunlight."


    After finishing his sentence, Kean prepared to return to the capital to begin his mission.


    But the Person in the Mirror quickly interjected, "The power of the Sun epasses more than just sunlight. It also embodies the power to set rules and establish covenants."


    "Therefore, equipment and weapons rted to rules and covenants also carry the essence of the Sun. If you manage to gather those items, you must bring them to me as well."


    Kean nodded in understanding.


    "I understand. Then let''s not waste any more time and get to it immediately!"


    After Kean finished speaking, the enormous floor-to-ceiling mirror in front of him returned to its normal state.


    Kean stepped into the mirror''s surface, and was instantly transported from the outskirts of Moonlight City to a vi in the capital belonging to the Lannisters.


    This vi was exclusively Kean''s private residence.


    Upon arriving back at his vi, Kean nced over his shoulder at the mirror behind him. The surface of the mirror was covered in a ck liquid.


    "For the uing period, we must focus all our efforts on gathering items rted to the great Sun. Therefore, refrain from provoking Jeremy for the time being."


    The voice of the Person in the Mirror echoed a reminder from within the ss.


    Kean nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Naturally, I understand which matter holds greater importance. You need not worry, I shall not trouble Jeremy in the foreseeable future."


    With Kean''s clear response, the mirror in front of him returned to its normal state.


    At that moment, the astonished voice of the butler, Farmer, suddenly reached Kean''s ears.


    "Master, what brings you here? Didn''t you mention you had a very important mission to undertake?!"


    The expression on Farmer''s face was one of utter surprise.


    He had assumed that Kean''s mission would require several days toplete, no matter the circumstances.


    Upon hearing Farmer''s words, a faint smile appeared on Kean''s face, and he replied nonchntly.


    "What is it? Are you displeased with my return?"


    Farmer''s expression shifted from surprise to fear upon hearing Kean''s remark.


    "How could I be displeased with your return, Master? I was merely concerned for your well-being. After all, during your one or two days of absence, the higher-ups of the family have been inquiring about your whereabouts."


    Hearing this, Kean''s gaze suddenly turned cold.


    At this moment, the butler Farmer also felt an immense pressure.

 Chapter 195: Trust No One

    Kean took measured steps until he stood directly in front of the butler, Farmer.


    He lowered his voice and, with an exceptionally cold tone, inquired, "What exactly have you been telling my elders?"


    Upon hearing this question, Butler Farmer broke into a cold sweat, his entire body beginning to tremble uncontrobly.


    "Young Master, I have only dealt with your elders as per your instructions. I did not divulge your ns, I merely informed them that you had a very important matter to attend to."


    When Butler Farmer spoke these words, his voice was trembling.


    Kean scrutinized him for a moment with a nk expression.


    "Perhaps what you say is true. Did they have any messages they wanted you to convey to me?"


    Kean took several steps back and casually sat down on a nearby sofa.


    Since Kean had increased the distance between himself and Butler Farmer, the pressure on the butler was not as intense as before.


    Butler Farmer breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly responded.


    "The head of the family had no specific messages for me to convey. However, your uncle did ask me to ry a message to you."Butler Farmer responded.


    "Oh? What important words does my uncle wish to share with me?" Kean inquired, intrigued.


    "He wanted me to tell you that regardless of whether your endeavor seeds or fails, do not get entangled with the Lannisters. The Lannisters will never oppose other powerful families within the federation for your sake."


    Upon hearing this, Kean burst intoughter.


    "My uncle remains the same timid man he always was."he remarked sarcastically.


    After a brief pause, Kean''s tone turned cold as he added, "Fine. I understand. You are to inform my uncle immediately that my business is concluded and will not affect him or the Lannisters in any way.


    Moreover, I have no intention of being at odds with Jeremy anymore. As long as Jeremy doesn''t trouble me, I will not trouble him. He can rest assured."


    Having said this, Kean waved dismissively at Butler Farmer.


    Butler Farmer promptly exited the room, relieved to be out of Kean''s presence.


    After Butler Farmer had departed, Kean, maintaining his stoic expression, moved to a corner of his room. There, a hidden safe was concealed.


    Upon unlocking the safe, Kean retrieved several pieces of equipment from within.


    These items were all intricately connected to sunlight, some were designed to harness the power of sunlight directly.


    Other pieces of equipment could utilize sunlight''s energy to heal the user''s injuries.


    Though Kean had decided to coborate with The Person in the Mirror,


    he had not been entirely truthful with them. Among his possessions were indeed items rted to sunlight.


    In fact, Kean had not beenpletely honest with The Person in the Mirror, nor had he been forthright with Butler Farmer. He had never truly confided in anyone.


    Kean was a man who ced his trust in no one else.


    Kean had always been the epitome of a self-centered individual.


    He trusted solely in his own strength and judgment, never taking anyone else''s information at face value.


    "By tomorrow noon, I''ll present these items to The Person in the Mirror. Surely, they will then provide me with some additional information."he mused.


    "After that, I will head to my family''s vault and retrieve all items rted to sunlight, rules, and contracts. Then, I''ll supply them to The Person in the Mirror in batches.


    This way, I can extract the maximum amount of useful information from The Person in the Mirror."Kean concluded with a calcted air.


    He had meticulously nned his next course of action.


    He had no intention of handing over all the desired items to The Person in the Mirror at once. Kean believed that The Person in the Mirror had certainly withheld parts of their n to resurrect the deity.


    Meanwhile, Butler Farmer stormed through the vi, seething with anger.


    "I really shouldn''t have gone out of my way to help him! He''s an ungrateful wretch! How could his ns have gone so smoothly without my assistance?!"


    "If it weren''t for me tending to his every need, how would he have been able to enhance his strength so effortlessly?!"


    The person Butler Farmer was grumbling about was, of course, Kean.


    Although Kean was technically his young master, Butler Farmer always considered himself a paternal figure to Kean.


    Kean should maintain some measure of respect towards him, no matter the circumstances.


    However, in their recent conversation, not only did Kean show no respect for Butler Farmer, but he also incessantly med him.


    As Butler Farmer reached the vi''s entrance, he turned around to take onest look at the grand hall.


    "It seems that continuing to follow Kean holds no future for me! I must seek other opportunities!"


    Initially, Butler Farmer intended to maintain a delicate bnce between Kean and the upper echelons of the Lannisters. He believed that he couldn''t afford to betray either Kean or the Lannisters'' leadership.


    However, after the recent incident, Butler Farmer had made up his mind to fully align himself with the Lannisters'' upper echelon.


    Resolute in his decision, Butler Farmer immediately left Kean''s vi and returned to his own quarters.


    Upon returning to his residence, Butler Farmer promptly dialed the number of Kean''s uncle.


    "Since you''re calling me now, it means you have discovered Kean''s whereabouts, haven''t you? Where exactly is Kean? And has he managed to defeat Jeremy?"


    The voice on the other end of the line belonged to Kean''s uncle, carrying a tone of sternness.


    Butler Farmer took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding in a humble tone.


    "You are correct, sir. I am calling because I have indeed found out where Kean is. He has just returned to his vi on the outskirts of the capital."


    Kean''s uncle, upon hearing this news, asked in a slightly surprised tone,


    "He actually returned to the capital so quickly? Although awakening in the apocalypse game grants some items, I recall there being no item capable of enabling swift travel between Moonlight City and the capital."


    Despite not being an awakener himself, Kean''s uncle.


    Due to his high-ranking position within the Lannisters and his significant role in the federal government, was well-informed about awakeners and their associated items.


    "I also don''t know how Young Master Kean managed to return, but he just suddenly showed up. His abrupt return startled me as well."


    Butler Farmer, unsure of how to exin, simply conveyed everything he knew.


    Kean''s uncle did not pursue the matter further.


    "Since he has returned, did you ask him where he had been and what he was doing?"


    "Of course, I asked him those questions as per your instructions. He provided me with very clear answers."Butler Farmer replied humbly.


    "Young Master Kean indeed went to Moonlight City, but it seems he didn''t be enemies with Jeremy. Moreover, he told me that he doesn''t intend to oppose Jeremy any longer.


    If Jeremy doesn''t target him, he won''t seek trouble with Jeremy. It appears that Young Master Kean has realized that defeating Jeremy is an impossibility for him."


    Part of what Butler Farmer conveyed was directly from Kean, while the rest was his own spection.


    Kean''s uncle fell silent for a moment after hearing Butler Farmer''s words.


    "I have not yet received any additional intelligence from Moonlight City. Once I obtain further information, I will provide you with new directives.


    Your current task is straightforward: keep a close watch on Kean. Under no circumstances should you allow him to undertake any more reckless actions.


    You must make him understand that he represents not just himself, but our entire Lannisters family."


    After delivering these instructions, Kean''s uncle abruptly ended the call.


    Although the news that Kean had returned to his vi on the outskirts of the capital and no longer intended to oppose Jeremy was favorable to Kean''s uncle.


    He couldn''t shake the feeling that Kean''s current stance might only signify that he was preparing for some other, more unexpected n.


    "It seems I must urge my subordinates to expedite the transmission of all intelligence from Moonlight City. What kind of unexpected circumstances did Kean encounter there?


    Why did he suddenly decide to cease his enmity with Jeremy? Kean is not someone who easily lets go of grudges. He has always been a person who repays even the smallest slight."


    Kean''s uncle remained deeply puzzled.


    However, he had no intention of confronting Kean directly, as their rtionship was not particrly good.


    Kean''s father, who was his younger brother, had passed away several years ago, and the cause of death was closely rted to him.


    Just as Kean''s uncle was contemting the next course of action, his secretary suddenly pushed the door open and walked in.


    "Your schedule for the uing week has been prepared. If you have no additional requests or modifications, please sign at the bottom of the schedule."


    Kean''s uncle took the schedule from his secretary, and after briefly scanning through it, he signed at the bottom without hesitation.


    However, during the signing process, he suddenly noticed that his schedule included a meeting with Federal General Howard from Moonlight City.


    Even though he wouldn''t be the only one meeting with Howard, it still presented an excellent opportunity for him to gather critical intelligence from Howard.

 Chapter 196: Focused on Eliminating Monsters

    While the Lannisters were busy nning their next moves, Jeremy and his friends were not idle either.


    After Howard left Moonlight City to head to the capital, Jeremy immediately gathered his friends together.


    "Although General Howard has already departed, the n we devised with him should not be put on hold. Before leaving, General Howard issued orders to his subordinates, and they will cooperate with our actions."


    Jeremy spoke earnestly to the fewpanions standing before him.


    "What we need to do is actually not thatplicated, and Bonnie and Ritchie are already very familiar with it. So, Emma and ire, if you have any questions, feel free to ask them directly."


    Jeremy wasying out a n to cooperate with General Howard''s subordinates to partition the industrial district.


    After the initial actions, General Howard''s subordinates, with the cooperation of Jeremy and his team, had already deployed three different watchtowers in the industrial district.


    Moreover, the construction personnel among Howard''s subordinates had connected the three separate watchtowers with partition walls. The industrial district was effectively divided into three isted areas.


    The specific actions Jeremy and his team were to undertake next involved coborating with Howard''s subordinates to further divide the industrial district.


    Once Jeremy finished exining his n, he set out with his friends.


    This time, they were heading to the industrial district by helicopter provided by Howard''s subordinates.


    After all, deploying watchtowers in a monster-infested industrial district necessitated the use of helicopters. Additionally, once the watchtowers were deployed, someone had to ensure their security.


    Thus, Jeremy and hispanions had to act in tandem with the helicopters deploying the watchtowers.


    Upon arriving at the industrial district, Jeremy divided hispanions into three separate groups.


    Given Jeremy''s considerable strength, he decided to operate alone. He took on the responsibility of deploying watchtowers in the most perilous areas, in coordination with Howard''s subordinates.


    Bonnie and Emma formed one group. Bonnie''s strength and abundantbat experience ensured that she could provide ample support and security during their missions.


    Ritchie and ire constituted another group. Although Ritchie was quite strong inbat, he tended to panic during crises, making ire''s presence essential.


    Naturally, the groups of Bonnie and Emma, as well as Ritchie and ire, were assigned to less dangerous areas for watchtower deployment with Howard''s subordinates.


    Thus, the entire team split into three distinct groups andmenced their respective missions.


    This strategic division significantly increased the efficiency of the watchtower deploymentpared to previous efforts.


    In merely about two days, Jeremy and hispanions sessfully managed to partition the outermost areas of the industrial district into smaller sections that could be gradually cleared of monsters.


    Afterpleting the preliminary segmentation of the industrial district, Howard''s subordinates ceased their operations.


    During the previous missions, several of their helicopters had been damaged. Moreover, all the watchtowers needed for the partition had been exhausted.


    At least half a month would be required for the production of additional watchtowers.


    After Howard''s subordinates departed, Jeremy turned to hispanions with a smile.


    "Now that all the unnecessary personnel have left, we must proceed with what we ought to do. As awakeners, our duty is to eliminate the monsters."


    Having said this, Jeremy immediately dashed towards a section inhabited by two monsters of level 50 and above.


    Jeremy''s objective was straightforward¡ªhe aimed to clear all the monsters in the designated small area as swiftly as possible.


    Although monsters above level 50 are exceedingly challenging to deal with, Jeremy''s current gear is exceptionally luxurious.


    The Longsword of the Undying proves to be immensely effective when confronting monsters around level 50.


    After Jeremy set off, both Bonnie and Ritchie promptly headed towards an area inhabited by a single monster above level 50.


    While they both aspired to level up as rapidly as Jeremy, they had a certain degree of self-awareness regarding their own capabilities.


    They understood that prevailing against two monsters above level 50 was entirely out of the question for them. Hence, they opted for areas with slightly lower difficulty.


    ire and Emma did not undertake any solo missions.


    Each of them, instead, joined forces with Bonnie and Ritchie respectively tomence their operations.


    Although this approach would result in a reduced share of experience points, it was undoubtedly the safest course of action.


    If they ventured into perilous areas or acted alone in pursuit of more experience points, they ran the risk of being obliterated by the monsters.


    Everyone, during the course of their actions, concentrated all their efforts on exterminating the monsters.


    Thus, in less than a day''s time, Jeremy managed to clear all the monsters in his designated area. Consequently, his level sessfully reached 49.


    After reaching level 49, Jeremy no longer felt the urgent need to hastily increase his level.


    This was because he needed to first locate the ss change goddess, Janna, as he would be required to undergo his third ss change upon reaching level 50.


    Regarding the third ss change, Jeremy still possessed only limited information.


    Jeremy chose to rest directly at the entrance of the industrial district.


    He did not leave, as he needed to ensure the safety of the others. After waiting for approximately one to two hours, the other four finally emerged from their respective battle zones.


    Bonnie and Ritchie, though their faces showed signs of fatigue, were in exceptionally good spirits.


    This was because, after an entire day ofbat, they had significantly leveled up.


    Bonnie''s current level had already reached 39, while Ritchie''s level had also climbed to 38.


    It wouldn''t be long before both of them broke through to level 40.


    Although ire and Emma hadn''t umted as much experience, their levels were also fast approaching 30. Upon reaching level 30, both of them would also be required to undergo a ss change.


    Seeing that everyone had safely emerged, Jeremy smiled and said,


    "It seems your efficiency was quite high. I originally thought I would have to wait untilte at night for you to finish your battles."


    With a smile on her face, Bonnie responded.


    "Although our strength isn''t as formidable as yours, as yourpanions, we must also demonstrate our own value.


    How much loot did you acquire during your battles? We only managed to get some lower-level skill books and gemstones, we didn''t find any weapons."


    As Bonnie said this, she not only looked at Jeremy but also nced at Ritchie.


    Ritchie shook his head slightly, a hint of disappointment in his expression.


    "I only managed to acquire some low-level gemstones, I didn''t even get a single low-level skill book. It seems my unlucky streak is something I can''t shake off."


    Upon hearing Ritchie''s words, Jeremy, Bonnie, and the others burst intoughter.


    After chuckling for a moment, Jeremy said.


    "In reality, you''re not all that unlucky. I''ve encountered some Awakened who, after defeating monsters higher in level than themselves, received no rewards at all. Compared to them, you''re quite fortunate."


    Upon hearing these words, the expression on Ritchie''s face grew even more grim.


    "You still haven''t mentioned whether you received any valuable rewards!"


    Ritchie hastily changed the subject.


    He certainly didn''t want his unlucky streak to be a continued source of amusement for everyone else.


    Jeremy shook his head and said, "My haul actually isn''t much different from yours. I didn''t get many valuable rewards either.


    However, my level has already reached 49. I need just one more level to hit 50 and undergo my third ss change. Because of this, I won''t be rushing into battles anytime soon.


    I must carefully consider which ss I want to change into for my third ss change before leveling up to 50. Once I hit level 50, I will immediately enter the ss change state.


    If I can''t decide on my new ss and talents in a short period, the system might deem that I don''t need a ss change. This would be a huge loss for me."


    Jeremy''s remarks rendered both Bonnie and Ritchie utterly astonished.


    Even though they knew Jeremy was much stronger than them, they couldn''t have imagined he was so close to reaching level 50.


    Ritchie quickly said to Jeremy, "I think you''re absolutely right to be cautious. One must be fully prepared before undergoing a ss change. I made the mistake of not selecting my new ss properly during my ss change."


    "This has led me to only being able to manipte shadows in battle. If it weren''t for the Ravager''s Gloves you gave me, mybat effectiveness would be incredibly weak."


    What Ritchie said was undoubtedly the truth, he had indeed always regretted changing his ss to that of a shadow maniptor.


    However, Jeremy did not see it that way.


    Jeremy believed that Ritchie''s current skills and talents were perfectly suited to him as an individual.


    "I think you shouldn''t regret it. Your natural inclination is to excel at ambushing others from the shadows."


    As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, Bonnie, Emma, and ire burst into loudughter.

 Chapter 197: The Third Class Change is an Awakening

    After everyone hadughed for a while, Jeremy finally spoke up.


    "Alright, there''s no need to continue mocking him. In my opinion, during the previous battles, Ritchie has provided us with an immense amount of assistance.


    Without him, we might not have been able to sessfully ovee such a multitude of formidable adversaries. Regardless of anything else, Ritchie''s abilities are undeniablymendable."


    Jeremy''s words did manage to slightly improve Ritchie''s mood.


    However, Ritchie was still not ready to let it go just like that.


    "You speak well, but who knows when I''ll finally reach level 50. Only upon reaching level 50 will I be able to undergo my third ss change. Perhaps then I can transition to a ss I truly enjoy."


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment of Ritchie''s statement.


    "You''re right. So, if you are eager to ss change to a profession you actually like, you should work harder to quickly level up."


    Having said that, Jeremy then prepared to lead everyone back to their respective residences.


    Jeremy personally escorted each member back to their homes, only returning to his own ce once everyone else had been safely dropped off.


    Upon arriving at his own residence, Jeremy meticulously sealed off the entire room.


    After ensuring that there were no gaps or vulnerabilities in the room, Jeremy retrieved the gemstone that the entity known as World had once given him.


    Closing his eyes, Jeremy used the gemstone in his hand to swiftly return to the world where the ss change goddess Janna resided.


    The ss change goddess Janna was not particrly surprised by Jeremy''s arrival.


    She merely scrutinized Jeremy from head to toe before directly posing a question to him.


    "You''re here to inquire about awakening, aren''t you?"


    Janna''s question left Jeremy slightly puzzled.


    "Information on awakening? No, I haven''te to seek information on awakening. I''m here to consult about the third ss change."


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s response, a subtle smile appeared on Janna''s face.


    "The third ss change is, in fact, an awakening. During the process of your third ss change, you will attain an extraordinarily powerful new talent.


    Because this new talent surpasses all the abilities you have previously acquired, the process of obtaining this superior talent is considered an awakening. Therefore, the third ss change is naturally an awakening."


    Upon hearing the words of the ss change goddess Janna, Jeremy experienced a moment of sudden realization.


    He finally understood why there had been certain gaps in the information he had previously received.


    He also grasped why both the nners of the apocalypse game and the intelligent monsters he had encountered were so fearful of him nearing level 50.


    "Whether it''s awakening or the third ss change, I need you to provide me with ample information. Moreover, the stronger I be, the more advantageous it is for you."


    Janna nodded in agreement.


    "You are indeed correct, and you have already been of considerable assistance to me before. Therefore, I will share with you all the information I know regarding awakening."


    Having said this, the ss change goddess Janna retrieved a stone tablet from behind her.


    "On this stone tablet, five entirely distinct awakening talents are recorded. You are allowed to choose one among these five different awakening talents.


    Once you have made your selection, I will initiate the awakening of the corresponding talent for you. However, the prerequisite is that you must reach level 50, so you need to go back and level up quickly."


    The ss change goddess Janna had already discerned that Jeremy had not yet reached level 50.


    Jeremy nodded and took the stone tablet from her.


    At the top of the tablet, there was a long string of information written in a script unintelligible to Jeremy.


    "What is the information at the top of the tablet? Could you possibly trante it for me?" Jeremy asked earnestly, looking at the ss change goddess Janna.


    Janna shook her head. "This is information that belongs to the deities. With your current strength, you are not yet qualified to know this information. Moreover, in your current state, knowing this information would be detrimental rather than beneficial to you."


    Since the ss change goddess Janna had said so, Jeremy decided not to press the matter further.


    Instead, Jeremy began to examine the five different awakening talents listed on the tablet.


    At the very top of the stone tablet, the name of the first awakening talent was "The Immortal."


    Beneath the name of The Immortal talent, there was a brief description.


    [The Immortal: As the name implies, this talent endows its possessor with extraordinary vitality. Even in life-threatening situations, it provides a slim chance of survival.


    Upon acquiring this talent, the awakened individual will greatly enhance their physical constitution and develop strong resistance to various toxins. It even offers a degree of resistance to divine attacks.]


    The Immortal is a talent that focuses entirely on defense, and Jeremy was not particrly fond of this talent.


    Beneath the description of The Immortal talent, there was the name of another talent, which was called "The King of Time and Space."


    [The King of Time and Space: Time and space coexist, and changes in time are also changes in space. This talent allows the awakened individual to possess an exceptional perception of both time and space.


    The awakened can manipte time and space to perform a variety of extraordinary skills. Additionally, those endowed with this talent will have increased resistance to attacks involving time and space maniption.]


    Jeremy was extremely fond of the talent "The King of Time and Space." Furthermore, he believed that this talent was highlypatible with the skills he currently possessed.


    However, Jeremy still intended to examine the other three talents to see what they offered.


    Beneath the talent of "The King of Time and Space."there was a talent named "The Embodiment of Fate."


    [The Embodiment of Fate: Whether it be fortune or misfortune, survival or death, everything ultimately converges upon destiny. This talent endows the awakened individual with an extraordinary ability to perceive the nuances of fate.


    Upon acquiring this talent, the awakened can sense changes in their own destiny. They receive premonitions of impending crises, providing them the opportunity to take measures to avert misfortune.


    As the strength of the awakened increases, this talent enables them to bestow misfortune upon their enemies and grant fortune to their allies.]


    In essence, the talent "The Embodiment of Fate" can be summed up as being a favorite of destiny.


    Although the description of "The Embodiment of Fate" appeared exceedingly powerful, Jeremy identified its greatest weakness: it scarcely enhanced any directbat abilities.


    "If I wanted to be the luckiest person, I would undoubtedly choose this talent. However, I still aspire to seize control of my own destiny. I yearn for a talent that fortifies mybat prowess."


    Beneath the talent of "The Embodiment of Fate."therey the talent named "The Apostle of Desire."


    [The Apostle of Desire: Whether divine beings or mortals, creatures or monsters, all existences harbor innate desires. This talent grants the awakened individual the ability to manipte the desires of others.


    In the heat of battle, The Apostle of Desire can ignite the enemy''s desires, causing them to lose their rationality in an instant. Additionally, outside ofbat, The Apostle of Desire can exert subtle influences on anyone.


    This influence can significantly amplify the targeted individual''s corresponding desires, thereby granting The Apostle of Desire a considerable advantage in various situations.]


    After reviewing the talent of The Apostle of Desire, Jeremy felt that its power was almost excessively formidable.


    "A talent that allows one to manipte the desires of others is indeed exceedingly rare. Perhaps I should contemte whether to forsake The King of Time and Space in favor of The Apostle of Desire?"


    Beneath The Apostle of Desire, at the very bottom of the stone tablet,y the final talent, which was named Chaos Pact.


    [Chaos Pact: Rules are crafted to be deceived, and pacts are made to be broken. Regardless of the rules set or the agreements made, the Chaos Pact talent allows its possessor to disregard both.


    The owner of the Chaos Pact talent is inherently a betrayer of others. This talent enables the possessor to ignore any contract established with anyone or any entity.


    Even if the opposing party is immensely powerful, Chaos Pact can significantly mitigate the penalties for breaking contracts and viting rules.]


    "Indeed, the Chaos Pact talent is exceptional for deception. However, the adversaries I face are incredibly powerful monsters and the architects of the apocalypse game. I highly doubt these game designers would enter into any contracts with me."


    "Hence, the Chaos Pact talent holds little utility for me. Perhaps Ritchie might find this talent more beneficial."


    After reviewing all the talents, Jeremy ultimately determined that The King of Time and Space and The Apostle of Desire were the two talents most suited to him.


    However, Jeremy wasn''t able to make an immediate decision just yet.


    Thus, Jeremy directly addressed the ss change goddess Janna, "Besides the information on the stone tablet, can''t you provide me with some additional details?"


    The ss change goddess Janna nodded in acknowledgment.


    "I can indeed provide you with additional information. Besides these five talents, there are many other talents. However, I must caution you that the five talents I have presented to you are the most powerful."


    "Moreover, only because you are the first to awaken do you have the privilege of selecting one from these five talents. The other talents are significantly weaker."


    Hearing Janna''s words, Jeremy was slightly taken aback.


    "Are you saying that if I weren''t the first to awaken, I wouldn''t be able to choose any of these five talents?"


    The ss change goddess Janna nodded in affirmation.

 Chapter 198: Precautions for Awakening

    Upon learning that only the first individual to initiate their awakening would have the opportunity to choose from five unique awakening talents, Jeremy felt an urgent need to prepare himself for the uing transformation.


    After contemting the matter seriously for a while, he turned to the ss change goddess, Janna, and inquired.


    "Are there any additional precautions I should be aware of regarding the awakening? Should I undertake any specific actions prior to the awakening to ensure that no unforeseen circumstances arise during the process?"


    The ss change goddess, Janna, regarded Jeremy with an appreciative gaze.


    "You are absolutely correct, there are indeed other matters that require your attention prior to the awakening."


    After delivering this statement, the ss change goddess extended her palm. In the center of her hand, a blue-purple key materialized.


    "If you wish to navigate the awakening process without encountering any unforeseenplications, you must acquire an awakening gemstone at the onset of the transformation.


    Only the awakening gemstone can safeguard your mind from the overwhelming surge of power that may ur during the awakening. Without the gemstone, you run the considerable risk of losing your self-awareness due to the intensity of the forces at y during the process."


    Upon hearing Janna''s words, Jeremy felt a twinge of concern.


    He had never anticipated that the awakening woulde with such significant risks.


    In the previous two ss changes, Jeremy had never encountered such a significant risk.


    "You can take this key and freely enter any instance, and that instance will be transformed into one rted to the awakening gemstone. As long as you can sessfully clear the instance, you will obtain the awakening gemstone."


    As the ss change goddess, Janna, spoke, the blue-purple key floated towards Jeremy, hovering just before him.


    "You must elerate your actions, for another individual is also perilously close to reaching the level of awakening."


    While Jeremy was gazing at the blue-purple key, the ss change goddess, Janna, offered him this timely warning.


    Furrowing his brow in contemtion, Jeremy then posed a question.


    "Is the person you mentioned the same Kean who has always been my adversary?"


    The ss change goddess, Janna, remained silent, merely nodding in response.


    "I understand. I will endeavor to clear the awakening gemstone instance as swiftly as possible."


    After uttering these words, Jeremy resolved to depart immediately. He felt an overwhelming sense of urgency, believing he could not afford to waste even the slightest moment.


    However, just as Jeremy turned around, intending to leave, the ss change goddess, Janna, called out to him from behind.


    "In addition to obtaining the awakening gemstone to ensure that you do not lose your self-awareness during the awakening process, there are other important considerations to keep in mind. You may leave after I finish speaking."


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy turned back to face her.


    At that moment, his expression revealed a hint of displeasure.


    In Jeremy''s view, she should have rified these matters in advance. When she mentioned Kean, he assumed that she had already conveyed all the necessary precautions.


    "Apart from the necessity of carrying the awakening gemstone during the transformation, you must not bring any weapons or equipment with you at that time.


    This is because all weapons and equipment possess corresponding attributes."


    "The attributes of the weapons and equipment you carry may very well be in direct opposition to the attributes of the new talents you acquire during the awakening process.


    If these two profound forces collide, it could lead to unforeseenplications during your awakening."


    The ss change goddess, Janna, reiterated another important precaution regarding the awakening.


    "Rest assured, after reaching level 50 and arriving here, I absolutely will not carry any equipment. I believe that with you by my side, I will be safe from danger."


    Jeremy had never intended to carry any weapons or equipment during the awakening process.


    However, a faint smile of resignation appeared on the face of the ss change goddess, Janna.


    "You are somewhat overestimating my capabilities. I cannot guarantee your safety during your awakening. Once youmence your ascent, those orchestrating the apocalypse game, led by ''Fool,'' will undoubtedly intervene.


    Do you genuinely believe that ''Fool'' cannot ascertain the precise moment of your awakening? He has already designated you as one of his enemies, and therefore, he will certainly not allow you to seed in your awakening without significant obstacles."


    Upon hearing the name "Fool."Jeremy felt a slight headache beginning to form.


    Indeed, as the ss change goddess, Janna, had pointed out, Jeremy would undoubtedly possess no means of self-defense during the awakening process.


    Moreover, the orchestrators of the apocalypse game would certainly take the opportunity to disrupt his awakening.


    In order to ensure his safety throughout this critical transformation, it seemed imperative for Jeremy to seek out some formidable bodyguards.


    "Do you have any suggestions? I fear that the strength of mypanions in the real world is utterly insufficient to contend with the architects of the apocalypse game."


    After pondering for a moment, Jeremy decided to pose the question to the ss change goddess, Janna.


    "You can only seek assistance from the ''World.'' I believe it would be willing to offer you some support, especially since you previously aided it in defeating one of the architects of the apocalypse game."


    Janna''s suggestion was indeed a solution that Jeremy had contemted before.


    However, he couldn''t shake the feeling that relying on the ''World'' to ensure his safety might ultimately prove futile.


    Jeremy was acutely aware that the enemies facing the ''World'' were immensely powerful, which implied that the ''World'' had a multitude of pressing matters requiring its attention.


    After a moment of hesitation, Jeremy addressed the ss change goddess, Janna.


    "I will consider the advice you have provided. Yet, I cannot be certain that the ''World'' will have the time to offer me protection when the moment arrives."


    The ss change goddess, Janna, nodded silently in acknowledgment.


    "Are there any other points I should be aware of?" Jeremy inquired softly, addressing Janna.


    Janna proceeded to articte the final two crucial considerations.


    "There are two additional matters you must deliberate upon. The first is that during the awakening process, you must ensure that you possess a thorough understanding of the awakening talent you wish to acquire.


    This is imperative because, during the awakening, information rted to the desired talent will rapidly inundate your mind. If you do not have aprehensive grasp of the awakening talent you seek, it is likely that you will lose some of that information.


    As a consequence, this may result in the awakening talent you acquire being less powerful than anticipated.


    The second point is that once the awakeningmences, it must not be interrupted under any circumstances. If you pause during the awakening process, there is a significant risk that your consciousness maypletely dissipate."


    After absorbing all the warnings Janna had conveyed regarding the awakening process, Jeremy nodded gravely.


    "I sincerely appreciate the plethora of information you have provided me. I will immediately begin to devise my subsequent action n. Once I have formted aprehensive n and arranged everything ordingly, I will inform you of the precise moment I intend to undergo the ss change."


    After uttering these words, Jeremy departed, taking with him the blue-purple key bestowed by the ss change goddess, Janna.


    Once Jeremy had left, Janna could not help but let out a sigh.


    "Jeremy is indeed an exceptionally talented human, yet he is merely a human after all. Forcing him to continuously engage in battles among deities is exceedingly cruel."


    Janna felt that it was already a considerable stretch for Jeremy to participate in the conflicts between deities.


    The notion of having Jeremy ultimately assist them in obliterating all the architects behind the apocalypse game seemed utterly imusible.


    Just as Janna finished hermentation, the projection of the ''World'' materialized directly before her.


    "I believe you are somewhat underestimating Jeremy."it stated.


    "He is not just an extraordinarily gifted human, in fact, he is the only one among all humanity who possesses the potential to ascend to divinity. He is absolutely capable of aiding us in vanquishing those sphemers led by the ''Fool.''"


    The sudden appearance of the projection of the ''World'' left the ss change goddess, Janna, slightly taken aback.


    After listening to what the ''World'' had to say, Janna nodded in acknowledgment of its words.


    "You have appeared here, which implies that you must have overheard my conversation with Jeremy, correct? Is there any possibility that you could provide him protection during his awakening process?"


    In response to Janna''s inquiry, the ''World'' did not offer a definitive answer.


    "Everything hinges on whether Jeremy can act swiftly enough in theing days. If he manages to acquire the awakening gemstone within a few days, I will have the avability to offer him protection.


    However, if he is unable to clear the awakening gemstone instance within a week''s time, I will be unable to extend my protection to him. This is because, after a week, I must journey to the divine realm of the ''Fool.''


    I must thwart His insidious plot."


    Upon hearing the ''World''s'' n, the ss change goddess Janna let out a deep sigh.


    "Our strength is still somewhatcking, the enemies we face are far too powerful."Janna remarked. "Nevertheless, I am confident that Jeremy will be able to swiftly acquire the awakening gemstone."


    The ss change goddess Janna had no intention of opposing the n put forth by the ''World.''


    She was acutely aware that whatever concerned the ''World'' was of paramount importance. If the ''Fool''s'' scheme were to seed, it was highly likely that everyone, herself included, would face utter ruin.


    The projection of the ''World'' swiftly vanished from sight, leaving the ss change goddess Janna alone to reflect in silence.

 Chapter 199: A Very Tight Schedule

    Upon returning to the reality of his home, Jeremy did not waste a single moment. He immediately retrieved the meticulously crafted n he had prepared.


    "I have already promised General Howard that I will assist his subordinates inpleting the division of the industrial district within the next half month. If I wish to avoid breaking my word, I can only engage in the awakening gemstone instance after this two-week period."


    "However, two weeks feels excessively lengthy to me, if Kean reaches level 50 within that timeframe, I would find myself filled with regret!"


    After Jeremy finished speaking to himself, he immediately decided to call General Howard.


    He intended to postpone the division of the industrial district for a while.


    Once hepleted the awakening gemstone instance, he would resume fulfilling his agreement with General Howard.


    However, before making the call to General Howard, Jeremy felt it was imperative to first ascertain when the ''World'' would be able to provide him with protection.


    Jeremy retrieved the gemstone that the ''World'' had entrusted to him.


    Under the influence of the gemstone''s power, the projection of the ''World'' materialized directly before Jeremy.


    "I have a matter of utmost importance to discuss with you. It is advisable that you do not interrupt me, I will strive to be as concise as possible."


    Jeremy was exceedingly anxious, and thus he hoped to convey all the relevant information in the shortest time possible.


    However, the ''World'' spoke up without hesitation.


    "I am aware of the nature of the discussion you wish to have, as I have previously visited the ss change goddess Janna. I can unequivocally assure you that I will be able to provide you with safe protection for the next week.


    If you do not make all necessary preparations within this week, then the next opportunity for me to offer you protection will not arise until three months from now."


    Jeremy was momentarily taken aback, but he quickly regained hisposure.


    "So, what you''re saying is that as long as I initiate my awakening within the next seven days, you can ensure that I will not be threatened by the nners of the apocalypse game during the awakening process. Am I correct?"


    "You are indeed correct!" the ''World'' affirmed. "Although my power cannot simultaneously defeat numerous nners of the apocalypse game, I am capable of preventing them from posing a threat to you."


    Upon receiving the ''World''s'' reassuring confirmation, Jeremy stated directly, "Very well! I will certainlyplete all necessary preparations for my awakening within the week."


    After hearing this, the ''World'' nodded in acknowledgment, and then its projection vanished without a trace.


    Having just concluded the discussion regarding the specific timeline with the ''World,'' Jeremy promptly dialed General Howard''s phone number.


    At that moment, General Howard was in the capital.


    In truth, General Howard was extremely reluctant to be in the capital.


    He always felt that the powerful figures within the capital were merely wasting his time.


    Were it not for the military headquarters demanding that he return promptly to provide a detailed ount of the situation that had unfolded in Moonlight City to the federal and military highmand, he would have undoubtedly stayed away from the capital.


    Upon his return, he indeed encountered the very circumstances he had wished to avoid the most.


    The inquiries from the military and federal highmandsted less than half a day.


    However, the prominent families of the capital all extended invitations to General Howard to attend their family banquets.


    During these family gatherings, each influential n reached out to General Howard, hoping to entice him to join their ranks.


    Yet, General Howard remained steadfast in his belief that his loyaltyy solely with the military headquarters.


    Consequently, he declined the requests for alliances from any of the formidable families.


    If the interactions with other powerful families were already enough to give General Howard a headache, then his dealings with the Lannisters were nothing short of excruciatingly painful.


    The head of the Lannister family was already quite advanced in age. Therefore, the individual Howard engaged with was the eldest son of the Lannister patriarch, who was also Kean''s uncle.


    General Howard had initially hoped to extract information pertaining to Kean from this encounter.


    However, everything the Lannister representative said was incredibly guarded, leaving no room for insight.


    Not only did General Howard fail to acquire any intelligence regarding Kean, but he inadvertently divulged some information about Jeremy to the Lannisters instead.


    After concluding his meeting with Kean''s uncle, General Howard returned to his luxurious amodation in the capital.


    At this point, he was utterly exhausted, both mentally and physically.


    Just as General Howard was preparing to rest, his phone suddenly erupted with a ringtone, it was a call from Jeremy.


    "Hello, are you calling me now to inquire whether I have obtained any further information regarding Kean from the upper echelons of the Lannisters?"


    General Howard directly questioned Jeremy as soon as the call was connected.


    "That is not the primary reason for my call, but if you wish to share any insights, I would be more than willing to listen."


    Jeremy replied, leaving Howard somewhat perplexed.


    "Then what is the main purpose of your call?"


    "The main reason I am calling is to propose a modification to the n we previously established. I had initially agreed to cooperate with your subordinates in the division of the industrial district over the next two weeks.


    However, I now have a pressing matter that requires my immediate attention. Therefore, I would like to request a postponement of the task regarding the division of the industrial district."


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s response, Howard provided a clear and unequivocal answer.


    "Of course, you are free to prioritize whatever you deem most important. As for the task of dividing the industrial district, it is not particrly urgent for us.


    Eliminating all the monsters within the industrial district will require a significant amount of time. There is no need for us to rush."


    After hearing Howard''s response, Jeremy expressed his gratitude with great enthusiasm and promptly hung up the phone.


    Howard had initially assumed that Jeremy would inquire further about matters rted to Kean.


    He even hesitated, contemting whether he should fabricate a few statements to deflect Jeremy''s inquiries. Little did he realize that Jeremy waspletely unconcerned about Kean at this moment.


    "It seems that Jeremy is indeed very different from the others. He truly lives up to his reputation as the most gifted awakened being."


    General Howard mused as he ced his phone on the nightstand and then proceeded to rest.


    On Jeremy''s side, aftermunicating effectively with General Howard, he ced a call to one of Howard''s subordinates.


    Once he confirmed that the other party was aware of his intentions, Jeremy began to ponder which instance he should enter with the blue-purple key bestowed upon him by the ss change goddess, Janna.


    "Although the ss change goddess, Janna, did not mention that the differences in instances would result in varying awakened gemstones, I should still give this careful consideration. I must avoid any unforeseen circumstances at all costs."Jeremy thought to himself.


    After contemting for a while, he ultimately decided to head to the military base in the suburbs.


    His intention was to review all the information regarding the instances surrounding Moonlight City that were stored within the military base.


    When Jeremy arrived at the suburban military base, the personnel inside were quite taken aback. They had never witnessed someone so busy before.


    "Jeremy truly lives up to General Howard''s expectations, he seems to never feel fatigued. He is constantly engaged in executing incredibly difficult tasks."one soldier couldn''t help but exim.


    Another soldier nodded in agreement and remarked, "Otherwise, how could he capture the attention of all the prominent figures while still being an ordinary person? We should notpare ourselves to him, we simply need to focus on fulfilling our own responsibilities."


    Jeremy paid little mind to the discussions about him among the personnel at the military base.


    He diligently gathered all the information regarding the instances surrounding Moonlight City.


    After carefullyparing and contemting the data for a while, Jeremy ultimately resolved to enter the instance located near the Moonlight City Botanical Garden.


    ording to the intelligence avable at the military base, the boss within the instance near the Moonlight City Botanical Garden possessed the ability tounch mental attacks.


    This implied that once he brought the blue-purple key into the instance, the awakened gemstones generated by the boss would likely have a stronger effect in stabilizing self-awareness.


    Having made his decision, Jeremy returned home without any hesitation.


    He needed to be fully prepared before embarking on this mission. He intended to carry all the gear and weapons he could manage.


    Moreover, prior to his departure, he felt it was imperative to disclose some of his ns to hispanions.


    He did not wish for his friends to fall into a state of panic due to misjudgments while he was preupied with his tasks.


    In a hurry, Jeremy left the military base.


    In truth, it was not only the others who perceived Jeremy as exceedingly busy, even Jeremy himself felt that his schedule was rather overly tight.


    However, he had no alternative, as he was constrained by a mere seven days. Furthermore, he had already squandered half a day.


    With no way to ascertain the difficulty of the awakened gemstone instance, Jeremy naturally needed to allocate ample time for the awakened gemstone instance.


    Upon returning home, Jeremy briefly outlined his ns to Bonnie, Ritchie, ire, and Emma.


    Ritchie and Bonnie initially intended to apany Jeremy into the awakened gemstone instance.


    However, Jeremy deterred them, as he believed that having others enter alongside him could potentiallypromise the integrity of the awakened gemstone instance.


    Each individual''s awakening was uniquely their own, at the very least, assistance from others was not permissible when acquiring the awakened gemstone.

 Chapter 200: The Misty Garden

    After making all the necessary preparations, Jeremy hurried to the entrance of the Botanical Garden in Moonlight City with utmost speed.


    At this location, he could see the entrance to the instance situated near the Botanical Garden, which was shrouded in a thick veil of white mist. Moreover, within the depths of the entrance to the instance, he could faintly discern the presence of various nts.


    It was precisely due to the unique characteristics of the entrance to the instance that the military of Moonlight City designated it as The Misty Garden.


    ording to the intelligence gathered by the military, the overall level of the monsters within The Misty Garden hovers around level 50.


    Additionally, based on the information provided by soldiers who had entered the instance and managed to survive, it was determined that the level of the instance boss in The Misty Garden should exceed level 55.


    Overall, The Misty Garden instance could be ssified as one of the more challenging instances surrounding Moonlight City.


    Jeremy''s choice of this instance was not solely due to the fact that the instance boss possessed the ability for mental attacks, but also because the overall level of the monsters within the instance was highlypatible with the essence of awakening.


    In the apocalypse game, the awakening level for awakeners is set at level 50.


    Only after awakening can the awakeners in the apocalypse game continue to elevate their own levels.


    This implies that in order to obtain the awakening gemstone, one must seemingly first endure the trials presented by level 50 monsters.


    Although this is merely Jeremy''s own spection, he firmly believes that his conjecture is likely not too far from the truth.


    Moreover, Jeremy feels that this is, in fact, a crucial aspect of the awakening trial.


    He does not subscribe to the notion that the ss change goddess, Janna, is entirely oblivious to these circumstances.


    Since the ss change goddess Janna is clearly well-informed about this information, why has she not conveyed it to Jeremy?


    The only usible exnation is that such information must be uncovered by the awakeners themselves. Only by exploring the relevant information can an awakener be deemed to possess the qualifications for awakening.


    After a meticulous examination of the surroundings of The Misty Garden instance, Jeremy resolved to prioritize the elimination of the monsters in the vicinity of the instance.


    He certainly did not wish to be abruptly in by a monster that materialized at the exit of The Misty Garden instance after enduring countless hardships to finally conquer it.


    Jeremy moved with remarkable speed, and the monsters surrounding The Misty Garden instance were not particrly high in level.


    Thus, within a mere quarter of an hour, Jeremy had eradicated all the monsters in the vicinity of The Misty Garden instance.


    Near the entrance of The Misty Garden, Jeremy deliberately ced two health restoration potions.


    "If I sustain severe injuries after clearing the instance, then I will have to rely on these two health restoration potions to ensure my safety."


    Having made all the necessary preparations, Jeremy took a deep breath.


    He produced the bluish-purple key, and as soon as it made contact with the entrance of The Misty Garden instance, it transformed into a burst of colorful light and entered the instance.


    Meanwhile, The Misty Garden instance was officially transformed into an instance associated with the awakening gemstone.


    The formal name of the instance also changed to The Misty Garden Awakening Instance.


    As the The Misty Garden instance underwent dramatic alterations, Jeremy could sense that while the monsters within the instance had not increased in level, their strength was noticeably superior to what it had been previously.


    "It appears that awakening instances are indeed somewhat more challenging than ordinary ones. However, since I havee this far, I shall not choose to retreat."


    Jeremy grasped the Longsword of the Undying and stepped directly into The Misty Garden Awakening Instance.


    The moment he entered the instance, he heard the voice of the ss change goddess, Janna.


    "You truly overestimate yourself, do you really believe you possess the qualifications to pass this trial? You have no chance whatsoever of seeding! Even with my assistance, youck the capability to obtain the awakening gemstone.


    For your own safety, you should swiftly exit the instance. Do not continue to overreach, persisting in this folly will only lead you to immense suffering."


    Upon hearing this voice, Jeremy maintained an expressionless demeanor and replied.


    "You have barely just entered the instance, and yet you have the audacity tounch a mental attack against me. Do you genuinely believe that such an assault would prove effective?"


    Jeremy was acutely aware that the voice he had just heard, purportedly belonging to the ss change goddess Janna, was certainly not hers.


    He was almost certain that the voice emanated from the boss of The Misty Garden Awakening Instance.


    Under normal circumstances, the boss of The Misty Garden instance would never initiate a mental attack the moment a human intruder stepped into the instance.


    However, the transformation of The Misty Garden instance into an awakening instance indicated that the boss had indeed undergone a significant enhancement.


    After Jeremy uttered these words, the voice of the ss change goddess Janna promptly vanished, just as he had anticipated.


    However, before long, another voice, filled with malice and capable of inducing intense headaches in Jeremy, pierced through his ears.


    "Do not be too arrogant! You understand nothing at all, how dare you transform my instance into an awakening gemstone instance?


    You foolish and haughty human, I will ensure that you pay a heavy price for this! I will plunge you into a fate far more wretched than my own."


    The boss of The Misty Garden instance pronounced these words with a voice steeped in extreme fury.


    After enduring a bout of excruciating headache, Jeremy finally managed to shake off the effects of the boss''s voice.


    "Why does he im that I will end up in a state more tragic than his own? Is it possible that when an instance is converted into an awakening gemstone instance, the corresponding boss must pay an extraordinarily heavy price?"


    Since this was Jeremy''s first time entering an awakening gemstone instance, he hoped to gather as much information as possible.


    After all, Jeremy''s friends would undoubtedly need to undergo their own awakenings shortly thereafter.


    Jeremy could share the information he gathered with his friends, enabling them to navigate their awakening process with greater ease.


    He was not affected by the attacks from The Misty Garden instance boss.


    Instead, Jeremy proceeded cautiously and swiftly deeper into The Misty Garden instance.


    During his journey, he encountered several monsters around level 50, all of which were transformed from nts.


    However, these creatures posed no threat to Jeremy, as the weapon he wielded was of a higher level than that of these monsters.


    Moreover, the Longsword of the Undying possessed formidable skills in its own right.


    As Jeremy advanced within the instance, he finally reached level 50. However, at the very moment he attained this level, he did not immediately find himself in the realm of the ss change goddess Janna.


    "The blue-purple key provided to me by the ss change goddess Janna should only be obtainable after reaching level 50. However, since she granted it to me prematurely, I no longer need to seek her out upon reaching that level."


    Jeremy spected slightly.


    Although his conjecture might not be entirely urate, he found no more reasonable exnation.


    Jeremy spent half an hour finally traversing the firstyer of The Misty Garden instance, and he paused before the grand gate that separated the firstyer from the second.


    He halted because he encountered a design that left him utterly astonished.


    Above the grand gate between the twoyers of The Misty Garden, the pattern depicted a sun hanging high in the sky.


    "How is this even possible? All the monsters in The Misty Garden are associated with nts. Why would nt-rted monsters adopt the sun as their totem?


    Could it be that these creatures have a direct connection to the organizer of the apocalypse game, the ''Sun''? If that is the case, I must exercise even greater caution."


    Jeremy had an unsettling feeling that the ''Sun'' had not beenpletely eradicated.


    After all, the ''Sun'' was one of the masterminds behind the apocalypse game. Although his power might not be as formidable as that possessed by the ''Fool,''


    He nheless remained a force that mere mortals could not easily defeat.


    Thus, Jeremy remained deeply troubled by the possibility that the ''Sun'' might have infiltrated the real world through a feigned death. If Jeremy''s suspicions were indeed correct, then the ''Sun'' would represent the greatest threat to humanity among the organizers of the apocalypse game.


    After pondering this matter more thoroughly for a while, Jeremy ultimately decided to set this piece of information aside for the time being.


    After all, what he needed to do now was to clear the instance for the awakening gemstone as quickly as possible.


    Only afterpleting his awakening could he dedicate more time to tracking down clues rted to the ''Sun.''


    Jeremy shook his head and approached the grand gate between the twoyers.


    As he reached the entrance, the gate emitted a creaking sound and gradually swung open.


    The secondyer of The Misty Garden instance unfolded before Jeremy''s eyes, and the sight left him utterly astonished.


    Before himy Nocturne City in all its glory.


    Above Nocturne City, a massive sun illuminated everything beneath its rays.


    "How can this be?! Why does an identical city to Nocturne City exist within The Misty Garden instance? Could it be that there are also followers of the sun here?!"


    Jeremy recalled everything he had encountered in Nocturne City.


    He was deeply concerned that once he stepped into the secondyer of The Misty Garden, he would likely face attacks from the Sun Knights and the Light Chasers.


    In Nocturne City, all the Sun Knights and Light Chasers were devoted followers of the ''Sun.'' If he were responsible for the ''Sun''s'' downfall, the Sun Knights and Light Chasers would undoubtedly seek his demise.


    While Jeremy hesitated, a grotesque monsterposed entirely of shadows slowly approached from behind him.

 Chapter 201: Confronting the Deepest Fears Within

    Although Jeremy was fixated on the abrupt emergence of Nocturne City within the secondyer of The Misty Garden, he did not neglect to maintain vignce regarding the threat behind him.


    As the grotesque monster,posed entirely of shadows, drew within approximately one meter of Jeremy, he suddenly turned around and swung the Longsword of the Undying at the creature.


    The distorted monster let out a piercing wail in response to Jeremy''s assault.


    Although Jeremy had not personally endured an attack from the twisted monster, the creature''s sharp, anguished wails induced a fierce headache that throbbed within his skull.


    "I never anticipated that this monster would possess abilities for mental assault. Could it be that every creature within The Misty Garden is capable of employing psychic attacks?!"


    At this moment, Jeremy found himself filled with a sense of bewilderment.


    In his view, mental attacks should be ssified as highly advanced abilities.


    While he could ept that the instance boss of The Misty Garden might wield such powers, he was utterly astonished to discover that even the ordinary monsters within The Misty Garden possessed the capacity for mental strikes.


    Though the psychic attack did not severely cripple Jeremy, it nevertheless caused him to lose his bnce.


    He stumbled and fell, rolling down into the secondyer of The Misty Garden.


    As Jeremy descended into the secondyer, the heavy gate between the twoyers of The Misty Garden mmed shut.


    The intricate designs adorning the gate shifted from an elevated sun to an utterly pitch-ck night sky.


    As Jeremy''s intense headache gradually subsided, he suddenly realized that he seemed to have been transported back two months into the past.


    Beside him, in addition to Bonnie, were Heber and the members of Heber''s merchant caravan.


    "What are you standing there for, you rascal? We''ve finally arrived at Nocturne City, so we must hasten tomence our mission!"


    Heber wore an expression of urgency as he implored Jeremy.


    Although Jeremy felt a twinge of confusion, he nheless nodded in agreement.


    "We certainly should get moving without dy. However, I am uncertain about what our next course of action is. Could you please enlighten me as to what we are supposed to undertake next?"


    Jeremy''s question elicited a peculiar look from everyone around him.


    Bonnie, in particr, regarded Jeremy with a gaze filled with concern.


    "What is the matter with you? Have you not yet managed to return to normal?" Bonnie inquired, cing her hand gently on Jeremy''s forehead as she spoke.


    "You''ve already broken your fever! Does that mean the poison you received can only be countered by an antidote?"


    No sooner had Bonnie finished her statement than Heber leapt up, eximing, "That is absolutely impossible! The antidote I was able to procure is certainly effective."


    Heber ces great importance on hismercial reputation. He would never allow anyone to tarnish the integrity of the goods he sold.


    Witnessing this interaction, a faint smile appeared on Jeremy''s face.


    Everything seemed exceedingly normal, as if the events Jeremy had previously experienced were nothing more than a figment of his imagination.


    The ce he found himself in now felt like the true realm of reality.


    "Our next course of action is to proceed to the very center of Nocturne City. There, we shall be able to receive the immense power bestowed upon us by the great Sun."


    "Once we have harnessed the power of the Sun, we will be capable of confronting any enemies we may encounter. Moreover, we will also be able to assist the great Sun in fulfilling His grand design."


    Heber spoke with a fervent expression as he gazed towards the heart of Nocturne City.


    Heber''s reaction left Jeremy feeling somewhat perplexed.


    He began to gradually question the authenticity of everything he was witnessing.


    "Well then, since you have regained consciousness, let us hasten our progress."Heber dered, showing no inclination to grant Jeremy any additional time to prepare.


    Both Heber and Bonnie swiftly led Jeremy, along with the others, directly to the very center of Nocturne City.


    Here, a brilliant sun hung high in the sky, illuminating every inhabitant of Nocturne City with its relentless rays.


    "We can receive the Sun''s blessing right here! Hurry, pray to the Sun!" Heber eximed, excitement radiating from his face as he addressed Jeremy and the others.


    Jeremy shook his head in response.


    "I will not pray to the Sun. I believe that He would never bestow His power upon me."


    Jeremy''s words elicited a look of anger from Heber.


    "How can you utter such sphemy? How can you dare to tarnish the name of our great deity?"


    As soon as Heber finished speaking, the sun hanging high above suddenly emitted a blinding light.


    Everyone in the caravan, including Heber and Bonnie, was lifted off the ground.


    "You dare to desecrate the name of the great deity! The deity will surely bring divine retribution upon you and yourpanions!"


    An armored Sun Knight materialized behind Jeremy, fully equipped and ready for confrontation.


    The Sun Knight fixed his gaze intently upon Jeremy, seemingly eager to eliminate him without dy.


    Jeremy, in turn, raised the Longsword of the Undying, remaining vignt as he observed every movement of his adversary.


    "You should not harbor any delusions about defeating me here! This is the sacred realm of the great Sun! Only those who follow the great Sun can achieve victory in battle."


    As soon as the Sun Knight uttered these words, heunched an attack against Jeremy.


    Naturally, Jeremy would never concede defeat, and thus he summoned all of his strength to counter the assault.


    As the two engaged in their fiercebat, Bonnie, Heber, and the others gradually approached the brink of their own demise.


    Bonnie found herself unable to breathe any longer, she could only muster her remaining strength to shout at Jeremy, "You must survive! Never allow yourself to be killed by the deity as I have!"


    With those final words, Bonnie closed her eyes for thest time.


    Upon witnessing this scene, Jeremy was filled with immense rage, and he turned to face the Sun Knight before him.


    "I will undoubtedly eradicate both you and your deity! I will not allow your deity to escape justice!"


    After dering this, Jeremy ceased his battle with the Sun Knight.


    He sprinted towards Bonnie with unparalleled speed.


    At that moment, the sun, which hung high in the sky, began to plummet rapidly, a massive orb that nearly obscured the entire heavens. The buildings of Nocturne City were almostpletely melted away by the unimaginable light and heat.


    Jeremy felt as if his body was approaching its absolute limits.


    He sensed that his skin was being scorched by the extreme temperatures. Yet, he refused to abandon his course of action, he was determined to reach Bonnie''s side.


    With the aid of his formidable willpower, Jeremy finally arrived next to Bonnie.


    However, at this point, Bonnie had long since sumbed to death.


    "This is all your fault, had you not entered Nocturne City, she would not have died."a grand and authoritative voice resonated from the heavens.


    It was evident that this voice belonged to the Sun.


    Upon hearing those words, a flicker of confusion crossed Jeremy''s face.


    He could not shake the feeling that something was amiss about the situation he was facing. Yet, he could not articte exactly what felt wrong.


    After scrutinizing his palm and carefully examining Bonnie''s face, Jeremy finally realized where the dissonancey.


    With a firm grip on the Longsword of the Undying, Jeremy turned toward the sun and shouted loudly.


    "Do not attempt to shroud the truth in deception any longer! I am fully aware that this is merely an illusion concocted by you! You wish to shatter my sanity through this trickery!


    I almost fell for your scheme! Since you are the boss of The Misty Garden instance, then show yourself before me. I will unequivocally demonstrate just how powerful I truly am!"


    In that moment, Jeremy suddenly recognized that the visions he witnessed were manifestations of his deepest fears. He was profoundly afraid that his failure would result in dire consequences for hispanions.


    The instance boss of The Misty Garden sessfully exploited the vulnerabilities within Jeremy''s heart, meticulously crafting an illusion tailored for him.


    When Jeremy came to the realization that everything happening around him was merely an illusion, the surrounding images swiftly dissipated. The true visage of the secondyer of The Misty Garden revealed itself before Jeremy.


    In this secondyer, there existed only a multitude of nts exuding a hallucinogenic aura. These nts intertwined and grew together, forming a deathly array capable of ensnaring anyone within a trance.


    "Since you have no intention of directly confronting me for our final battle, I shall force you out in my own way!"


    Jeremy retrieved a specially designed incendiary bomb from his pocket. He hurled the bomb directly into the most densely tangled area of the nts.


    As the incendiary device exploded, numerous hallucinogenic nts in the secondyer of The Misty Garden were ignited.


    Although these nts could not move, they possessed a form of self-awareness. Thus, during the burning process, they emitted anguished cries of suffering.


    As Jeremy heard the anguished cries of suffering, he was once again beset by a piercing headache.


    However, after enduring a series of previous ordeals, Jeremy had developed a remarkable resilience to pain.


    "Is it truly the case that you creatures, skilled in mental assaults, can only inflict upon me this excruciating headache through your psychic attacks? Your efforts will never seed in vanquishing me.


    For headaches cannot truly be fatal. Moreover, as long as I can numb my sense of pain, you will find yourselves utterly powerless against me."


    With unwavering confidence, Jeremy called out into the depths of The Misty Garden, hoping that this bold deration would draw forth the instance boss.

 Chapter 202: The Enemy is Too Strong, Retreat for Now

    Jeremy''s actions had indeed yielded some degree of sess.


    As Jeremy reached the end of the second level of The Misty Garden, he suddenly heard the voice of the instance boss.


    "You actually believe that mental attacks could have no effect on you? Well then, by all means, proceed. However, I must caution you that upon entering the next level, you will find yourself in an irretrievable predicament."


    Jeremy, of course, paid no heed to the threat directed at him.


    After all, numerous individuals had uttered this very sentiment to him before.


    With a smile gracing his lips, Jeremy replied, "You are not the first person to convey such words to me. I can unequivocally assure you that those who spoke to me in this manner before have already paid a heavy toll for their arrogance.


    You think that by uttering these phrases, you can intimidate me into retreating? That will absolutely not seed."


    Having delivered this retort, Jeremy did not hesitate to kick open the door that separated the second and third levels of The Misty Garden.


    Upon forcing the door ajar, Jeremy stepped into a realm shrouded in thick mist.


    In this fogden expanse, he could see a plethora of bizarre nts flourishing all around him.


    However, these peculiar nts did notunch any mental attacks against Jeremy.


    Moreover, some of these nts even had the capability to provide Jeremy with additional attribute bonuses.


    As Jeremy proceeded with caution, he simultaneously observed the characteristics of the nts surrounding him.


    He made the decision to meticulously document all of the distinctive features of these flora.


    After all, the mutated nts within The Misty Garden instance were not exclusive to this particr instance.


    These mutated nts also appeared in other instances.


    Once Jeremy hadmitted all the characteristics of the mutated nts to memory, he could convey this information to Howard.


    At that time, Howard''s subordinates would find it significantly easier to eliminate the mutated nts present in other instances.


    Thus, Jeremy advanced with dual intentions, and after a quarter of an hour, a colossal tree obstructed his path.


    This colossal tree seemed to stretch upwards, almost reaching beyond the confines of the instance itself.


    Upon beholding this immense tree, Jeremy became exceedingly vignt.


    He suddenly realized that this gigantic tree bore a striking resemnce to the one he had encountered in the Dark City instance, which possessed formidable dark powers.


    Jeremy took a step back and retrieved the Dark Core from his pocket.


    Although the Dark Core had lost the majority of its power in the previous battle.


    It still had the ability to attract dark energies.


    If the massive tree before him could draw the Dark Core towards it, that would indeed signify that this tree possessed substantial dark power.


    From this point onward, Jeremy had to exercise even greater caution in his actions.


    As soon as he drew out the Dark Core, the colossal tree emitted a series of creaking noises.


    Holding the Longsword of the Undying with a firm grip, Jeremy attentively scanned the situation ahead while beginning to retreat slowly.


    He was acutely aware that in high-difficulty instances, any unexpected situation demanded utmost vignce.


    This was because such challenging instances rarely harbored safe zones.


    After taking two or three steps back, the trunk of the towering tree suddenly let out a deafening crash.


    In an instant, a massive hand, entirelyposed of various mutated nt bodies, emerged from the trunk. This colossal hand was adorned with an array of peculiar eyes.


    At the very center of the giant hand rested a huge gemstone radiating a strange blue light.


    When faced with this unexpected development, Jeremy did not dwell on his thoughts for long.


    After all, in The Misty Garden instance, he had encountered nothing but foes.


    Thus, Jeremy decisively opted tounch an attack without hesitation.


    Gripping the Longsword of the Undying, Jeremy, with the aid of the spatial sealing skill, instantly found himself before the colossal hand.


    Although Jeremy had not yet received any prompts from The Eye of Omniscience, he was acutely aware that this giant hand must possess a weakness.


    The most likely location for that weakness was the enigmatic blue gemstone emanating an otherworldly glow at the very center of the hand.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Jeremy raised the Longsword of the Undying and activated its active skill.


    The Longsword of the Undying, infused with immense divine power, swung towards the blue gemstone at the center of the giant hand.


    At the precise instant the de made contact with the blue gemstone, it emitted a sharp, resonant sound. Simultaneously, Jeremy felt a violent vibration coursing through his wrist.


    "What in the world is this gemstone? Why is the attack from the Longsword of the Undying ineffective against it?"


    Jeremy felt a slight twinge of surprise.


    In his perspective, although the monsters within The Misty Garden instance were undeniably formidable.


    The Longsword of the Undying was inherently leveled to be on par with the bosses of The Misty Garden instance.


    This implied that even when attacking the bosses of The Misty Garden instance, the Longsword of the Undying should still be capable of inflicting a certain degree of damage.


    However, this blue gemstone was clearly an unusually abnormal entity.


    In a sh of realization, Jeremy suddenly understood that the blue gemstone before him might very well be an awakening gemstone!


    In that fleeting moment of contemting such a possibility, Jeremy clenched the Longsword of the Undying and swung it down towards the palm beneath the blue gemstone.


    "If the blue gemstone truly is an awakening gemstone, then I must decisively sever the palm that lies beneath it."he thought resolutely.


    Jeremy''s speed of action was astonishingly swift.


    Moreover, the palm beneath the blue gemstone was utterly incapable of withstanding the onught of the Undying Longsword.


    In no time at all, Jeremy seeded in extracting the blue gemstone from the palm.


    As Jeremy''s hand made contact with the blue gemstone, his vision was enveloped by a radiant blue light.


    An overwhelming surge of divine power and an abundance of knowledge, akin to countless stars, flooded into Jeremy''s mind.


    Though Jeremy exerted every ounce of his will to harness this divine power and discern the nature of the knowledge now interwoven within his consciousness.


    His efforts proved futile and ultimately in vain.


    Because such divine powers and vast reservoirs of knowledge could only be harnessed once he hadpleted the awakening.


    The moment Jeremy touched the awakening gemstone, the instance boss of The Misty Garden emerged directly from the depths of the instance, drawing near to Jeremy.


    In the thirdyer of The Misty Garden, where Jeremy was located, all the mutated nts underwent dramatic transformations due to the arrival of the instance boss.


    These mutated nts began to grow at an astonishingly frenzied pace.


    The numerous sprouts and tendrils produced by the mutated flora nearly consumed the entirety of the thirdyer of The Misty Garden instance.


    Although Jeremy was momentarily incapacitated by the overwhelming impact of divine power and a deluge of knowledge, rendering him unable to perceive the changes urring in his surroundings,


    he suddenly heard the prompt from The Eye of Omniscience.


    [Note: Your situation is extremely perilous, you must exit the instance as swiftly as possible!]


    Upon hearing the warning from The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy did not take it to heart.


    He believed that the advice given by The Eye of Omniscience was entirely uneptable.


    "I have just discovered the awakening gemstone. I do not even know how to carry the awakening gemstone out with me. If I leave the instance now, won''t all my previous efforts be rendered futile?!"


    Jeremy muttered to himself within the confines of his mind.


    However, he did notpletely dismiss the warning from The Eye of Omniscience.


    He was acutely aware that the prompt from The Eye of Omniscience must hold some merit.


    Thus, Jeremy concentrated all his mental faculties and managed to extricate himself from the influence of the awakening gemstone.


    It was at that moment that he suddenly realized the instance boss of The Misty Garden was now standing directly before him.


    The instance boss of The Misty Garden was a colossal creature resembling a massive mantis, upon which various mutated nts had taken root.


    The Misty Garden instance boss fixed its blood-red, enormous eyes intently upon Jeremy.


    Upon merely making eye contact with the creature, Jeremy felt his thoughts suddenly be exceedingly sluggish.


    "I once told you! You are destined to perish within this instance!"


    A distorted, horrific voice echoed into Jeremy''s ears.


    Although the instance boss of The Misty Garden had yet to take any action, Jeremy abruptly realized that, in his current state, defeating this formidable opponent was utterly impossible.


    Thus, Jeremy decided to prioritize retreat for the time being.


    After all, he had spent less than a day on this mission, even if this attempt ended in failure, he still had another six days to devise alternative strategies.


    If he stubbornly engaged in a climactic battle against the powerful instance boss of The Misty Garden, all while suffering from the significant negative effects of the awakening gemstone, he would almost certainly be obliterated.


    Having swiftly reached a decision within his mind, Jeremy activated his spatial sealing skill with remarkable speed.


    Although, from Jeremy''s perspective, his movements appeared exceedingly rapid, the erosion of his cognitive faculties by the Misty Garden instance boss hindered his actual speed significantly.


    Thus, in reality, Jeremy''s speed of action was not as swift as it appeared.


    Jeremy had just employed the spatial sealing skill, summoning an unknown space that was uniquely his own.


    Before Jeremy could utilize the unknown space for a spatial leap to escape the instance, the instance boss of The Misty Garden raised its scythe-like w and brought it crashing down towards Jeremy''s head.


    Feeling a sense of tension, Jeremy carefully observed the creature''s every movement, and just as the scythe-like w was about to make contact with his body,


    Jeremy''s spatial leap finally reached itspletion.

 Chapter 203: Contest for the First Awakening Qualification

    With the aid of the spatial leap, Jeremy found himself back near the entrance of The Misty Garden instance.


    Once he verified that he had reached a ce of safety, Jeremy finally let out a sigh of relief.


    Although the speed of his cognitive processes had yet to return to its normal pace, at the very least, he no longer had to worry about the threat posed by The Misty Garden instance boss.


    After taking a moment topose himself, Jeremy''s condition finally began to improve.


    "It seems that my prior preparations were not quite sufficient. Before my next move, I must ensure that I undertake more thorough preparations!"


    Having uttered these words, Jeremy proceeded to remove all the items he had previously ced around the entrance of The Misty Garden instance.


    He had no desire for his whereabouts to be discovered by others due to the presence of those items.


    Jeremy felt that he could not even confide in Howard about this matter until he secured the qualification for awakening.


    Although he hade to trust that Howard was indeed on his side during their previous endeavors.


    However, the rtionship between Howard and Kean was not overly dire.


    Although Howard held Jeremy in high regard, if Kean, backed by the Lannisters, offered irresistibly tempting benefits to win Howard over, it was highly probable that Howard would betray Jeremy.


    Jeremy also did not intend to inform his few friends about his actions.


    In his view, both Bonnie and Ritchie were incapable of providing him with any substantial assistance.


    Upon learning of this news, ire and Emma would undoubtedly fall into a state of panic.


    Thus, he concluded that keeping the secret was the best choice for everyone involved.


    After observing his surroundings for a while longer and confirming that there was no one else present, Jeremy swiftly made his way back to his residence.


    At the same moment that Jeremy entered The Misty Garden instance, Kean was busy selecting the weapons and equipment he intended to take back from the Lannisters'' warehouse.


    Not far from Kean stood two individuals: the butler Farmer and the warehouse manager, Shawn .


    "Young Master, have you finished your selection? You have already looked through all the equipment in the warehouse. Is there truly nothing here that meets your approval?"


    Shawn inquired with a hint of exasperation.


    Without even ncing back, Kean replied, "Why are you in such a hurry? During previous missions, I suffered numerous setbacks due to equipment issues. This time, I refuse to endure any further losses.


    Therefore, I expect to select the most suitable weapons for myself. Moreover, these weapons all belong to the Lannisters, and as one of the senior members of the Lannisters, I certainly have the right to take my time in making my choices."


    Upon hearing these words, Shawn could only manage a smile, albeit one tinged with frustration.


    "You are absolutely correct, you certainly have the right to take your time here. However, I have other matters that require my attention. After all, the Lannisters have numerous other pressing issues to address."


    "Then by all means, feel free to leave! I can take my time selecting on my own."


    Kean had long wished for Shawn to depart swiftly.


    The rtionship between Kean and Shawn was far from amicable, while Shawn ''s status was not particrly elevated, he could still be considered, in a certain sense, a member of the Lannisters.


    Despite his deep-seated disdain for Shawn, Kean could not simply order him to leave without consequence.


    At that moment, the butler Farmer, wearing a sycophantic smile, addressed Shawn , saying, "Since the Young Master has expressed this wish, you may temporarily attend to your other important matters.


    I will remain here to apany the Young Master as he continues to select the weapons he requires. Should any issues arise, I will notify you at the earliest opportunity."


    Shawn nced at Kean, then at the butler Farmer.


    "Very well, you may take your time selecting the weapons. Once you have made your choices, please ensure you register the taken weapons on theputer over there."


    With that said, Shawn turned on his heel and exited the warehouse.


    However, before leaving the warehouse, Shawn made a point to cast a lingering nce at the butler Farmer.


    Although the rtionship between Kean and Shawn was rather strained, the bond between the butler Farmer and Shawn was rtively amicable.


    The two had previously coborated on several asions.


    As a result, Shawn ced greater trust in the butler Farmer.


    Moreover, it is significant to note that Shawn possessed a certain understanding of the butler Farmer''s true responsibilities.


    He was aware that the butler Farmer served not only Kean but also had the more crucial task of keeping a watchful eye on Kean to prevent him from causing trouble.


    After Shawn had departed, Kean turned around and addressed the butler Farmer directly.


    "I have already selected the equipment, you can take all these supplies and weapons back."


    Upon hearing this, the butler Farmer looked slightly perplexed and inquired of Kean,


    "Young Master, if I am to carry these weapons back, then where do you intend to go?"


    "Of course, I will return with you. Are you suggesting that I should carry these weapons myself?"


    Kean coldly remarked as he approached the butler Farmer.


    At this moment, the butler Farmer quickly lowered his head and replied in a sycophantic tone. "I would never dream of having you personally carry these weapons, Young Master. I merely wished to remind you to take care of yourself and rest adequately."


    Kean chuckled softly.


    "I appreciate your kind intentions, and if there are no other matters at hand, let us return swiftly."


    The butler Farmer hastily gathered the weapons that Kean had selected and quickly apanied him back to the vi.


    The weapons and equipment that Kean had chosen were all rted to the concept of the "Sun."


    Furthermore, the reason Kean had taken so long to select them was not merely to create trouble for Shawn.


    A more significant reason was that he needed to invest a certain amount of time to discern whether the aura emanating from the gear and weapons genuinely connected to the "Sun."


    His decision to depart quickly was not because he had found suitable weapons, rather, it was prompted by the voice of The Person in the Mirror emanating from the mirror he carried.


    The Person in the Mirror had something of great importance tomunicate to Kean.


    Upon returning to the vi, Kean addressed the butler Farmer directly.


    "Please ce all of these weapons and equipment in the storage room of the vi. I will require them for future endeavors. I am feeling a bit fatigued, so I shall retire early. You should also take some time to rest."


    With that, Kean promptly shut the door to his bedroom.


    Although the butler Farmer felt slightly perplexed, in the end, he had no choice but to store all the weapons and equipment in the storage room as instructed.


    After confirming that the butler Farmer had departed, Kean finally removed the ck cloth that had been draped over his enormous floor mirror.


    At the moment the cloth was lifted, the reflection of a young man materialized within the mirror.


    "Why is it that every time I meet with The Person in the Mirror, their appearance is entirely different? Do you not fear that I may be unable to continue our coboration due to your ever-changing visage?"


    Kean felt a slight dissatisfaction with the actions of The Person in the Mirror.


    He believed that their constant alterations in appearance were clearly a form of caution directed towards him.


    Upon hearing Kean''s remarks, the young man within the mirror responded with a smile.


    "This is a characteristic of us, The Person in the Mirror. If you wish to see the previous appearance of The Person in the Mirror during our next conversation, we can certainly amodate that. However, it is not of paramount importance.


    There is another matter of great urgency that we must convey to you immediately. Furthermore, you must act swiftly in response to it."


    Upon hearing these words, Kean responded nonchntly.


    "Every time you appear, it brings me a significant headache. This asion should be no exception, so please, go ahead and inform me of this urgent matter."


    "We have received very urate intelligence that Jeremy has reached level 50, and he has alreadye into contact with the awakening gemstone. This means he will soon have the opportunity to undergo the third ss change, or in other words, to awaken."


    Upon hearing this revtion, Kean''s expression grew slightly grave.


    However, after contemting for a moment, his demeanor gradually rxed.


    "I was expecting something truly critical. His level is already quite high, it is entirely normal for someone to reach level 50 and have the chance for a third ss change.


    Moreover, I do not intend to be his adversary anytime soon, so even if hepletes his third ss change, it does not pose a significant threat to me."


    After Kean finished speaking, The Person in the Mirror hastily interjected.


    "The third ss change is merely a ruse to deceive you Earthlings. The true name for the third ss change is awakening, and the first person to awaken can select one from five exceptionally rare talents.


    The disparity between rare talents and ordinary talents is immense.


    If Jeremy truly is the first to achieve awakening, he will undoubtedly select a highly rare talent. If you cannot stop him, you will no longer have the capability to contend against him."


    After hearing this, Kean''s expression swiftly shifted from rxed to serious.


    "I must stop him! What must I do to prevent him from seeding?"


    "You need only to be the first person to achieve awakening. There are two necessary conditions forpleting the awakening: the first condition is to reach level 50, and the second is to possess an awakening gemstone.


    You are very close to level 50, so what you need to do now is to obtain the awakening gemstone as quickly as possible."


    With the guidance of The Person in the Mirror, Kean immediately understood what he needed to do next.


    In fact, Kean felt a sense of urgency, he mustpete with Jeremy for the qualification to be the first to awaken.

 Chapter 204: A Race Against Time

    Kean not only acquired a wealth of information regarding awakening from The Person in the Mirror, but he also received some additional hints.


    Jeremy had some spective information regarding the awakening instance and the specific procedures involved before hepleted it. In contrast, Kean had no need to engage in spection, as The Person in the Mirror would provide him with all the necessary precautions.


    "Aside from the usual precautions, when selecting an awakening instance, you must choose one with a difficulty level exceeding 50. Because if you opt for an awakening instance with a difficulty below level 50, it is highly likely that you will be unable to refresh the awakening gemstone."


    The Person in the Mirror''s admonition left Kean feeling somewhat perplexed.


    At that moment, Kean was gripping the purple key that The Person in the Mirror had given him.


    The purple key in Kean''s hand bore slight differencespared to the purple key that Jeremy had obtained from the ss change goddess, Janna.


    The purple key in Kean''s possession emitted a faint yellow glow.


    This was primarily because the awakening key in his hand was imbued with divine power acquired by The Person in the Mirror through the essence of the Sun.


    "Isn''t it true that the awakening key is sufficient to unlock the awakening instance?


    If I were to select an instance with a difficulty rating above level 50, as you suggest, I would find it exceedingly difficult toplete it on my own. You all should consider providing assistance during my attempt to conquer the awakening instance."


    In response to Kean''s request, The Person in the Mirror unequivocally declined.


    "That is not possible.


    Any yer in an apocalypse game can only rely on their own strength while navigating through the awakening instance. Furthermore, during the process, the equipment and weapons you possess will also be subject to certain restrictions.


    Only exceptionally powerful yers in the apocalypse game have the capacity to acquire awakening gemstones within the awakening instance."


    The assertions made by The Person in the Mirror only served to increase Kean''s frustration.


    In Kean''s perspective, Jeremy had alreadye into contact with the awakening gemstone, which implied that Jeremy''s progress far surpassed his own.


    "If you cannot offer me any assistance, how am I supposed to surpass Jeremy''s progress? Just as you mentioned, Jeremy has already encountered the awakening gemstone.


    He may very well have even acquired it by now!"


    At that moment, Kean was feeling extremely disheartened.


    He even believed that The Person in the Mirror had provided him with the information a bit toote.


    "If you could have given me the relevant information earlier, I might have been able to catch up with Jeremy''s progress. If he has already begun his awakening, is it still possible for me to take action now?"


    In response to Kean''s inquiry, The Person in the Mirror patiently provided an exnation.


    "He has merelye into contact with the awakening gemstone. Coming into contact with the awakening gemstone does not equate to him obtaining it. No yer in any apocalypse game canplete the awakening instance on their first attempt.


    Therefore, all you need to do is to initiate the awakening instance immediately, and then enter the instance to familiarize yourself with the environment."


    "Once you have acquired the pertinent information regarding the awakening instance, please share it with us. We will provide you with substantial support during the forting actions."


    After receiving The Person in the Mirror''s assurance, Kean nodded in satisfaction.


    "If you had rified your position earlier, I wouldn''t have felt the need to engage in this tedious back-and-forth with you! Given that time is of the essence, let usmence our actions immediately."


    Kean promptly grasped the purple awakening key, equipped his weapons, and began making his way toward the outskirts of the capital.


    There exist numerous instances on the outskirts of the capital, and the difficulty level of these instances is predominantly above level 50. Instances rated below level 50 had long since been cleared away by the elite forces stationed around the capital.


    As Kean took decisive action, Jeremy finally returned to his residence.


    First, Jeremy ced the Dark Core into a specially designed box that he had crafted.


    In order to mitigate the overwhelming influence of the dark powers contained within the Dark Core, Jeremy utilized some rare materials he had previously acquired within an instance to construct a box capable of isting the dark powers.


    Following this, Jeremy retrieved all of his weapons.


    He needed to meticulously inventory the weapons at his disposal and select those that would be useful for his next foray into the awakening instance.


    "Although I possess a considerable number of weapons, there are only a few that are sufficiently powerful in terms of level and effectiveness. If even the Longsword of the Undying cannot assist me in clearing the awakening instance, what other weapon could possibly help me seed?"


    Jeremy remarked to himself as he gazed at the eclectic array of weaponsid out before him.


    Suddenly, Jeremy had a thought, perhaps he could borrow some weapons from others.


    For instance, the staff he had previously entrusted to Bonnie and Ritchie''s Ravager''s Gloves.


    While these two pieces of equipment may notpare to the Longsword of the Undying, they are certainly superior to the other gear Jeremy currently possesses.


    Having made this decision, Jeremy resolved to reach out to Bonnie and Ritchie.


    Just as he picked up his phone to dial Bonnie''s number, a haunting voice unexpectedly reached his ears.


    "I have something extremely important tomunicate to you, you muste to the world I inhabit immediately!"


    Jeremy was acutely aware that the voice belonged to the ss change goddess, Janna.


    He felt a twinge of confusion, wondering why the ss change goddess, Janna, had summoned him at this particr moment.


    Could it be that there was some other, more crucial information that she had forgotten to convey to him earlier?


    Despite his uncertainties, Jeremy did not squander a single moment.


    He swiftly utilized the gemstone provided to him by the [World] to transport himself to the space where the ss change goddess Janna resided.


    Upon seeing Jeremy, the ss change goddess Janna urgently eximed, "You must expedite your actions. Someone else has already activated the awakening instance."


    Upon hearing Janna''s statement, Jeremy was not particrly surprised.


    In his view, it was only natural that there were others whose levels wereparable to his own.


    Thus, after he activated the awakening instance, it was reasonable to expect that those yers in the apocalypse game with simr levels would also be able to ess the awakening instance with rtive ease.


    "Why are you not the least bit anxious? Do you wish to have your first awakening opportunity snatched away by someone else?"


    The ss change goddess, Janna, expressed a hint of confusion.


    "I find it entirely normal for such a situation to arise. Although my innate talent is quite high and I have received your assistance, others also possess their own advantages.


    It is entirely usible that there are individuals with formidable backgrounds whose leveling speed isparable to mine, making it unsurprising that they could activate the awakening instance at this moment."


    After hearing these words, the ss change goddess Janna spoke with a touch of disappointment.


    "Are you truly willing to forfeit this golden opportunity? I must inform you that the individual who has activated the awakening instance, aside from yourself, is named Kean."


    Upon hearing the name Kean, Jeremy''s expression underwent a dramatic transformation.


    "What did you say?! The second individual to activate the awakening instance, aside from me, is actually Kean?!"


    The ss change goddess, Janna, nodded, feeling somewhat pleased with Jeremy''s current reaction.


    "Why didn''t you inform me of such critical information sooner? I absolutely refuse to let Keanplete his awakening before I do!"


    Having uttered these words, Jeremy promptly returned to the real world.


    For Jeremy, the prospect of obtaining the rare talent associated with being the first to awaken was undoubtedly exhrating.


    However, if time proved insufficient and that rare talent were to be granted to someone else, he could reluctantlye to terms with it.


    What he could not ept, under any circumstances, was the notion of that rare talent being awarded to Kean.


    Jeremy raced back to the real world at the fastest speed possible, dialing Bonnie and Ritchie''s numbers in rapid session.


    He hoped to formte a n for their second entry into the awakening instance by tonight.


    Yet, he understood that relying solely on himself would make it quite difficult to devise a wless strategy.


    Therefore, he intended to summon both of the individuals he trusted to assist him.


    After Jeremy departed, the ss change goddess, Janna, muttered to herself.


    "It seems that the resistance we are encountering in our n this time is anything but ordinary. The minions of [Sun] have resorted to such despicable tactics."


    "They actually utilized the divine power possessed by [Sun] to snatch a key to awakening from me. Are they not afraid that I might cause the person they have chosen to fail in their awakening process?"


    At that moment, [World] emerged from the shadows.


    "Since they dare to act in this manner, they undoubtedly possess a means to circuNovelBinent the influence you might exert during the awakening process. Although you are the ss change goddess of the apocalypse game,


    I hope you canprehend that the authority you wield is not nearly as formidable as that held by other nners of the apocalypse game. If [Fool] truly intends to enter the apocalypse game directly, they will certainly be able to nullify all your powers."


    Upon hearing [World]''s words, the expression on ss change goddess Janna''s face shifted to one of slight despondency.


    "You are right, after all, I am merely a defeated individual trapped by them. However, there is one thing I do not understand: if [Fool] possesses such immense power, why have they not intervened yet?"


    Upon hearing ss change goddess Janna''s statement, [World]''s expression grew more serious.


    "I do not know, but I can assure you that [Fool] is undoubtedly devising a grander scheme! At the very least, it is far more ambitious and difficult to thwart than the plot I am about to confront."

 Chapter 205: Bonnies Planning Ability

    In the urban center of Moonlight City, Bonnie was diligently poring over rare materials in the central library.


    Although the downtown library was essible to every citizen, the exceptionally valuable resources within required individuals of a certain level to gain ess.


    As Benjamin''s daughter, Bonnie naturally possessed the qualifications to ess these exceptionally rare materials.


    Just as she was bing engrossed in her research, her phone suddenly emitted a vibration.


    "Didn''t Jeremy mention earlier that he had a matter of utmost importance to attend to? Why is he calling me now? Could it be that he has encountered some trouble?"


    Bonnie felt a twinge of confusion, yet she quickly made her way outside the library to answer the call.


    "I know you have many questions you wish to ask, but I implore you to trust me and refrain from uttering a single word! The only task at hand for you is to swiftly make your way to my house. I have something of great importance to discuss with you."


    Having said this, Jeremy abruptly ended the call.


    Bonnie did not have the opportunity to press for further details.


    After hanging up, a hint of helplessness crept into Bonnie''s smile.


    "Jeremy remains, as ever, a man of decisive action. Yet it is precisely because of this characteristic that I consider him to be exceptionally reliable."


    Though she felt a slight sense of dissatisfaction within, Bonnie nheless hurried at full speed toward Jeremy''s residence.


    When she arrived outside Jeremy''s door, it swung open without warning.


    Ritchie looked at Bonnie and said, "Come in quickly! You haven''t been followed by anyone on your way here, have you?"


    Bonnie shook her head.


    "I was not followed by anyone! On my way here, I even took the time to visit a few other ces. What on earth has happened that has you all so anxious?"


    Bonnie chose to directly inquire of Ritchie about the nature of the situation.


    However, Ritchie did not provide her with an answer, he merely gestured for her to step inside, then stood at the doorway, scanning the surroundings to ensure that no one had been tracking Bonnie.


    Upon entering Jeremy''s home, Bonnie was struck by the sight of an enormous map spread across the living room floor.


    This map was clearly a three-dimensional representation of an instance.


    At that moment, Jeremy was hunched over one side of the map, furrowing his brow as he meticulously studied it.


    He was so engrossed in his examination that he failed to notice Bonnie''s arrival.


    Bonnie, for her part, did not feel the need to alert Jeremy, she simply mirrored his expression of concentration as she gazed at the vast map before her.


    "What''s going on? I assume you have a clearer understanding of the situation now?" Ritchie''s voice called from the doorway.


    It was only then that Jeremy lifted his head, and upon seeing Bonnie, a slight look of apology crossed his face.


    "Oh, so you''ve already arrived. I must apologize to you, I got so caught up in studying this map."


    Bonnie smiled and shook her head gently, "You truly don''t need to apologize, as I too find this instance depicted on the map to be quite intriguing."


    Bonnie''s remark left both Jeremy and Ritchie slightly taken aback.


    "How did you know this is a map of an instance? Is it merely because the map is divided into differentyers?" Ritchie directly posed this question, which was the foremost concern of Jeremy.


    Bonnie smiled and shook her head gently.


    "Of course not, while it is indeed rare for a map to be segmented into severalyers, I have encountered some valuable materials at the library downtown that also contained corresponding maps.


    After all, everyrge military base is constructed with considerableplexity and is typically divided into multiple levels. Therefore, this map could also be interpreted as a representation of a military instation.


    However, on this particr map, Jeremy has marked numerous distinct areas in red ink. These highlighted regions are clearly the areas within the instance where one might encounter monsters.


    This is because these zones are, under normal circumstances, unavoidable. If this were a military base, there would be no need to mark these locations at all."


    "Although I do notprehend why there are so many areas where monsters appear, this characteristic is unique to instances, a typical military base would never exhibit such traits."


    After Bonnie finished speaking, she waited for a moment, yet she still did not hear a response from Jeremy or Ritchie.


    She lifted her gaze toward Jeremy and Ritchie, only to find both of them staring at her with expressions of astonishment.


    "What''s the matter? Do you disagree with what I said? If you believe my assessment is incorrect, I wee you to share your thoughts."


    "You are absolutely correct. The reason I brought you here today is to discuss how we can efficiently navigate andplete the entire instance."


    Jeremy hade to recognize Bonnie''s strategic capabilities, and he felt confident that she would be able to offer him substantial assistance this time around.


    Bonnie nodded in acknowledgment.


    "I can indeed provide you with relevant suggestions. However, I am not yet familiar with the specific circumstances of this instance. The difficulty of clearing an instance is contingent upon the levels and types of monsters present within it.


    Could you possibly begin by giving me an introduction to this instance? Once I have a basic understanding of its parameters, I may be able to offer you some highly suitable rmendations."


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "The instance I primarily navigate is The Misty Garden, located near Moonlight City. This instance is filled with a plethora of mutated nts, and the boss of this instance is actuallyposed of these mutated flora.


    The overall difficulty of the instance is exceedingly high, with the majority of the monsters hovering around level 50. As for the level of the instance''s boss, I cannot urately assess it at this moment, as the entire instance has undergone significant mutation."


    After hearing Jeremy''s words, Bonnie''s expression grew slightly grim.


    "If the situation of the instance is truly as you have described, then the difficulty level is exceedingly high. I believe you should reconsider your intention to tackle the instance alone."


    Bonnie felt that an instance with such formidable difficulty would likely be insurmountable, even with the assistance of others.


    If Jeremy insisted on attempting to clear it by himself, it could very well lead to his demise within the instance.


    A faint, wry smile appeared on Jeremy''s face.


    "The difficulty of the instance is indeed quite daunting! However, I must clear it! Only by doing so can I ensure that Kean''s power does not surpass my own."


    After expressing this, Jeremy proceeded to share information regarding the awakening process with both Bonnie and Ritchie.


    Upon absorbing the details about the awakening, the two of them finally grasped the significance of Jeremy''s undertaking.


    "I believe the approach you proposed earlier is exceedingly reasonable, I am willing to hand over my staff to you."Bonnie stated with unwavering determination.


    At that moment, Ritchie also nodded in agreement.


    "Indeed! Without your assistance, we would absolutely be unable to acquire these weapons. Therefore, entrusting them to you poses no problem whatsoever."


    Jeremy looked at the two of them with eyes filled with gratitude.


    "However, even with your weapons in my possession, I will encounter numerous challenges during the uing awakening instance. Thus, I hope you can assist me in devising the most efficient route to clear the awakening instance."


    Jeremy finally articted his true objective.


    Bonnie and Ritchie exhibited no hesitation, they immediately began to examine the intricate structure of the entire instance.


    Bonnie quickly discovered a shortcut within The Misty Garden instance.


    "Take a closer look, there exists a hidden passage between the first and second levels of The Misty Garden. Furthermore, this concealed corridor appears to lead deeper into The Misty Garden.


    If the awakening gemstone you mentioned is indeed located on the third level of The Misty Garden, you can directly ess the hidden passage from the first level.


    This way, you can bypass the mutated nts present in the first two levels of The Misty Garden. Although those mutated nts are not particrly formidable, they will inevitably slow your progress in clearing the instance."


    Under Bonnie''s guidance, Jeremy finally located the hidden passage.


    "You were right, this concealed corridor is indeed the only route that can lead us swiftly to the location of the awakening gemstone. Please take some time to carefully refine your ns.


    Once I have confirmed that your strategy is wless, I will memorize the route as quickly as possible. Our time is running short, as I intend to set off at dawn tomorrow."


    Jeremy''s statement left both Bonnie and Ritchie astounded.


    From their perspective, even if Jeremy was anxious, it seemed ill-advised to initiate his journey in the early hours of the morning.


    "Are you absolutely certain you want to embark at dawn? ording to the intelligence we gathered earlier, the difficulty level of the instance increases during that time."


    Bonnie inquired with a hint of concern in her voice.


    Jeremy replied with a reassuring smile, "You need not worry. The instance I must clear is the awakening instance, and its difficulty will remain unchanged until thepletion of the challenge.


    Moreover, you wouldn''t want Kean to awaken before us, would you? If he were to awaken first, he would undoubtedly pursue us without mercy. Even if it were not for my own sake, I must expedite the clearing of the awakening instance for your benefit."


    Jeremy''s words deeply moved Bonnie and Ritchie.


    With renewed focus, the two of them diligently worked to revise the instance clearing n they had devised for Jeremy.

 Chapter 206: Arriving Again at the Awakening Instance

    In the face of an imminent threat, Jeremy, Bonnie, and Ritchie all brought forth their utmost focus.


    With the unwavering assistance of Bonnie and Ritchie, Jeremypleted the new strategy for oveing the challenge by 2 a.m.


    "Are you certain you want to spring into action immediately?"


    Bonnie, slightly worried, turned to Jeremy and asked.


    As she posed the question, she cast a nce out of the window.


    At this early hour, the entirety of Moonlight City was shrouded in a nket of darkness. Within that darkness undoubtedly lurked a multitude of monsters, and Bonnie felt that the risk of taking action now was exceedingly high.


    Meanwhile, as Jeremy organized his gear, he responded with gravity.


    "I am absolutely certain that we mustmence our actions immediately! Kean is my adversary, and I possess a wealth of knowledge about him. Since he is already aware of the information rted to the Awakening, he will not squander a single moment."


    Having uttered those words, Jeremy finished arranging his equipment.


    After Jeremy had donned all the equipment he deemed necessary, he nced at Bonnie and Ritchie.


    "You two should remain here, I can handle thepletion of The Misty Garden instance on my own."


    With that deration, he promptly strode toward the entrance.


    Just as Jeremy was about to push the door open and step outside, Bonnie''s voice suddenly rang out.


    "I believe you will need our assistance. Even if we cannot enter the instance ourselves, we can stand guard at the entrance.


    This way, we can thwart anyone who might attempt to sabotage your n to clear the Awakening instance. After all, to disrupt your efforts, they would need to gain ess to the instance in the first ce."


    Once Bonnie finished speaking, Ritchie quickly chimed in.


    "I believe Bonnie is absolutely correct. We can certainly apany you on this mission, and having us stationed at the entrance of the Awakening instance would provide you with an added sense of security."


    "After all, as you mentioned earlier, you were quite concerned about potentially suffering severe injuries after clearing the Awakening instance, leaving you unable to return to a safe location."


    "With us guarding the entrance, all you need to focus on is clearing the Awakening instance, you need not worry about anything else."


    At this moment, Jeremy turned to look at the two individuals behind him.


    After hesitating for a brief moment, Jeremy nodded and said.


    "You both make valid points. Therefore, you may apany me on this endeavor. However, once we reach the Awakening instance, be cautious not to make excessive noise."


    "I am apprehensive that your additional movements might attract the monsters surrounding the instance to the entrance. If such a situation were to arise, it could very well exacerbate our predicament."


    Upon receiving Jeremy''s consent, both Bonnie and Ritchie were filled with immense joy.


    The two of them, of course, solemnly promised that they would absolutely refrain from making any rash movements at the entrance of the instance.


    "You need not worry about this matter. Both of us understand very well that clearing the Awakening instance is of paramount importance for you as well as for all of us."


    "Thus, we will remain quietly vignt at the entrance and will not provoke the monsters surrounding the instance. We will only eliminate those creatures that attempt to approach the instance."


    Bonnie offered a very clearmitment.


    After that, Jeremy led Ritchie and Bonnie swiftly towards The Misty Garden instance, located near the Moonlight City Botanical Garden.


    Upon their arrival at the botanical garden, the three were astonished to discover that the area surrounding the garden was now teeming with mutated nts.


    "When you werest here, were there really this many mutated nts?"


    Bonnie''s expression revealed a hint of surprise upon witnessing the scene.


    ording to the information Bonnie had previously received, the area surrounding the botanical garden had merely been abandoned due to its considerable distance from the city, and there should not have been an abundance of mutated nts here.


    Jeremy shook his head gravely in response.


    "These mutated nts should have spread from The Misty Garden instance. This likely signifies that the difficulty level of the Awakening instance in The Misty Garden has undergone a mutation."


    Jeremy''s statement filled both Bonnie and Ritchie with considerable concern.


    Ritchie directly addressed Jeremy, saying, "In that case, I believe you should exercise even greater caution. Perhaps we ought to devise a new strategy for clearing the instance."


    Jeremy shook his head in disapproval.


    "We no longer have the luxury of time for such an endeavor. If we attempt to formte a new n now, Kean will have a significant advantage over us. I suspect that Kean has already entered his own designated Awakening instance."


    Jeremy''s words deepened the gravity of the situation for both Bonnie and Ritchie.


    There was certainly no doubt regarding the validity of Jeremy''s assertion.


    After all, Bonnie and Ritchie possessed a certain level of understanding about Kean, and they were well aware that Kean was a man of decisive action.


    "Alright, we have thoroughly observed the surrounding situation here. Aside from the mutated nts, there should be no other more formidable monsters present."


    "Therefore, with thebined efforts of the three of us, we can swiftly reach the vicinity of the entrance to the Awakening instance. Let usunch an attack on these mutated nts directly."


    As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, he prepared to strike at the surrounding mutated nts.


    However, before he could make a move, Bonnie intervened decisively.


    "Let Ritchie and me handle this matter. You need to maintain your optimal condition!"


    No sooner had Bonnie''s words left her lips than Ritchie chimed in.


    "Exactly! You should conserve your stamina for when we clear the instance! Leave these mutated nts to Bonnie and me, we can quickly eliminate them all."


    With that deration, Ritchie was the first to charge into the throng of mutated nts.


    Although the mutated nts exhibited a stronger resistance to shadow spells than the mutated monsters did, Ritchie was undeterred.


    However, the level of these mutated nts was not particrly high, and it appeared that they had not fullypleted their mutation.


    This allowed Ritchie, on his own, to nearly eradicate all the mutated nts surrounding the botanical garden.


    Simultaneously, Ritchie''s level continued to rise during this process.


    After giving a nod to Jeremy, Bonnie alsounched her attack against the mutated nts.


    Thanks to the efforts of both Ritchie and Bonnie, all the mutated nts between the botanical garden and The Misty Garden instance were swiftly cleared away.


    The three of them finally arrived at the entrance of The Misty Garden instance.


    At this moment, the entrance to The Misty Garden instance looked significantly different from before.


    Jeremy could see a soft blue light emanating from within the entrance to the instance. This faint blue glow was likely that of the Awakening gemstone.


    "You all can stay here and guard! I will clear the Awakening instance as quickly as possible!"


    After adjusting his mindset, Jeremy resolved to enter The Misty Garden Awakening instance immediately.


    At that moment, Ritchie removed the Ravager''s Gloves he had been wearing.


    "You should keep the Ravager''s Gloves on. Bonnie''s staff will stand out significantly while clearing the instance, so not wearing it is not a problem.


    However, the Ravager''s Gloves are a weapon that can be easily concealed. Having them with you will certainly be of great assistance during the instance."


    Ritchie patiently urged him.


    Although Jeremy had previously considered using Bonnie and Ritchie''s weapons,


    he gradually came to the conclusion that Bonnie''s staff and Ritchie''s Ravager''s Gloves would not be particrly useful during the clearing of the Awakening instance.


    Thus, Jeremy ultimately decided to abandon the n he had once contemted.


    To his surprise, Ritchie directly threw the Ravager''s Gloves over to him near the entrance of the instance.


    Jeremy chose not to decline further, he simply put on the Ravager''s Gloves.


    "This operation will surely be a sess! You two can rest assured!"


    After uttering these words, Jeremy stepped into The Misty Garden Awakening instance.


    Bonnie and Ritchie watched as Jeremy entered The Misty Garden instance, and once his figurepletely vanished, Bonnie let out a slight sigh.


    "Jeremy truly has it tough, and the responsibilities he bears are exceedingly heavy."


    Ritchie silently nodded in agreement.


    "Indeed, the burden he carries is rather substantial, but I believe it is something he can ept. After all, Jeremy is inherently a person who is very willing to take on responsibility.


    His actions are crucial for all of us. The only thing we can do now is to trust that Jeremy will be able to clear The Misty Garden Awakening instance swiftly."


    After exchanging a few heartfelt sentiments, the two began to attentively observe their surroundings.


    Even though Ritchie and Bonnie had already cleared most of the mutated nts around the entrance of The Misty Garden instance during their earlier efforts.


    There were still some mutated nts and lurking monsters present at a further distance.


    Ritchie and Bonnie had to remain vignt and pay close attention to the movements of these hidden monsters.


    They both understood the significant responsibility Jeremy was shouldering this time, so they hoped to alleviate the pressure he faced through their own actions.


    They absolutely could not allow their mistakes to impose any additional strain on Jeremy.

 Chapter 207: The Anomalous Changes in the Awakening Instance

    Although Jeremy had already sensed the changes in the mindsets of Bonnie and Ritchie,


    he did not pay too much attention to it.


    He was acutely aware that clearing the Awakening instance was his most critical task at the moment.


    If he failed toplete his own Awakening instance before Kean, both he and hispanions would face an immense crisis.


    Jeremy concentrated his mind and swiftly entered the Awakening instance.


    The moment he stepped into the Awakening instance, Jeremymenced his actions in ordance with the previously devised strategy for clearing it.


    He took a shortcut, traversing quickly through the first and secondyers of The Misty Garden instance.


    In less than a quarter of an hour, he arrived at the thirdyer of The Misty Garden instance, the very area where the Awakening gemstone was located.


    However, upon reaching the vicinity of the Awakening gemstone, Jeremy was abruptly struck by the realization that the Awakening instance had undergone some anomalous changes.


    He recalled vividly that during his previous endeavor, he had nearly eradicated all the mutated nts surrounding the Awakening gemstone.


    Yet, when he returned to this ce, he was astonished to discover that there were even more mutated nts than before.


    Moreover, it appeared that the power of these mutated nts was significantly greater than what he had encountered previously.


    Furrowing his brow and surveying the surroundings for a moment, Jeremy suddenly became aware that he might have inadvertently stepped into a trap.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy immediately sprang into action, retreating several steps at the fastest pace possible.


    Just as Jeremy had barely stepped away from the Awakening gemstone, the spot he had upied suddenly copsed downward.


    A multitude of vines surged up from below.


    These vines were soaked with a potent, toxic liquid, and the tips of the vines were adorned with needle-like structures.


    "It seems that each time I enter the Awakening instance, the difficulty of the instance esctes further.


    I must secure the Awakening gemstone during this endeavor.


    If I fail this time, the next entry into the Awakening instance will present challenges so exaggerated that they would be almost unimaginable."


    Jeremy swiftly assessed the situation based on his observations.


    While contemting this, he did not neglect to prepare himself for the impending battle.


    He gripped the Longsword of the Undying tightly in his hands, all the while continuously channeling the power of the Ravager''s Gloves.


    The Ravager''s Gloves have the capability to siphon not only the shadows of monsters, but they can also extract the shadows of inanimate objects as well.


    Jeremy sessfully managed to manipte the shadow of a stone.


    At the very moment Jeremy took action, a mutated nt beside the Awakening gemstone began to grow at an rming rate.


    What was once a nt standing only about one meter tall rapidly transformed into a towering tree.


    Perched atop the massive trunk was a familiar silhouette.


    This recognizable figure was the instance boss of The Misty Garden, assembled from various mutated nts.


    At this moment, the form of The Misty Garden''s instance boss had changed significantly from before.


    During Jeremy''sst venture into The Misty Garden Awakening instance, the instance boss had merely taken the shape of an insect.


    However, this time, the instance boss had evolved into a humanoid form.


    In the realm of the apocalypse game, humanoid monsters possess a strength that surpasses that of other forms.


    Moreover, humanoid monsters exhibit a greater degree of intelligence.


    This implies that when confronting humanoid monsters, one must always proceed with heightened caution, as these beings are indeed capable of crafting traps for their adversaries.


    "I warned you thest time not to venture into my kingdom again!" The Misty Garden''s instance boss slowly advanced toward Jeremy, constantly warning him with its words.


    "My purpose foring here is not to conquer your kingdom, nor is it to eliminate you. I am here solely to acquire that gemstone. You should be well aware that the gemstone does not belong to you."


    Jeremy engaged in dialogue with The Misty Garden''s instance boss primarily in hopes of gleaning more information from it. He had an inkling that the instance boss possessed a wealth of knowledge.


    "Everything that exists within The Misty Garden belongs to me! The Awakening gemstone, with its immense power, undoubtedly belongs to me as well!"


    The instance boss of The Misty Garden emitted a terrifying sound.


    In the blink of an eye, the humanoid monster transformed into a grotesque mass, covered in countless tentacles and innumerable eyeballs.


    This monstrous form was also adorned with various mutated nts.


    "I truly did not expect your true form to be so hideously ugly!"


    Jeremy nced at the true form of The Misty Garden''s instance boss.


    In Jeremy''s eyes, the Awakening gemstone had a profound impact on the instance boss.


    The power and information contained within the Awakening gemstone had also twisted The Misty Garden''s instance boss.


    Moreover, judging by the current state of the Awakening gemstone, it seemed that the powers and information it had previously emitted were now significantly diminished.


    "If the Awakening gemstone continues to exist within the instance for a while longer, the monsters throughout the entire instance will be virtually unbeatable."


    Jeremy concluded in his mind.


    As The Misty Garden''s instance boss drew within mere meters of Jeremy, he finallyunched his attack, gripping the Longsword of the Undying tightly.


    When the Longsword of the Undying made contact with The Misty Garden''s instance boss, it did not inflict substantial damage upon the creature.


    Due to the influence of the Awakening gemstone, The Misty Garden''s instance boss had acquired an extraordinarily powerful strength. Any ordinary attack was utterly ineffective against him.


    "You might as well give up! Your assaults hold no value against me whatsoever. Even if you exert every ounce of your strength, you will never defeat me."


    The Misty Garden''s instance boss emitted an intolerable, piercing voice.


    Not only was he attempting to dissuade Jeremy, but he was also using this cacophony to interfere with Jeremy''s judgment.


    However, Jeremy had never intended to confront The Misty Garden''s instance boss head-on.


    In Jeremy''s perspective, during his previous endeavor, he had failed to directly vanquish The Misty Garden''s instance boss. Thus, with the instance boss now enhanced, the prospect of defeating him this time seemed even more improbable.


    Jeremy''s n was remarkably straightforward: he aimed to utilize his recent attack to divert The Misty Garden''s instance boss''s attention.


    Seizing this opportunity, he swiftly moved to the side of the Awakening gemstone.


    Before The Misty Garden''s instance boss could finish his words, Jeremy immediately activated the spatial sealing skill.


    An ethereal portal opened behind The Misty Garden''s instance boss, and a tremendous force began to pull the instance boss toward that illusory door.


    Seizing the opportunity while The Misty Garden''s instance boss was restrained by the spatial sealing skill, Jeremy sprinted at full speed towards the Awakening gemstone.


    During his dash, Jeremy also manipted the Ravager''s Gloves to draw the shadow of a massive boulder toward The Misty Garden''s instance boss.


    Although the shadow of the boulder would not inflict significant damage on The Misty Garden''s instance boss, it served as a distraction in this critical moment.


    However, during the movement of the shadow, it also exerted a certain degree of pull on the massive boulder itself.


    Suddenly, the boulder directly above the Misty Garden instance emitted a tremendous roar.


    Consequently, the entire boulder plummeted from the overhanging rockyer,nding squarely on the head of The Misty Garden''s instance boss.


    In the midst of this chaos, Jeremy seized the opportunity to reach the side of the Awakening gemstone.


    Having learned from his previous encounter.


    Jeremy was acutely aware of the dangers of direct contact with the Awakening gemstone.


    Thus, he opted to employ the spatial sealing skill, summoning a unique unknown space of his own.


    Through this unknown space, Jeremy began to manipte the shadow of the Awakening gemstone.


    With Jeremy''s concentrated efforts, the Awakening gemstone started to shift slowly.


    However, the speed at which the gemstone moved was excruciatingly slow, and it would take at least a quarter of an hour to draw the Awakening gemstone into his own unknown space.


    As Jeremy anxiously maneuvered the shadow of the Awakening gemstone, he also kept a vignt eye on the situation concerning The Misty Garden''s instance boss.


    The moment Jeremy made contact with the Awakening gemstone, The Misty Garden''s instance boss immediately reacted.


    Suddenly, The Misty Garden''s instance boss transformed into a towering giant.


    He hurled the boulder that clung to him forcefully in Jeremy''s direction.


    Although the massive boulder ultimately failed to strike Jeremy, it nheless disrupted his progress in manipting the shadow of the Awakening gemstone.


    The Misty Garden''s instance boss then shattered the ethereal portal that Jeremy had summoned with his spatial sealing skill.


    Having freed himself from all restraints, The Misty Garden''s instance boss rapidly approached Jeremy with astonishing speed.


    Amidst his shock, Jeremy swiftly made a critical assessment.


    "I must control the Awakening gemstone before he reaches me! If I fail to aplish this, my entire endeavor will be aplete failure. Moreover, I won''t even have a chance to escape from The Misty Garden instance."


    Jeremy elerated his efforts to manipte the shadow of the Awakening gemstone.


    However, no matter how much he intensified his actions, he could not match the speed of The Misty Garden''s instance boss.


    In merely a few breaths, The Misty Garden''s instance boss had already arrived at Jeremy''s side.


    He raised his fist,posed of various mutated nts, and brought it crashing down onto Jeremy with tremendous force.


    In this perilous moment, Jeremy ultimately opted for an exceedingly risky strategy.


    He abandoned his previously cautious approach and directly seized the Awakening gemstone with his own hands.

 Chapter 208: The Awakening Begins Immediately

    Before making contact with the Awakening gemstone, Jeremy deliberately removed the Ravager''s Gloves.


    The instant he re-established contact with the Awakening gemstone, Jeremy experienced an overwhelming influx of information and unfamiliar power rapidly coursing into his body.


    However, this time, Jeremy managed to maintain a tenuous grip on his consciousness.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Jeremy discarded all of his equipment in a swift motion.


    At this point, the only item remaining on Jeremy was the gemstone entrusted to him by the World.


    Afterpleting the act of throwing away all of his gear, Jeremy promptly activated the gemstone given to him by the World.


    In an instant, a burst of white light enveloped him, and Jeremy, along with the Awakening gemstone, vanished from The Misty Garden instance.


    The rapidity of these events was astonishing, the instance boss of The Misty Garden gazed at the scattered equipment surrounding him, momentarily engulfed in a state of profound confusion.


    He could notprehend what had transpired.


    He also failed to understand why Jeremy was able to swiftly disappear along with the Awakening gemstone.


    Nevertheless, the instance boss of The Misty Garden found himself with little time left for contemtion.


    As the Awakening gemstone departed, all the monsters within The Misty Garden instance began to rapidly lose their power.


    The strength wielded by The Misty Garden instance boss was also dissipating at an rming rate.


    Having exhausted nearly all of his power during the preceding battle,the instance boss found himself in a precarious situation.


    Once the potency of the Awakening gemstone hadpletely faded from his body, the body of The Misty Garden instance boss copsed without warning.


    Before his form disintegrated entirely, the instance boss emitted a chilling wail of despair.


    This mournful cry resonated throughout the entirety of The Misty Garden instance, even reaching beyond its confines.


    Ritchie and Bonnie, positioned at the entrance of the instance, both heard the anguished screams of The Misty Garden instance boss.


    Upon hearing that sound, both individuals were profoundly affected by the wail.


    Though this cry marked the final utterance of The Misty Garden instance boss, it still possessed the attributes of a mental attack.


    It took several minutes for Ritchie and Bonnie to recover from the disorienting effects of the mental assault.


    "What just happened? Why do I feel that the recent mental attacks originated from The Misty Garden instance?" Bonnie eximed, her voice tinged with panic as she nced toward the entrance of the instance after regaining herposure.


    Ritchie likewise cast a worried look toward the entrance of The Misty Garden instance.


    The thoughts of both individuals were remarkably simr.


    They were both greatly concerned that the anguished wail they had just heard indicated that Jeremy had already engaged inbat with The Misty Garden instance boss.


    Moreover, judging by the impact of that mournful cry, they both suspected that the strength of The Misty Garden instance boss was formidable indeed.


    "I believe we need not worry excessively, we must have ample faith in Jeremy. He is undoubtedly capable of achieving sess, no matter how powerful The Misty Garden instance boss may be."


    After a brief pause, Ritchie spoke to Bonnie with resolute conviction.


    Bonnie nodded in agreement.


    "You are absolutely right, Jeremy is certainly capable of achieving sess. For now, we merely need to focus onpleting the tasks that lie before us."


    With that, Ritchie and Bonnie resumed their duty of guarding the entrance to The Misty Garden instance.


    Neither of them noticed that The Misty Garden instance was slowly beginning to copse.


    After all, with the demise of The Misty Garden instance boss, the entire instance could not possibly endure for much longer.


    As The Misty Garden instance boss met its end, Jeremy was simultaneously transported by the gemstone entrusted to him by the [World] to the realm where the ss change goddess, Janna, resided.


    Janna was taken aback by Jeremy''s sudden appearance.


    Moreover, Jeremy''s current state was decidedly disheveled.


    "Are you alright? Why didn''t you inform me beforehand about your arrival?"


    The ss change goddess, Janna, first assessed Jeremy''s condition.


    After confirming that Jeremy was not in any life-threatening danger, Janna felt a noticeable sense of relief.


    Jeremy shook his head and, upon seeing Janna, finally allowed a smile to grace his face.


    "I did it! I have obtained the awakening gemstone! We can begin the awakening process now!"


    With a beaming smile, Jeremy presented the awakening gemstone in his hand to the ss change goddess, Janna.


    Janna gazed at the awakening gemstone with a slightly puzzled expression.


    "Your pace seems rather swift, does it not? How could you possibly acquire the awakening gemstone in less than three days?


    Is it conceivable that the difficulty of the awakening instance you chose was exceedingly low? However, the level of this awakening gemstone you possess is quite high. It certainly could not have been obtained from a low-difficulty instance."


    In response to Janna''s probing questions, Jeremy casually recounted his actions within The Misty Garden instance.


    After listening to Jeremy''s ount, Janna couldn''t help but express her astonishment.


    "I never anticipated that you would discover such an ingenious method toplete the instance. You have truly opened my eyes. However, I believe it would be prudent for you to wait a bit longer beforemencing the awakening."


    Janna''s words left Jeremy feeling somewhat taken aback.


    "Why is that? Did you not say that as long as I obtained the awakening gemstone and remembered all the necessary precautions, I could begin the awakening immediately?"


    At this point, Jeremy made a point to disy that he was not carrying any other equipment.


    "In order to prevent my gear from interfering with the awakening process, I deliberately left all my equipment behind in The Misty Garden instance.


    Furthermore, I have be quite familiar with the five exceedingly rare talents you provided. I have already decisively chosen which awakening talent I wish to acquire!"


    As Jeremy spoke these words, there was a slight undertone of anger in his voice.


    To him, it seemed contradictory that the ss change goddess, Janna, who had previously urged him to act swiftly, was now advising him against hastening the awakening.


    Wasn''t her behavior rather hypocritical?!


    Janna slowly nodded her head, "You have indeed performed exceptionally well. However, I must emphasize that during the awakening process, you must ensure that your mental state remains stable.


    If your mental state is not sufficiently stable, even if you manage to force the awakening, you will not be able to fully attain all the capabilities of the talent you have chosen."


    "In my view, your current mental state is far from stable."Janna remarked. You have merely managed to barely ovee the boss within the awakening instance. Therefore, you still need to rest for a few days before proceeding with your awakening."


    The ss change goddess Janna proposed the most cautious approach.


    However, to Jeremy, the most cautious method could sometimes lead to even greater unforeseen consequences.


    "Can you truly ascertain that Kean''s progress is significantly slower than mine? If I take a few days to rest, there is a strong possibility that Kean could acquire the awakening gemstone.


    If he initiates his awakening before me, wouldn''t all our previous efforts be rendered null and void? Do you genuinely wish for someone like Kean to obtain a rare talent?"


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s concerns, a confident expression appeared on Janna''s face.


    "Rest assured, although The Person in the Mirror stole an awakening key from me, as soon as Keanes into contact with an awakening gemstone, I will receive immediate notification.


    I can assure you with utmost rity that Kean has not yet even managed to enter the awakening instance. His progress isgging far behind yours, so there is no need for you to feel anxious at all."


    After hearing Janna''s reassurances, Jeremy indeed felt that if he could undergo the awakening under more stable conditions, then postponing it for a few days was certainly eptable.


    However, after careful contemtion for a moment, Jeremy still felt that he should proceed with the awakening immediately.


    "Perhaps, Kean''s progress is indeed not as swift as mine. However, I believe I cannot afford to becent in any way. I remain steadfast in my conviction to undergo the awakening right now.


    Once the awakening ispleted, I will promptly familiarize myself with the rare talent I have acquired. Only in this manner can I ensure that my strength continues to outpace Kean''s.


    Moreover, this is the only way I can provide greater assistance to you all in the uing battles. I also believe that if it enables us to gain an advantage, it is eptable to take on a certain level of risk."


    Jeremy''s deration left the ss change goddess Janna at a loss for words.


    Janna fell into silence for a moment, seemingly pondering how she might formte a reason to further dissuade Jeremy.


    However, at that precise moment, the ethereal figure of the [World] reappeared before the two individuals.


    "I concur with Jeremy''s viewpoint, I firmly believe that he shouldmence his awakening immediately! For, in truth, the time avable to us is rapidly dwindling!"


    The words of the [World] left both Jeremy and the ss change goddess Janna somewhat taken aback.


    The [World] did not borate further, he merely waved his hand through the air, and a magnificent scroll unfurled before Jeremy and Janna.


    The imagery depicted within this scroll illustrated a pitch-ck void, voraciously drawing countless souls from various worlds into its depths.


    As the number of souls being absorbed increased, the dark void expanded everrger.


    In that very instant, upon witnessing the scene within the scroll, both Jeremy and the ss change goddess Janna unequivocally recognized that the ominous ck void at the center of the image represented their greatest adversary: [Fool]!

 Chapter 209: Chaos in the Awakening Ceremony

    Gazing at the despondent scene depicted in the scroll before her, the ss change goddess Janna found herself utterly at a loss for words.


    She simply turned her gaze toward Jeremy.


    "Are you certain that you are adequately prepared? If you are confident in your readiness, the awakening ceremony canmence at any moment."


    Jeremy nodded resolutely.


    "I have been prepared for a long time! My awakening ceremony will undoubtedly seed."


    Upon receiving such a definitive answer, the ss change goddess Janna nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Since you possess sufficient confidence, that is reassuring! I can initiate the awakening ceremony for you immediately. However, during the course of the ceremony, I will be unable to provide any assistance.


    You must rely solely on your own mental fortitude to withstand the psychic impact of the awakening gemstone''s power.


    Moreover, throughout the awakening process, you cannot allow any interruptions, regardless of the circumstances."


    "If the awakening ceremony is interrupted midway, you will be subject to a bacsh from the power of the awakening gemstone. At that point, no one will be able to save you."


    The ss change goddess Janna reiterated the critical precautions to Jeremy.


    Jeremy took careful note of all the guidelines provided.


    "I understand. I am indeed ready. If you are all prepared as well, then let us begin the awakening without dy."


    The ss change goddess Janna cast a nce at the entity known as the World.


    The ethereal figure of the World gradually solidified, signifying that its true essence had entered the space upied by the ss change goddess Janna.


    "I will ensure your safety throughout the awakening process.


    However, be advised that things will undoubtedly be quite tumultuous during the ceremony. Thus, you must not allow yourself to be swayed by the actions of others, no matter how chaotic the awakening ceremony bes, you must remainposed and respond calmly."


    After the World''s essence manifested, it specifically reminded Jeremy of this important point.


    "I understand. I have great trust in all of you, and I believe you will ensure my safety."


    The World nodded with a smile, affirming his confidence.


    "The awakening ceremony may nowmence!"


    The World spoke softly to the ss change goddess Janna.


    Immediately, the ss change goddess Janna adopted a solemn expression, and at that moment, a powerful aura of divine energy surrounded her.


    "Jeremy, you have now reached level 50, and you may begin your awakening. Are you certain that you wish to awaken at this very moment?"


    The words spoken by the ss change goddess Janna were ethereal in nature.


    This indicated that her utterance was imbued with formidable divine power.


    Her question served as the key to initiating the awakening ceremony.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy responded, "I wish to awaken immediately."


    The instant Jeremy finished his deration, the vast amounts of divine energy encircling the ss change goddess Janna surged toward him at an astonishing speed.


    Subsequently, all of this divine energy was absorbed by the awakening gemstone.


    Once the awakening gemstone had absorbed sufficient divine power, it transformed into a brilliant blue-green radiance that enveloped Jeremypletely.


    Beneath the embrace of this blue-green light, Jeremy could sense an endless torrent of power flooding into his mind.


    "It is now time for you to select the talent you wish to awaken. As you are the first individual to undergo this awakening, you have the unique opportunity to choose from five exceptionally rare talents."


    The voice of the ss change goddess Janna permeated through the blue-green light.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Jeremy chose the talent he had long desired, the one that was most suitable for him: The King of Time and Space.


    "I choose the talent The King of Time and Space!"


    The instant Jeremy made his selection, the awakening gemstone underwent a corresponding transformation.


    The power contained within the awakening gemstone, along with the knowledge imparted to Jeremy, shifted to epass abilities and insights rted to The King of Time and Space.


    Jeremy could feel his mastery over space and time bing significantly more potent.


    As Jeremy''s awakening ceremonymenced, all of his enemies immediately became aware of it.


    Kean, who was currently engaged in his own awakening instance, received the prompt from The Person in the Mirror.


    "Jeremy''s awakening ceremony hasmenced, we must now interfere with his process. This also means that we can no longer assist you, you mustplete the awakening instance on your own."


    Upon hearing these words from The Person in the Mirror, a look of urgency washed over Kean''s face.


    "You need not concern yourselves with me, hurry and stop Jeremy''s actions!"


    Kean was absolutely determined not to allow Jeremy to easily be the first individual to awaken.


    Although The Person in the Mirror had lost some of their previous formidable power, they still possessed the legacy of divine power from the Sun.


    This implied that The Person in the Mirror could still disrupt the ss change goddess Janna at critical moments.


    A multitude of The Person in the Mirror gathered together, continuously reciting the revered names of the Sun. The power of the Sun converged, forming a radiant orb within the mirror that illuminated everything around it.


    As Jeremy underwent his awakening ceremony, the ss change goddess Janna and The World stood ready for battle.


    "Why has no one yete to thwart Jeremy? Is it possible that our preparations have been so thorough that our enemies have abandoned their ns to stop us?"


    The ss change goddess Janna appeared somewhat bewildered.


    For after Jeremy''s awakening ceremonymenced, it seemed that no other enemies had materialized.


    However, The World, standing beside the ss change goddess Janna, was far from rxed.


    The World remained vigntly attentive, scanning the surroundings for any signs of disturbance.


    "I have not detected any energy fluctuations. Have you sensed any energy disturbances?"


    The ss change goddess Janna inquired once more of The World.


    The World also disyed a hint of confusion, as he too had not perceived any energy fluctuations in the vicinity.


    "I have not felt any energy fluctuations either, perhaps our enemies truly intend to refrain from interfering with Jeremy''s awakening."


    No sooner had The World uttered these words than he felt a sudden surge of intense energy in the surrounding area.


    In an instant, a dazzling ray of sunlight materialized within the space where the ss change goddess Janna stood.


    A massive mirror formed directly above the ss change goddess Janna, within which resided a sun radiating boundless light and warmth.


    "It seems that our enemies have not easily conceded defeat."


    The World immediately took action.


    He waved his right hand, summoning a pure ck barrier in the sky.


    This barrier of absolute darkness absorbed sufficient light and heat, rendering the sun within the mirror incapable of directly harming Jeremy.


    Although The World acted with remarkable swiftness, he remained on high alert.


    For the individuals seeking to thwart Jeremy were not limited to The Person in the Mirror alone.


    Just as The World sessfully thwarted the sun''s attack summoned by The Person in the Mirror, an almost endless torrent of High-Dimensional Data breached the dimensional barriers and infiltrated the space where the ss change goddess Janna resided.


    "The power of the White Tower has also emerged!"


    As the ss change goddess Janna employed her powers to prevent the High-Dimensional Data from approaching Jeremy, she simultaneously alerted The World.


    "The White Tower was bound to make an appearance. Although its ns in the real world have met with utter failure, it will not easily ept defeat."


    The World promptly positioned himself beside the ss change goddess Janna.


    He resolved to assist her in fending off the assault from the White Tower.


    While the sun conjured by The Person in the Mirror was visually more stunning, its actual capacity to inflict harm upon Jeremy was rtively limited.


    The entities capable ofpletely disrupting Jeremy''s awakening ceremony were solely the architects of the apocalypse game.


    The World hoped to repel the White Tower''s offensive as swiftly as possible.


    He understood that the plot to obstruct Jeremy involved more than just the White Tower alone.


    Just as The World was thwarting the White Tower''s assault, a pool of ck liquid gradually materialized not far from where the ss change goddess Janna stood.


    This pool of darkness slowly coalesced into a reflection of an abyss.


    Within the abyssal reflection, a figure was revealed, suspended upside down.


    The powers of The Hanged Man had now emerged within Jeremy''s awakening ceremony.


    At the very moment The Hanged Man''s silhouette appeared, the spatial realm controlled by the ss change goddess Janna uncontrobly began to copse.


    The entire space had already been corroded by the power wielded by The Hanged Man.


    Upon sensing the overwhelming force of The Hanged Man, The World immediately devised a response.


    He hurled a piece of white cloth towards the pool of ck liquid that reflected the abyss.


    The power of The Hanged Man was temporarily suppressed.


    However, amidst the cracks of time and space, a figure adorned in the attire of the Magician slowly emerged, leaning upon a staff.


    This individual was none other than the Apostle of The Fool, known as the Magician.


    With a smile gracing his lips, the Magician regarded the battling ss change goddess Janna and The World, speaking softly.


    "I did not expect to encounter you both again so soon. It seems you two have yet to learn your lesson from the previous defeat. You actually intend to support a mere human in order to vanquish us.


    Do you truly believe such an approach can yield sess? Any being with a modicum of intelligence would not consider such a scheme viable."


    In response to the Magician''s derision, both ss change goddess Janna and The World paid it no mind.


    They were acutely aware that their adversary was the enemy, and there was no need to heed the taunts of an opponent. They simply needed to prepare themselves to eliminate the threat before them.

 Chapter 210: The King of Time and Space Talent

    In regard to the chaotic circumstances surrounding him, Jeremy was, in truth, not particrly well-informed.


    At this moment, all of his attention was entirely focused on absorbing the knowledge and power that the awakened gemstone provided him.


    The knowledge epassed within the talent he had chosen, known as The King of Time and Space, was remarkably extensive, and Jeremy found himself unable to memorize all of it in such a short span of time.


    However, this knowledge had already infiltrated Jeremy''s mind, so his task following thepletion of his awakening was to continuously contemte the insights that resided within his brain during the course of battle.


    The knowledge bestowed upon Jeremy by the awakened gemstone posed a rtively minor threat to him.


    The true source of significant peril for Jeremy stemmed from the power granted to him by the awakened gemstone.


    The powers provided to Jeremy by the awakened gemstone were entirely rted to his abilities to perceive and manipte space and time.


    This consequently implied that the very space and time in which Jeremy currently existed had been distorted by the corresponding powers.


    At this point, Jeremy could no longer perceive the existence of the space surrounding him.


    The nners of the apocalypse game, along with the ss change goddess Janna and the battles within the "World."seemed to have no bearing on Jeremy whatsoever.


    Empowered by the strength conferred upon him by the awakened gemstone, Jeremy observed the unfolding events in the realm where the ss change goddess Janna resided from a third-party perspective.


    At this moment, Jeremy appeared to havepletely transcended his physical form, transforming into a purely spiritual entity.


    His own consciousness had be somewhat disoriented and hazy.


    It seemed as though he had forgotten what he was currently engaged in. He also lost sight of the purpose for which he hade here.


    Jeremy simply stared vacantly at the ongoing battle among the others.


    His unusual state did not go unnoticed, as both the ss change goddess Janna and the "World" quickly picked up on his condition.


    With an urgent tone, the ss change goddess Janna addressed the "World."


    "Jeremy''s current state is quite dire. It seems that his spirit has been overwhelmed by the power of the awakened gemstone, and he is very likely unable toplete the awakening ritual.


    We must begin to consider alternative strategies! In the event of Jeremy''s failure, we need to ensure our own safety. Perhaps we should opt for an immediate retreat."


    Although the ss change goddess Janna held some confidence in Jeremy, her understanding of the awakening ritual was far more profound.


    From her perspective, it appeared that Jeremy''s awakening ritual had utterly copsed.


    Given this reality, it was clear that they should not squander any more time in this ce.


    However, the thoughts of the "World" were entirely different from those of the ss change goddess Janna.


    "We cannot simply retreat, and I believe that Jeremy''s awakening ritual has notpletely failed. I feel that Jeremy can regain his consciousness."


    After uttering this statement, the "World" activated the gemstone it had provided to Jeremy.


    "I can only assist you up to this point, the rest must be aplished by you alone. All I can do is ensure that the nners of the apocalypse game do not interfere with your awakening ritual."


    The "World" hoped to facilitate Jeremy''s swift return to awareness through its own means.


    Having made this final effort, the "World" charged directly towards the directions of the "Magician" and "The Hanged Man."


    These two individuals were the only ones posing a threat to Jeremy within the apocalypse game.


    At this moment, the sun summoned by the White Tower and the Person in the Mirror had been intercepted by the ss change goddess Janna.


    The ss change goddess Janna watched intently as the "World" proceeded with its actions.


    Although she felt that the actions of the "World" were unlikely to seed, she was nheless willing to continue fighting.


    Before plunging back into battle, the ss change goddess Janna nced back toward Jeremy''s direction.


    "Please, do not let us down!"


    After uttering this statement, the ss change goddess Janna transformed into a burst of blue light and surged toward the massive amount of High-Dimensional Data summoned by the "White Tower."


    At this moment, Jeremy remained in a state of profound confusion.


    He could perceive that both the "World" and the ss change goddess Janna seemed to care deeply about him.


    However, he could not fathom why these two individuals were so concerned for his well-being. Additionally, his memories of them were exceedingly sparse.


    He could not even recall their names.


    "Who are they, exactly? Why are they so invested in me? And who am I? Why am I here?"


    A series of questions swirled relentlessly in Jeremy''s mind.


    At that moment, Jeremy suddenly noticed that a gemstone he was carrying emitted a faint glow.


    As he beheld the weak light, a fragment of memory surfaced in his mind.


    This memory was connected to the "World."


    It was a recollection of a conversation between him and the "World" just before the decisive battle against the "Sun" in the Land of Eternal Night.


    "Are you truly prepared to battle against a deity? Do you genuinely believe you can triumph over a deity?" the "World" in the memory asked Jeremy with a serious tone.


    Without the slightest hesitation, Jeremy in the memory replied, "Absolutely! I possess more than enough confidence to conquer any enemy. Even if my adversary is a deity, I will not cower in the slightest."


    Jeremy found himself increasingly perplexed by this fragment of memory.


    He felt that this memory did not belong to him at all, it seemed to have been forcibly imnted by another.


    "This is not my memory! I was born from the rifts of time and space, I am a deity myself. How could I possibly possess memories of a human?"


    To some extent, Jeremy''s consciousness had already been supnted by the gifts of the King of Time and Space.


    The gifts of the King of Time and Space represented divinity, which meant that those who were entirely overshadowed by the power inherent in those gifts were, by nature, deities.


    Only when Jeremy''s consciousness overwhelmed the divinity represented by the gifts of the King of Time and Space could it be said that he had sessfully awakened.


    Although Jeremy continued to deny that this memory belonged to him.


    The emergence of this memory triggered a cascade of recollections rted to the "World" to begin surfacing in his mind.


    As memories continued to flood in, Jeremy gradually came to the realization that he was indeed a human being.


    "I am a human! The state I find myself in now is merely a result of my attempts to harness the power of divinity. But what, precisely, is this divine power that I am trying to control?"


    At this moment, Jeremy''s consciousness had not yet fully merged with the gifts of the King of Time and Space.


    Consequently, even though Jeremy''s consciousness had begun to recover, the memories he possessed were still markedly different from those governed by the power of the King of Time and Space.


    Thus, Jeremy''s consciousness continued to oscite back and forth between humanity and divinity.


    As the frequency of this switching increased, the memories belonging to humanity and those pertaining to deity began to gradually intertwine within Jeremy.


    The divinity brought forth by the gifts of the King of Time and Space was slowly but surely being fully absorbed into Jeremy''s very being.


    After an indeterminate passage of time, Jeremy''s consciousness finally returned in its entirety.


    "My name is Jeremy, I am a human! The divine power I currently possess is merely due to the gifts I have received from the King of Time and Space!"


    The moment Jeremy realized this, the awakening gemstone was reduced to ashes. All the power contained within the awakening gemstone flowed entirely into Jeremy''s body.


    Jeremy''s awakening ritual was now fundamentallyplete.


    However, the forces surrounding Jeremy had not yet fully dissipated. It was only after these forces hadpletely dispersed that Jeremy''s awakening ritual could be deemed utterly finished.


    Even though the awakening ritual had not yet been whollypleted, he was still able to observe the situation around him.


    "I never expected that so many nners from the apocalypse game would appear during the course of my awakening ritual. It was to be anticipated that powers associated with the White Tower and the Sun would manifest here.


    Yet, I distinctly remember that I had not previously offended the Hanged Man or the Magician!


    Why must they also appear here to interfere with my awakening ritual?!"


    Jeremy''s questions remained unanswered.


    For there was no one who could fathom the inquiries guing Jeremy''s mind at that moment.


    The ss change goddess Janna sensed that Jeremy''s consciousness was gradually recovering.


    However, she still could not ascertain whether Jeremy had fullypleted the awakening ritual.


    Thus, the ss change goddess Janna was able to continue engaging in battle.


    At this moment, the World found itself in a disadvantageous position. Faced with thebined assault of the Hanged Man and the Magician, the World could not endure for long.


    "Apparently, betraying the Fool has not granted you any greater power."the Magician said in a mocking tone.


    "You still have time to surrender. The Fool is exceedingly merciful, he will not torment you for long.


    All you need to do is surrender your power and those who have conspired with you.


    The Fool can grant you forgiveness."


    The World had no intention of responding to the Magician''s taunts.


    It was solely focused on contemting how to engage in battle next.


    In the eyes of the World, he had to defeat the two nners of the apocalypse game one by one.


    Attempting to vanquish both of them simultaneously was simply too daunting a task.


    "I know what you are thinking."the Hanged Man finally spoke.


    "You wish to take us down individually, but that is absolutely impossible.


    For we will always act in concert when faced with any situation."the Hanged Man dered in a chilling tone.


    The Hanged Man and the Magician had long since seen through the World''s tactics.

 Chapter 211: Awakening Completed

    The Hanged Man and the Magician offered the World no respite whatsoever.


    The two nners of the apocalypse gameunched a coordinated assault against the World.Although the World possessed strength that was not inferior to that of the apocalypse game nners,


    the relentless attack left little room for defense.


    However, the World could only contend with a single nner of the apocalypse game at a time.


    When faced with two nners simultaneously, the World found itself in a predicament of utter confusion and desperation.


    At that moment, the ss change goddess Janna was unable to offer any assistance to the World.


    She was already preupied, ensnared by the High-Dimensional Data summoned by the White Tower and the virtual Sun conjured by The Person in the Mirror.


    The situation for both the World and the ss change goddess Janna grew increasingly dire.


    The two of them instinctively turned their gazes toward Jeremy.


    "Our only hope now rests on Jeremypleting his awakening as swiftly as possible. We can no longer hold on for much longer, if Jeremy fails to achieve his awakening, this operation will end in utter failure."


    The World was filled with profound anxiety.


    He even began to waver, questioning whether he should have ced such unwavering faith in Jeremy.


    At this moment, Jeremy was absorbing thest remnants of power from the awakening gemstone into his body.


    His awakening ritual had, in fact, been whollypleted, however, he still required a bit more time to stabilize his condition.


    The moment the final remnants of power from the awakening gemstone surged into Jeremy''s body, hepleted his awakening. Simultaneously, Jeremy''s identity panel underwent a rapid and thorough update.


    [Name]: Jeremy


    [Level]: lv50


    [upation]: sphemer


    [Talent]: The King of Time and Space


    [Titles]: Pioneer, Global First Kill, Light Chaser, Guardian of Time and Space


    [Abilities]: The Eye of Omniscience


    [Skills]: The Mechanical Puppet Technique, Basic Mechanical Mastery, Spatial Sealing, Temporal Discement, Shadow Stride


    [Attributes]: Strength 14,175, Spirit 24,575, Stamina 18,564, Agility 20,476


    [Damage]: Physical 1,050%, Magical 1,147%


    [Special]: Time-space skill consumption reduced by 75%, Critical damage increased by 50%, Skill cooldown time reduced by 75%


    [Divinity]: Deity Embryo


    Havingpleted his awakening, Jeremy not only experienced a substantial enhancement in his attributes but also acquired a new title: Guardian of Time and Space.


    The title of Guardian of Time and Space allows Jeremy to receive additional benefits when utilizing time and space skills.


    Moreover, when confronted by monsters capable of distorting time and space, Jeremy is able to detect them more swiftly.


    In addition to the data previously disyed on his identity panel, there now exists an extra entry: Divinity.


    As the term suggests, Divinity refers to the power possessed by a deity.


    When the divinity is rtively weak, the deity''s power that can be obtained is exceedingly feeble.


    However, when the divinity is sufficiently strong, the possessed deity''s power can elevate a person to the status of a true deity.


    At present, the divinity power that Jeremy possesses only allows him to carry the title of Deity Embryo.


    This implies that while Jeremy is still quite distant from bing a deity, he has already been recognized as a human capable of attaining such a status.


    With the emergence of the identity panel, Jeremy felt that his consciousness had been fully restored.


    He was now not only able to observe the surrounding battles but could also keenly discern the conditions of everyone involved in the fight.


    The situation for ss change goddess Janna and the World had be exceedingly dire.


    A multitude of High-Dimensional Data had ensnared ss change goddess Janna, while the virtual Sun summoned by The Person in the Mirror seized this opportunity tounch a relentless assault against her.


    ss change goddess Janna had already sustained severe injuries and could not endure for much longer.


    If Jeremy wished to prevent ss change goddess Janna from being killed by the enemy, he would have to take action immediately.


    On the other hand, the circumstances surrounding the World were somewhat better than those of ss change goddess Janna.


    Although the opponents faced by the World are indeed stronger than those confronting ss change goddess Janna, the World itself is inherently more adept atbat than ss change goddess Janna.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, Jeremy resolved to first repel the High-Dimensional Data summoned by the White Tower, as well as the virtual Sun conjured by The Person in the Mirror.


    With this decision made, Jeremy immediately employed the Spatial Sealing skill.


    Empowered by the talent of The King of Time and Space and the title of Guardian of Time and Space, the Spatial Sealing skill Jeremy utilized this time was extraordinarily potent.


    A violent wave of spatial fluctuation rapidly radiated from Jeremy''s position, expanding outward in all directions.


    Countless High-Dimensional Data were imprisoned within the spatial realm uniquely belonging to Jeremy, while the virtual Sun summoned by The Person in the Mirror also copsed upon itself due to the Spatial Sealing.


    The Spatial Sealing severed the connection between The Person in the Mirror and the virtual Sun,cking the power provided by The Person in the Mirror, the virtual Sun was destined to disintegrate.


    Jeremy''s sudden intervention astonished everyone present.


    Although ss change goddess Janna and the World had been eagerly anticipating Jeremy''s promptpletion of his awakening, they had not expected the awakening ceremony to ur at such an astonishing speed.


    The Hanged Man and the Magician were even more astounded.


    "How is this possible?! How can a mere mortalplete the awakening ceremony so swiftly?! Normally, the awakening ceremony shouldst at least an hour, shouldn''t it?!"


    The Magician eximed loudly, his gaze fixed in disbelief upon Jeremy.


    The Hanged Man maintained his previous shadowy demeanor, refraining from speaking, yet he vigntly observed Jeremy''s movements.


    The World had originally intended to seize this opportunity to mock the Magician, but given the current dire circumstances, hecked even the strength to utter a taunt.


    "A mere mortal would certainly be incapable ofpleting the awakening ceremony this quickly!" Jeremy''s voice resonated from the light left behind by the awakening gemstone.


    "However, I am no mere mortal, you should now refer to me as Deity Embryo. I have already acquired sufficiently potent divine power."


    Jeremy''s deration left everyone present in a state of renewed shock.


    Even the World turned to cast a deep nce in Jeremy''s direction.


    He could scarcely believe that Jeremy had managed to attain such formidable divine power at this particr juncture.


    While the title of Deity Embryo does not yet denote a true deity, it still requires the umtion of sufficiently powerful divine energy to attain.


    The expressions on the faces of The Hanged Man and the Magician grew increasingly grim.


    For they suddenly realized that Jeremy posed an exceptionally significant threat to them.


    Although ss change goddess Janna was not as astonished as the others, she found herself beginning to admire Jeremy''s innate talent.


    While she had long been aware that Jeremy could sense divine power, the speed at which he umted this divine energy exceeded her expectations.


    "What if you have be a Deity Embryo? What does that change? You don''t truly believe you can defeat two architects of the Apocalypse Game simultaneously, do you?"


    Though the Magician felt a flicker of trepidation within, he maintained a facade of defiance.


    He raised his staff and waved it toward Jeremy, channeling his tumultuous energy.


    In an instant, a shockwave capable of distorting any force surged rapidly toward Jeremy.


    At that moment, Jeremy stepped forth from the light left behind by the awakening gemstone.


    As he faced the Magician''s assault, his expression remained utterly unchanged.


    He simply raised his right hand with calmposure and snapped his fingers.


    The moment the sound resonated, the space surrounding Jeremy began to warp dramatically.


    Once the Magician''s attack entered the warped space, it swiftly veered off course. Ultimately, it failed to strike Jeremy sessfully.


    "It seems you have chosen the talent of The King of Time and Space!" the Magician remarked, his tone stillposed despite witnessing his attack being thwarted.


    Yet inwardly, the Magician had already resolved to retreat.


    Although he wielded formidable power as an architect of the Apocalypse Game, he was hindered by the seals that ss change goddess Janna had established within her domain.


    Thus, neither the Magician nor The Hanged Man could unleash their full strength in this space.


    "Now that you have sessfully awakened, I see no reason to continue wasting time here with you. However, I must caution you: possessing divine power does not guarantee that you can defeat us!"


    Before departing, the Magician issued this threat to Jeremy, then dissolved into a flurry of bubbles, vanishing from sight.


    The Hanged Man, too, merged with a nearby shadow, swiftly exiting the realm of ss change goddess Janna.


    With the departure of the Apocalypse Game architects, the World finally found himself unable to sustain himself any longer, copsing onto the ground.


    ss change goddess Janna, no longer able to maintain herposure, hurried back to her divine throne, utilizing its power to heal her wounds.


    Jeremy quickly approached the World''s side.


    With genuine concern, he inquired, "What can I do to assist you right now?"


    The World shook his head.


    "There is nothing you can do to aid me, nor do I require your assistance. What you need to focus on now is mastering the talent of The King of Time and Space as swiftly as possible.


    While you havepleted your awakening, it does not mean you are invincible. If I am not mistaken, the architects of the Apocalypse Game will surely escte its difficulty!"

 Chapter 212: The Terror of The Person in the Mirror

    As Jeremy confirmed whether hispanions had sustained serious injuries, The Person in the Mirror recounted everything that transpired within the realm of ss change goddess Janna to Kean.


    At that moment, Kean had sessfully cleared the awakening instance, and he held the awakening gemstone firmly in his hand.


    Initially, Kean had believed that with the coboration of The Person in the Mirror and the architects of the Apocalypse Game, Jeremy''s awakening would be absolutely impossible to achieve.


    That way, he would have the opportunity to be the first person to awaken.


    However, the unfolding events exceeded his expectations, even with multiple architects of the Apocalypse Game joining forces, Jeremy''s awakening ritual still seeded.


    "Did you truly exert every ounce of your effort? How could you not even manage to stop Jeremy? Does Jeremy actually possess such formidable power?


    If Jeremy''s strength has reached a point where he can defeat several architects of the Apocalypse Game, how can I possibly continue topete with him?! I might as well just go before him and concede defeat outright!"


    What Kean was expressing at that moment was pure frustration.


    Kean believed that the abilities of The Person in the Mirror and the architects of the Apocalypse Game, who were coborating with him, were utterly inadequate.


    Despite having the advantage in numbers, these individuals were unable to prevent Jeremy''s awakening ritual from seeding.


    "Now is not the time for mere words of frustration, we must swiftly formte our next course of action. Jeremy will soon stabilize his condition, and afterward, he will undoubtedly turn his attention towards us."


    The Person in the Mirror hoped that Kean could continue to hold on.


    Upon hearing this, Kean let out a cold scoff.


    "Your words are quite ttering! Even if I were to persist, we would still be unable to achieve any sess! You previously mentioned that the disparity between the first person to awaken and those who awaken afterward is immense."


    "It seems that our coboration muste to an end. I think I shall directly approach Jeremy and offer my apologies, if I genuinely express my remorse, he should be inclined to forgive me."


    After uttering these words, Kean promptly stowed the awakening gemstone in his pocket and hastily departed from the awakening instance.


    Kean''s actions instilled a profound sense of panic within The Person in the Mirror.


    This was because The Person in the Mirror''s ns would falter without Kean''s involvement.


    "You cannot do this! If you proceed with such a course, we will most certainly not let you off the hook! Moreover, even if you beg for mercy, Kean will not spare you!"


    The Person in the Mirror manifested before Kean in a form he was most familiar with.


    "Your threats hold no weight now. The recent events have already demonstrated that your strength is not on par with Jeremy''s. Furthermore, even if I were to ally with you, it would still be impossible to defeat Jeremy."


    "That''s not the case! As long as we coordinate wlessly with one another, we still have a chance to ovee Jeremy. Just because Jeremy currently holds an advantage in awakening does not mean he will maintain that advantage indefinitely. We still have other opportunities."


    The Person in the Mirror continued to persuade Kean with a few more words.


    At this point, Kean was beginning to lose faith in what The Person in the Mirror was saying.


    "You had better articte your points more clearly. What other opportunities do we have? Afterpleting the awakening process, Jeremy''s power has already surpassed mine by a considerable margin, even if you were to offer assistance, it would be of little consequence."


    "The Apocalypse Game is about to be updated to a new version.


    The developers of the Apocalypse Game have also been defeated by Jeremy, and they are not the type to concede easily. Therefore, they will undoubtedly make significant adjustments to the game.


    We simply need to wait for the version update of the Apocalypse Game. Once the update urs, I will promptly provide you with ample information. At that point, you will have the advantage to enhance your strength."


    The words spoken by The Person in the Mirror caused Kean to hesitate for a moment.


    If the Apocalypse Game were indeed to be updated swiftly, then Jeremy would have little time toe after him.


    Moreover, after the update of the Apocalypse Game, the information Kean had previously gathered would be obsolete. It seemed that he would have to rely on The Person in the Mirror for additional intelligence.


    After pondering for a while, Kean nodded and said.


    "I understand. In that case, I shall hasten to undergo the awakening process. Although I can no longer im the title of the first toplete the awakening, at least my awakening will not be significantlyter than Jeremy''s."


    Kean''s attitude had shifted remarkably quickly.


    Just moments ago, Kean had contemted pleading for mercy from Jeremy, but before long, he resolved to continue opposing him.


    Kean''s sudden change of heart left The Person in the Mirror utterly astonished.


    However, Kean had never truly intended to beg for mercy from Jeremy, his recent actions had merely been a tactic to apply pressure on The Person in the Mirror.


    "You should refrain from undergoing the awakening for the time being. Currently, the ss change goddess Janna is unable to provide you with awakening services, as she has sustained severe injuries during the recent battle.


    Moreover, having lost the opportunity to be the first to awaken, there is no need for you to rush into it. The talents acquired by those who awaken after the first arergely simr."


    The Person in the Mirror reiterated this warning to Kean once more.


    Kean nodded in acknowledgment.


    "So, what exactly should I be doing right now? I can''t just sit here and do nothing!"


    "The only task before you at this moment is to solidify your resolve. During the awakening process, your self-awareness will inevitably face the onught of the awakening gemstone''s power.


    Even in the absence of any deliberate opposition from others, it is entirely possible that the overwhelming force of the awakening gemstone could shatter your self-awareness."


    The Person in the Mirror''s warning did not receive much weight from Kean.


    In his view, since Jeremy had managed toplete his awakening despite facing numerous obstacles, he would undoubtedly have no issues doing so without any interference.


    "You are worrying excessively, I believe there will be no problems during my awakening process."


    Kean did not consider his self-awareness to be particrly fragile.


    He felt that his self-awareness was even stronger than Jeremy''s. Therefore, he simply needed to wait for the ss change goddess Janna to recover from her injuries.


    Faced with Kean''s obstinacy, The Person in the Mirror chose not to press the matter further.


    "As long as you are confident, that is all that matters. We merely hope you do not fail due to some minor misstep during the awakening process. Should you fail during the awakening, your self-awareness will be irretrievably lost."


    After delivering this statement, The Person in the Mirror vanished without a trace.


    Once The Person in the Mirror departed, Kean found himself experiencing a slight headache as he muttered to himself.


    "Jeremy, oh Jeremy! You truly are fortunate and blessed! Toplete the awakening ritual while surrounded by so many foes is no small feat.


    However, your arrogance cannotst much longer, for I am about to catch up to your level of power. Once my strength is on par with yours, with the assistance of others, I will utterly crush you."


    After finishing his soliloquy, Kean chose to return to his residence.


    At this moment, the butler, Farmer, who managed the vi where Kean lived, was growing increasingly anxious.


    Upon seeing Kean, Butler Farmer hurried to his side and inquired.


    "Young Master, where have you been? Your uncle has been searching for you for quite some time!"


    Kean looked at Butler Farmer with a slightly puzzled expression.


    "My uncle is looking for me? Does he have something urgent to discuss? If it''s not of great importance, then I would prefer not to be disturbed."


    Having said this, Kean intended to retreat to his room.


    However, Butler Farmer followed closely behind him, persistently urging him,


    "Young Master, your uncle is genuinely concerned about you. Therefore, I believe you should take a moment to return his call. He simply wishes to know what you have been up to."


    Kean replied with evident reluctance,


    "What I am doing is of no concern to him. The next time he calls, you can answer his questions directly. If you don''t know the answers, then there''s no need toe and ask me."


    As Kean and Butler Farmer continued their dialogue, they advanced together.


    Before long, Kean arrived at the door of his room, and upon opening it, he coldly addressed Butler Farmer, saying.


    "You had better not ry every single detail of my affairs to my uncle.


    Furthermore, I must emphasize that you are my butler. You are only required to follow my orders, not those of anyone else."


    Upon hearing Kean''s words, Butler Farmer''s expression grew somewhat awkward.


    It was clear that Kean had realized he was acting on behalf of the upper echelons of the Lannisters.


    However, Butler Farmer would certainly not admit to such a thing.


    "Young Master! I truly do notprehend what you are implying. I have not disclosed anything to others. I merely wish for you to exercise greater caution in your forting actions.


    If you keep your uncle informed of your whereabouts, he would be able to assist you should you encounter danger. While his own strength may not be formidable, hemands many powerful awakeners under his authority."


    Upon hearing Butler Farmer''s statement, Kean let out a coldugh.


    "My uncle would never concern himself with me for no reason. He must have ulterior motives prompting his interest in my well-being. Therefore, you should proceed as I previously instructed.


    No matter what questions my uncle poses to you, do not provide any answers. If the pressure he exerts bes too overwhelming, simply call me. I can handle him!"

 Chapter 213: Update on Apocalypse Game

    In the boundless realm where energy converges, a space where numerous souls ultimately meet their demise, Fool is intently observing the infinite fluctuations of the multiverse.


    Behind him, a portal suddenly materializes.


    The Magician and The Hanged Man stepped through the portal.


    The Magician''s expression appeared somewhat tense, and after barely managing to steady his tone, he spoke to Fool with trepidation.


    "A great Fool, the deity whom I hold in infinite admiration and allegiance, Ie before you to report the final oue of our recent undertaking."


    After delivering this statement, The Magician did not immediately continue.


    He was awaiting a response from Fool.


    However, Fool remained turned away from the two, fixated on the ever-shifting energies in the boundless void.


    The Magician felt an overwhelming sense of pressure.


    He nced at The Hanged Man beside him, hoping that The Hanged Man would pick up the thread of conversation and borate further.


    Yet, The Hanged Man was certainly not foolish enough to do so, he maintained his silence.


    "Why do you not continue your ount? Have your efforts utterly failed?"


    Fool''s voice resonated from the forefront.


    Both The Magician and The Hanged Man felt an immense pressure bearing down upon them.


    Though Fool merely uttered a single sentence, the power he exuded inspired a sense of dread even among deities.


    "You are correct, our endeavor has indeed met with failure. We were unable to prevent that human named Jeremy frompleting the awakening ritual.


    However, there is a reason for this! The goddess of ss change, Janna, defied the task you assigned her. She conspired with the World to oppose us.


    Had it not been for such unforeseen circumstances, we could have effortlessly thwarted Jeremy''s sessful awakening."


    The Magician hastily offered this justification.


    He hoped that these words might sway Fool to grant him clemency.


    Fool slowly turned to face them.


    At that moment, in the eyes of The Magician and The Hanged Man, Fool appeared as a spiritual entityposed of an infinite array of energies of varying attributes.


    Fool fixated on the two with an array of eyes that continuously flickered.


    After a moment, Fool calmly stated, "Gather all the nners of the Apocalypse Games. The failure of your recent endeavor is not solely attributable to your actions."


    This pronouncement from Fool caused The Magician and The Hanged Man to breathe a slight sigh of relief.


    "We will immediately summon all the nners of the Apocalypse Games!" The two of them, having epted Fool''smand, promptly chose to depart.


    Fool lifted his gaze to the endless void, as if contemting something profound or perhaps observing the unfolding cosmos.


    No one could urately discern Fool''s true intentions.


    For the immense power possessed by Fool inherently allowed him to deceive other beings.


    Any entity attempting to pry into Fool''s genuine thoughts would inevitably fall victim to his trickery.


    Before long, all the nners of the Apocalypse Games had been gathered together.


    Fool materialized directly in front of the assembled nners.


    "The reason I have summoned all of you here today is to announce a new decision of mine. I intend to update the Apocalypse Games."


    This deration left some of the nners present quite astonished.


    While The Magician, The Hanged Man, and The White Tower understood the rationale behind this move, the other nners remainedrgely in the dark regarding the reasons.


    "Fool, I hope you can elucidate why there is a need to update the Apocalypse Game. I believe the current version is quite suitable."


    "In the existing version of the Apocalypse Game, every human has the ability to continually enhance their strength to vanquish monsters. By doing so, they contribute to the acquisition of more souls for you."


    "If we rashly proceed with an update to the Apocalypse Game, there is a significant risk that these ordinary humans may be aware of our existence. Moreover, they might find themselves incapable of oveing the monsters summoned by the Apocalypse Game thereafter."


    Death spoke to Fool in a toneced with reproach.


    Following Death''s statement, The Star immediately voiced agreement with Death''s perspective.


    "Of course, your actions are driven by your own reasons. However, as a nner of the Apocalypse Game, I am not inclined to support this course of action. Therefore, I would like to propose an internal vote."


    The Star had no intention of directly opposing Fool.


    The presiding Fool remained silent, merely offering a slight nod in acknowledgment.


    Consequently, the assembled nners of the Apocalypse Game began the voting process.


    There were originally twelve nners of the Apocalypse Game, but following the fall of The Sun, only eleven remained. Thus, the eleven nners could undoubtedly produce a conclusive result.


    Fool, The Hanged Man, The Magician, and The White Tower naturally expressed their unanimous agreement.


    They were acutely aware of all that had transpired before. They believed that the only viable solution to counter Jeremyy in updating the Apocalypse Game.


    On the contrary, Death, The Star, The Pope, and The Emperor firmly voiced their opposition.


    This left only three Apocalypse Game nners without a vote.


    These three nners were The Empress, The Lovers, and The Moon.


    "The remaining three of you must each make your respective choices. Since this emergency meeting has been convened by me, we must reach a conclusion during this session."


    Fool addressed the three nners who had yet to cast their votes.


    The Empress nodded and promptly dered her disapproval.


    After a moment of internal conflict, The Lovers ultimately chose to support the update of the Apocalypse Game.


    With the voting at a standoff of 5 to 5, the final vote cast by The Moon would ultimately determine the oue.


    Before rendering her decision, The Moon specifically inquired about the true intentions of Fool and the others.


    Upon learning that Fool''s motive for updating the Apocalypse Game was solely to address a single mortal, The Moon''s expression became exceedingly peculiar.


    She felt that Fool''s actions were somewhat excessive.


    "Do you genuinely believe that an ordinary human could pose a significant threat to us? I think you are being overly cautious! If you cannot provide any other reasons, I shall not support the update of the Apocalypse Game."


    Upon hearing The Moon''s remarks, Fool conjured a phantom scroll in the space of the emergency meeting.


    This ethereal scroll vividly depicted the entire process of Jeremy''s awakening ritual.


    After witnessing Jeremy''s awakening ceremony, the nners of the Apocalypse Game fell into a profound silence.


    Following this, The Moon straightforwardly endorsed Fool''s n.


    "It appears that this individual named Jeremy indeed possesses the potential to pose a tremendous threat to us. Therefore, let us expedite the update of the Apocalypse Game. We must eliminate every human who possesses divinity."


    All the nners of the Apocalypse Game were acutely aware that once humans attained divinity, they could very well seek to supnt them.


    To ensure their own preservation and prevent being usurped, they would categorically refuse to allow any humans to attain divinity.


    The Moon cast the pivotal vote.


    Fool then spoke in an emotionless tone, "The final voting results are in, it appears that the vast majority of nners wish to proceed with the update of the Apocalypse Game. Therefore, we shall initiate the update immediately."


    As Fool delivered this pronouncement, the rules of the Apocalypse Game underwent rapid transformation.


    The level cap of the Apocalypse Game was raised from the previous 60 to 70, while the probability of acquiring items and equipment decreased significantly.


    Moreover, it was crucial to note that the updated version of the Apocalypse Game posed an extraordinary danger to the most powerful awakeners.


    The newly summoned instances and monsters within the Apocalypse Game were specifically designed to target high-level awakeners.


    Among these awakeners, the nners of the Apocalypse Game were particrly intent on eliminating Jeremy.


    "Although we have sessfully updated the Apocalypse Game, the new version will require some time to take effect.


    You all must hasten your actions.


    The disturbances caused by The World and the ss change goddess, Janna, indicate that they have be aware of our ns. If our schemes are thwarted by them, we shall find ourselves in an irrevocable predicament."


    After delivering this statement, Fool vanished without a trace.


    The remaining ten nners of the Apocalypse Game exchanged nces, bewildered.


    While some of them yearned for additional information, those actively engaged inbat were reluctant to share further details.


    After all, they had suffered defeat in thest match.


    No one who has tasted defeat wishes to revisit the scenes of their failures.


    However, the majority of the Apocalypse Game nners had already grasped the unfolding situation.


    They hade to reassess Jeremy''s capabilities with a newfound respect.


    "It seems we have underestimated humanity somewhat. While humans are inherently fragile, their capacity for learning is remarkably swift. Moreover, they consistently produce shes of genius.


    Jeremy exemplifies such a genius, his emergence has caused us numerousplications. Yet, if we could capture him, we might glean much knowledge from him."


    The Pope calmly remarked to the other nners of the Apocalypse Game.

 Chapter 214: A Brand New Phase

    Although the nners of the apocalypse game had retreated, the ss change goddess Janna and the entity known as "the World" remained vignt.


    In fact, "the World" even cautioned Jeremy, who intended to assess both his own injuries and those of the ss change goddess Janna.


    "Now is not the time to let our guard down. Although these two nners of the apocalypse game have chosen to retreat, it''s possible that more of them maye rushing in."


    The words spoken by "the World" prompted Jeremy and the ss change goddess Janna to cast vignt nces around their surroundings once more.


    Having sessfully awakened the talent known as The King of Time and Space, Jeremy possessed an acute sensitivity to fluctuations in both time and space.


    He meticulously attuned himself to the changes in the surrounding environment, ultimately confirming that no nners of the apocalypse game were attempting to breach the space they currently upied.


    "You are somewhat overly cautious. Since I have sessfully awakened, the nners of the apocalypse game are unlikely to return here. I believe they will instead exert pressure on us by increasing the difficulty of the apocalypse game."


    Jeremy confidently articted his assessment.


    In times past, Jeremy would havecked the confidence to assert his judgment in the presence of "the World."


    However, following his awakening, Jeremy felt that the disparity in strength between himself and "the World" had diminished significantly.


    Moreover, he had sessfully repelled two nners of the apocalypse game during the recent battle.


    "The World" nced at Jeremy and remarked, "You may indeed be correct. Since we are unlikely to face any more foes, we can afford to rx a bit for the time being."


    After uttering these words, the ss change goddess Janna copsed directly to the ground.


    Janna hadpletely exhausted her energy in the preceding fight.


    The reason she had not exhibited any signs of distress earlier was simply that she had been forcing herself to endure.


    Upon confirming that no enemies would appear, Janna understandably felt no need to continue her facade of strength.


    Jeremy and "the World" hurried to Janna''s side.


    After a thorough observation, "the World" spoke in a tone tinged with relief, "She is not in serious trouble, she has merely drained all her power. After resting for a while, she will be able to return to her normal state."


    The words spoken by "the World" elicited a sigh of relief from Jeremy.


    "It is a relief to hear that the ss change goddess Janna is alright!"


    Having said this, Jeremy turned his gaze toward "the World."


    In a solemn tone, he inquired, "Now that I have sessfully awakened, I possess a strength far greater than before.


    "I believe I can offer you my assistance now."


    "I am aware that you have been continuously battling against the most formidable of the nners of the apocalypse game. Therefore, I hope you will allow me to join you in this endeavor, for the nners of the apocalypse game are also my mortal enemies."


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s proposal, "the World" exhibited no change in expression.


    After approximately half a minute of silence, "the World" slowly began to speak.


    "Indeed, since your awakening, you have acquired a power that is significantly greater than before. However, this does not grant you the qualification to directly challenge the nners of the apocalypse game.


    Your previous victories against them were merely a result of their powers being restricted within this space.


    In a situation where the power of the nners of the apocalypse game is unhindered, your current level would make it utterly impossible for you to defeat them. If you seek to engage them in a direct confrontation, you will need to reach at least level 70 first!"


    While "the World" did not wish to undermine Jeremy''s confidence.


    He felt it was imperative to make Jeremy understand the true extent of his current abilities.


    Upon hearing "the World''s" words, a hint of mncholy crossed Jeremy''s face.


    However, deep down, Jeremy had already harbored such suspicions.


    "So, what course of action should I take next? Am I to return to the real world and merely cleanse it of the instances and monsters that reside there after my awakening?


    In the real world, I no longer face any formidable foes. Since my sessful awakening, the gap in strength between Kean and me has only widened. I believe that even Kean would hesitate to challenge me now."


    Jeremy was acutely aware that all the crises he faced were entirely orchestrated by the nners of the apocalypse game.


    Thus, he yearned to eliminate the nners of the apocalypse game as swiftly as possible. He did not wish to remain in the real world indefinitely.


    Even if he managed to eradicate every monster in the real world, the nners of the apocalypse game would not suffer significant repercussions.


    "The World" spoke with a touch of helplessness.


    "At this moment, you can indeed only clean up the instances and monsters in the real world. However, do not underestimate the difficulty of this task.


    Following thepletion of the apocalypse game''s version update, all monsters and instances in the real world will undergo significant enhancements.


    If I am not mistaken, there may even be some exceedingly powerful instances that suddenly materialize in the real world. These unexpected arrivals will undoubtedly plunge the real world into chaos."


    "Your task is to ensure that humanity in the real world does not face significant threats after the difficulty of the apocalypse game has been heightened."


    "The World" explicitly articted the responsibilities he wished Jeremy to undertake.


    After delivering this statement, "the World" showed no intention of lingering further, as he had more pressing matters to attend to.


    "The ss change goddess Janna does not require our care. Therefore, we should promptly attend to our respective duties!" Upon uttering these words, "the World" transformed into a shimmering mist and vanished.


    The sudden departure of "the World" left Jeremy feeling somewhat irked.


    "You have not yet conveyed all the necessary information! Why did you suddenly just run off?!"


    Although Jeremy was slightly annoyed, he also understood that "the World" must have had valid reasons for his actions.


    Jeremy turned to nce at the ss change goddess, Janna.


    "Are you truly certain that you do not need my assistance? If you wish to regain your strength swiftly, wouldn''t you require some energy gemstones? I can provide those for you."


    A faint, strained smile appeared on Janna''s pale face.


    "The energy gemstones are of no use to me at this point. I am capable of gradually recovering on my own, and regardless of what you do, my recovery speed will not elerate.


    You should proceed ording to what ''the World'' has advised. You are undoubtedly aware that since your sessful awakening, our coboration has entered a new phase."


    "In this new phase of cooperation, we will undoubtedly encounter crises that are far greater than those we faced before. Therefore, we absolutely cannot afford toe into conflict with one another."


    "The World" can indeed engage in actions that are frustrating at times. However, I believe you should trust him, he would never betray us."


    The ss change goddess Janna did not wish for Jeremy and "the World" to sh excessively.


    Because once these two individuals were in conflict, they would be rendered incapable of confronting the nners of the apocalypse game.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Of course, I trust that ''the World'' would not betray us. I merely feel that he sometimes deliberately conceals crucial information. Has my previous performance not earned his trust?"


    In response to Jeremy''s grievances, the ss change goddess Janna hurriedly interjected.


    "The reason ''the World'' withholds vital information is, in fact, due to necessity. There are certain pieces of information that you cannot be privy to at this moment.


    Since you have sessfully awakened, you should understand that divinity is extremely significant to the nners of the apocalypse game and to beings like us who are close to deity status.


    The divinity you currently possess is insufficient, if you were to learn highly secretive information, it could potentially lead to severe contamination for you.


    Only when you possess a sufficient amount of divinity are you deemed worthy of knowing critical information. If you were to be aware of such ndestine knowledge without adequate divinity, you would be immediately targeted by ''Fool.''"


    The words of the ss change goddess Janna finally alleviated Jeremy''s doubts regarding "the World."


    Before this moment, Jeremy had never confronted "Fool" directly.


    However, he had gleaned a considerable amount of information regarding "Fool" from the words of others.


    Whether it was the nners of the apocalypse game or the opposing forces that stood against them, all exhibited profound caution toward "Fool."


    It appeared that "Fool" was the most formidable deity in the entire universe.


    Naturally, Jeremy did not wish to be targeted by "Fool" before he had attained sufficient power.


    Upon observing the changes in Jeremy''s expression, the ss change goddess Janna confirmed that he no longer harbored any doubts.


    "I have exined everything to you, and I trust you have no further inquiries? Therefore, you should promptly return to the real world! There are numerous matters awaiting your attention there!"


    The ss change goddess Janna had always been very attentive to Jeremy.


    Although the power she possessed could not constantly intervene in the events of the real world, she was capable of providing assistance to Jeremy at critical moments.


    Jeremy nodded in response.


    "Thank you very much for your rification! I will return to the real world as swiftly as possible, following your guidance. I will eliminate the monsters and instances in the real world with the utmost speed."

 Chapter 215: Unwavering Companions

    At the entrance of the instance known as The Misty Garden, Bonnie and Ritchie were anxiously awaiting news from Jeremy.


    Not long ago, the two had heard a tremendous noise emanating from the depths of The Misty Garden instance.


    At that moment, Bonnie had intended to rush into the instance, however, Ritchie promptly intervened to prevent her. He recognized that if Bonnie were to enter the instance, the awakening process could very likely lead to unforeseen anomalies.


    As the immense sounds from deep within The Misty Garden instance faded away, Bonnie gradually calmed down.


    Thus, the two of them waited at the entrance of the instance for approximately half an hour.


    By this time, the sun had begun to rise steadily.


    The area surrounding The Misty Garden instance was illuminated by the morning light.


    Gazing at the newly risen sun, Bonnie spoke with a tinge of impatience, "Why hasn''t Jeremy emerged yet? Is it possible that he has encountered an enormous danger?"


    Although Ritchie''s expression also reflected considerable anxiety,


    he still maintained an air ofposure in front of Bonnie.


    "We must have faith in Jeremy. Moreover, even if he is currently facing peril, there is nothing we can do to assist him. We cannot enter the awakening instance."


    Ritchie''s words, however, evidently failed to convince Bonnie.


    She picked up her staff and moved to the edge of the instance entrance.


    Ritchie hurried over to intercept her.


    "What are you doing? Haven''t I already told you that if you enter the awakening instance, Jeremy may very well be unable to obtain the awakening gemstone!"


    Bonnie responded with a hint of irritation in her voice.


    "I am fully aware that such a situation could arise. However, failing to obtain the awakening gemstone is certainly preferable to Jeremy dying directly within the awakening instance.


    As long as Jeremy is alive, he will undoubtedly have other opportunities to acquire the awakening gemstone. I must go to rescue him! If you dare to obstruct me, I will have no choice but to attack you!"


    The moment Bonnie finished her deration, she raised her staff high.


    At the tip of Bonnie''s staff, an incredibly powerful frost spell swirled ominously.


    Although Bonnie did notunch an attack against Ritchie, her actions served as a clear and unmistakable warning.


    Ritchie did not flinch.


    He was convinced that his judgment was entirely correct. Furthermore, he believed that Bonnie''s n of action would ultimately lead to Jeremy''s failure.


    "I will not allow you to enter the instance under any circumstances! If you truly intend to attack me, then bring it on!"


    At this point, Ritchie was fully prepared for battle.


    Although his Ravager''s Gloves had already been brought into The Misty Garden instance by Jeremy, he could still rely on the shadow spells he had mastered to contend with Bonnie.


    Bonnie''s expression shifted rapidly from disappointment to resolute determination.


    "In that case, do not me me for being impolite!"


    Bonnie raised her staff, and a fierce blizzard soon erupted around Ritchie''s body.


    Ritchie chose to retreat into the shadows, sessfully evading Bonnie''s attack. However, he did not forget his intention to prevent Bonnie from entering the instance.


    Thus, Ritchie manipted the shadows of the surrounding mutated nts to seal off the entrance to the awakening instance directly.


    Ritchie''s actions only served to infuriate Bonnie further.


    "Are you still trying to stop me?! Are you truly Jeremy''s good brother?! Do you genuinely want him to survive?!"


    Bonnie bombarded Ritchie with a flurry of questions.


    From his hiding ce in the shadows, Ritchie replied without hesitation, "Precisely because I am Jeremy''s good brother, I haveplete faith in him. I know he will survive and sessfully clear the awakening instance."


    Neither Bonnie nor Ritchie could persuade the other.


    Moreover, neither side could determine a victor in such a short span of time.


    This situation left both individuals exceedingly anxious. Just as they were preparing to unleash their full power in battle, a sudden and intense wave of energy swept across the entirety of Moonlight City.


    Ritchie and Bonnie were both drawn to this powerful energy fluctuation.


    Their gazes instinctively turned toward the sky.


    At that moment, a multitude of ck dots appeared in the heavens. These ck dots led to an unknown, mysterious world.


    With the emergence of these dots, instance after instance began to pour forth from them.


    These instances started to descend upon various regions of Moonlight City.


    Apanying these instances were formidable monsters, each possessing levels exceeding 60.


    Witnessing this scene, Ritchie and Bonnie were rendered speechless, their shock palpable.


    They both understood that once these instances and monsters touched down, the situation in Moonlight City would undoubtedly deteriorate drastically.


    "What in the world is happening? Why are there suddenly so many instances and monsters appearing? Has there been a mutation in the apocalypse game?"


    Bonnie murmured to herself as she gazed at the instances and monsters cascading from the sky.


    Ritchie did not respond to Bonnie''s inquiry, for he was too stunned by the unfolding events to utter a single word.


    At that moment, the entrance to The Misty Garden instance began to shimmer with a brilliant blue light.


    An ethereal portal materialized out of thin air, and Jeremy stepped forth from this mystical gateway.


    The appearance of Jeremy filled both Ritchie and Bonnie with immense joy.


    Bonnie immediately embraced Jeremy, her voiceced with urgency as she asked, "Why did you take so long toe out? I thought you might have encountered danger within the instance! I was even nning to enter the instance to rescue you!"


    With a hint of exasperation, Jeremy gently ruffled Bonnie''s hair.


    "My strength is considerable, I would not face significant peril within the awakening instance. Your concerns are rather unwarranted."


    As Jeremy spoke, he surveyed the surrounding situation.


    He quickly deduced that Ritchie and Bonnie had engaged inbat prior to his arrival.


    This was evident from the traces left by Bonnie''s frost spell upon the ground, and the fact that Ritchie was still lurking in the shadows, yet to reveal himself.


    "Fortunately, you returned just in time, had you been even slightlyter, we might have perished together."Ritchie remarked as he emerged from the shadows, his tone tinged with mild dissatisfaction.


    Jeremy could surmise the reasons behind the conflict between Ritchie and Bonnie.


    Thus, he merely nodded toward Ritchie and stated, "You truly are my good friend, I knew you would ensure that no one could breach the awakening instance."


    As Jeremy conversed with Ritchie, Bonnie''s emotions finally began to settle.


    She recognized that the events which had just transpired werergely her fault.


    Therefore, Bonnie refrained from shing with Ritchie, instead, she gazed at the instances and monsters plummeting from the sky and directed her question to Jeremy.


    "Do you have any insight into these instances and monsters appearing in the sky? I see that their levels are exceedingly high. You should promptly take the awakening gemstone andplete your awakening.


    Only after you havepleted your awakening will you gain the ability tobat these monsters. Furthermore, we can only eliminate these creatures by acting alongside you."


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "The reason these instances and monsters have emerged is that I have alreadypleted my awakening. I now possess a brand-new awakening talent: The King of Time and Space."


    Jeremy''s deration left both Ritchie and Bonnie utterly astonished.


    "Youpleted your awakening so quickly? Was the awakening meant to ur within the awakening instance?" Ritchie asked, his disbelief evident.


    Jeremy smiled and shook his head, recounting the experiences he had encountered in the realm of the ss change goddess, Janna.


    Upon grasping the details of Jeremy''s experiences, both Ritchie and Bonnie felt their spirits dampen slightly.


    "Are you saying that the nners of the apocalypse game directly targeted you? And that two of themunched an attack against you simultaneously?"


    Ritchie inquired, a tremor of unease evident in his voice as he addressed Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded affirmatively. "The nners of the apocalypse game have begun to regard me as one of their greatest threats. Therefore, if you choose to apany me moving forward, you will inevitably encounter even greater dangers.


    To ensure your safety, it would be wiser for you to operate independently. Even if you act alone, I will still offer you assistance. Should I acquire any equipment more suited to your needs, I will dly provide it to you."


    No sooner had Jeremy finished speaking than Bonnie firmly dered,


    "I will absolutely not leave your side. After you saved me, I have made my resolution. No matter what dangers we face, I will remain by your side! Moreover, I do not believe the nners of the apocalypse game are invincible.


    As long as we work together, neither the nners of the apocalypse game nor the Lannisters hiding in the capital can possibly defeat us!"


    Upon hearing Bonnie''s passionate deration, Ritchie straightforwardly added,


    "As your good friend, how could I abandon you in the face of such grave danger? I will certainly stay and fight alongside you against the apocalypse game nners! After all, without me, you stand no chance against any formidable adversary!"


    While Ritchie''s words carried a hint of self-aggrandizement, Jeremy could discern the sincerity behind them.


    "Then let us strive together in this increasingly perilous reality! Our immediate objective must be to swiftly eliminate the instances and monsters posing the greatest threats!"

 Chapter 216: The Unforeseen Arrival of Many

    With the update of the Apocalypse Game, a multitude of exceptionally challenging new instances and incredibly formidable monsters began to manifest across the globe.


    Apart from a handful of individuals, including Jeremy, the vast majority of people were caughtpletely off guard.


    Furthermore, due to a prior period during which the awakened individuals among humanity had cleared the lower-difficulty instances, humans had managed to ascertain that certain locations were exceedingly safe.


    However, with the esction of difficulty in the Apocalypse Game, areas once deemed secure were once again beset by monsters. This sudden upheaval plunged those who had grown ustomed to the previous rhythm of life into a state of profound panic.


    Whether in the remote wilderness or the bustling cities, whether at coastal ports or ind towns, the likelihood of encountering high-difficulty instances had be rmingly significant.


    In Moonlight City, where Jeremy resided, more than eight new high-difficulty instances emerged all at once.


    Even though Jeremy had already undergone his awakening, he harbored no confidence that he could swiftly clear these challenging instances.


    Moreover, the other individuals, aside from Jeremy, were entirely unqualified to enter these instances.


    Two instances materialized directly adjacent to the military base in Moonlight City, which posed an immense threat to the city''s armed forces.


    At that moment, Howard was still in the capital and had not yet returned, leaving themand of the soldiers to his subordinates.


    The ranks of Howard''s subordinates were not particrly high, and thus, they found themselves plunged into a state of utter panic when confronted with the sudden appearance of high-difficulty instances.


    "We can no longer continue to defend this position! In order to ensure that our soldiers do not suffer excessive losses, we must abandon our main base. We must relocate to other military bases within Moonlight City as swiftly as possible."


    At this critical juncture, Howard''s aide stepped up to assume the responsibilities ofmander at the military base.


    He directlymanded numerous soldiers tomence their evacuation to the other military bases in Moonlight City.


    Although the speed of Howard''s subordinates was sufficiently rapid, the sudden emergence of these high-difficulty instances and the monsters within them nheless resulted in significant casualties among the soldiers.


    In addition to the threat posed by the unexpectedly appearing instances at the military base, another high-difficulty instance materialized not far from the city government''s building in the heart of Moonlight City.


    At that moment, Benjamin, who was working within the city government building, felt his expression darken considerably upon witnessing the sudden arrival of the high-difficulty instance.


    He urgently needed to prompt his secretary to ascertain what exactly was transpiring.


    "Why has an instance suddenly appeared in the city center? Has the Apocalypse Game undergone a revolutionary change? You need to rify the situation immediately and ry all the information you have gathered without dy."


    Benjamin''s secretary, without any hesitation, sprinted out of the office building at the fastest possible speed.


    However, Benjamin did not need to urge his secretary to gather intelligence, as the nners of the Apocalypse Game would soon announce the updated content of the game.


    [Attention to all yers participating in the Apocalypse Game, the nners are about to release a new announcement.]


    Everyone in the real world heard this voice simultaneously.


    Upon hearing this announcement, Benjamin couldn''t help but mutter to himself.


    "The sudden appearance of the new instance in the city center is indeed rted to the update of the Apocalypse Game."


    This judgment was not solely made by Benjamin, in fact, nearly everyone who encountered the newly arrived high-difficulty instances and the exceptionally powerful monsters shared this suspicion.


    Within less than half a minute, another message materialized directly in the minds of the crowd.


    [Congrattions to all yers participating in the Apocalypse Game for sessfully unlocking a new game stage. In the uing game stage, you will be able to elevate your levels to 70.


    You will also have the opportunity to awaken your unique talents, which will undoubtedly enhance your abilities significantly. Therefore, in order to ensure that the difficulty of the game aligns with your newfound strength¡­"


    We have decided to increase the difficulty of the Apocalypse Game by raising the level cap for all challenging instances to seventy. Furthermore, the level cap for all standalone monsters will be elevated to sixty-five.


    We hope that everyone can adapt to this new phase of the game, however, if you find yourselves struggling to adjust, there is no need for excessive concern¡ªyou merely need to be defeated by the monsters.]


    Following this extensive announcement regarding the updates to the Apocalypse Game, the crowd learned of a new nner''s name: Empress.


    It was Empress who had just delivered the announcement regarding the updates to the Apocalypse Game.


    Many individuals were caughtpletely off guard by the sudden emergence of this update.


    Moreover, even those who were somewhat prepared found themselves ensnared in a profound crisis due to the appearance of high-difficulty instances and the abrupt elevation of monster levels.


    Meanwhile, Kean, who was still within an awakening instance, encountered a dilemma that seemed nearly insurmountable.


    As Jeremy conducted his awakening ceremony, Kean was also making his moves within the awakening instance.


    Almost simultaneously with Jeremy''s sessfulpletion of the awakening ceremony, Kean finally obtained the awakening gemstone that was uniquely his within the instance.


    However, just as he intended to depart with the awakening gemstone in hand, Jeremypleted his awakening ceremony. At that moment, the nners of the Apocalypse Game also increased the game''s difficulty.


    This led to a rapid increase in the levels of the monsters within the awakening instance where Kean found himself.


    Even though he had acquired the awakening gemstone and could receive assistance from The Person in the Mirror, he nheless found himself plunged into a near-desperate situation when confronted with the attacks of monsters whose levels had suddenly escted.


    Although the circumstances were exceedingly challenging, Kean was, after all, a person who had endured numerous trials and tribtions.


    In the face of extreme danger, he managed to maintain a basic level ofposure.


    Kean ced the awakening gemstone into the pocket that had been specifically provided to him by The Person in the Mirror.


    Then, while battling against the now-enhanced monsters, he hastened his advance toward the exit of the awakening instance.


    In Kean''s recollection, the exit of the awakening instance was not particrly far away. If he could manage to escape from the instance, he should be able to ensure his safety.


    Initially, Kean''s progress was rtively smooth.


    Although the monsters'' levels had been raised, he had already eliminated most of them during his previous endeavors within the awakening instance.


    The remaining monsters were not overly numerous, which meant that Kean still possessed the capability to fight.


    However, as Kean drew closer to the entrance of the awakening instance, he sensed that the number of monsters surrounding him was increasing exponentially.


    The rise in the difficulty level of the Apocalypse Game not only elevated the levels of the monsters within the awakening instance but also augmented their numbers significantly.


    When Kean was less than fifty meters away from the exit of the awakening instance, a substantial number of monsters had already gathered around him.


    Moreover, the levels of these monsters were generally above fifty.


    Each monster was one that Kean could not easily defeat.


    "I absolutely cannot die here! I still need to find an opportunity to take revenge on Jeremy!"


    As Kean struggled to navigate through the horde of monsters toward the exit of the awakening instance, he repeatedly reaffirmed his objective.


    The reason Kean engaged in this self-affirmation was to keep himself alert and focused.


    The monsters surrounding Kean not only possessed formidablebat abilities but also generated significant psychological disturbances when clustered together.


    If Kean could not maintain his rity, he risked bingpletely lost within the awakening instance.


    Through sheer determination, Kean managed to crawl to a point less than five meters from the entrance of the awakening instance.


    However, he found himself unable to advance any further, as his earlier exertions hadpletely exhausted his stamina.


    Gazing at the sunlight streaming in from the entrance of the awakening instance, Kean''s emotions were a tumultuous mix of despair and reluctance.


    "Am I really going to die here?! Is there truly no way for me to move forward just a few more meters?!"


    Driven by his unwillingness to ept his fate, Kean slowly began to crawl forward. However, with each inch he progressed, he could feel his strength waning rapidly.


    Simultaneously, he sensed the monsters surrounding him feasting upon his very flesh.


    Kean felt his body temperature plummeting as his blood flowed out through the wounds inflicted by the ravenous creatures.


    His consciousness began to blur, and he could barely discern the sunlight filtering through the entrance of the instance.


    Just as Kean was on the verge of losing consciousness, a handposed entirely of golden light reached in from outside the entrance of the instance.


    With clenched teeth, Kean summoned thest of his strength to grasp that golden arm.


    In that instant, he felt a profound warmth surging back into his body, suddenly giving him the energy to continue moving.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Kean swiftly crawled out of the awakening instance.


    The moment he escaped the awakening instance, it copsed behind him.


    Apart from the first awakening instance, all subsequent instances would rapidly disintegrate once a yer sessfullypleted them.


    This was because the awakening instances were specifically designed to test a yer''s eligibility to obtain the awakening gemstone.


    Once a yer cleared the awakening instance, its purpose was fulfilled, and it no longer needed to exist.


    After sessfullypleting the awakening instance, Kean looked up at the sun hanging high in the sky and let out a heartyugh.

 Chapter 217: The Son of the Sun

    "I did it! I sessfully cleared the awakening instance! In the end, I was not crushed by despair!"


    Kean gazed at the sun hanging in the sky and eximed this with a heartyugh.


    Kean felt that sessfully clearing the awakening instance in such dire circumstances was an extraordinarily rare achievement.


    He believed that aplishing this feat was certainly worthy of celebration.


    However, after reflecting on this, Kean suddenly realized that he seemed to have overlooked a crucial piece of information.


    He recalled the moment when he was on the verge of losing consciousness, and the golden arm made entirely of light had appeared at the entrance of the awakening instance.


    As this information dawned on him, Kean abruptly sprang to his feet, alertly scanning his surroundings.


    "Is there anyone nearby? Since you just offered me assistance, it implies that you are not my enemy. Therefore, I assure you that I will notunch any attack against you."


    While keenly observing his environment, Kean spoke these words in a resounding voice.


    He was not lying, he genuinely believed that the owner of the golden, light-formed arm was not adversarial towards him.


    If they were indeed enemies, that being would not havee to his rescue earlier.


    Kean vigntly surveyed his surroundings for an extended period but found no indication of anyone else''s presence.


    In light of this situation, Kean gradually began to rx a bit.


    "Perhaps that was merely an illusion I experienced before losing consciousness? Perhaps it was simply a mirage created by my subconscious to provide me with information?"


    Kean murmured to himself.


    He suddenly felt that the golden arm he had seen before losing consciousness should not exist in reality. Perhaps it was just a figment of his imagination, conjured up in his mind.


    However, no sooner had he finished speaking these words to himself than a golden, ethereal figure materialized not far in front of him.


    The instant the golden, spectral figure appeared, Kean readied himself for battle.


    He gripped his weapon tightly in his hand, pointing it directly at the golden apparition.


    "Who are you? Why have you suddenly appeared?"


    Kean hurled these two questions at the figure in quick session.


    Although Kean had already discerned that the arm of the golden phantom bore an exact resemnce to the golden arm he had seen within the awakening instance.


    However, he still did not lower his guard.


    After all, when Kean had been vigntly observing his surroundings, the figure had deliberately concealed itself.


    This indicated that the entity also harbored a degree of suspicion towards Kean.


    In response to Kean''s inquiries, the golden, ethereal figure answered directly.


    "I am your ally, and I have appeared here to save you."


    Kean was not entirely satisfied with the golden apparition''s response.


    "You im to be here to save me, that is an answer I can ept. However, your assertion that you are my ally is something I cannot ept, for I have never encountered you before."


    The golden, spectral figure took two steps closer to Kean.


    "Do note any closer, if you continue to approach, do not me me for being impolite!


    Until you havepletely earned my trust, we must maintain a distance."


    Kean remained vignt.


    In his mind, he even suspected that the golden, ethereal figure could very well be Jeremy in disguise.


    Jeremy might have orchestrated this ruse to mock him deliberately before attempting to kill him.


    In Kean''s eyes, Jeremy was certainly capable of such treachery, as he had always perceived Jeremy to be an exceedingly vile scoundrel.


    If Jeremy were to know Kean''s thoughts, he would undoubtedly retort.


    For Jeremy, it was Kean who epitomized the very essence of a vile scoundrel.


    "I will not approach you any further, for this is the extent of my proximity. If I were toe any closer, the overwhelming power of the sunlight would turn you to ashes."


    The golden, ethereal figure spoke these words in a gentle tone, and then extended his left hand.


    Upon the golden figure''s left hand, a mirror slowly began to materialize.


    Within the mirror, a figure emerged¡ªone that Kean was most familiar with: The Person in the Mirror.


    The appearance of The Person in the Mirror alleviated Kean''s earlier tension.


    After all, he had coborated with The Person in the Mirror for a considerable length of time.


    If the golden, ethereal figure was capable of summoning The Person in the Mirror, it suggested that they, too, shared an alliance.


    Thus, Kean and the golden apparition might not be as adversarial as he had initially presumed.


    The moment he beheld The Person in the Mirror, Kean lowered his weapon.


    "What exactly is going on? You must provide me with a thorough exnation. If you cannot rify matters, our future coboration will undoubtedly be exceedingly challenging."


    When confronted with The Person in the Mirror, Kean was no longer as courteous as he had been previously.


    Without any hesitation, The Person in the Mirror proceeded to exin the current situation.


    "Before you stands a being of immense significance, this great entity is the son of the deity we, The Person in the Mirror, revere¡ªthe deity known as the Sun. We refer to him as The Son of the Sun."


    Upon hearing the name The Son of the Sun, an expression of profound shock spread across Kean''s face.


    Kean had already gathered a considerable amount of information concerning the Sun.


    Moreover, he was aware that The Person in the Mirror''s objective was to revive the Sun.


    Did The Son of the Sun''s appearance here signify that The Person in the Mirror''s n to resurrect the Sun had made substantial progress?


    "Your spection is correct, my father will sessfully be resurrected through my body."


    The Son of the Sun spoke slowly, gazing at Kean with his golden eyes.


    A look of even greater astonishment crossed Kean''s features, for he had not anticipated that the entity could discern his innermost thoughts.


    "This is nothing extraordinary, it is merely a fragment of the divine power possessed by my father.


    Had my father appeared before you, you would have divulged every piece of information you possess to him long ago.


    Furthermore, you would swiftly transform into one of his fervent followers. No matter how formidable your power may be, you cannot evade such an oue, for it is the nature of my father''s rules."


    The Son of the Sun conveyed this profoundly shocking information to Kean in an exceedingly calm tone.


    After a brief moment, Kean managed to regain a semnce ofposure.


    "I have nowe to understand your identities, but there are still certain matters that remain unclear to me. What is the true purpose of your appearance here? Surely, you are not here solely to rescue me, are you?"


    Kean did not believe himself to be worthy of direct intervention from The Son of the Sun.


    The Son of the Sun nodded in affirmation.


    "My true purpose for being here is certainly not to save you. I am here awaiting the arrival of a particrly challenging instance that belongs exclusively to my father."


    The moment The Son of the Sun finished speaking, a dazzling spot of light suddenly materialized in the sky.


    This brilliant spot of light did notst long, from it, a magnificent door radiating golden luminescence slowly emerged.


    As the door fully detached from the radiant spot of light, the dazzling light vanished in an instant.


    The door then swiftly descended,nding not far from the positions of Kean and The Son of the Sun.


    "Is that the instance that belongs to your father?"


    Kean gazed at the location where the instance was descending and slowly inquired,


    "Is that indeed the instance exclusive to your father?"


    "Indeed, that is the instance that belongs solely to my father. What we must do next is ensure that a sufficient number of powerful awakened individuals enter the instance. Only in this way can my father swiftly reim the power that rightfully belongs to him."


    As The Son of the Sun spoke these words, his eyes were fixed intently on Kean.


    "I learned of your true identity from The Person in the Mirror. You wield considerable influence in the human realm, and you should be able to facilitate the entry of many humans into the instance that is dedicated to my father."


    As he continued speaking, The Son of the Sun''s tone gradually grew colder.


    Kean was acutely aware that should he refuse The Son of the Sun''s request, both The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror would undoubtedly seek to eliminate him.


    Without hesitation, Kean responded, "That poses no problem at all. However, may I pose a question regarding this instance?"


    Kean cautiously broached his query.


    The Son of the Sun remained silent, while The Person in the Mirror interjected, "You may ask one question, but we cannot guarantee that we will answer it."


    Kean nodded in acknowledgment and asked, "If the instance exclusive to the Sun exists to reim the power that rightfully belongs to the Sun, does that imply that any awakened individual possesses a fragment of the Sun''s power?"


    Though Kean''s question was not overly difficult to answer, it directly touched upon the greatest secret held by the architects of the apocalypse game.


    Upon hearing this question, The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror did not provide an immediate response, nor did they outright dere that they would not answer it.


    After a brief pause, The Person in the Mirror spoke slowly,


    "We will indeed answer your question, but the time for that answer is not now.


    Only after you undergo your awakening will you be able to discern the answer to this question.


    For it is only when your own strength reaches a certain level that you will be deemed worthy of such corresponding knowledge."


    Kean regarded The Person in the Mirror''s response with agreement. He recalled having read books in his family''s library that contained information pertinent to this matter. He understood that certain knowledge came with a curse attached.


    If one were to acquire such knowledge before reaching a specific level of power, they would inevitably be destroyed by the curse inherent in that knowledge.

 Chapter 218: The Frantic High Officials of the Federation

    After acquiring a sufficient amount of information, Kean decided it was best not to press further with his inquiries.


    He understood that if he continued to ask questions, both The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun would likely be quite dissatisfied. Such dissatisfaction could jeopardize the coboration he had established with both of them.


    "I acknowledge your response and appreciate it. I will make it a priority to ensure that enough individuals enter this instance as swiftly as possible. Aside from this matter, what do you believe I should focus on next?"


    Kean was eager to discern what The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun wanted him to do.


    Although he already harbored an answer within himself, he believed that posing this question might prompt The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun to divulge more information.


    At least in Kean''s estimation, after obtaining the awakening gemstone, he should expedite thepletion of the awakening ritual.


    While he was no longer the first to aplish the awakening ritual, being the second to do so might still afford him some additional rewards.


    In response to Kean''s inquiry, The Person in the Mirror answered with unwavering directness.


    "What you need to do next is exceedingly straightforward. You must swiftly stabilize your own condition, and once you confirm that your state is sufficiently solid, you should proceed immediately toplete the awakening ritual.


    During the process of your awakening ritual, The Son of the Sun will undoubtedly provide you with the necessary assistance. He will enable you to acquire exceptionally powerful talents.


    While these talents may not rival the rare strengths possessed by the first individual toplete the awakening ritual, they will still be formidable in their own right.


    After you havepleted the awakening ritual, your subsequent task will be to enhance your own strength as rapidly as possible.


    Only by doing so will you be prepared to confront unforeseen circumstances, after all, Jeremy may very well take direct action against us."


    The Person in the Mirror, through a series of highly intricate divination rituals, glimpsed the secrets of fate.


    During their divination, they discovered that Jeremy was likely to take direct action against them within the uing month.


    Given that The Person in the Mirrorcked significantbat power in the real world, they were fervently hoping for Kean''s strength to be enhanced swiftly.


    Only in this manner could they mitigate the substantial threat Jeremy posed to them in reality.


    Upon hearing this, a cold andposed expression settled on Kean''s face.


    "Rest assured, I will undoubtedly elevate my strength as quickly as possible to prepare for the confrontation with Jeremy. I take mymitment to eliminating him with the utmost seriousness."


    After delivering this statement, Kean swiftly returned to his vi.


    The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun did not linger in their previous location.


    After confirming that the instance dedicated to the "Sun" posed no issues, they transformed into a ray of sunlight and departed.


    When Kean arrived at the entrance of his vi, he unexpectedly spotted his butler, Farmer, pacing anxiously back and forth within his bedroom.


    "Could it be that something significant has urred again? I hope it isn''t another predicament caused by my uncle."


    Kean furrowed his brows and muttered to himself.


    Although Kean had his own suspicions, he still needed to inquire with his butler, Farmer, in order to ascertain what had truly transpired.


    He pushed open the grand door of the vi and stepped inside, prompting Farmer to quickly emerge from Kean''s bedroom upon hearing the sound of the door opening.


    Upon spotting Kean, Farmer spoke urgently.


    "Young Master, you have finally returned! The upper echelons of the Lannisters require your immediate presence in the capital''s administrative district, where representatives from powerful families within the Federation are convening for a highly significant meeting."


    Upon hearing this, a look of confusion crossed Kean''s face.


    "What could possibly have urred that would cause the Federation''s leadership to be in such a state of rm? I recall that when the apocalypse game descended, they were not nearly this frantic."


    In response to Kean''s inquiry, Farmer replied in a noticeably anxious tone.


    "Are you not aware of the version update for the apocalypse game? Do you not know that the difficulty of the instances and monsters within the apocalypse game has been drastically increased?


    As far as I know, even the bustling areas of the capital have encountered several instances of exceedingly high difficulty.


    The personnel at the military headquarters have stated that they are unable to handle these instances."


    Thus, the upper echelons of the Federation convened an emergency meeting in a state of utter panic.


    As one of the most outstanding talents among the Lannisters, it is only natural that you should hasten to the meeting site as quickly as possible."


    After hearing Farmer''s words, Kean finally grasped the situation.


    "Alright, I understand this information now, and I will make my way there without dy!"


    Kean swiftly tossed his equipment to his butler, Farmer. He then proceeded toward the capital''s administrative district at the fastest pace he could muster.


    Under normal circumstances, no one would be permitted to utilize the exclusive skills of the Awakened for rapid movement within the bustling areas of the capital. Such actions could potentially pose a significant threat to the vibrant district.


    However, given the current state of emergency, no one was concerned about such regtions.


    Kean quickly arrived at the venue for the Federation''s high-level meeting in the capital''s administrative district.


    Before entering the conference hall, Kean underwent a security check conducted by two capable soldiers dispatched by the military.


    "Mr. Kean, we have verified your identity, and you may proceed inside."


    Kean entered through the side door of the conference hall.


    The side door was in close proximity to the seats reserved for the Lannisters, so Kean''s entrance into the hall did not draw much attention from the attendees.


    Kean directly sought out a rtively secluded seat within the area designated for his family.


    At that moment, the central stage of the conference hall was upied by Marshal Daniel from the military headquarters, who was delivering a speech.


    "In summary, this is the intelligence that our military has urgently gathered. As you can discern, instances of exceedingly high difficulty have emerged across all regions of the Federation.


    Moreover, several industrial cities that are of paramount importance to the Federation have encountered numerous high-difficulty instances.


    As the Marshal of the military, I implore the Federation to approve the concentration of military forces in these critical industrial cities.


    If we cannot ensure the security of these cities, the operational capabilities of our military will rapidly decline.Therefore, I believe it is eptable for us to temporarily reduce the security forces in the capital."


    As soon as Marshal Daniel concluded his remarks, a cacophony erupted within the conference hall.


    The expression on the face of Edgar, the head of the Federation seated at the podium, was extremely grim.


    After casting a cold, sweeping nce over the assembly, he cleared his throat twice and spoke.


    "Silence! We are currently engaged in a high-level meeting of the Federation! Please refrain from whispering among yourselves!"


    Edgar''s words sessfully restored a state of quietude within the conference hall.


    He then turned his gaze toward Daniel: "Marshal, your points do hold some merit. However, if we cannot even ensure the safety of the capital, how can the military headquarters guarantee the security of those industrial cities?"


    In response to the head of the Federation''s inquiry, Daniel promptly provided a clear answer.


    "Rest assured, Your Excellency. I can assure you that the military headquarters will swiftly ensure the safety of those industrial cities.


    To this end, we will mobilize the most elite forces under the military headquarters.


    Consequently, other ordinary cities will regrettably have to rely on local regr soldiers for protection.


    This will inevitably ce certain cities in a precarious position. However, this is an unavoidable circumstance, given that we are currently unable to guarantee the security of the capital."


    Daniel confidently outlined his n.


    After a moment of hesitation, Edgar, the head of the Federation, ultimately chose to agree.


    "As the head of the Federation, I hereby approve the n put forth by the military headquarters.


    In addition, to boost the morale of non-official Awakened individuals, I have decided to allow civilian Awakened to directly utilize the weapons owned by the Federation government."


    Once Edgar''s words were uttered, a renewed wave ofmotion erupted among those present.


    However, Edgar did not disy the same grim expression as before, for he understood that such a decision would inevitably provoke opposition from several prominent families within the Federation.


    After listening to the dialogue between Edgar and Daniel, a hint of disdain crossed Kean''s face.


    "These two must have reached an agreement prior to the meeting. Their current actions are nothing more than a performance for our benefit. Even if all the major families voice their dissent, Edgar will remain steadfast in his decision."


    Kean couldn''t help but internally scoff at the situation.


    What transpired next unfolded precisely as Kean had anticipated, although the major families of the Federation expressed their opposition, thebined efforts of Edgar and Daniel rendered their objections ineffective.


    The emergency meeting of the Federation''s high-ranking officials ultimately resolved to permit civilian executors to utilize the equipment owned by the government.


    Following the conclusion of the emergency meeting, the major families would summon their respective members for urgent discussions.


    Meanwhile, the various generals under the jurisdiction of the military headquarters would swiftly return to their posts.


    This urgency stemmed from the fact that most of them were already aware that their respective territories had also encountered instances of exceptionally high difficulty and significantly upgraded monsters.


    The generals needed to return promptly to ensure that their bases would not be plunged into dire circumstances.


    Howard, who participated in this high-level emergency meeting, was a quintessential example of this urgency.


    After the meeting concluded, Howard disregarded his own safety and hastened to reach a helicopter for a swift return from the capital to Moonlight City.


    His fervent dedication was fueled by the fact that he had already received distress signals from his subordinates during the course of the emergency meeting.

 Chapter 219: A Brief Display of the Newly Acquired Talent

    On the helicopter returning to Moonlight City, Howard was incessantly on the phone with his aide.


    "What is the current situation? You must have managed to withdraw the vast majority of the soldiers by now, correct?" Howard inquired urgently, his tone reflecting a palpable sense of anxiety directed toward his aide on the other end of the line.


    "General, I have exerted myself to the utmost. However, I still find myself unable to extract the vast majority of the soldiers. Two high-difficulty instances have just spawned right beside our military base.


    Only a small fraction of the soldiers can evacuate through rtively safe corridors. The overwhelming majority remain trapped between the two instances.


    For the time being, we are still able to rely on the facilities within the military base for defense. If we attempt a hasty evacuation from the base, we will undoubtedly be annihted by the monsters lurking within the two instances.


    In fact, during our previous operations, we have already endured severe casualties. If we act recklessly again, it is highly likely that we will encounter an irretrievable situation."


    At this moment, the aide''s voice came through as extremely hoarse.


    In the course of the priormand, he had given his all. He had spoken at great length, resulting in his throat being in quite a poor condition.


    Upon hearing his aide''s voice, Howard''s expression grew even more troubled.


    "Do not panic just yet, I estimate that I will be able to return in approximately six hours. In the meantime, do your utmost to ensure that the situation does not deteriorate rapidly within those six hours."


    Howard sensed that his aide was undoubtedly not as capable as himself.


    Thus, as long as I can return in a timely manner, the situation will significantly improve.


    "General, I truly cannot continue to hold out any longer. The defensive facilities of the military base have been nearly obliterated by those monsters. Within two hours, thest line of defense at the military base will surely be breached.


    We cannot wait for six hours, it is simply not an option. Could you possibly arrange for others to provide us with support? I had intended to seek assistance from others previously, but I was unable to establish contact with them."


    Upon hearing these words from his aide, Howard immediately thought of Jeremy and E.


    "I will attempt to reach out for reinforcements, you just need to continue directing the other soldiers to hold on."


    After ending the call with his aide, Howard promptly dialed E''s number.


    However, E''s call did not go through, indicating that she and her ck Dragon Squad seemed to be entangled in a crisis of their own.


    "It appears that I have no choice but to turn to Jeremy for assistance once more.


    I wonder if he has managed toplete his own tasks, if even hecks the time to offer help to my subordinates, then the situation will indeed be unmanageable."


    Howard was aware beforehand that Jeremy was engaged in a matter of great importance.


    Although Jeremy had not divulged specific details regarding the awakening ceremony to Howard, he had made it clear that it would be best not to contact him during the past couple of days.


    Howard certainly valued his rtionship with Jeremy, and he understood that he ought to honor the agreement they had established.


    Nevertheless, the current predicament had left him with no option but to act without further hesitation.


    Ultimately, Howard dialed Jeremy''s number, deeply concerned that Jeremy''s circumstances might mirror those of the betting point.


    However, it wasn''t long before the call was answered.


    "General Howard, what can I do for you at this moment?"


    On the other end of the line, Jeremy was currently riding in Ritchie''s vehicle, en route to Bonnie''s residence.


    Both Ritchie and Jeremy resided in a rather secluded area, and Jeremy had not sensed the presence of any high-difficulty instances in the vicinity of his own dwelling.


    Thus, Jeremy and Ritchie decided to investigate the area near Bonnie''s home, which was located in the downtown of Moonlight City.


    The emergence of high-difficulty instances in the city would undoubtedly pose a threat to many more people.


    "You shouldn''t be too busy, right? Two high-difficulty instances have suddenly appeared around the military base in Moonlight City. My soldiers are trapped inside the military base.


    I hope you can expedite their rescue, if you do not act swiftly, they are likely to be exterminated by the monsters. At that point, our defensive capabilities in Moonlight City will be significantly weakened."


    Although Howard was extremely anxious at that moment, his words were still quite coherent.


    Upon receiving this information, Jeremy immediately made a decisive resolution.


    "I understand, rest assured, I will make haste to provide assistance."


    After uttering this statement, Jeremy turned to Ritchie and said, "Immediately turn the car around, we must head to the military base in the outskirts right away."


    Of course, Howard heard Jeremy''s words clearly as well.


    On the other end of the line, Howard spoke with a tone that was slightly tinged with urgency, saying, "Is there any way you could reach the military base more quickly? Driving there will undoubtedly take too long."


    "ording to the intelligence provided by my aide, the soldiers at the military base can hold out for no more than one or two hours at most."


    Upon hearing General Howard''s words, Jeremy immediately responded,


    "Not an issue, I will arrive beside the military base momentarily. I will hang up the phone for now, but I shall call you as soon as I reach the military base."


    Jeremy promptly ended the call with Howard.


    "You two are in for a real treat. I am about to give you a brief disy of my newly acquired talent!" Jeremy said with a smile as he looked at Ritchie and Bonnie.


    Ritchie and Bonnie gazed at Jeremy with a hint of curiosity, unsure of what kind of action he would take.


    Jeremy raised his left hand, and an ethereal glow began to materialize before the vehicle in which the three were riding.


    Before Ritchie and Bonnie could fullyprehend what was happening, the ethereal light transformed into a Portal. The vehicle they were in passed through the Portal and instantly arrived not far from the military base.


    Here, the three of them had a clear view of the situation at the military base.


    The defensive structures on both sides of the military base had been nearly obliterated.


    Moreover, amidst the ruins of the fortifications, one twisted monster after another was relentlesslyunching attacks against the interior of the military base.


    Although the three of them could hear the sounds of soldiers firing their weapons in retaliation, none of them saw a single soldier.


    "What should we do next? Should we directly attack those exceptionally powerful monsters?"


    Ritchie nced at the situation at the military base and then at Jeremy''s expression, asking in a tone that was somewhat uncertain.


    "Of course, we cannot proceed in that manner, while I have awakened my abilities, the power I possess is still insufficient to confront such a multitude of monsters."


    Jeremy outright rejected Ritchie''s n.


    In Jeremy''s view, following Ritchie''s suggestion would be tantamount to walking into a death trap.


    After hesitating for a moment, Jeremy dialed General Howard''s number.


    "General, I have arrived at the perimeter of the military base. The situation here is indeed dire. Furthermore, the strength of the monsters besieging the military base is exceedingly formidable.


    I cannot simply engage these creatures head-on. Therefore, I have devised a new n in my mind, however, this new strategy will require perfect coordination from the soldiers in order to seed."


    On the other end of the line, Howard spoke without any hesitation, saying,


    "That is certainly not a problem, I will instruct the soldiers within the military base to coordinate with your actions. Please share your n with me now."


    After receiving a clear answer, Jeremy proceeded to articte his n.


    In truth, Jeremy''s n was not particrlyplex, he merely intended to utilize his talent, The King of Time and Space, to open a Portal.


    Although high-difficulty instances and high-level monsters could indeed interfere with the construction of the Portal, Jeremy was confident that with the soldiers'' assistance, he could create a Portal that would remain stable for a considerable duration.


    "I will teleport myself directly into the military base. Once inside, I will attempt to construct a stable Portal. The soldiers can use this Portal to return to the city center of Moonlight City.


    In order to maintain the stability of the Portal, the soldiers must provide me with ample support. They will at least need to fend off the surrounding monsters while I am in the process of constructing the Portal.


    Furthermore, during the time I am sustaining the Portal, I hope to make use of all the resources avable within the military base. After all, you should be well aware that maintaining a Portal requires a substantial amount of energy."


    Jeremy''s conditions were essentially twofold: the first was that the soldiers must follow hismands to fend off the monsters, and the second was that he needed unrestricted ess to the supplies within the military base.


    "That is certainly not a problem, I will grant you fullmand. Moreover, all the supplies within the military base will be made avable to you.


    If you truly manage to rescue all the soldiers in the military base, I will consider even the unused supplies as a gift for your efforts."


    In Howard''s perspective, the supplies within the military base were iparable to the lives of the soldiers.


    Even if all the supplies werepletely exhausted, Howard could gradually replenish them over time.


    However, if there were significant casualties among the soldiers, Howard would be utterly powerless to remedy the situation. He would not even be able to ensure the safety of Moonlight City.


    Furthermore, he would have no way to justify such losses to the military headquarters.


    "Since you have agreed, I will teleport directly into the military base!" Jeremy promptly dered.

 Chapter 220: The Situation is More Severe Than Expected

    After reaching an agreement with General Howard, Jeremy immediatelymenced his actions.


    Before teleporting to the military base, Jeremy took the time to remind Bonnie and Ritchie of several important precautions.


    "I will teleport directly into the military base, and afterward, I will construct a stable Portal. The exit of this Portal will be right at the location where we currently stand."


    "The tasks you need to undertake are exceedingly simple: once the Portal is generated, you must ensure the safety around it. Under no circumstances should any monsters be allowed to approach the Portal."


    Bonnie and Ritchie naturally took Jeremy''s instructions to heart with utmost seriousness.


    Bonnie, with a determined tone, assured Jeremy.


    "Rest assured, Ritchie and I will certainly ensure the safety surrounding the Portal." After saying this, Bonnie brandished her most powerful staff.


    Ritchie nodded vigorously in agreement.


    At that moment, Ritchie had donned the Ravager''s Gloves, which indicated he was ready to engage in battle at any time.


    The actions of Bonnie and Ritchie filled Jeremy with immense satisfaction.


    "Very well, then I shallmence my operation!"


    After uttering these words, Jeremy summoned a Portal. The Portal Jeremy conjured was a temporary one, designed to allow only him to pass through.


    As Jeremy stepped through the Portal, he found himself inside the military base.


    At that moment, the interior of the military base was in utter chaos, with the soldiers relying on theirst line of defense to stave off the attacks from the monsters lurking in the nearby instances.


    Jeremy''s arrival did not entirely alleviate the tension among the soldiers within the military base.


    "You have finally arrived! The general has just informed me of your n. I will lead an elite team to ensure your safety. Please, activate the Portal immediately."


    General Howard''s aide rushed to Jeremy''s side almost instantaneously.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment, "You must ensure that there are no monsters in my vicinity once the Portal is activated. If you cannot guarantee this, you must inform me in advance.


    Mybat capabilities are exceptionally strong at this moment. I can assist you in clearing out any significantly threatening monsters before the Portal is opened."


    The reason Jeremy feltpelled to articte his concerns was that he perceived the situation within the military base to be far more dire than he had initially anticipated.


    If, after activating the Portal, high-level monsters were to appear around Jeremy, his entire n would be thwarted.


    The aide to General Howard was in a state of internal conflict.


    On one hand, he desperately wished for Jeremy to activate the Portal swiftly, allowing the soldiers within the military base to reach a safe location.


    On the other hand, he harbored significant doubts about his ability to ensure that no monsters would approach Jeremy once the Portal was opened.


    Jeremy recognized the turmoil within the aide.


    "It seems that you alsock sufficient confidence. Allow me to assist you in eliminating the more threatening monsters in the vicinity first!"


    After saying this, Jeremy immediately began moving toward the nearest monster he could sense.


    Thanks to his innate ability as The King of Time and Space, his speed of movement was exceedingly rapid. By the time Jeremy reached the location of the closest monster, General Howard''s aide was only just beginning toprehend the situation.


    "It appears that we have no choice but to follow his n now!" the aide remarked to several soldiers nearby.


    With that, the aide quickly rallied the soldiers around him and sprinted toward Jeremy''s direction.


    The first monster Jeremy encountered within the military base was a colossal ogre, boasting a formidable level of 52.


    This giant ogre had already killed several soldiers in the military base prior to Jeremy''s arrival, plunging it into a state of bloodthirsty frenzy.


    When Jeremy appeared before the giant ogre, the creature showed no signs of fear whatsoever.


    The ogre merely fixed its scarlet eyes upon Jeremy, seemingly regarding him as potential prey.


    Without wasting much time, the ogre observed Jeremy for a brief moment before lunging directly at him.


    Jeremy remained rooted in ce, making no attempt to evade the oing attack.


    He understood that the creature posed no real threat to him.


    Moreover, any action he took would only result in wasting more precious time.


    The giant ogre swiftly closed the distance, and Jeremy''s expression remained unchanged as he coldly regarded the beast.


    The ogre raised its formidable ws and aimed to strike Jeremy, while he calmly drew the Longsword of the Undying.


    Rather than attempting to block the ogre''s attack, Jeremy swung the Longsword of the Undying toward the ogre''s left leg.


    Although the giant ogre''s level was not low, it was utterly incapable of defending against the attack of the Longsword of the Undying.


    After all, the Longsword of the Undying itself boasted an impressive level of 58.


    Moreover, Jeremy, the wielder of the Longsword of the Undying, had already surpassed level fifty himself.


    With a single strike, the giant ogre''s left leg was severed cleanly by the Longsword of the Undying.


    Following a piercing scream, the one-legged ogre could no longer maintain its bnce and crashed heavily to the ground.


    Without wasting a moment, Jeremy raised the bloodied Longsword of the Undying and brought it down upon the fallen giant ogre''s head.


    When General Howard''s aide and the soldiers in hispany arrived near Jeremy, they witnessed him standing over the in giant ogre, the de of his sword dripping with crimson.


    After dispatching the giant ogre, Jeremy turned to look at Howard''s aide.


    "There should be no higher-level monsters lurking in this direction. Let''s check another area, after we deal with the formidable creatures there, we can proceed with our next actions."


    Jeremy spoke these words in an exceptionally cold tone.


    The reason for his chilling demeanor was entirely due to the awakening of his talent, The King of Time and Space, which had led to the erosion of his consciousness by divine essence.


    Divinity inherently dulls the emotions of any living being.


    The higher the divinity, the more muted the being''s feelings be.


    If Jeremy were ever to truly ascend to the status of a deity, it was highly likely that his emotions would bepletely consumed by the divine essence.


    Upon witnessing this scene, the aide to General Howard disyed an expression of disbelief.


    Although General Howard had previously informed him of Jeremy''s formidable strength, he had not anticipated that Jeremy could dispatch a creature of level fifty or above in such a brief span of time.


    "What''s the matter? Do you believe there''s an issue with my n?"


    Jeremy, not receiving a response from General Howard''s aide, pressed further with his inquiry.


    His inquiry snapped the aide back to reality.


    "Your n is wless! Let us proceed ording to your strategy! I will escort you swiftly to the other direction!"


    The aide had confirmed that Jeremy could indeed assist them in oveing the crisis, so he promptly led Jeremy toward another area.


    On the other side of the military base, several monsters exceeding level fifty were relentlessly assaulting thest line of defense.


    The soldiers stationed at this final bastion were in a dire state.


    Not a single one of them believed they could hold out much longer. Each soldier had lost hope of surviving the onught.


    Just as thest line of defense was on the verge of being breached, Jeremy arrived at the location, apanied by General Howard''s aide.


    The moment Jeremy set foot here, he conjured a temporal barrier in front of thest line of defense.


    Any monster that entered the temporal barrier would find its speed significantly diminished, while also facing attacks from temporal rifts.


    "I will swiftly eliminate these monsters! Your task is to restore the soldiers'' conditions as quickly as possible. Because during the uing operations, I will still need these soldiers to maintain thest line of defense."


    After conveying this instruction to General Howard''s aide, Jeremy gripped the Longsword of the Undying andunched an assault on the nearby monsters.


    The aide, naturally obedient to Jeremy''smands, instructed the surrounding soldiers to quickly retrieve recovery supplies from their packs.


    "Consume these supplies promptly! They will restore you to peak condition. Afterward, you will be able to continue defending thest line of defense with ease."


    The aide swiftly executed Jeremy''s directives, coordinating the actions of the soldiers.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy''s actions were even swifter than those of General Howard''s aide. He managed to eliminate all the high-level monsters in the vicinity in under five minutes.


    "We have sessfully dealt with all the high-level monsters that posed a direct threat to us. Now, we must execute the retreat n.


    Come with me back to the center of the military base! I will create a Portal here, and your role will be to ensure the soldiers enter it in an orderly fashion."


    Jeremy stated earnestly to General Howard''s aide.

 Chapter 221: Overcoming Monsters Far More Powerful Than Oneself

    General Howard''s aide was naturally obedient to Jeremy''s every word.


    Jeremy''s previous performance hadpletely won him over. In the eyes of General Howard''s aide, only Jeremy possessed the capability to save them all.


    Thus, Jeremy and General Howard''s aide swiftly made their way to the very heart of the military base.


    Before officially activating the Portal, Jeremy took a moment to convey several important considerations to General Howard''s aide.


    "Once the Portal is opened, I absolutely cannot be interrupted by anyone. Furthermore, during the maintenance of the Portal, I will be continuously expending energy. Therefore, I hope you can provide me with a steady supply of resources.


    Once the Portal is activated, you must ensure that the soldiers pass through it as quickly as possible. After the majority of the soldiers have crossed, I will take responsibility for escorting the remaining troops.


    You only need to follow my n, there''s no need for you to worry about anything else."


    General Howard''s aide diligently noted down every instruction that Jeremy had provided.


    After confirming that there were no additional considerations, General Howard''s aide addressed Jeremy directly.


    "I have recorded all the precautions you mentioned, you may proceed to activate the Portal!"


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment, then closed his eyes.


    Upon shutting his eyes, Jeremy began to harness his talent as The King of Time and Space.


    As the continuous fluctuations of time and space unfolded, a rift in the fabric of reality gradually formed at the very center of the military base.


    The instant the rift materialized, all the monsters surrounding the military base seemed to sense the shift in temporal and spatial dynamics.


    They began a frenzied assault on the military base with reckless abandon.


    At that moment, General Howard''s aide was in a state of heightened tension.


    He was exceedingly worried that before the Portal could be fully constructed, the final line of defense around the military base would be breached by the monsters.


    However, his concerns were somewhat unwarranted.


    This was because, while Jeremy was busy constructing the Portal, he simultaneously generated a temporal barrier around thest line of defense of the military base.


    Although the power contained within the temporal barrier was not overwhelmingly strong, it was sufficient to dy the movements of the surrounding monsters.


    As Jeremy continued to utilize his talent as The King of Time and Space, the rift in time and space grewrger andrger.


    Eventually, a Portal manifested itself at the very heart of the military base.


    The moment the Portal materialized, Jeremy directly addressed General Howard''s aide.


    "Commence operations immediately! The pace must be swift, there can be absolutely no dys!"


    Upon hearing Jeremy''smand, General Howard''s aide immediately began escorting the injured soldiers to the front of the Portal.


    For General Howard''s aide, his primary responsibility was to ensure the safe evacuation of all the soldiers within the military base.


    Achieving such a goal was, in fact, quite challenging.


    This was primarily because the vast majority of the soldiers within the military base had already sustained injuries.


    The only reason that the defensive line of the military base was still holding was that these injured soldiers could continue to fight.


    In order to ensure that as many soldiers as possible sessfully escaped, General Howard''s aide naturally prioritized sending the severely wounded soldiers through the Portal first.


    Jeremy was in full agreement with General Howard''s aide regarding this n.


    After all, Jeremy was someone who would never abandon his allies, and thus he couldprehend the choices made by General Howard''s aide.


    As one severely injured soldier after another passed through the Portal, Bonnie and Ritchie on the other side encountered unexpected challenges.


    When the first critically wounded soldier arrived at Bonnie and Ritchie''s location, the two were still able to quickly attend to him.


    However, as the number of soldiers emerging from the Portal increased, the pressure they faced also grew significantly.


    Moreover, as more soldiers gathered, the attention of the monsters was inevitably drawn to the position upied by Bonnie and Ritchie.


    "We must ensure that the monsters do note into contact with the Portal! Jeremy has previously warned us that if the monsters make contact with the Portal, it will be inoperative."


    Bonnie said, addressing Ritchie with a tone tinged with urgency as she observed the monsters lurking nearby.


    Ritchie nodded in agreement, his own anxiety palpable.


    "You are absolutely correct, let us have the soldiers who arrived first take care of those who cameter. We will go around and eliminate all the monsters that have noticed the Portal."Ritchie proposed decisively.


    Bonnie surveyed their surroundings and, after a moment of contemtion, reluctantly acquiesced to Ritchie''s n.


    The two of them began by exining their predicament to the soldiers who had arrived earlier.


    These soldiers understood the gravity of the situation, having faced an immense crisis themselves within the military base.


    Thus, they were capable of maintaining theirposure even when confronted with yet another unexpected turn of events.


    One soldier, who had not sustained severe injuries, stepped forward and dered.


    "We can take care of ourselves! You two go deal with the monsters around the Portal!"


    Upon hearing these encouraging words, Bonnie and Ritchie immediately set off.


    This marked the first time Bonnie and Ritchie would confront higher-level monsters without Jeremy by their side.


    Both individuals felt a slight tension in their spirits.


    When they encountered the first monster with a level exceeding fifty, Bonnie and Ritchie were at a loss regarding what strategy to employ.


    "Should weunch a direct attack on it? Its level is significantly higher than both of ours. If we recklessly engage, it is quite possible that we will be unable to inflict any substantial damage.


    If we provoke this creature, it might enter a frenzied state. At that point, it would be even more difficult to defeat."


    Ritchie said, his voice trembling slightly as he gazed at the monster over fifty levels away.


    Ritchie was indeed feeling a measure of fear.


    He had never fought against a monster with such a considerable level advantage before.


    Although Bonnie also felt some trepidation, she recognized that the overall situation was already dire. They had to muster their courage to fight.


    "We must rely on our unique skills to defeat this monster! I can use a frost spell to slow its movements. You should seize the opportunity to control the shadow of the monster directly.


    As long as we coordinate effectively, we have a chance of defeating this high-level creature! We cannot afford to hesitate any longer, because if we do not eliminate this monster quickly, it may attract the attention of even more creatures."


    Bonnie asserted, her words carrying a sense of urgency.


    There was indeed nothing wrong with Bonnie''s reasoning, so Ritchie immediately agreed to her n.


    Bonnie raised her staff and unleashed the blizzard skill.


    As the blizzard took effect, the temperature around the monster plummeted sharply, and snowkes with a slowing effect began to fall from the sky.


    Bonnie''s attack caused the monster to be rmed and panicked.


    This creature, whose level far surpassed that of Bonnie and Ritchie, cautiously surveyed its surroundings.


    Even though the monster was now in a state of panic, its high level meant that Bonnie''s recent attack did not inflict significant damage.


    While the monster remained vignt, Bonnie wielded her staff once more and cast another frost spell.


    Due to the continuous casting of frost spells, the monster discovered Bonnie''s location.


    The moment the monster identified Bonnie''s position, it rushed toward her with incredible speed.


    Faced with the rapid approach of the monster, Bonnie instinctively chose to flee.


    Thus, the monster relentlessly pursued Bonnie, while she circled around a concealed location.


    In that hidden spot, Ritchie was utilizing the Ravager''s Gloves in an attempt to manipte the monster''s shadow.


    Initially, Ritchie''s efforts bore no fruit.


    This wasrgely due to the significant level disparity, which made it exceedingly difficult for Ritchie''s shadow maniption abilities to affect the monster.


    However, as time passed, Ritchie felt himself gradually gaining control over the monster''s shadow.


    The creature was entirely focused on Bonnie, which led it to overlook any changes urring in its own shadow.


    Just as the monster was about to close in on Bonnie, Ritchie finally seeded in fully mastering the monster''s shadow.


    He promptly activated his shadow maniption talent along with the active effect of the Ravager''s Gloves. The monster''s shadow suddenlyunched an attack against its owner.


    Seizing this opportunity, Bonnie retaliated with her staff.


    Ultimately, through the close cooperation between Bonnie and Ritchie, the two sessfully defeated the monster that was significantly higher in level than themselves.


    Both individuals gained a substantial amount of experience points from this endeavor, with the lower-level Ritchie even leveling up directly by one.


    After sessfully eliminating the monster, Bonnie and Ritchie finally felt they could rx a little.


    "It seems that this creature must have stumbled upon this ce by chance. The other monsters likely have not discovered the existence of the Portal. We should make haste and return to the Portal as quickly as possible."


    Bonnie said directly to Ritchie.


    Ritchie nodded in agreement and then quickly followed Bonnie as they made their way back to the Portal.

 Chapter 222: The Temporarily Tranquil Moonlight City

    With Bonnie and Ritchie sessfully eliminating the monsters that had attempted to approach the Portal, the exit of the Portal was finally secured.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy was stationed at the very heart of the military base, ensuring that no issues would arise at the entrance of the Portal.


    Soldiers trapped within the military base continuously passed through the Portal, reaching a secure location not far from the base.


    As time progressed, the vast majority of the soldiers had sessfully evacuated the perilous military facility.


    However, with the departure of the soldiers, thest line of defense had been breached by the monsters lurking in the instances nking the military base.


    As the final bastion waspromised, General Howard''s aide hurriedly addressed Jeremy, saying, "The overwhelming majority of the soldiers have already evacuated, there are no remaining troops to assist us in our defense.


    Let us execute the final n, simply transport me and the soldiers surrounding me!" The urgency in the aide''s tone was palpable.


    He understood that if Jeremy''s actions were not swift enough, they would soon face an onught from a horde of exceptionally high-level monsters.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment and then extended his left hand.


    "Just grasp my hand, and have the soldiers around you take hold of yours!"


    Although General Howard''s aide was uncertain about Jeremy''s reasoning for this approach, heplied without hesitation.


    After all, without Jeremy, they would be utterly incapable of resolving the crisis they faced.


    The aide firmly grasped Jeremy''s hand.


    In that moment, Jeremy activated his talent, The King of Time and Space.


    The entrance of the Portal suddenly expanded severalfold, enveloping Jeremy, General Howard''s aide, and the surrounding soldiers entirely.


    As soon as the erged Portal stabilized, Jeremy promptly activated it.


    He and the soldiers nearby swiftly traversed through the Portal, arriving at their designated location.


    Just as Jeremy and hispanions vanished, a multitude of monsters surged forward, racing toward the very spot where they had been standing moments before.


    Jeremy and thest few departing soldiers even caught sight of the distinct forms of those monsters.


    When Jeremy, the aide, and the final group of soldiers emerged from the Portal, it sealed shut entirely.


    Jeremy, drenched in sweat, copsed directly beside hisrades.


    The aide, standing close to Jeremy, hurriedly caught him, preventing him from falling to the ground.


    "Are you alright?! Please, don''t scare me like that!"


    General Howard''s aide questioned Jeremy in a tone filled with astonishment.


    Simultaneously, he urged the soldiers around him to retrieve the supplies they had brought along.


    At that moment, Bonnie and Ritchie also witnessed the scene unfolding before them.


    With expressions of concern etched on their faces, they hurried to Jeremy''s side.


    After utilizing some of the supplies, Jeremy''s condition improved slightly.


    Though hisplexion remained exceedingly pale, he was at least able to steady himself and engage in conversation with the others.


    "You need not worry about my condition. The reason I copsed earlier was merely due to the excessive energy I expended while maintaining the transport portal. After using some supplies, I should be able to recover."


    While Jeremy spoke with a tone that suggested fatigue.


    The others observed that he had indeed regained some semnce of vitality.


    "Have all the soldiers exited safely? Did they encounter any danger while here?" Jeremy directed his gaze toward General Howard''s aide, as well as Bonnie and Ritchie.


    The aide hastily responded.


    "All the soldiers have exited safely! Moreover, I have already conveyed this wonderful news to General Howard! He is extremely pleased and will soon return to Moonlight City. Upon his return, he will personally express his gratitude to you."


    Upon hearing this response, Jeremy smiled and nodded appreciatively.


    Seizing the opportunity, Bonnie added, "Ritchie and I eliminated the monsters that attempted to approach the Portal exit. Therefore, the soldiers waiting at the Portal have not encountered any danger."


    Jeremy cast a gentle gaze toward Bonnie, and his smile brightened even further.


    "You both did exceptionally well! I always knew you were worth believing in!"


    Jeremy offered his praise to Bonnie and Ritchie.


    Both Bonnie and Ritchie broke into smiles at his words. Jeremy''smendation was immensely significant for them, as it bolstered their confidence.


    After chatting for a while, Jeremy directly addressed the group.


    "Since we are all temporarily safe, we should promptly return to the city center of Moonlight City. It is there that we can truly feel a sense of security. After all, monsters are quite scarce in the city center of Moonlight City.


    Here, we still run the risk of encountering aimless wandering monsters. If we attract the attention of stronger monsters during our battles with these creatures, we could very well find ourselves faced with unforeseen dangers."


    Jeremy''s reasoning was naturally met with agreement from all present.


    Thus, the group hurried back to the city center of Moonlight City at the fastest speed possible.


    Benjamin, as the mayor of Moonlight City, had already been informed of the situation by Howard.


    Consequently, he had prepared a very spacious area in the city center to serve as a temporary military base.


    When General Howard''s aide, along with Jeremy and a substantial contingent of soldiers, arrived at the location Benjamin had prepared, they were greeted by Benjamin, who was stationed there.


    Upon seeing the group, Benjamin promptly approached Jeremy and General Howard''s aide with an air of urgency.


    "I believe I have a general understanding of the situation. The vast stadium you see before you is the temporary quarters I have arranged for you. Until the new military base ispleted, you may reside here temporarily."


    Benjamin addressed the aide of General Howard.


    The aide nodded appreciatively in response.


    "Thank you very much for your assistance! We are all exceedingly pleased with the location you have provided."


    Hearing this response, Benjamin smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. He then shifted his gaze toward Jeremy and Bonnie, who stood behind him.


    "I have heard that the soldiers within the military base were able to sessfully escape due to your assistance. Your help is not only crucial for General Howard, but it is also immensely significant for me and the entirety of Moonlight City."


    After expressing his heartfelt sentiments, Benjamin proceeded to recount in detail the recent events that had transpired in Moonlight City over the past couple of days.


    Jeremy began to understand why Benjamin was so deeply concerned about the safety of these soldiers.


    In thest two days, a series of instances and high-level monsters had emerged in Moonlight City.


    Although the vast majority of these instances and monsters appeared in the outskirts and rural areas of Moonlight City, several instances and monsters also manifested in the city center itself.


    Benjamin had to muster all of his subordinates to barely manage the elimination of these instances and monsters.


    Had the soldiers within the military base beenpletely annihted by the monsters, Benjamin would have been unable to guarantee the safety of the outskirts of Moonlight City.


    "So, by your ount, the current situation in Moonlight City should be quite stable, correct? After all, you mentioned that the instances and monsters in the city center have beenrgely dealt with."


    Jeremy inquired of Benjamin at that moment.


    Benjamin nodded in agreement. "You are indeed correct, however, the stability of Moonlight City at this moment is merely temporary. My subordinates have previously conducted reconnaissance in the outskirts of Moonlight City.


    Some of the high-difficulty instances that have descended upon the outskirts of Moonlight City have already allowed their monsters to materialize in the real world. These monsters are exceedingly powerful.


    If we do not swiftly eliminate these creatures, they will undoubtedly pose a significant threat to Moonlight City.


    Benjaminid bare the worst news he had received.


    Upon hearing Benjamin''s words, Jeremy slowly nodded in understanding.


    He could surmise what Benjamin meant, the mayor was undoubtedly hoping that he would take prompt action to eradicate the high-difficulty instances and monsters in the outskirts of Moonlight City.


    However, Jeremy felt that he must take some time to recuperate.


    During the recent operation, he realized that he was not yet fully acquainted with the abilities of The King of Time and Space.


    Moreover, even after activating The King of Time and Space, he found it challenging to wield the corresponding powers with ease.


    "You are correct in your assessment, I will ensure the safety of Moonlight City in the forting operations. However, I also need to take some time to recover, as I sustained some injuries during the recent mission."


    After Jeremy finished speaking, he immediately turned his gaze toward General Howard''s aide.


    The aide promptly responded, "Indeed! Jeremy has truly exerted himself to rescue us. Throughout the operation, he expended an immense amount of energy. Therefore, I believe he should take some time to recuperate."


    Since General Howard''s aide had already stated this, Benjamin chose not to press the matter further.


    "Very well, then, please return and rest as soon as possible. I hope you can restore your condition swiftly and assist us in ensuring the safety of Moonlight City."


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Jeremy replied, "That is my duty! I will certainly do my utmost to recover as quickly as possible!"

 Chapter 223: The Awakened Kean

    After conversing for a while with Benjamin and General Howard''s aide, Jeremy decided it was time to return to his residence. He felt that other matters no longer held significant relevance to him.


    As he departed, Jeremy walked alongside Ritchie.


    Bonnie also wished to leave with Jeremy, but her father, Benjamin, immediately called her to a halt.


    "During this recent period, it would be best if you refrained from apanying Jeremy."Benjamin stated directly after stopping Bonnie.


    Upon hearing this, disappointment spread across Bonnie''s face.


    "Father, your demand contradicts the agreement we made. You once promised me that you would not prevent me from following Jeremy. Did you not believe that Jeremy could ensure my safety?"


    In response to Bonnie''s inquiry, Benjamin spoke inly.


    "I did have faith in Jeremy''s abilities. However, the version of the apocalypse game has been updated. The difficulty of the apocalypse game has significantly increased, and I am now unable to ascertain whether Jeremy can guarantee your safety in this new situation.


    Therefore, until he demonstrates sufficient strength, you must remain by my side. Only in this way can I ensure your safety."


    When Benjamin delivered these words, his tone was extremely serious.


    This made it clear that Benjamin would not entertain any notion ofpromise.


    Although Bonnie felt quite helpless, she understood that her father was acting in her best interest.


    "Even though you are very upset, I still have several important things to say to you."Benjamin observed, noticing his daughter''s dismal mood.


    "While I hold Jeremy''s abilities in high regard, I have also gathered information regarding him. Jeremy has very close ties with two other women.


    Has he not mentioned this to you? If he did, do you truly have no objections to it?"


    Benjamin''s sudden mention of Emma and ire left Bonnie feeling a bit flustered.


    Bonnie had indeed been aware of the close rtionship Jeremy shared with Emma and ire for some time.


    However, she felt she could ept Jeremy maintaining such close connections with the other two women. Yet, she absolutely dared not voice her thoughts.


    For if she were to express her feelings, Benjamin would undoubtedly erupt in anger.


    "I do not understand what you are talking about, Father. I am not aware of this information, nor do I wish to know it."


    After saying this, Bonnie quickly left on her own.


    Benjamin watched his daughter''s retreating figure and couldn''t help but let out a sigh.


    At that moment, Howard''s aide, standing beside Benjamin, remarked, "You truly are a dutiful father. However, it seems your daughter does not appreciate it."


    "Whether she appreciates it or not, I must fulfill my responsibilities as a father."Benjamin replied with unwavering resolve.


    After uttering these words, Benjamin turned to face Howard''s aide.


    "When will Howard arrive in Moonlight City? I have very important matters I wish to discuss with him."


    "The nearest helicopter will arrive in about an hour. If you are in a great hurry, I can inform the General to have his helicopternd directly at the municipal government building."


    Benjamin nodded. "Let us proceed as you suggested! I must meet him as soon as possible!"


    After saying this, Benjamin made his way back to the municipal government building in Moonlight City.


    Meanwhile, Howard''s helicopter arrived at the municipal government building in Moonlight City.


    Howard and Benjamin met in Benjamin''s office.


    "The situation is indeed dire, the federal leadership has descended into a state of panic. We will not be receiving federal assistance in the near future, and we must rely solely on our own strength to ensure the safety of Moonlight City."


    Upon entering Benjamin''s office, Howard immediately conveyed the information from the emergency meeting of the federal leadership.


    Upon hearing Howard''s news, Benjamin''s expression darkened considerably.


    In truth, he had already been aware of this information, as his elder brother was the director of the intelligence agency.


    "I have two pieces of news to share with you: one is good news, and the other is bad news."Benjamin said to Howard, hesitating slightly.


    Howard looked at Benjamin seriously.


    He found Benjamin''s demeanor to be quite peculiar at that moment.


    "You are not someone who usually hesitates, just tell me what the news is directly. I can handle both good and bad news."


    Howard replied, demonstrating the emotional stability expected of a general.


    Benjamin nodded.


    "The good news is that Jeremy''s operation has gone exceptionally well. He sessfully extracted the soldiers from the military base safely. Your men are currently in the stadium near the city center.


    Until the new military base ispleted, you will have to use the stadium as a temporary military base. Although the facilities at the stadium are rather basic, it is the best location I can provide."


    Howard also agreed that this was indeed good news.


    "So what is the bad news? Is it that there are simply too many instances and monsters in Moonlight City?"


    Benjamin shook his head.


    "The bad news is that the ck Dragon Squad in Moonlight City is about to be redeployed back to the capital. We can no longer expect assistance from the ck Dragon Squad moving forward."


    As soon as Benjamin delivered this shocking news, Howard eximed in surprise, "Why? The Marshal had previously informed me that the ck Dragon Squad would remain in Moonlight City.


    If the ck Dragon Squad is not here to assist us in our defense, our pressure will be overwhelmingly great. The military headquarters must send us additional reinforcements!"


    Howard''s anger was something Benjamin fully anticipated.


    "The ck Dragon Squad will indeed be redeployed, and the military headquarters will not send us any reinforcements. The situation over in the capital is also quite dire. The ck Dragon Squad must return to the capital to ensure the safety of the surrounding area first."


    Benjamin stated inly, providing the rationale for the ck Dragon Squad''s departure from Moonlight City.


    Upon hearing this exnation, Howard''s expression shifted from fury to resignation.


    "It seems we cannot prevent this from happening. We can only hope that Jeremy recovers his strength quickly. I hope Jeremy''s abilities have significantly improved by now."


    Howard remarked in a tone tinged with disappointment.


    Benjamin remained silent, yet inwardly, he concurred with Howard''s sentiments.


    While one of the reasons for the ck Dragon Squad''s withdrawal was indeed as Benjamin articted, it was not the most critical one.


    The primary reason was that the Lannisters had sessfully leveraged their extensivework of connections to facilitate the ck Dragon Squad''s return. After all, the squad''s captain, E, was Kean''s fianc¨¦e.


    The return of the ck Dragon Squad would bolster the Lannisters'' influence in the capital region.


    The Lannisters'' motivations for this maneuver were entirely attributable to Kean havingpleted his awakening ceremony.


    While Jeremy was engaged in the rescue of the soldiers from the military base in Moonlight City, Kean, with the assistance of The Person in the Mirror, had entered the realm of the ss change goddess, Janna.


    Although the ss change goddess, Janna, sought to thwart Kean''s awakening ceremony.


    However, with the assistance of The Person in the Mirror and the nners of the apocalypse game, Kean sessfullypleted his awakening ceremony without a hitch.


    Moreover, during this process, The Son of the Sun managed to utilize his own powers to bestow upon Kean an even rarer talent.


    Upon thepletion of his awakening ceremony, Kean directly acquired the talent of a deity''s emissary.


    While the talent of a deity''s emissary may not be the rarest of abilities, itsbat potential is not significantly inferiorpared to the most elusive talents.


    The talent of a deity''s emissary enables Kean to harness the powers of the nners of the apocalypse game.


    As long as he has the nners'' permission, Kean can wield the corresponding powers without necessitating their direct presence in the real world.


    After obtaining the talent of a deity''s emissary, Kean felt an overwhelming sense of joy.


    This was because it signified that if he could reach an agreement with the nners of the apocalypse game, he would possess the powers of a deity in the real world.


    "I truly hope to inform Jeremy that I have acquired an awakening talent that is on par with his own!" Kean eximed to The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun afterpleting his awakening ceremony.


    The Son of the Sun shook his head and said, "You should refrain from being overly ostentatious at this moment. Your primary focus now should be on stabilizing your own condition. Although the awakening ceremony has beenpleted, you do not yet have fullmand over the powers thate with your awakened talent.


    If you engage inbat immediately after the awakening ceremony, there is a significant risk that the very talent you have acquired could backfire on you. This caution is something that even the ss change goddess, Janna, is unaware of."


    The Son of the Sun''s words left Kean somewhat taken aback.


    He had not anticipated that the ss change goddess, Janna, was not privy to all the precautions rted to awakening.


    The Person in the Mirror perceived Kean''s confusion and exined, "While the ss change goddess, Janna, is indeed responsible for ss changes and awakenings, her authority is also constrained by the nners of the apocalypse game. There are certain crucial pieces of information that remain beyond her knowledge."

 Chapter 224: The Near-Unraveling of Jeremy

    While Kean and the others were celebrating the sessfulpletion of his awakening, Jeremy and Ritchie made their way back to their residence in the suburbs of Moonlight City.


    The two individuals lived not far apart from one another, and Ritchie couldn''t help but feel a twinge of concern regarding Jeremy''s current state.


    As they made their way back, Ritchie could discern that Jeremy''s demeanor seemed somewhat disoriented. It appeared that Jeremy had sustained significant damage during the recent battle.


    When their vehicle came to a halt in front of Ritchie''s home, he did not immediately exit the car, instead, he turned to Jeremy and inquired.


    "Are you absolutely certain you''re alright? I can''t shake the feeling that your current condition is quite dire. Allow me to apany you, at the very least, if you were to encounter any unforeseen circumstances, there would be someone avable to assist you."


    Jeremy shook his head.


    Although he too sensed that his state was somewhat precarious, he believed it to be a normal consequence following the awakening of his talent.


    "You need not worry about me, the power I possess is far greater than yours. I am more than capable of taking care of myself, so you should return to your own home and get some much-needed rest."


    After saying this, Jeremy urged Ritchie to exit the vehicle promptly.


    Ritchie, despite his lingering concerns, ultimately decided to step out of the car.


    However, as he got out, he made a point to say to Jeremy, "If you sense that something is amiss, do not hesitate to call me. I can be at your house in no time."


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment and then drove away.


    Ritchie watched as Jeremy''s car disappeared from sight, furrowing his brow in contemtion, unsure of what thoughts upied his mind.


    In less than a quarter of an hour, Jeremy arrived at his own doorstep.


    Jeremy felt as though his feet were treading on cotton, his entire being felt incredibly light.


    If he did not consciously anchor himself to the ground, it seemed he would float right up into the sky.


    "Why is this happening? Could it truly be the influence of the King of Time and Space talent?"


    Although Jeremy had projected an air of confidence while speaking with Ritchie.


    Internally, he was somewhat apprehensive.


    The ss change goddess, Janna, had not previously provided him with any pertinent precautions.


    This omission suggested that his current state was, at the very least, abnormal in the eyes of the ss change goddess, Janna.


    "It appears that I must seek an opportunity to inquire with the ss change goddess, Janna, about why this condition has arisen!"


    Jeremy made a decision deep within himself.


    However, in that very instant of resolution, Jeremy suddenly forgot his decision entirely.


    He stared nkly at the front door of his home, frozen in ce.


    "What am I supposed to do? Why am I here? What have I experienced before?" A cascade of questions swirled in Jeremy''s mind.


    He looked around in confusion.


    Surrounding Jeremy''s house were indeed numerous other buildings, some of these residences were upied, while others stood temporarily vacant.


    Yet, regardless of the situation, there was nothing particrly unusual about these houses.


    However, in Jeremy''s eyes, what he perceived were not ordinary homes but rather instances teeming with monsters.


    "Why are there so many instances around me?! And why are the monsters within these instances so incredibly powerful?!" Jeremy unsheathed the Longsword of the Undying.


    He was fully prepared for battle.


    Yet, he felt utterly bewildered, for he was aware that he had forgotten some very important information.


    "What is happening to me? Do monsters and instances truly exist around me?"


    The objects within Jeremy''s field of vision began to twist and warp. The instances and monsters he had previously seen suddenly vanished without a trace.


    It seemed that Jeremy had fallen into a peculiar illusion.


    "I must remain calm! I cannot allow myself to sumb to panic! Surely, I can unravel this illusion!"


    As Jeremy muttered to himself, he wielded the Longsword of the Undying and began to explore his surroundings.


    His neighbors noticed Jeremy''s strange behavior.


    However, they dared not step out of their homes, for they could all clearly see the Longsword of the Undying clutched in Jeremy''s hand.


    Although they were not entirely familiar with the power possessed by the Longsword of the Undying, its mere appearance was enough to instill fear in them.


    As Jeremy wandered in confusion, he gradually approached the front door of the nearest neighbor''s house.


    At that moment, all the family members of this neighbor had gathered behind the door, anxiously observing Jeremy''s every move.


    "What should we do? Is he nning to attack us?! He always seemed like such a normal person, why has he suddenly gone mad?!"


    Inside the neighbor''s house, a middle-aged woman asked her husband in a trembling voice.


    Beside her, the middle-aged man, her husband, wore a worried expression, but he managed to maintain a semnce of calm.


    "Let''s not panic just yet! I know Jeremy fairly well. Since moving here, he hasn''t exhibited any outrageous behavior. In fact, he has been of great assistance to us on several asions.


    I believe he might be trapped in an illusion. After all, I work for the city government, and I have seen some documents that indicate that awakened individuals are more susceptible to falling into illusions than ordinary people."


    The man''s words temporarily reassured his wife.


    However, the crisis they faced had not been averted.


    For Jeremy had now arrived at their front door, gripping the Longsword of the Undying tightly.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    The sound of knocking echoed from outside. Although the force was not particrly strong, the moment the knocking began, the people behind the door exhibited immense fear.


    "Don''t make a sound! If we remain silent, he might not be able to detect our presence!"


    The middle-aged man swiftly covered his wife''s mouth and then lowered his voice to speak to their children.


    From Jeremy''s perspective outside the door, whaty before him was not the entrance to a normal house. Instead, it appeared to be the sealed entryway to an instance.


    Jeremy was not actually knocking on the door, he was attempting to push open the entrance to the instance directly.


    "It seems that this instance has not been opened. This means that the creatures within it cannot pose a threat to me for the time being."


    After making this assessment, Jeremy departed from the door, still wielding the Longsword of the Undying.


    The group behind the door let out a sigh of relief upon witnessing Jeremy''s departure.


    However, the middle-aged man quickly moved to a corner of the room and retrieved his cellphone.


    "Is this the Emergency Response Bureau? I am Winston from Flip-Flop Community 1042, and my citizen ID is 302987. I serve as a clerk in the administrative department of the city government.


    I must urgently report a very important matter to you. My neighbor Jeremy appears to have descended into madness, as an awakened individual, he is brandishing a terrifying weapon while wandering outside our home.


    You must take immediate action!"


    As an administrative personnel of the city government, Winstonwas well-acquainted with the protocols for dealing with out-of-control awakened individuals.


    The Emergency Response Bureau responded promptly.


    After all, everyone at the Emergency Response Bureau was very familiar with Jeremy''s name.


    They all understood that Jeremy was the most powerful awakened individual in Moonlight City.


    If what Winston imed was indeed true, and Jeremy had fallen into a state of uncontroble madness, the situation in Moonlight City would be exceedingly dire.


    The Emergency Response Bureau first reported this rming news to Benjamin, and subsequently ryed the information to Jeremy''s friends.


    Ritchie and Bonnie received this news almost simultaneously.


    Upon learning that Jeremy appeared to be spiraling into chaos, both of them immediately sprang into action.


    Ritchie swiftly manipted shadows to reach Jeremy''s doorstep at the fastest pace possible.Ritchie''s home was already in close proximity to Jeremy''s residence, and this time, Ritchie''s speed of action was remarkably swift.


    Thus, it took him less than ten minutes to arrive in the vicinity of Jeremy''s house.


    At this moment, Ritchie was concealed in the shadows, refraining from making his presence known.


    He was concerned that Jeremy, who was potentially in a state of uncontroble frenzy, mightunch an attack against him.


    After patiently observing the situation for a while longer, Ritchie concluded that Jeremy was not, in fact, spiraling into madness.


    Ritchie sensed that Jeremy seemed to have fallen into some kind of illusion, yet he was still able to maintain hisposure.


    After scrutinizing the scene a bit more closely, Ritchie made the decision to swiftly advance in Jeremy''s direction.


    At that moment, Jeremy could also feel the sudden presence of an individual of considerable strength nearby.


    Consequently, he tightened his grip on the Longsword of the Undying, vigntly scanning his surroundings for any threats.


    In the stillness of the environment, Jeremy suddenly swung the Longsword of the Undying towards the side and rear of his body.


    The Longsword of the Undying struck against a shadow, and in that instant, the shadow emitted a sound of anguish.


    "Have you trulye to perceive me as your enemy?"


    Ritchie said to Jeremy, his tone tinged with a hint of exasperation.


    Upon hearing Ritchie''s voice, the expression on Jeremy''s face grew even more bewildered.


    He recognized that this voice belonged to someone he was very familiar with. He also understood that the owner of this voice was someone he could trust.


    Yet, he still could not recall Ritchie''s name.


    Jeremy simply gazed nkly at the shadow where Ritchie was concealed.

 Chapter 225: The Negative Effects of Awakening Talents

    "Who are you? Why have you suddenly appeared here? I thought you were nning tounch a surprise attack on me!"


    Jeremy spoke in a gentle tone, directing his gaze towards the shadow.


    Although he genuinely could not recall Ritchie''s name, he still relied on his faint memories to regard Ritchie as a person he could trust.


    After Jeremy voiced his question, Ritchie stepped directly out from the shadows.


    Ritchie looked at Jeremy with an expression that was slightly tinged with surprise.


    "What''s wrong? Don''t you recognize me? Have you also fallen into a state of confusion?" Jeremy felt that Ritchie''s expression bore some resemnce to his own, so he naturally posed these inquiries.


    Ritchie quickly shook his head.


    "Of course I know you! You are Jeremy! We are good buddies, and we were ssmates for a long time before the apocalypse game descended. Have youpletely forgotten me?"


    Ritchie''s words prompted a few memories to surface in Jeremy''s mind.


    Jeremy sensed that some memories rted to Ritchie suddenly emerged from the depths of his brain.


    He now recalled Ritchie''s name, along with the experiences they shared during their school days.


    However, Jeremy still had no recollection of the events concerning Ritchie after the onset of the apocalypse game.


    "I remember you, you are Ritchie! Indeed, we were ssmates for quite a lengthy period. However, I no longer possess any memories from after the arrival of the apocalypse game."


    Jeremy''s statement left Ritchie even more astonished.


    Ritchie''s expression took on a somewhat grim look as he circled around Jeremy.


    "It appears that you are currently experiencing only a mental issue, your body has not sustained any damage."Ritchie noted, and after confirming that Jeremy had not suffered any physical harm, his tone no longer carried the urgency it had before.


    From Ritchie''s perspective, although Jeremy''s condition was somewhat peculiar, it was not rmingly dire.


    Ritchie believed he could assist Jeremy in swiftly recalling all of his memories.


    "It seems you have merely lost a portion of your memories.


    Though I do not understand why you find yourself in such a predicament, I am certainly here to offer my assistance. I will soon help you remember all the memories rted to me."


    Ritchie promptly shared everything he knew with Jeremy.


    With Ritchie''s reminders, Jeremy gradually began to recall the relevant memories.


    "I think I have managed to recollect all the memories rted to you, but apart from those, I still cannot seem to retrieve any other memories."


    At this point, Jeremy was no longer as bewildered as he had been previously.


    After all, there was someone trustworthy before him, and this person had already assisted him in recovering some memories.


    Ritchie let out a sigh.


    "I''m afraid I can''t help with that, after all, I can only share what I know. Some information is known solely to you, so you must rely on yourself to recall those details."


    No sooner had Ritchie finished speaking than the roar of helicopter engines captured the attention of both Ritchie and Jeremy.


    The two looked up, only to see two helicopters hovering directly above their heads.


    Then, before their eyes, three individuals jumped directly down from the helicopters.


    The leader, of course, was Bonnie.


    Bonnie hurried to stand in front of Jeremy, scrutinizing him from head to toe.


    "You don''t appear to be on the verge of losing control, do you? Is it possible that what your neighbor said was a lie?" Bonnie inquired, her tone tinged with a hint of confusion.


    Jeremy looked at Bonnie with a slightly perplexed expression and then turned to Ritchie with a questioning gaze.


    "Her name is Bonnie, she used to be our ss monitor. After the apocalypse gamemenced, there was a period during which our rtionship was not particrly good, but now she is coborating with us."


    Ritchie''s words sparked a flicker of anger in Bonnie.


    However, Bonnie could hardly afford to engage in an argument with Ritchie, for his statement indicated that Jeremy had lost all memories rted to her.


    "Have youpletely forgotten me? How is that possible? We''ve only been apart for a short time!" Bonnie asked Jeremy incredulously.


    Jeremy nodded his head.


    "I truly do not remember you. Furthermore, even after learning your name, I am unable to recall any memories rted to you. You do not seem to be someone who holds great significance to me."


    Jeremy''s words caused a dramatic shift in Bonnie''s expression.


    She almost lost her bnce.


    Ritchie quickly interjected, "Jeremy is still trapped in the illusion, so you cannot take anything he says at face value."


    Upon hearing Ritchie''s statement, Bonnie''s expression softened somewhat.


    However, Ritchie could still discern that Bonnie''s expression was far from natural.


    "Given the circumstances, we should allow Jeremy to meet some people he is very familiar with. ire and Emma, they should be arriving shortly, shouldn''t they?"


    Bonnie directly asked Ritchie.


    Ritchie nodded in affirmation. "I spoke with Emma and ire before I departed. They should be here soon."


    No sooner had Ritchie''s words left his lips than Emma and ire appeared before the group.


    The two rushed to Jeremy''s side, circling around him just as Bonnie had done. Only after confirming that Jeremy was unharmed did they finally seem to rx a bit.


    "Are you trying to scare us on purpose? When we first received your message, we thought Jeremy was in grave danger!"


    Emma said to Ritchie, her tone tinged with mild exasperation.


    Emma had once been Ritchie''s teacher, so she felt entitled to express her grievances.


    "I am not trying to frighten you! While Jeremy bears no physical wounds, his mental state is concerning. He is still trapped in the illusion, and he haspletely lost all memories of you."


    Ritchie''s statement left Emma and ire utterly shocked.


    They could hardly believe that what Ritchie had said was true.


    "You must be lying to us! How could Jeremy possibly forget us?!" ire and Emma eximed almost in unison.


    However, before Ritchie could respond, Jeremy interjected, "I truly do not remember you. To me, you seem likeplete strangers."


    Jeremy''s deration plunged Emma and ire into a state of panic.


    The two began to surround Jeremy, recounting past events in an attempt to jog his memory.


    Ritchie stood a short distance away, feeling somewhat awkward as he observed Emma and ire''s actions.


    While he believed their efforts were unlikely to seed, he hesitated to intervene directly, as Emma and ire had offered him considerable assistance in the past.


    He felt it inappropriate to speak harshly in front of Emma and ire.


    As Ritchie stood there, feeling increasingly ufortable and at a loss, Bonnie pulled him aside to a secluded spot not far away.


    "You must have already shared all the information you know with me, haven''t you?"


    Bonnie asked Ritchie with a serious expression.


    Ritchie nodded in agreement.


    "Of course! How could I possibly conceal crucial information? After all, restoring Jeremy to his normal state is the most important matter for us."


    Upon receiving Ritchie''s affirmative response, Bonnie let out a sigh of relief.


    "That''s good to hear! Now that we are aware of all the information, we can make some educated assumptions. I believe Jeremy''s current abnormal state must be due to the negative effects of awakening his talent."


    Bonnie stated her judgment directly.


    In truth, Bonnie had never been particrly supportive of Jeremy undergoing the awakening ritual.


    She viewed the awakening ceremony as inherently perilous. Moreover, Jeremy had struggled significantly while navigating the awakening instance.


    Bonnie''s hypothesis did not immediately convince Ritchie.


    "I believe your hypothesis is certainly wed. If the awakening of talents were to yield such significant negative effects, then no awakened individual would dare to level up."


    Ritchie articted his thoughts with the perspective of an ordinary gamer.


    In Ritchie''s view, if the difficulty of the game has increased, then the power that yers can attain must also correspondingly rise.


    Only in this manner can it be ensured that the apocalypse game continues to run smoothly. If either the monsters or the yers possess overwhelming strength, the apocalypse game would soon reach its conclusion.


    Bonnie conceded that Ritchie''s argument held some merit.


    However, she was convinced that, as the very first individual toplete the awakening, Jeremy likely had a limited understanding of the precautions necessary after the awakening ritual.


    "Let us not forget that Jeremy is the first person to havepleted the awakening ceremony. This means he has no other experiences to draw upon for guidance."


    Perhaps, Bonnie posited, after the awakening ritual, he should avoid engaging in excessively intense battles.Such vigorousbat could potentially affect his condition. And if a powerful awakened individual''s state were to be severelypromised, it could very well lead to aplete loss of control.


    Bonnie was indeed a remarkably astute individual, and her conjecture was edging closer to the truth.


    Although Bonnie had deduced the reasons behind Jeremy''s current dire state, she was unable to find a solution.

 Chapter 226: The Three Join Forces to Resolve the Crisis

    Although Bonnie had deduced the reasons behind Jeremy''s current dire state, she was unable to find a solution.


    After all, neither Bonnie nor Ritchie had reached the level necessary for awakening. Aside from Jeremy, only Kean had sessfully undergone the awakening process.


    Bonnie and the others certainly could not rely on Kean to help Jeremy resolve his issues.


    "What exactly should we do now? We have no information regarding anything rted to awakening."Ritchie asked Bonnie directly and without preamble.


    Bonnie nodded and, after a brief moment of contemtion, responded, "I truly don''t possess a viable solution. I will inform my father and Uncle Howard about the situation as soon as possible.


    They should be able to gather more information. Until they find some leads on how to address the troubles Jeremy is facing, our only responsibility is to take care of him."


    After articting her thoughts, Bonnie walked directly in front of Jeremy.


    Although Jeremy still had not remembered Bonnie, at the very least, he no longer regarded her with as much suspicion.


    "We currently have no means to find a way to help you with the difficulties you are encountering.


    However, we can ensure your safety."


    At this point, Bonnie turned to nce in Ritchie''s direction.


    "You do remember Ritchie, so you should understand that he would never intentionally harm you."Bonnie stated earnestly to Jeremy.


    Jeremy looked at Ritchie and nodded, acknowledging Bonnie''s words.


    "In that case, let him take you back to your home."


    After Bonnie finished speaking, she immediately called ire and Emma away.


    At the same time, the personnel from the Emergency Response Bureau, who had apanied Bonnie, also followed her as they departed.


    They had just overheard the conversation between Bonnie, Ritchie, and Jeremy.


    Once everyone had left, Ritchie took Jeremy back to his home.


    "This is your house. Do you really not recognize the ce where you live?"


    Ritchie inquired as he brought Jeremy to the front door of his residence.


    Jeremy hesitated slightly before shaking his head.


    "I have no memories of this ce. It seems that this location is not particrly significant to me."


    Jeremy slowly remarked as he assessed the overall condition of his home.


    Ritchie nodded, "This ce truly isn''t particrly important to you. However, regardless, you must remain here for the time being to ensure your safety."


    After saying this, Ritchie pushed open the door to the room.


    He walked directly into the living room of Jeremy''s home, while Jeremy slowly followed behind Ritchie.


    As he progressed, Jeremy took in the decor of the room with keen interest.


    He couldn''t help but admit that the arrangement of the room was indeed quite satisfying to him.


    He had now fullye to believe that this room truly was his home.


    "It certainly appears to be my home. The decor in this room is exactly what I envision as the most fitting arrangement."


    Jeremy remarked as he reached the doorway of his bedroom and nced at the decorations within.


    A slight smile crept onto Ritchie''s face.


    "It seems your memories are returning in greater numbers, before long, you should be able to return to your normal self."


    Jeremy sighed, "Let''s hope that''s the case."


    After confirming that the building he was in was indeed his home, Jeremy finally felt a sense of relief wash over him.


    He chose to retreat to his bedroom to rest.


    As Jeremyy on his bed, he suddenly sensed something within his nightstand emitting a peculiar energy.


    He opened the nightstand and discovered a gemstone radiating a multitude of colors.


    Jeremy instinctively reached out towards the gemstone, and the moment his hand made contact, he was transported to the realm of the ss change goddess, Janna.


    At that moment, Jeremy was filled with panic, the surrounding environment was entirely unfamiliar to him.


    Moreover, he had forgotten all memories rted to the ss change goddess Janna.


    Seeing Jeremy''s rmed and wary expression, Janna couldn''t help but sigh, "We may have somewhat underestimated the architects of the apocalypse game."


    Janna''s voice captured Jeremy''s attention.


    "Who are you? Why am I here? Did you bring me here on purpose?!" Jeremy questioned, observing Janna warily and quickly demanding answers.


    "It wasn''t I who brought you here. You find yourself in this ce because of him."


    Janna replied with a smile, pointing to Jeremy''s side and slightly behind him.


    In that instant, Jeremy realized there was someone behind him, prompting him to leap away.


    Behind Jeremy, the puppet from the "World" stood, its gaze coldly scrutinizing both Jeremy and the ss change goddess Janna.


    "Do not continue wasting time!" The puppet from the "World" eximed. "Jeremy''s current condition is exceedingly perilous. We must ensure he swiftly sheds the negative effects of the King of Time and Space talent!"


    The "World" expressed a slight dissatisfaction with the previous actions of the ss change goddess, Janna.


    From their perspective, time was of the essence, and they needed to focus all their energies on resolving Jeremy''s predicament without dy.


    Janna''s expression turned somewhat irate as she retorted, "I am not wasting time at all! Moreover, even if we act immediately, Jeremy will not cooperate with us."


    After delivering this statement, Janna once again turned her gaze toward Jeremy.


    Although Janna wore a smile, Jeremy remained on high alert, not letting his guard down for even a moment.


    As he attentively listened to the conversation between Janna and the "World."he simultaneously contemted what actions he should take next.


    Before Jeremy could even begin to consider what actions he should take next, the puppet from the "World" suddenly appeared directly in front of him.


    "Rest assured, we are your allies, not your enemies!"


    After calmly uttering these words, the puppet extended its left hand and gently tapped Jeremy''s forehead with its index finger.


    In that instant, Jeremy felt his consciousness abruptly dissipate.


    He plunged into a state of utter confusion and helplessness.


    From Jeremy''s perspective, it felt as though he was floating in midair, and all his memories seemed to vanish in that fleeting moment.


    However, from the perspectives of the ss change goddess Janna and the "World."Jeremy transformed into a dazzling orb of multicolored light. All of Jeremy''s memories resided within that radiant sphere of vibrant colors.


    The reason Jeremy lost a portion of his memories was that certain fragments within the multicolored orb were affected by the King of Time and Space talent, bing lost in the unknown realms of time and space.


    What the "World" needed to do now was to retrieve all the memories that had been lost in those uncharted dimensions.


    The "World" continuously sought to recover the memories that Jeremy had lost.


    Meanwhile, the ss change goddess Janna coborated with the efforts of the "World."


    Janna needed to ensure that the apocalypse''s ns did not cast their gaze upon this unfolding situation during the actions of the "World."


    As the "World" worked, Jeremy''s memories began to restore rapidly.


    However, it became increasingly clear that thebined efforts of the "World" and the ss change goddess Janna alone would not suffice to resolve the troubles that Jeremy faced.


    Jeremy also had to rely on his own willpower to break free from the state of confusion.


    In the moment when the "World" fully recovered the memories Jeremy had lost, the multicolored orb that represented him suddenly emitted a dazzling burst of light.


    In the face of this blinding luminosity, the puppet from the "World" did not flinch or seek to evade it.


    It simply stated, "From this point forward, it will be solely dependent on Jeremy''s own efforts. The assistance we can provide him is limited to this."


    The expression on the ss change goddess Janna''s face revealed a hint of concern, as she feared that Jeremy might not be able to rely on his willpower to escape from his state of disorientation.


    The "World" and the ss change goddess Janna did not wait for too long.


    The radiant glow emitted by the multicolored orb began to diminish swiftly.


    As the radiant glow diminished, the multicolored orb gradually coalesced into a humanoid form, which was none other than Jeremy himself.


    Jeremy sessfully relied on his own willpower to escape the state of confusion, gathering all his memories back into the recesses of his mind.


    It did not take long for Jeremy''s form to stabilizepletely.


    Suddenly, Jeremy opened his eyes wide.


    Upon seeing the "World" and the ss change goddess Janna, Jeremy spoke in a weak tone, "I am immensely grateful for your assistance! Without your help, I might have be utterly lost in the turbulent currents of time and space."


    After recalling all his memories, Jeremy understood the reason behind his memory loss.


    Following the acquisition of the King of Time and Space talent, he had failed to stabilize his condition promptly. In his unstable state, he activated the King of Time and Space talent, which caused a portion of his powers to be ensnared in the chaotic flow of time and space.


    Due to his inherently unstable state, he lost not only power but also a portion of his memories as they slipped away.


    Had it not been for the timely intervention of the "World" and the ss change goddess Janna, Jeremy would likely havepletely lost that segment of his memories.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, the "World" merely replied with a calm demeanor, "It takes thebined efforts of the three of us to resolve this crisis, and naturally, your contribution is part of that equation."

 Chapter 227: The Rules Intentionally Concealed

    The puppet from the "World."having confirmed that Jeremy had no further issues, simply vanished from sight.


    Now, only Jeremy and the ss change goddess Janna remained together.


    The ss change goddess Janna felt it necessary to apologize to Jeremy, as she had failed to inform him in advance about all the precautions following his awakening.


    "I must sincerely apologize to you. As the deity responsible for ss changes and awakenings, I should have informed you beforehand about all the important considerations to keep in mind after your awakening waspleted. Had I shared all the necessary precautions with you, you would not have encountered this crisis."


    The ss change goddess Janna''s words were imbued with sincerity.


    Jeremy felt that there was absolutely no need for her to apologize.


    This was because Jeremy believed that the ss change goddess Janna was likely not aware of all the necessary precautions either.


    The underlying reason behind this was what Jeremy found most concerning.


    After he had managed to stabilize his condition with some difficulty, Jeremy inquired of the ss change goddess Janna in a voice that was somewhat weak,


    "Have you encountered a simr situation before?"


    "I have not experienced such a situation previously! You should understand that I am a deity, and as a deity, I am naturally expected to possessprehensive knowledge about all aspects of the domain I oversee.


    I am at a loss as to why there are certain precautions regarding awakenings that I am unaware of. This is most likely a deliberate oversight by the nners of the apocalypse game."


    The ss change goddess Janna stated, directly voicing her spection.


    Jeremy found himself in strong agreement with her conjecture.


    However, Jeremy did not necessarily believe that this was solely due to a deliberate targeting by the nners of the apocalypse game.


    "I believe this is quite likely a hidden rule. In any game, there are bound to be some concealed regtions. Although the apocalypse game is indeed a perilous undertaking, the existence of hidden rules is rather normal."


    After expressing this thought, Jeremy continued in a self-deprecating tone.


    "In truth, the reason I encountered the previous crisis was entirely due to my own negligence and carelessness. I thought that with your assistance, I would be shielded from any danger, which is why I failed to take additional precautions.


    Had I been more mindful, I would not have engaged in such intensebat immediately afterpleting my awakening."


    Jeremy was not one to easily me others.


    For him, it was clear that he bore the most significant responsibility in this situation.


    Moreover, after the previous two ss changes, Jeremy had not immediately plunged into intense battles. This was because, at that time, Jeremy had not yet received the assistance of a deity.


    Jeremy''s words only served to deepen Janna''s sense of guilt.


    "It is not your fault, and you need not impose excessive pressure upon yourself. All we need to do in our uing actions is to remain vignt about the hidden rules."


    The ss change goddess Janna reassured him.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "You are absolutely right. Now that I have extricated myself from the most perilous situation, I should return to the real world as swiftly as possible. My friends in the real world are quite concerned about me at this moment."


    After saying this, Jeremy promptly returned to the real world.


    Upon his return, Jeremy was suddenly struck by a wave of dizziness.


    "It seems the negative effects of the King of Time and Space talent have not been entirely eliminated. I still need to rest for a longer period to ensure the stability of my condition."


    After lying in bed for half an hour, the sensation of dizziness gradually diminished as he rested.


    Only after Jeremy noticed the absence of any dizziness did he finally emerge from his bedroom.


    "My memory has nearly all returned."Jeremy said to Ritchie in a very gentle tone.


    Ritchie looked at Jeremy with a hint of surprise, momentarily at a loss for words.


    After a brief pause, Ritchie hurriedly responded, "Are you certain? Yourplexion still seems quite poor. I believe you should rest a bit longer."


    Jeremy managed to force a faint smile on his face.


    "Of course, I will rest a little more. I just hope you can inform others that I have returned to normal. They must be quite anxious at this moment."


    After saying this, Jeremy retreated to his bedroom.


    The exertion from earlier had drained all of Jeremy''s stamina, and he felt an overwhelming wave of drowsiness wash over him.


    He believed it was imperative to return to his bedroom and rest as quickly as possible.


    As Jeremy made his way back to his room, Ritchie remained vignt, closely observing his movements.


    Only after confirming that Jeremy exhibited no unusual behavior did Ritchie dial Bonnie''s number.


    Ritchie recounted Jeremy''s situation to Bonnie, who, on the other end of the line, was taken aback but quickly made a judgment.


    "We cannot ascertain at this point that Jeremy has fully returned to normal. Therefore, you should continue to stay at Jeremy''s home as originally nned."


    After finishing her remark, Bonnie promptly hung up the phone.


    At that moment, Bonnie was situated in the office hall of the city government, where she was not alone, Benjamin and Howard were also present.


    Both Benjamin and Howard were deeply concerned about Jeremy''s unusual condition.


    This was because they had entrusted the safety of Moonlight City to Jeremy.


    If Jeremy failed to return to his normal state, the security of Moonlight City could not be guaranteed.


    "Jeremy just said he has returned to normal. However, Ritchie informed me that he believes Jeremy''s current state is very weak."Bonnie stated directly to Benjamin and Howard after terminating the call.


    The expressions on Benjamin and Howard''s faces fluctuated with uncertainty.


    "Do you believe what he said? Should we inform others about this situation?" Benjamin directly inquired of his daughter.


    Bonnie shook her head in response.


    "I do notpletely trust Ritchie''s words, but I do not think he would intentionally deceive me. Moreover, I believe we should refrain from sharing this news with others. After all, Jeremy has many enemies."


    The enemies Bonnie referred to primarily included Kean and the members of the Lannisters.


    Benjamin and Howard both immediately grasped the implication.


    "You are absolutely correct, we should indeed refrain from making this matter public. We must help keep Jeremy''s situation confidential."


    Howard promptly stated.


    "I will not report this to the military headquarters, nor will I retrieve any relevant information from their database. I will only search for pertinent information within the military base''s records here in Moonlight City."


    Howard believed that searching for information in the military headquarters'' database would inevitably draw their attention to Moonlight City.


    Thus, all of Howard''s subsequent actions would have to remain within the confines of Moonlight City.


    Benjamin nodded in agreement.


    "You should certainly exercise caution. To my knowledge, the Lannisters have also embedded their pawns within the military headquarters. If they were to learn of Jeremy''s current predicament, the Lannisters would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to strike."


    After reaching their decision, Bonnie chose to take her leave.


    "Since both of you have made your choice, I see no reason to linger here any longer. I need to hurry to Jeremy''s home and see for myself how he is faring!"


    After delivering her statement, Bonnie swiftly exited the city government hall at the quickest pace possible.


    Benjamin and Howard watched her retreating figure, momentarily at a loss for words.


    Ultimately, it was Howard who broke the silence.


    "She truly is your daughter, her decisive manner of action is strikingly reminiscent of how you were in your youth."Howard remarked, seemingly praising Bonnie.


    A faint smile appeared at the corner of Benjamin''s mouth, but it quickly faded away.


    "I actually do not wish for her to be like I was when I was young. While a decisive approach can indeed be an asset in certain situations, under the circumstances of an impending apocalypse game, such a manner could very well lead her into peril. I do not want her to take unnecessary risks."


    Benjamin hoped that Bonnie would exercise more caution.


    At least from Benjamin''s perspective, he believed that Bonnie did not need to engage in the same kind of reckless adventures as Jeremy.


    "Your viewpoint certainly holds merit. However, she is an adult now, and she is capable of making her own judgments."Howard softly replied.


    Benjamin nodded in acknowledgment, refraining from uttering another word.


    Unbeknownst to Bonnie, she was entirely oblivious to the conversation between Benjamin and Howard.


    Thus, she remained unaware that her father was, in fact, slightly dissatisfied with her actions.


    At this moment, Bonnie''s sole desire was to reach Jeremy''s home as quickly as possible.


    After more than an hour of driving, Bonnie finally arrived at Jeremy''s residence. Without hesitation, she rushed towards Jeremy''s house, eager to see him as soon as possible.


    However, just before the living room door of Jeremy''s home, Ritchie stood directly in her path.


    "What do you mean by this? Why are you blocking my way? Are you hiding something from me?"


    Bonnie''s dissatisfaction with Ritchie''s actions was palpable as she bombarded him with three consecutive questions.


    Ritchie shook his head and replied, "I believe you should take a moment to calm down. Jeremy is currently resting, and if you barge in unannounced, you are sure to disturb him."


    As he said this, Ritchie pointedly gestured towards the direction of Jeremy''s bedroom.


    Ritchie certainly did not want to see Jeremy disturbed during his time of rest.

 Chapter 228: I Will Not Be Easily Defeated

    "I will not disturb him. I merely wish to check on his condition. If he truly is unharmed, I will attend to my own matters." Bonnie exined to Ritchie, rifying her intentions.


    Ritchie hesitated for a brief moment, but ultimately, he decided not to continue blocking her way.


    However, as Ritchie stepped aside, he also offered Bonnie a caution.


    "You had best keep your promise. Once you ascertain that Jeremy is indeed all right, you should depart quietly."


    Bonnie nodded in acknowledgment and swiftly approached the door to Jeremy''s bedroom.


    The door to Jeremy''s bedroom was ajar, allowing Bonnie to see that he was peacefully asleep.


    After observing him carefully for a while, Bonnie finally confirmed that Jeremy was, in fact, unharmed.


    With a sigh, she turned her gaze back towards Ritchie.


    "I have more pressing matters to attend to, so you will have to take care of Jeremy on your own. As his good friend, I believe you are more than capable of handling this responsibility."


    Ritchie nodded in agreement.


    "Of course, I can look after him. But I must ask, what is this important matter that requires your attention?"


    Ritchie was somewhat curious.


    To him, it seemed that Bonnie had been closely following Jeremy for quite some time.


    Given that Jeremy was recuperating, what could be so crucial that Bonnie needed to attend to?


    Bonnie nced at Ritchie and replied, "It''s none of your concern, this is simply a personal matter of mine."


    With that said, Bonnie turned and walked out the door.


    Ritchie stood at the entrance, watching Bonnie leave, and couldn''t help but remark, "She is truly bing increasingly peculiar."


    After leaving Jeremy''s home, Bonnie drove directly to an abandoned hospital located next to the industrial district of Moonlight City.


    As Bonnie''s car arrived beside the derelict hospital, a young man emerged from within its crumbling walls.


    The young man strode purposefully toward Bonnie, quickening his pace as he approached her.


    "I thought you wouldn''t show up! It seems you do have a certain degree of trust in me."he said with a smile directed at Bonnie.


    Bonnie maintained a cool expression on her face as she replied tersely, "The only reason I came here is that I believe you possess some crucial information for me.


    If you have merelye to engage in idle chatter, then I regret to inform you that I cannot indulge you. After all, I have a great many matters to attend to."


    The young man assessed Bonnie from head to toe.


    "I must admit, even after all these years, you haven''t changed much at all. Moreover, your personality remains as irritating as ever."


    The smile on the young man''s face had vanished, and he handed a document to Bonnie with a hint of disdain.


    "This is the information you were seeking. It took considerable effort for me to retrieve these files from the military headquarters'' database."


    Bonnie epted the document he offered and quickly skimmed through it, confirming that this was indeed the information she needed.


    "Thank you for your hard work! I will fulfill my promise."Bonnie said, cing the document in the passenger seat of her car.


    She then opened the trunk and retrieved a box.


    Bonnie handed the box directly to the young man.


    "The equipment you requested is contained within this box. If there is nothing else, you may leave with the gear. After all, your continued presence here could easily attract unwanted attention."


    After receiving the box, the young man opened it without hesitation.


    Inside was a staff-shaped piece of equipment.


    The young man''s face lit up with delight as he examined the staff carefully.


    "You need not worry. No one is aware of my presence in Moonlight City. Even the Lannisters'' people would be incapable of discerning my current whereabouts."


    After uttering these words, the young man stowed the staff away and began to walk deeper into the abandoned hospital.


    Bonnie had initially nned to leave without hesitation.


    However, the young man''s actions piqued her curiosity. Bonnie spected that there might be a portal hidden within the decrepit hospital.


    Thus, she ultimately decided to follow the young man into the abandoned structure.


    Upon entering the dpidated hospital, Bonnie suddenly realized that the young man in front of her had vanished without a trace.


    Having faced numerous crises before, Bonnie instantly sensed that something was amiss.


    Consequently, she abandoned her intention to venture further into the derelict hospital.


    "It seems he remains deeply cautious of me. Perhaps it would be wise to refrain from delving deeper into this forsaken ce."she concluded.


    Bonnie exited the abandoned hospital and drove straight back to her residence in the heart of Moonlight City.


    Not long after Bonnie departed, the young man emerged from the third floor of the derelict hospital.


    His icy gaze followed Bonnie''s car as it sped away.


    A strange voice echoed behind the young man: "Do you truly believe that coborating with her will significantly benefit our ns?"


    The young man did not turn around, he merely gazed in the direction Bonnie had departed and remarked coolly, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Providing her with assistance can effectively restrain our adversaries."


    Regarding your inquiry about whether coborating with Bonnie would aid our ns, I can only respond in this manner: our sess hinges solely on our own efforts. Any assistance from others is ultimately futile."


    After delivering this statement, the young man''s form swiftly became ethereal and then vanished within the depths of the abandoned hospital.


    With the documents in hand, Bonnie returned to her home.


    Once she had secured every entry point of her house, Bonnie finally opened the documents and began to read them thoroughly.


    The information she had obtained was rted to Kean.


    The military headquarters had been closely monitoring every powerful awakened individual.


    As a member of the Lannisters and a remarkably strong awakened being, Kean had naturally drawn the attention of the military headquarters.


    Within the files from the military headquarters, Bonnie discovered details about Kean''s previous movements.


    She also learned about the extent of his recent power enhancements.


    After swiftly perusing all the documents, Bonnie finally felt a sense of relief.


    "It appears that Kean''s strength has not experienced a rapid enhancement. Therefore, I need not worry for the time being about him posing a significant threat to Jeremy."


    Within the files from the military headquarters, Kean''s power remained at the level exhibited during hisst confrontation with Jeremy.


    If Kean had not undergone a substantial increase in strength, then he would naturally be incapable of posing any threat to Jeremy.


    After thoroughly reviewing all the documents, Bonnie felt a sense of reassurance and decided to rest.


    At that very moment, Jeremy awakened.


    After a period of recuperation, Jeremy felt that his condition had stabilized remarkably well.


    He resolved to take a stroll outside and breathe in some fresh air.


    As Jeremy stepped out of his bedroom, he immediately spotted Ritchie engrossed in ying video games in the living room.


    "Are you here to take care of me, or are you simply here to y video games at my house?"


    Jeremy asked Ritchie with a smile.


    Ritchie was startled by Jeremy''s voice.


    "Have you really recovered so quickly? I believe you should still rest a bit more! You ought to hurry back to your bedroom and continue sleeping."


    Ritchie urged, all the while manipting the controller in his hands.


    Jeremy approached Ritchie, swiftly snatching the controller from his grasp.


    "Stop ying video games! Come along with me for a walk outside. Who knows, perhaps I might recover even faster."he insisted.


    Jeremy felt that, having stabilized his condition, he no longer needed to continue his prolonged rest.


    He believed that in order to fully master the talent known as The King of Time and Space, he must continually umte experience throughbat.


    Of course, to avoid a repeat of previous situations, Jeremy thought it prudent that the enemies he chose should not be overly powerful.


    Thus, he wished to apany Ritchie on a stroll to see if they might encounter some lower-level monsters.


    When faced with such lesser foes, Jeremy nned to utilize the additional abilities and skills granted by his talent, The King of Time and Space.


    Even if unexpected difficulties arose during the battles, Ritchie would be there to back him up.


    Ritchie looked at Jeremy with a serious expression, "Are you really certain that you can continue fighting? Are you absolutely sure that your condition has sufficiently improved?"


    Jeremy replied earnestly, "I will not be easily defeated. The King of Time and Space talent has indeed had some negative effects on me, but I have already resolved those adverse impacts.


    I can dive into battle immediately. Furthermore, I believe that only by familiarizing myself with the King of Time and Space talent throughbat can I facilitate a better recovery."


    Recognizing the seriousness of Jeremy''s attitude, Ritchie decided not to waste any more words.


    "In that case, let''s gear up and set off quickly! To be honest, I am also eager to engage in battle with monsters. I hope to reach level fifty as soon as possible!"


    After the previous turmoil, Ritchie hade to understand one crucial fact: only by achieving level fifty and awakening could he qualify to challenge the enhanced instances and monsters.

 Chapter 229: The Shift in Keans Mindset

    While the people in Moonlight City were each preupied with their own affairs, various factions within the capital were intensifying their activities.


    The major families of the federal elite, in light of the increased difficulty of the Apocalypse game, were continually seeking opportunities for their awakened members to gain greater strength.


    Meanwhile, the power struggle between the military headquarters and the federal assembly had escted into an exceptionally fierce contest.


    Under such circumstances, Kean felt that he no longer needed to be overly anxious.


    For at this moment, Kean was no longer the focal point of attention for the major families within the federal elite.


    Even within the Lannisters, Kean had ceased to be the center of interest.


    The head of the Lannisters, who happened to be Kean''s grandfather, was busy scheming to seize high-ranking positions in the federal government held by other families.


    Meanwhile, Kean''s uncle was constantly contemting how to acquire additional resources for strengthening awakened individuals from other families.


    In the absence of scrutiny from everyone, Kean could naturally attend to his own affairs with ease.


    Afterpleting his awakening, Kean took a few days to recuperate, following the guidance of The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun.


    During these days of rest, Kean remained inside his vi.


    He closely monitored the actions of those within his vi, focusing particrly on his butler, Farmer.


    Although Butler Farmer had been loyal to Kean for a considerable length of time.


    Kean had never fully trusted him.


    Kean always had the nagging suspicion that Butler Farmer was a pawn nted by the upper echelons of the Lannisters, lurking right beside him.


    During these days of recuperation, Kean discovered that Butler Farmer had been in constantmunication with the upper echelons of the Lannisters.


    Initially, Kean had assumed that Butler Farmer''s interactions with the Lannister leadership were merely to ry information regarding his own whereabouts.


    However, after observing the situation with great scrutiny for a period of time, Kean became entirely convinced that Butler Farmer was actively assisting the Lannisters in their schemes against him.


    Butler Farmer had even divulgedprehensive details about the weapons and equipment that Kean possessed to the higher-ups of the Lannisters.


    Such actions on Farmer''s part had unequivocally crossed the line of eptability for Kean.


    After taking a few days to recuperate, Kean felt that his condition had reached a state ofplete stability.


    He was resolute in his decision to utilize his newly acquired talent as a Deity Proxy to tackle a particrly challenging instance located in the outskirts of the capital.


    Before setting off, Kean specifically summoned Butler Farmer to his side.


    "My condition hasrgely returned to normal. As an awakened individual, I must attend to the instance located in the outskirts of the capital."


    Kean shared his ns with Butler Farmer.


    Butler Farmer quickly replied, "Young master, I believe you should consider resting for a longer period. I do not think your current state is truly satisfactory.


    Moreover, the difficulty of the instance in the outskirts of the capital is exceptionally high. If you were to recklessly enter such instances, you could very well find yourself in life-threatening danger."


    While Butler Farmer''s words seemed to express concern for Kean''s well-being, the true intent behind them was merely to thwart Kean''s actions.


    This was because the upper echelon of the Lannisters had recently issued instructions to Butler Farmer.


    They hoped that Butler Farmer could ensure Kean remained within the confines of the vi, avoiding any trouble elsewhere.


    Kean regarded Butler Farmer with a smile.


    As Kean remained silent, Butler Farmer began to feel an ever-growing sense of pressure.


    "Young master, why do you keep looking at me like that? Do you find fault with what I just said?"


    Butler Farmer inquired with a trembling voice, directed at Kean.


    Kean replied with a smile, "I find no fault in what you have said. My forting actions will indeed be perilous, which is why I hope to obtain some assistance from the Lannisters."


    Upon hearing these words, Butler Farmer felt a sudden jolt of rm within.


    "Young master, what do you intend to do?"


    "My n is quite straightforward. I believe you are capable of acquiring some exceptionally powerful weapons from my uncle. Therefore, I would like you to hurry over there and help me select a few."


    Kean''s intention was to ce Butler Farmer in a difficult position.


    Although Butler Farmer had served Kean''s uncle for many years.


    In the eyes of Kean''s uncle, Butler Farmer was merely a useful servant.


    If Butler Farmer truly dared to go to Kean''s uncle to select weapons, Kean''s uncle would undoubtedly dismiss him outright.


    "Young master, I believe that if you wish to choose weapons, it is only fitting that you do so in person.


    Moreover, you are the young master of the Lannisters, while I am merely your butler. What right do I have to assist you in selecting weapons at the Lannister headquarters?"


    After listening to Butler Farmer''s exnation, Kean spoke in a calm tone.


    "Are you not well-connected with the higher-ups of our family? Are you now telling me that you are not familiar with them at all?


    Or perhaps you are simply feigning reluctance. You have no intention of providing me with even the slightest assistance. If that is the case, then do not me me for being impolite."


    Kean''s words left Butler Farmer with no options for retreat.


    Ultimately, Butler Farmer could only respond with resignation, "Since you have put it this way, young master, I will go to the Lannister headquarters to assist you in selecting weapons.


    However, before I finish selecting the weapons, you must not act recklessly. Everything I have said is for your own safety! You must heed my counsel!"


    Kean nodded in acknowledgment.


    "I understand. Please take swift action. I will wait for you here! If you do not return, I will not act without your guidance."


    After saying this, Kean urged Butler Farmer to depart promptly.


    With no other choice, Butler Farmer set off for the Lannister headquarters with his two assistants.


    Before leaving, Butler Farmer specifically instructed his subordinates who remained in Kean''s vi, "You must keep a close watch on the young master''s movements. If he truly intends to take action, you must notify me as quickly as possible."


    Kean was well aware of Butler Farmer''s intentions.


    Thus, after Butler Farmer left, Kean returned to his bedroom.


    He promptly sealed the entrance to his room and then summoned a passage within the mirror on one of the walls.


    After confirming that the passage had stabilized, Kean stepped directly into it.


    Following a disorienting sequence of temporal shifts, Kean found himself emerging in a valley on the outskirts of the capital.


    In this valley, two Persons in the Mirror were awaiting his arrival, while the Son of the Sun observed the surroundings from a short distance away.


    "Isn''t your pace a bit sluggish? We were beginning to think you had reneged on your promise once again!"


    One of the Persons in the Mirror addressed Kean with a tone tinged with mild irritation upon seeing him.


    "My speed has indeed been somewhat dyed, but this is not due to my own shorings. There are numerous idle onlookers around me, and I must avoid drawing their attention."


    Kean offered a brief exnation.


    Though he felt that under normal circumstances, he had no obligation to provide such a detailed ount,


    Kean realized that he still needed to coborate with the Persons in the Mirror.


    If his rtionship with the Persons in the Mirror were to deteriorate excessively, his subsequent actions would be exceedingly difficult.


    "Since we are already here, let us dispense with any further trivialities. The instance we are about to enter is directly rted to the Fool."The Son of the Sun abruptly interrupted the ongoing conversation.


    He began to borate on the specifics of the uing instance.


    Upon hearing the name "Fool."a look of surprise crossed Kean''s face.


    "Isn''t the Fool considered the most formidable among all apocalypse game nners? The difficulty of an instance associated with Him must be exceptionally high.


    I have only justpleted my awakening, I believe we should first venture into an instance of rtively lower difficulty. I need to gradually familiarize myself with the talents I have acquired post-awakening."


    Kean''s concerns were certainly not unfounded.


    Although no one had ever engaged in directbat with the Fool.


    Everyone agreed that the power He wielded was immensely formidable. Even the weapons and items associated with the Fool were known to possess remarkably potent effects.


    The Son of the Sun did not counter Kean''s assertions.


    He merely provided an exnation for his course of action.


    "The Fool is indeed exceptionally powerful, and the instances rted to Him are undoubtedly perilous. However, the more dangerous an instance is, the greater the rewards it can offer.


    If we wish to revive the great Sun swiftly, we must be willing to assume certain risks. As long as it leads to the resurrection of the great Sun in the real world.


    Even the cost of our lives would be worth it."


    In truth, Kean did not concur with The Son of the Sun''s perspective.


    His coboration with the Persons in the Mirror was solely aimed at enhancing his own strength. He had no intention of recklessly sacrificing his life for the sake of resurrecting the Sun.


    However, since The Son of the Sun had articted such sentiments, Kean found himself without any viable alternative.


    "Very well, then let us not engage in any further idle chatter. You must possess more information regarding this instance, correct? Before we enter the instance, I hope you can divulge all the details you are aware of."


    Although Kean sometimes struggled to manage his emotions, he was, in essence, a highly professional yer of apocalypse games.


    Thus, upon deciding to enter the instance, Kean would focus all his thoughts and energy on the task at hand.

 Chapter 230: Seizing the Power of the Fool

    "It seems that your mood has calmed down now, so allow me to provide you with a detailed introduction to the specifics of the instance we are about to enter."


    The Son of the Sun hastily remarked, having confirmed that Kean had stabilized his emotions.


    "The instance we are about to enter is located on the opposite side of the mountain we currently upy." The Son of the Sun said this while gesturing toward the other side of the mountain with his finger.


    Kean followed the direction of The Son of the Sun''s finger and gazed toward the far side of the mountain.


    Although Kean was unable to directly see whaty on the other side of the mountain due to its imposing barrier.


    He could sense a cave brimming with potent energy beyond the mountain''s peak.


    "I can now feel that there is a cave on the other side of the mountain that possesses an immense amount of energy. This cave must be the entrance to the instance, correct?"


    Kean inquired directly of The Son of the Sun.


    A faint smile of satisfaction appeared on The Son of the Sun''s face.


    "Your deduction is indeed correct! The instance we are about to enter harbors extraordinary power. Therefore, before we proceed, we must don protective gear."


    The Son of the Sun then directed his gaze toward The Person in the Mirror.


    The Person in the Mirror presented a set of armor that shimmered with a golden radiance before Kean.


    "Only by wearing this armor can you safely enter the instance."The Person in the Mirror quietly cautioned Kean while handing over the armor.


    "In addition to the formidable power found within the instance, we must also be wary of the monsters that inhabit it."


    The Son of the Sun did not afford Kean sufficient time to don the armor.


    The Son of the Sun continued to borate on the specifics of the instance.


    "The monsters within the instance are in a constant state of flux. At first, you may encounter some seemingly inconspicuous creatures, but you must never underestimate their strength.


    These monsters may merely be observing your every move for the time being. Once they have thoroughly analyzed your behavioral patterns, they will reveal their true power andunch an attack against you."


    Kean was not particrly taken aback by the threat level of the monsters that The Son of the Sun described.


    This was because Kean had previously ventured into several high-difficulty instances.


    In those instances, Kean had undoubtedly faced monsters that he was unable to ovee.


    Thus, Kean did not overly concern himself with the warnings, he merely stated with a hint of nonchnce, "Rest assured, I possess considerablebat experience within instances. I will not be easily overwhelmed by those monsters that deliberately conceal their true strength."


    Kean''s words did little to alleviate The Son of the Sun''s concerns.


    The Son of the Sun shook his head slowly.


    "The monsters I just mentioned are merely the least formidable among those found within the instance. The most challenging adversaries are those that are ever-changing."


    After delivering this statement, The Son of the Sun conjured an ethereal image directly before Kean.


    In this spectral depiction, a spider-like creature was engaged inbat with a human awakener.


    Throughout the battle, the spider-like monster continuously morphed into various other forms, making it nearly impossible for the human awakener to discern its weaknesses.


    "Do you see now? This is precisely what I meant by the constantly shifting monsters."


    After presenting the image to Kean, The Son of the Sun inquired with a tone that was somewhat more serious.


    "I see it! I also understand that these ever-changing monsters can indeed pose significant challenges for us. However, I have already acquired the talents of a deity emissary.


    I can coborate with the architects of the apocalypse game. They can readily bestow their powers upon me for my use. With the strength of the apocalypse game''s creators at my disposal, I can effortlessly eradicate these ever-changing monsters."


    At that moment, Kean spoke with an air of remarkable confidence.


    Having solidified his own state of mind, Kean was convinced that as long as he could activate his innate talents, he would undoubtedly prevail against any individual or monster in battle.


    Kean''s self-assurance elicited a slight sense of helplessness from The Son of the Sun.


    "Confidence is indeed amendable trait, but excessive confidence can easily morph into arrogance."The Son of the Sun was interrupted before he could borate, as The Person in the Mirror directly cautioned Kean.


    "I understand the distinction between confidence and arrogance! I will not allow myself to becent or reckless while navigating the instance. When facing any monster, I will engage with all my might."


    Kean responded while adjusting the armor he wore.


    At that moment, Kean had sessfully donned the armor that The Person in the Mirror had handed to him.


    "Can we now proceed into the instance? You have already provided me with sufficient information regarding its circumstances. There is no need for us to waste any more time."


    Upon finishing his statement, Kean prepared to head directly to the entrance of the instance located on the far side of the mountain.


    The Son of the Sun abruptly blocked Kean''s path.


    "I have not yet shared all the information!"


    Kean remained silent, simply gazing at The Son of the Sun, patiently awaiting thepletion of his message.


    "Those ever-changing monsters are, in fact, manifestations of the power possessed by Fool. You cannot eliminate those constantly shifting creatures.


    What you can do is merely seal those ever-changing monsters away. As long as we can manage to seal them, we will be able to strip away the power that Fool wields."


    Atst, The Son of the Sun once again mentioned Fool.


    Kean finally understood the rationale behind The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror leading him into such a perilous instance.


    "Are you attempting to seize the power that belongs to Fool in order to utilize it for the resurrection of the Sun?"


    In response to Kean''s inquiry, The Son of the Sun disyed no hesitation and simply nodded.


    "You are absolutely correct! Relying solely on the sr power found within weapons and equipment will not suffice for the swift resurrection of my great father.


    Only by usurping the powers of other deities can we ensure that the magnificent Sun is resurrected in the shortest time possible. Among the surviving deities, it is, of course, Fool who possesses the most formidable power!"


    The Son of the Sun had no intention of concealing his true objectives.


    This is because both The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror needed to rely on Kean''s assistance to advance to the next phase of their n.


    Kean nodded in acknowledgment.


    "I understand. As your ally, I shall, of course, cooperate with your endeavors. However, I currently have a small question that requires your rification."


    At this moment, Kean''s tone grew slightly more tense than before.


    "If Fool bes aware that we are attempting to seize the power he possesses, might he not choose to make us his enemies? If Fool decides to oppose us, will not his minions, the nners of the apocalypse game, also turn against us?"


    The reason Kean posed such inquiries was that he needed to ascertain whether he could secure the assistance of the apocalypse game nners in his uing actions.


    Kean''s talenty in being a deity''s proxy, without the support of the apocalypse game nners, his abilities would yield no power enhancements whatsoever.


    The Son of the Sun hurriedly replied.


    "There will be no such situation. Any elements rted to the apocalypse game that manifest in the real world, whether they are instances or the powers possessed by individual monsters, are merely additional strengths granted by the nners of the apocalypse game.


    Therefore, even if we seize these powers, the nners of the apocalypse game will remain indifferent. It is precisely for this reason that we cannot resurrect the great Sun by appropriating the powers of Sun found in equipment and monsters."


    The exnation provided by The Son of the Sun allowed Kean to finally set his mind at ease.


    Moreover, after receiving this rification, Kean was finally able toprehend a question that had previously eluded him.


    He had been pondering why the nners of the apocalypse game chose to bring instances and monsters into the real world.


    Even if the nners'' goal was to capture human souls, they should not resort to such an inefficient method.


    They ought to directly manifest in the real world.


    If even a single nner of the apocalypse game were to descend upon the real world, humanity would find itself facing imminent disaster.


    With The Son of the Sun''s answer, Kean finally understood that the instances and monsters that appeared in reality were only a minuscule fraction of the power possessed by the nners of the apocalypse game.


    The nners'' absence from the real world was likely due to the need to contend with other pressing troubles.


    "Perhaps, after this, I will have the opportunity to negotiate with the nners of the apocalypse game."Kean thought to himself.


    "I am now devoid of any doubts! Additionally, I believe I am ready to enter the instance. If you have no further questions, let us set off without dy!"


    A faint smile graced Kean''s lips as he addressed The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror.


    Naturally, The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror did not hesitate in the slightest.


    They followed Kean and swiftly made their way to the other side of the mountain.


    Once everyone had donned their armor, they proceeded directly into the energyden instance.


    Inside the instance, they would undoubtedly encounter numerous dangers. However, as long as The Son of the Sun could coborate seamlessly with Kean.


    They would likely emerge from the instance sessfully.

 Chapter 231: Gradual Restoration of the State

    In the outskirts of Moonlight City, beside an abandoned subway entrance, a low-level crocodile-shaped monster basked in the sun.


    This crocodile-shaped creature posed no threat to others until it had sufficiently elevated its body temperature.


    Since the area inhabited by the crocodile-shaped monster had long been forsaken by humanity.Therefore, the crocodile-shaped monster had rarely encountered humans. It had also never engaged in conflict with other monsters.


    As its body temperature rose, the crocodile-shaped monster finally became capable of movement.


    Under normal circumstances, the creature would take a stroll around the abandoned subway entrance.


    Afterward, it would venture to other locations in search of humans.


    Today, its actions were no different from usual.


    However, just as the crocodile-shaped monster reached the other side of the abandoned subway entrance, a phantom gate suddenly materialized before it.


    At the moment the ethereal door appeared, the time and space surrounding the crocodile-shaped monster became distorted.


    Before the creature could react in any way, it was instantly sealed within a peculiar space.


    Just a few seconds after the crocodile-shaped monster had been sessfully sealed, Jeremy and Ritchie emerged from a concealed location not far away.


    "Your awakening talent is truly remarkable! The ease with which you managed to seal a monster of considerable strength is astonishing."


    Ritchie remarked, gazing at the now-encased crocodile-shaped creature with a tone of admiration directed at Jeremy.


    Jeremy''s expression remained remarkably calm.


    In his view, his talent, The King of Time and Space, should be capable of achieving far more than such a basic level of sealing.


    "What is there to be astonished about? I am still not in a fully restored state! Once I havepletely regained my strength, I will be able to demonstrate even more formidable spatial sealing abilities to you!"


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Ritchie directly inquired,


    "Since you have sealed this monster away, does that mean you can find an opportunity to release it again?"


    Jeremy nodded in affirmation.


    "Sealing does not equate to killing the monster! In fact, sealing can also prolong a monster''s life. When a dying monster is sealed within a time-space gate, it will remain in a state of being on the verge of death, yet not quite deceased."


    Jeremy''s exnation prompted Ritchie to nod in agreement, though he still harbored some confusion.


    "Does such a monster hold any value for us? It seems we have no need for a dying creature."


    At that moment, Jeremy approached Ritchie and casually tossed the already sealed crocodile-shaped monster into his own designated unknown space.


    "Such a monster is certainly of great utility to us! After a monster is eliminated, if we cannot promptly use necromancy to extract all the information it possesses.


    Its soul will inevitably return to the instance they mentioned, or to the orchestrator of the apocalypse game to which they belong.


    While I do possess the ability to perform necromancy, my current proficiency is rather limited. This means I cannot continuously utilize this art.


    When faced with a multitude of monsters, I can only severely injure them and then seal them away. Once the cooldown for my necromancy skill is over, I can then eliminate the dying monster andmune with its soul."


    As Jeremy spoke, he remained vignt, attentively observing his surroundings.


    Jeremy felt that his condition was steadily improving during the battle.


    He hoped to immediately find a monster of a higher level nearby.


    As Jeremy focused his attention on searching for monsters, he failed to notice the change in Ritchie''s expression.


    Ritchie had always considered necromancy to be a somewhat malevolent form of magic.


    He wished for Jeremy to minimize his use of necromancy as much as possible. However, Jeremy''s response clearly indicated that he would indeed be utilizing necromancy more frequently in the future.


    This revtion, of course, left Ritchie feeling quite disappointed.


    Nevertheless, Ritchie quickly adjusted his mood.


    "Perhaps you can exploit this method to maximize your use of necromancy. However, during this recent period, you should find it impossible to execute such operations."


    Ritchie said with a smile.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement, "Indeed! While my condition is steadily recovering, it will still take some time to return to my optimal state.


    Before I reach peak condition, I can only choose to battle those monsters that pose no threat to me. That is the most reasonable n."


    After finishing this statement, Jeremy headed toward a dpidated truck not far away.


    While speaking with Ritchie, he did not cease his search for nearby monsters.


    Jeremy discovered that behind the dpidated truck, a creature had been secretly observing his and Ritchie''s movements.


    Naturally, Ritchie was following closely behind Jeremy, and as they approached the truck, they realized that the creature lurking behind it was a monster of a formidable level¡ªfifty.


    Although Jeremy''s level had surpassed fifty, he had not fully recovered from his previous encounters.


    Ritchie felt a twinge of concern, he leaned closer and lowered his voice as he addressed Jeremy.


    "A level fifty monster poses a significant threat to us in our current state! We should leave this ce immediately! We absolutely cannot engage inbat with a level fifty creature!"


    After uttering these words, Ritchie intended to pull Jeremy into the shadows for concealment.


    With the increase in his own level, Ritchie''s ability to utilize shadows had improved significantly.


    He was now capable not only of hiding himself within the shadows, but he could also cloak hispanions within them. Currently, he could conceal up to two allies at once.


    If Ritchie were to reach level fifty and awaken his innate talent, his ability to manipte shadows would be further enhanced.


    Initially, Jeremy had intended to engage the level fifty monster in a direct confrontation.


    He believed that although his condition was not at its best, both his weaponry and his talents were exceptionally powerful.


    In a decisive battle, it was conceivable that he would not necessarily be overpowered by the enemy.


    However, after contemting the situation for a while, Jeremy ultimately chose to y it safe.


    "You are absolutely right! We should not engage in a head-on sh with a level fifty monster at this moment!"


    Jeremy grasped Ritchie''s hand firmly, and together they slipped into the shadows.


    The level fifty monster that had been observing Jeremy and Ritchie was momentarily perplexed, unable toprehend what had just transpired.


    It continued to scan the surroundings, seemingly intent on locating the whereabouts of Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Of course, it would be unable to find them, as the two had already made their way to a secure area.


    Two kilometers away from the abandoned subway station, there stood a watchtower set up by General Howard''s subordinate.


    As long as Ritchie and Jeremy could sessfully reach the watchtower, they would be able to receive assistance from others.


    Moreover, there were no exceptionally powerful monsters in the vicinity of the watchtower.


    When Jeremy and Ritchie arrived at the watchtower, they were suddenly astonished to find that Howard was also present.


    "General Howard, why are you here?" Jeremy asked Howard with a look of surprise.


    Howard was equally taken aback upon seeing Jeremy and Ritchie.


    "I heard that your condition was quite poor. What brings you to this location? It is not particrly safe here. You should return to a secure area as soon as possible to rest."he advised.


    Howard scrutinized Jeremy with a serious expression.


    Howard could see that Jeremy''splexion was still less than ideal.


    Thus, he hoped that Jeremy could continue to rest, after all, Jeremy was incredibly important to both him and Moonlight City.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "Thank you very much for your concern! However, I believe that what I need to do right now is not to rest! I must regain my state as quickly as possible throughbat."


    "So you came here for that reason? Your choice is indeed quite wise. Although this ce is not entirely safe, the monsters here are not exceedingly powerful."


    Howard remarked in an appreciative tone.


    "Yes, it was precisely this consideration that brought me here. However, I encountered a monster that exceeds level fifty near the abandoned subway station. If you have the time, would you be able to take your subordinates to eliminate that creature?"


    Jeremy felt that having a level fifty monster wandering around was exceedingly dangerous.


    Thus, he hoped that Howard would lead the soldiers of Moonlight City to eradicate that formidable foe.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, a look of disappointment crossed Howard''s face.


    "I certainly wish to eliminate that level fifty monster as well. However, the strength I currentlymand is simply insufficient for this task. My soldiers have yet to recover from the previous crisis."


    Howard''s statement left both Jeremy and Ritchie momentarily at a loss for words.


    After all, they were acutely aware of the severity of the situation that Howard''s soldiers had previously faced.


    "Alright, you need not concern yourselves with matters here. Focus on your own tasks! I will take care of the situation here."


    Howard said, his expression of disappointment fleeting as he smiled and instructed his subordinates to escort Jeremy and Ritchie to a safer location.

 Chapter 232: Leveling Up with Companions

    Jeremy and Ritchie sought to extract more information from Howard, yet Howard did not afford them that opportunity.


    He directlymanded his subordinates to escort Jeremy and Ritchie to a location that was rtively close to the human-controlled zone.


    Although there were still some monsters and instances present in that area, the overall difficulty of those monsters and instances was rtively low. This meant that Jeremy and Ritchie would not encounter significant danger while situated there.


    On their way out, Jeremy and Ritchie remained silent.


    After all, the helicopter they were aboard was being piloted by one of Howard''s subordinates.


    They needed to show some respect for Howard in front of his staff.


    Upon reaching the designated target area, Howard''s subordinate flew the helicopter away.


    It was only then that Ritchie turned to Jeremy and spoke.


    "I believe Howard must be concealing some exceedingly important information from us. His demeanor was quite off, he is likely facing a dilemma that is difficult to resolve. However, he seems unwilling to disclose it to us."


    Jeremy immediately concurred with Ritchie''s assertion.


    "You''re absolutely right, but there''s no need for us to dwell on the matter."


    Jeremy felt that both Howard and Benjamin undoubtedly harbored numerous secrets.


    In truth, Jeremy was not overly concerned about the secrets of these individuals.


    As long as their secrets posed no threat to him, Jeremy would not actively seek to uncover them.


    He nced around at his surroundings.


    He assessed that the instances and monsters in the vicinity were generally around level forty.


    Although Jeremy''s condition had not yet fully restored, with his current level and equipped gear, he found it exceedingly easy to deal with monsters of approximately level forty.


    "Alright, let''s not dwell any longer on the matter of Howard. Let''s redirect our focus to our own objectives!"


    With a single statement, Jeremy pulled Ritchie''s attention back to the task of leveling up.


    "The area surrounding us contains only instances and monsters around level forty. Therefore, this location is quite suitable for both you and Bonnie to level up.


    I will reach out to Bonnie as soon as possible and have here over. At the same time, I believe we should also bring Emma and ire along.


    Their levels are currently far too low, they have yet to reach level thirty. If we want them to provide assistance in our forting endeavors, they must attain level thirty to undergo their second ss change."


    Ritchie was, of course, inplete agreement with Jeremy''s proposal.


    "I believe it is indeed time for Emma and ire to level up.


    How about this: you call Bonnie, and I will reach out to Emma and ire. The area we are currently in isn''t too far from their residence.


    We should only need to wait about half an hour for them to arrive."


    With that, Ritchie and Jeremy set off to execute their respective tasks.


    After receiving Jeremy''s call, Bonnie hurried to the location where Jeremy and Ritchie were situated with remarkable speed.


    Although Bonnie had previously acquired some important intelligence rted to Kean, she had no intention of directly sharing this crucial information with Jeremy.


    In Bonnie''s view, the timing was simply not right for such revtions.


    "Did you two summon me here because you find yourselves unable to clear these monsters and instances without my assistance?"


    Bonnie asked with a smile upon seeing Jeremy and Ritchie.


    She posed the question in a lighthearted, joking manner.


    Jeremy returned her smile and replied, "Indeed, without your help, we would struggle to manage these instances and monsters. Therefore, in our uing endeavors, you shall take on the primary responsibilities."


    Bonnie approached Jeremy''s side, saying, "Isn''t that a bit inappropriate? After all, my level hasn''t even reached forty yet. You have already attained level fifty andpleted your awakening."


    "Alright, you two should cease the banter now. Emma and ire are about to arrive, and we ought to select a suitable instance before they get here."


    Ritchie could no longer tolerate the lighthearted exchange.


    Thus, he directly interrupted the conversation between Jeremy and Bonnie.


    Moreover, the matter Ritchie raised was indeed of greater importance.


    Jeremy and Bonnie had no grounds to refute Ritchie''s words.


    "We certainly should identify a suitable instance. I have observed an instance entrance approximately five hundred meters from here.


    The level of that instance is around forty-one. The instance is only two or three levels higher than both of you, so you shouldn''t encounter any significant danger there, and you can gain a considerable amount of experience points for leveling up.


    Meanwhile, I can ensure the safety of Emma and ire within the level forty-one instance, given that their levels have yet to reach thirty, and they would undoubtedly struggle to ensure their own safety in such a high-level instance."


    Jeremy had thoroughly considered all the circumstances.


    Bonnie and Ritchie, naturally, had nothing to say in response.


    Their immediate task was to scout the area around the entrance of the instance.


    Jeremy and Bonnie made their way directly to the entrance of the instance, while Ritchie remained behind to await the arrival of Emma and ire.


    Upon arriving at the entrance of the instance, Jeremy and Bonnie suddenly noticed that something seemed off.


    "Why do I have the persistent feeling that the difficulty of this instance is not as low as it appears on the surface?"


    Bonnie observed the situation around the instance and sensed that the monsters within were not as weak as they seemed.


    Jeremy''s expression turned slightly serious.


    "You are absolutely right. Although the instance level is only forty-one, it appears that the monsters within are of a higher level than that of the instance itself."


    Jeremy had, of course, also detected the abnormal conditions present in the instance.


    However, he felt that even if the monsters inside possessed levels slightly above that of the instance, there was no need for excessive fear.


    "I believe the difficulty of the instance being higher than we anticipated could be beneficial for us. We will be able to gain more experience points for leveling up in this instance."


    Jeremy''s statement left Bonnie with no retort.


    She could only nod helplessly in agreement, saying, "You are indeed correct, I just hope that once we enter the instance, we don''t encounter too many dangers!"


    As soon as Bonnie finished speaking, Ritchie arrived at the entrance with ire and Emma in tow.


    Upon seeing Jeremy, both ire and Emma''s faces reflected their concern.


    ire immediately directed her question at Jeremy.


    "Are you really certain that your physical condition has fully recovered? I believe you should rest a bit longer. Entering the instance to engage in battle right now seems rather perilous."


    Emma quickly nodded in agreement.


    Jeremy smiled at both of them and said, "I know you are very worried about me. But I can assure you that my condition has improved significantly."


    Although I have not been able to recover to my optimal condition, the difficulty of the instance we need to enter is not excessively high. Furthermore, this time, I have the assistance of both Ritchie and Bonnie.


    Therefore, there is no need for you to harbor any concerns, you simply need to level up to thirty as quickly as possible andplete your second ss change."


    Jeremy''s words sessfully alleviated the worries of both ire and Emma.


    Once everyone was adequately prepared, Jeremy boldly stepped into the instance first.


    ire followed closely behind Jeremy as the second to enter the instance, while Ritchie trailed after ire.


    Emma was positioned behind Ritchie, andstly, Bonnie brought up the rear.


    The reason for this specific order of entry into the instance was that Jeremy had taken into ount the particr situations of ire and Emma.


    Given that ire and Emma were not particrly strong, it was imperative that they remained within the protective range of the others.


    Thus, it was essential to have a strong individual positioned both in front of and behind ire and Emma.


    As the strongest among them, Jeremy naturally bore the responsibility of leading the way for the group.


    Bonnie, being the second strongest after Jeremy, was expected to guard the rear.


    Ritchie, situated in the middle of the formation, ensured that Emma and ire would not panic and scatter in the event of a crisis.


    The moment Jeremy and hispanions entered the instance, the overall circumstances shifted dramatically.


    What was originally a level forty-one instance suddenly escted its level to forty-three. This abrupt change sent Emma and ire into a state of panic.


    However, the expressions on the faces of the others remained remarkably calm.


    Jeremy spoke in a veryposed tone, saying, "You need not worry, the instance has merely raised its level by two. This does not imply that the difficulty has exceeded our capacity to handle it.


    You simply need to follow my lead! I will eliminate all the formidable monsters, and you can handle the weaker ones."


    Jeremy''s reassurances sessfully soothed the concerns that lingered in the minds of Emma and ire.


    Thus, Jeremy and hispanions began to level up within the instance, now rated at level forty-three.


    Under such circumstances, the rate at which Jeremy''s level increased was, of course, not rapid, however, hispanions experienced a much quicker rate of leveling up.

 Chapter 233: Each Reaching the Required Level for the Second Class Change

    Although Jeremy and hispanions encountered unexpected circumstances upon their initial entry into the instance.


    They gradually regained theirposure as they continued to navigate through the instance. The difficulty of the instance had not changed significantly.


    Despite the instance''s overall level increasing to forty-three, the monsters they encountered in the early stages of their entry were predominantly below level forty.


    "Didn''t I tell you? Even though the instance level suddenly rose by two, the overall difficulty doesn''t change drastically."


    As Jeremy led hispanions forward, he took the opportunity to exin to them how he had arrived at his earlier conclusions.


    "Whether in the realm of reality or in the world where the gods exist, I have encountered a multitude of instances.


    Although these instances exhibit significant differences, they also sharemonalities among one another.


    The level of an instance determines the levels of the monsters within it, yet the instance level does not solely dictate the difficulty of the instance. Each instance possesses a mechanism for difficulty that goes beyond mere levels."


    After Jeremy articted this statement, expressions of enlightenment appeared on the faces of both Emma and ire.


    However, Ritchie and Bonnie became even more perplexed.


    While they were aware of the information Jeremy had shared, they did not grasp the underlying reasons behind it.


    After a moment of hesitation, Ritchie directly posed a question to Jeremy.


    "Why does this situation ur? Are these instances and monsters not all generated by the apocalypse game?"


    Jeremy responded with a smile.


    "You are correct, all these instances and monsters are indeed generated by the apocalypse game.


    However, the nning of the apocalypse game involves more than just one individual."


    This remark from Jeremy led Bonnie to a sudden realization.


    Bonnie quickly interjected, "Are you implying that the varying nners of the apocalypse game result in corresponding differences in the difficulty of the instances? I believe you are right.


    This is the only exnation that can ount for the peculiar phenomena we have encountered previously. Since the strengths of the nners of the apocalypse game differ, the strength of the instances and monsters associated with them should also reflect those differences."


    After hearing Bonnie''s words, Jeremy regarded her with a look of approval.


    "You are absolutely correct.


    The instance we have now entered is imbued with the power of the Sun. All the monsters we previously encountered were rted to light and fire.


    Although the Sun is currently seeking an opportunity for resurrection, it has not yetpleted that process. Consequently, the monsters and the difficulty of the instance under its domain are naturally not too formidable."


    With the exnations provided by Jeremy and Bonnie, Ritchie, Emma, and ire were left with no lingering doubts.


    Following this, the group advanced through the instance with the utmost speed.


    Jeremy''s team spent less than half an hour reaching the deepest part of the instance.


    And at the deepest point of the instance, of course,y the boss.


    In this rtively ordinary instance, the boss took the form of a lizard that emitted a blinding light.


    This luminous lizard was not entirely unfamiliar to Jeremy and hispanions.


    Both Jeremy and Bonnie had encountered such creatures before.


    "Your shadow maniption ability is highly effective against the luminous lizard. Therefore, in the uing battle, you must take it seriously."


    Before the battlemenced, Jeremy took a moment to specifically advise Ritchie.


    Shadows and light inherently counter each other.


    If a monster imbued with light-rted powers possesses a higher level than Ritchie, then that creature will have the upper hand.


    Conversely, if Ritchie''s level exceeds that of the monster, he will naturally hold the advantage.


    Ritchie nodded in acknowledgment.


    Although he was aware that his level did not surpass that of the monsters, he also recognized that he was not fighting this battle alone.


    After giving Ritchie his guidance, Jeremy immediatelyunched an attack against the luminous lizard.


    Jeremy first utilized his talent, The King of Time and Space, to conjure an illusory portal.


    He leaped directly into the ethereal portal, only to reappear suddenly behind the luminous lizard.


    The luminous lizard was caught off guard by Jeremy''s unexpected skill, cing it at a disadvantage at the outset of the battle.


    Simultaneously, Bonnie, Emma, and ire also initiated their attacks against the luminous lizard.


    Bonnie swung her staff, casting one frost spell after another in the direction of the luminous lizard.


    Although Bonnie''s frost spells did not manage to strike the luminous lizard directly, they sessfully restricted its movement, hampering the creature''s ability to evade.


    The attacks from ire and Emma were, in truth, hardly consequential.


    Their levels were simply too low, and their strikes caused minimal damage to the luminous lizard.


    Only Ritchie remained hidden in the shadows, quietly observing the overall dynamics of the battle.


    The reason Ritchie refrained fromunching an attack was that he believed he needed to wait for the perfect opportunity to deliver a decisive blow to the luminous lizard.


    Fortunately, that opportunity soon presented itself.


    Under Jeremy''s relentless onught, the luminous lizard''s condition began to deteriorate rapidly.


    The creature was no longer inclined to continue the fight, it sought an escape route.


    In its frantic state, the luminous lizard darted perilously close to the shadow where Ritchie was concealed.


    Seizing this chance, Ritchie activated his shadow maniption skill, and instantly, the shadow of the luminous lizard fell under his control.


    Since Ritchie was currently equipped with the Ravager''s Gloves, his shadow maniption skill could even affect the lizard''s very soul.


    As a result, the luminous lizard''s speed of movement drastically decreased, and it began to experience damage on a spiritual level.


    Taking advantage of this moment, Jeremy gripped the Longsword of the Undying tightly andunched his final strike against the luminous lizard.


    The luminous lizard was swiftly eliminated under thebined assault of Jeremy and Ritchie.


    With the demise of the luminous lizard, the entire instance was thoroughly resolved by Jeremy and hispanions.


    Although Jeremy noticed that both Emma and ire had experienced a level increase, the instance was on the verge of closing.


    It was imperative for Jeremy and the others to exit before the instance shut downpletely.


    "Let''s gather all these spoils! The instance is about to close, and we cannot afford to linger here any longer."Jeremymanded decisively.


    Following his orders, the group quickly collected the loot left by the in luminous lizard and made their rapid exit from the instance.


    As thest member of the party stepped out, the instance closed definitively behind them.


    "We have sessfully resolved one instance, at this pace, we could potentially conquer three more instances of simr difficulty today."


    Bonnie said with a smile on her face.


    Although Bonnie was more concerned about her own level and those of herpanions, she was, after all, the daughter of Benjamin.


    She still took into ount the overall situation of Moonlight City quite significantly.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "You are right, but we should not rush into the next instance just yet. Two of ourpanions have already reached levels sufficient for a second ss change."


    As Jeremy spoke, he turned his gaze toward Emma and ire.


    Emma and ire, their faces alight with excitement, chimed in, "That''s right! I have already reached level 30!"


    In fact, ire had attained level 30 even before they defeated the instance boss, the luminous lizard.


    She hadn''t shared this information with the others during the instance, as she felt it would disrupt their judgment.


    Thus, ire waited until they hadpleted the instance to reveal the news.


    Emma, on the other hand, had only just barely reached level 30 after the defeat of the luminous lizard.


    "In that case, we should allow our twopanions to undergo their second ss change first. I trust you are both prepared for this transition?"


    Bonnie quickly adjusted her thoughts and, with a smile, inquired of Emma and ire.


    Emma and ire were, of course, eager to undergo their second ss change immediately.


    They both wished to catch up to Jeremy and the others. Even if they couldn''t match Jeremy, they felt it was essential to elevate their strength to the same level as Ritchie and Bonnie.


    "I am ready for my second ss change!" ire said seriously to Jeremy and the others.


    Emma hurriedly expressed her readiness as well, "I am also prepared for my second ss change!"


    Jeremy was very pleased with Emma and ire''s enthusiasm.


    "You can indeed proceed with your second ss change right away. However, I believe we need to take care of a few other matters first. Only then can we ensure that your second ss change yields the maximum enhancement."


    Jeremy had acquired a wealth of information from the ss change goddess, Janna.


    Thus, he was among the most knowledgeable humans regarding ss changes and awakenings.


    Jeremy understood very well that to gain the greatest benefits from a ss change and awakening, proper preparations must be made beforehand.


    Emma and ire trusted Jeremypletely, and they intended to follow his advice regarding the preparations for their ss changes.

 Chapter 234: Important Considerations for Different Class Changes

    "Since there are some important considerations to be aware of before the second ss change, please go ahead and share the specifics as soon as possible. I believe both Emma and ire will certainly heed your advice."


    Bonnie stated directly to Jeremy before Emma and ire had a chance to express their own opinions.


    Bonnie felt that their time was quite limited, and thus, they needed to expedite their actions.


    Emma and ire nodded in agreement, acknowledging Bonnie''s assertion.


    Upon seeing that everyone else expressed their agreement, Jeremy naturally proceeded to articte the considerations regarding ss changes.


    "Before you undertake your second ss change, you must first determine which aspects of enhancement you wish to acquire post-transition. This means you need to make a decisive choice right now.


    You must select your primarybat approach moving forward. The primary method ofbat you possess will certainly require ample enhancement."


    Jeremy conveyed to Emma and ire in a very calm tone.


    Emma and ire nodded in understanding.


    The two of them were able to grasp Jeremy''s meaning.


    ire, without hesitating for too long, directly expressed her thoughts.


    "My talents and skills are all rted to mental maniption. Therefore, afterpleting the second ss change, I would still like to enhance my abilities in that area.


    I believe that in the battles toe, I will primarily assume a support role in decision-making. I can help shield you from the enemy''s mental interference during the course ofbat."


    "And at necessary moments, I will also be able to impose sufficient mental interference on our enemies."ire asserted.


    As a psychologist, ire had not originally possessed any formidable talents in the realm of mental maniption. However, with the advent of the apocalypse game, ire awakened additional abilities rted to mental control.


    This led ire to believe that she must fully leverage her talents during battles.


    Both Jeremy and Bonnie deemed ire''s judgment to be exceptionally wise.


    With a smile on his face, Jeremy addressed ire.


    "In fact, I, too, hope that you can provide us with assistance on the level of mental fortitude in the forting battles. The monsters I encountered during the awakening instance were all associated with mental interference.


    If you possess sufficiently powerful abilities by the time I clear the awakening instance, you will undoubtedly be able to offer me tremendous support."


    ire was naturally very pleased by Jeremy''s trust in her abilities.


    "I know that my current strength is still insufficient. However, I hope you can trust me, I will certainly enhance my abilities as quickly as possible. I also wish to provide assistance to you during battles."ire expressed.


    Although ire understood that her abilities did not match those of Jeremy, Bonnie, and Ritchie, she did not feel disheartened or harbor any resentment.


    As a psychologist, ire was able to swiftly adjust her emotional state.


    She was currently facing the challenges at hand with the most appropriate psychological mindset.


    In contrast to ire, Emma was not quite as calm.


    After listening to ire and Jeremy''s discussion, Emma hurriedly turned to Jeremy and asked, "I still haven''t been able to make a decision. What do you think I should focus on enhancing in terms of talents and skills?"


    In response to Emma''s query, Jeremy provided a straightforward answer.


    Since Jeremy had known Emma the longest and understood that she was not one to overthink matters.


    He had already considered which abilities Emma should enhance during her second ss change.


    "After the arrival of the shelter game, the talent you acquired was rted to life and healing. Moreover, your healing abilities were also strengthened after youpleted your first ss change.


    Therefore, I believe you must enhance your healing talents during your second ss change. Your role in the uing battles will be simr to ire''s.


    You will also be taking on a support role. However, in terms of specific skills, you and ire differ significantly.


    ire will ensure that we are not easily subjected to the enemy''s mental interference, while you need to guarantee that we can recover our states in a timely manner duringbat.


    I feel that there is no need for you to possess anybat-oriented skills. You simply need to enhance your healing abilities."


    "If, during the process of your second ss change, you manage to acquire skills that can inflict negative buffs on enemies, I believe that would also be quite beneficial. The specifics of that decision, however, will ultimately rest with you."Jeremy stated.


    "Because during the second ss change, only you will present yourselves before the goddess of ss change. We cannot predict in advance what specific circumstances will arise during that process."


    Once Jeremy confirmed that ire and Emma had truly absorbed what he had just said, he proceeded to outline a concrete n of action.


    "ire, you must diligently utilize your mental maniption skills over the course of the next week. Only in doing so can you ensure the highest probability of enhancing your mental control abilities during your second ss change.


    Emma, you too must continuously employ your healing skills throughout the next week. The reasoning, of course, is entirely the same as for ire."


    Both ire and Emma nodded solemnly.


    They took Jeremy''s words to heart,mitting them to memory with utmost seriousness.


    "This concludes all the important points regarding the second ss change. Although there are not many considerations, you must remain vignt. There can be absolutely no room for negligence."Jeremy reiterated once more to Emma and ire.


    "Rest assured, I will certainly make use of my mental maniption skills continuously over the next week. Additionally, I will encourage Emma to persistently employ her healing skills."


    ire assured Jeremy directly.


    Jeremy nodded in satisfaction.


    "Very well then, it seems we have rified everything concerning the second ss change. Our next order of business should be to address the spoils we obtained from that recent instance."


    Since Jeremy needed to first articte the important points regarding the second ss change, the spoils acquired afterpleting the instance had been left piled beside them.


    None of them had taken the time to examine the specifics of the loot in detail.


    Once the important points were fully discussed, Jeremy and the others naturally began to inspect the details of the spoils.


    While the overall difficulty of the instance they had just cleared was not particrly high, the loot it provided was nheless quite substantial.


    The entire instance yielded five pieces of equipment and four skill books.


    These five pieces of equipment were not exceptionally rare, thus neither Jeremy, Bonnie, nor Ritchie chose to im any of them.


    Instead, they directly distributed the equipment to ire and Emma.


    Among the four skill books, only one was particrly needed by Jeremy, the other three skill books were primarily designed to enhance mental maniption and healing skills.


    "I will take this skill book, as it is extremely important to me."Jeremy stated as he picked up one of the skill books and addressed the group.


    The skill book he selected was rted to time.


    Its name was "Time Stasis."


    The Time Stasis skill would allow Jeremy to significantly slow down the flow of time for a limited duration.


    If paired with his existing talent, The King of Time and Space, the effects of the Time Stasis skill in decelerating the passage of time would be even more formidable.


    No one among the others voiced any objections to Jeremy''s actions.


    They all understood that the reason they had been able to effortlessly clear the recent instance wasrgely due to Jeremy''s contributions.


    After distributing the spoils from the cleared instance, the group began searching for their next target instance.


    Although the instances in their region were generally not very difficult, Jeremy was currently apanied by several teammates who were rtively weak.


    Thus, it was impossible for Jeremy to select instances that exceeded level 50.


    After a careful period of deliberation, Jeremy finally located the entrance to an instance that was only level 45, tucked away in a corner.


    "The instance we are about to enter is a level 45 instance. Its difficulty is slightly higher than that of the previous level 41 instance. Therefore, you all must be mentally prepared."


    Jeremy cautioned the group.


    He then turned his gaze toward ire and Emma: "Both of you must consciously make use of the skills I mentioned earlier when we tackle the uing instance."


    ire and Emma nodded in agreement.


    "Since we are all prepared, let us swiftly enter the next instance! We still have approximately six hours until nightfall, and we might have enough time to search for a new instance after clearing this one."


    Jeremy dered before stepping into the instance.


    ire and Emma followed closely behind Jeremy, while Bonnie and Ritchie took up the rear to cover them.


    Once the group entered the instance, they did not encounter any particrly dangerous situations.


    After all, Jeremy had sessfully achieved a significant enhancement in his mastery of the King of Time and Space talent during the recent battle.


    Jeremy''s strength had now nearly returned to its peak condition.


    What he needed now was simply to conclude today''s battles and enjoy a restful two days. After that, he would be ready to tackle much more challenging instances on his own.


    Naturally, Jeremy''s friends would then be free to attend to their own matters.


    ire and Emma could prepare for their second ss change, while Bonnie and Ritchie could focus on strengthening their respective skills.

 Chapter 235: The Extremely Dangerous Instance Expedition

    As Jeremy and hispanions ventured into the level 45 instance, Kean and The Son of the Sun emerged in a disheveled state from an instance located in the outskirts of the capital.


    Kean had lost all of his equipment, and his right leg was broken.


    The Son of the Sun was in somewhat better condition than Kean, yet the expression on his face was one of sheer terror.


    Several hours earlier, Kean and The Son of the Sun had entered an instance rted to the entity known as "Fool."


    Although Kean and hispanions had adequately prepared themselves for the possibility of encountering danger, and they had equipped themselves with gear that boasted formidable defensive capabilities.


    They still underestimated the difficulty of the instance.


    The moment they re-entered the instance, they realized that they had significantly underestimated the power possessed by the entity known as "Fool."


    As Kean and his party stepped into the instance, the entrance suddenly vanished from sight.


    At first, Kean, The Son of the Sun, and The Person in the Mirror managed to maintain theirposure.


    However, as they ventured deeper into the instance, they began to grow increasingly anxious.


    Naturally, the first to exhibit signs of distress was The Person in the Mirror.


    Although the two individuals apanying Kean and The Son of the Sun were exceptionally powerful.


    Within the ranks of The Person in the Mirror, their overall strength still paled inparison to that of Kean and The Son of the Sun.


    Merely half an hour after entering the instance, one of the individuals from The Person in the Mirror began to experience hallucinations.


    Meanwhile, the other member of The Person in the Mirror was grotesquely twisted into an indescribable monster by the transformative power wielded by "Fool."


    Kean and The Son of the Sun spent a considerable amount of time before they ultimately managed to eliminate the monster that had once been a member of The Person in the Mirror.


    Yet, upon vanquishing the creature, the hallucinating member of The Person in the Mirror astonishingly transformed into the likeness of Kean.


    The sudden appearance of two Keans plunged The Son of the Sun into a state of utter chaos and confusion.


    Although The Son of the Sun had been fighting alongside the real Kean, the harrowing events they had just experienced had instilled within him a profound sense of vignce.


    In an instinctive reaction, The Son of the Sun immediately distanced himself from the two Keans.


    The real Kean did not reproach The Son of the Sun, for he understood that hispanion''s response was, in fact, the most rational course of action.


    What the true Kean needed to do was tounch a direct attack on the false Kean.


    After all, the false Kean was merely a transformation of a member of The Person in the Mirror, thus, its strength could not possibly rival that of the genuine Kean.


    However, when the true Kean struck, he was shocked to discover that the false Kean possessed strength that was equal to his own!


    In the midst of the turmoil, the real Kean was severely injured by the false Kean.


    Meanwhile, The Son of the Sun, who had been observing from the sidelines, gradually began toprehend certain truths.


    During the fierce struggle between the two Keans, The Son of the Sun produced a mirror. Under the reflection of the mirror, the false Kean immediately revealed its true form.


    "Stop wasting time! Engaging in battle with him is utterly meaningless for us! Let us hasten deeper into the instance!"


    After discerning who the true Kean was, The Son of the Sun called out directly to him.


    Though the real Kean was still unclear about the circumstances, he chose to heed The Son of the Sun''s counsel.


    After all, as a descendant of the entity known as "the Sun."The Son of the Sun possessed far more knowledge than Kean, who was merely a human.


    Guided by The Son of the Sun, Kean swiftly reached the innermost depths of the instance.


    Indeed, in the deepest part of the instance, they beheld a statue of Fool.


    Beneath the Fool statuey a near-transparent mask, which floated in mid-air, radiating a peculiar energy all around.


    This transparent mask was, in fact, the treasure that The Son of the Sun had sought in this endeavor.


    However, The Son of the Sun did not retrieve the transparent mask himself.


    Instead, he instructed Kean to take the mask.


    Initially, Kean approached the task with great caution, yet as time passed, he felt his condition deteriorating rapidly.


    A multitude of strange thoughts suddenly surged into Kean''s mind.


    He found himself unable to suppress these bizarre thoughts, and he felt as if he were on the brink of insanity.


    Just when Kean was about to lose his grip on reason, The Son of the Sun ultimately decided to intervene personally.


    The Son of the Sun indeed obtained the near-transparent mask located beneath the statue of Fool.


    However, the instant The Son of the Sun grasped the translucent mask, the entire instance underwent a dramatic transformation.


    Before them, the statue of Fool abruptly morphed into an extraordinarily high-level monster.


    This creature''s level undoubtedly exceeded 60, for when Kean and The Son of the Sun beheld this formidable beast, they found themselves unable to discern any specific information regarding it.


    Upon witnessing the emergence of such a high-level monster, The Son of the Sun immediately made a decisive call.


    "We have acquired what we sought! Do not waste another moment¡ªlet us flee from this ce!" After uttering these words, The Son of the Sun charged toward the exit of the instance.


    Although the exit had vanished from sight, The Son of the Sun still remembered the path they had taken to retreat.


    Kean struggled to keep pace with The Son of the Sun as they made their escape.


    Naturally, the monstrous creature behind them would not allow them to flee without a fight.


    During their frantic flight, Kean and The Son of the Sun expended all the equipment and resources at their disposal.


    As they approached the entrance of the instance, the exceptionally powerful monster was already rmingly close behind them.


    Ultimately, it was The Son of the Sun who unleashed all of his strength, enabling both him and Kean to narrowly escape the instance.


    Although both of them were in a dire state, their spirits remained surprisingly buoyant.


    In a weakened tone, The Son of the Sun remarked, "Though our adventure in this instance was exceedingly perilous, we ultimately seeded in achieving our objective."


    "After obtaining this mask, we can proceed to the next step of the ritual. We can initiate the preliminary resurrection of the great Sun."


    While The Son of the Sun spoke, Kean fixated intently on the near-transparent mask in his hand.


    Kean could sense the immense power emanating from the translucent mask, yet he remained oblivious to the nature of that formidable force. Furthermore, he had no understanding of how The Son of the Sun intended to utilize the mask to resurrect the Sun.


    "What exactly is the purpose of this mask? Is the power contained within it capable of resurrecting the creator of the apocalypse game?"


    After pondering for a moment, Kean posed his question to The Son of the Sun.


    Under the radiant light of the sun, The Son of the Sun had already regained some of his strength.


    Thus, he was able to respond to Kean''s inquiry.


    "The power inherent in the mask is certainly not sufficient to resurrect the creator of the apocalypse game. However, this translucent mask possesses the ability to distort all rules.


    This implies that during the ritual, we can transform what would otherwise be insufficient power into adequate power. In doing so, we will sessfully resurrect the great Sun."


    The Son of the Sun unveiled his n.


    He was not concerned that Kean might suddenly have a change of heart andunch an attack against him.


    For he was in a significantly better state than Kean at that moment.


    Even if Kean were to attempt an assault, he was confident in his ability to swiftly overpower him.


    Once he had nearly fully recovered, The Son of the Sun chose to transform into a beam of light and departed.


    Before leaving, The Son of the Sun bestowed a piece of equipment upon Kean.


    "You have indeed provided me with some assistance this time, so I must reward you ordingly. This piece of equipment, while not exceedingly rare, will be of great benefit to you."


    The equipment left for Kean was a cloak capable of concealing one''s identity.


    As soon as Kean donned this cloak, he would be able to masquerade as anyone he wished to be.


    Although the duration of the disguise was not particrly long, and it wouldpletely fail if any ws were detected by others, this item remained highly useful for Kean.


    Upon seeing the disguise cloak, a faint smile finally graced Kean''s face.


    "Though I have sustained severe injuries, and all my equipment has been discarded, acquiring this cloak makes those losses seem trivial."


    Kean carefully stored the disguise cloak away.


    After confirming that he had regained enough strength to continue moving, he returned to his vi on the outskirts of the capital.


    As he arrived, the butler, Farmer, happened to return to the vi as well.


    Upon seeing Kean''s condition, butler Farmer was taken aback and asked in a concerned tone, "Young master, what has happened to you? Why are you covered in so many wounds? Did you juste from a very dangerous ce?"


    In response to butler Farmer''s inquiries, Kean offered no reply.


    He simply shook his head silently.


    Butler Farmer was at a loss for what to do, he could only escort Kean to his bedroom for the time being.


    "Young master, I believe your condition is quite dire. Therefore, I must report this matter to the higher-ups of the Lannisters. Only then can we ensure that a doctor is dispatched to provide you with treatment."


    Kean did not oppose butler Farmer''s suggestion, he quietly nodded. Then he waved his hand, signaling for him to leave the room.


    After exiting Kean''s bedroom, butler Farmer immediately dialed his uncle''s phone number.


    He felt certain that there were deeper secrets underlying this situation. It had escted beyond what he could handle alone.

 Chapter 236: An Overwhelming Crisis

    After butler Farmer sessfully connected to Kean''s uncle, he proceeded to recount in detail all the events that had transpired over the past few days.


    Butler Farmer had initially believed that Kean''s uncle would ce great importance on the information he provided.


    However, to his surprise, Kean''s uncle merely responded in a nonchnt manner, saying, "I am already aware of the information you have shared. Just continue to keep an eye on Kean."


    "If nothing more significant arises, there is no need for you to call me again. I have an abundance of pressing matters to attend to at the moment."


    After finishing this statement, Kean''s uncle abruptly hung up the phone.


    Butler Farmer found himself momentarily at a loss regarding what actions to take next.


    After contemting for a while, butler Farmer returned to Kean''s bedroom.


    "Young master, I have informed your uncle about your situation. However, it seems that he is not particrly concerned about your current state."


    Butler Farmer was aware that the rtionship between Kean and his uncle was far from amicable.


    Thus, he hoped to provoke Kean through this approach.


    It was likely that in a fit of anger, Kean might divulge information that butler Farmer was not privy to.


    However, Kean was certainly not one to fall for such a ploy easily.


    With a smile on his face, Kean replied.


    "My uncle must have a great many important matters to attend to, which is why hecks the time to check on me. I am not bothered by this."


    Since Kean had expressed his sentiments so clearly, butler Farmer had no further remarks to make.


    "The doctor I arranged for you will be arriving shortly, he will assess the extent of your injuries."


    Upon hearing these words, Kean nodded in acknowledgment.


    Butler Farmer had no reason to linger in Kean''s bedroom any longer.


    Ultimately, butler Farmer could only exit and await the doctor''s arrival.


    The doctor arrived at Kean''s vi after about ten minutes.


    He conducted a thorough examination of Kean and ultimately concluded that there was, in fact, nothing seriously wrong.


    "Mr. Kean, your injuries are merely superficial. With a couple of days of rest and some healing salves, you will be just fine."


    After making his assessment, the doctor left behind some medication and then took his leave.


    While the doctor was speaking, Kean kept his gaze fixed intently on butler Farmer.


    He sought to ascertain the true intentions behind butler Farmer''s actions.


    Kean did not believe for a moment that butler Farmer''s sole purpose was merely to serve as an informant for the upper echelons of the Lannisters. It was clear to him that butler Farmer must have his own ulterior motives.


    Moreover, butler Farmer''s interests were evidently aligned with his own personal gain, which did not always coincide with those of the Lannisters.


    However, butler Farmer had consistently maintained a posture of vignce in Kean''s presence.


    As a result, Kean was unable to discern any signs of deceit or ulterior motives from butler Farmer.


    After the doctor departed, butler Farmer went off to attend to other matters within Kean''s vi.


    Now, Kean could take the opportunity to reach out to The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror.


    Suddenly, the enormous mirror in Kean''s bedroom emitted a radiant golden light. As the golden glow faded, the figure of The Son of the Sun emerged within the mirror.


    "Why have you contacted me? Have you perhaps obtained some information of great significance to us?" The Son of the Sun expressed a slight sense of dissatisfaction toward Kean.


    To The Son of the Sun, it seemed as though they had only just parted ways a short while ago.


    The two individuals should indeed be upied with their own affairs at this moment.


    Kean nodded in acknowledgment.


    "You are correct, the reason I reached out to you is that I have obtained some crucial intelligence. However, before I divulge this information, you must answer one question for me."


    Kean swiftly approached the mirror.


    His injuries hadpletely healed, and even the wounds on his skin had mended.


    The expression on The Son of the Sun''s face grew increasingly discontented.


    "Was it not you who initiated contact with me? Why, then, must I answer your question after you have reached out to me?"


    "My question is actually quite simple. I merely wish to understand why my uncle has ceased to pay attention to me. This situation is rather peculiar.


    After all, in his eyes, I have always been the one most likely to get into trouble among the Lannisters. He should be keeping a close watch on me."


    Kean paid no heed to The Son of the Sun''s dissatisfaction, he simply posed his inquiry.


    Upon hearing this question, The Son of the Sun burst intoughter.


    "The answer to your question is quite simple, your uncle is currently facing an overwhelming crisis. He can no longer afford to pay attention to you."


    As The Son of the Sun provided his answer, he projected an image beside Kean.


    In the image cast by The Son of the Sun, Kean could clearly see a multitude of high-difficulty instances emerging in the suburbs of the capital. Moreover, the monsters from these formidable instances had broken free and were running rampant.


    The federal leadership and the various prominent families were all exerting themselves tobat these suddenly appearing, powerful creatures.


    Kean''s uncle had been in constantmunication with the upper echelons of the Lannisters, and he was also coborating with other federal leaders.


    In such circumstances, it was only natural that Kean''s uncle had no time to concern himself with Kean.


    Upon receiving The Son of the Sun''s response, a sense of relief finally spread across Kean''s face.


    "So that''s how it is! In any case, the fact that he can no longer focus on me is, in essence, a good thing for me."Kean remarked with a smile.


    He then turned his gaze towards The Son of the Sun.


    "The crucial intelligence I wish to share with you pertains to the federal leadership. They are nning to mobilize numerous powerful Awakened individuals to eliminate the instances associated with sr power."


    As soon as Kean revealed this intelligence, the expression on The Son of the Sun''s face swiftly turned grave.


    "You are not deceiving me, are you? Why would the federal leadership take such action?"


    "I assure you, I am not deceiving you. The rationale behind the federal leadership''s actions is quite straightforward, they believe that only the instances associated with sr power are easily manageable."


    "The other high-difficulty instances pose a significant challenge to confront, and even if the federal leadership mobilizes all the powerful Awakened individuals at their disposal, they may still struggle to eliminate the other high-difficulty instances in a short period."


    The intelligence that Kean provided was information he had just recently stumbled upon.


    Kean not only had allies within the Lannisters, but he also boasted connections among other federal leaders.


    These allies of Kean had ryed the information to him with remarkable speed.


    "Are you not considering taking action? If all the high-difficulty instances rted to sr power are cleared away, surely your ns will be adversely affected, will they not?"


    Kean was uncertain about the implications of the removal of sr power-rted instances on the ns of The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror.


    Thus, he could only inquire in a tentative tone.


    However, Kean was indeed being somewhat overly cautious.


    No matter what tone he used to speak with The Son of the Sun, The Son of the Sun would not be excessively concerned.


    This was due to the fact that The Son of the Sun had already been stunned to an extraordinary degree by the information Kean had provided.


    "We must thwart the actions of the federal leadership! Both The Person in the Mirror and I have offered you considerable assistance thus far, now it is time for you to aid us."


    The Son of the Sun implored Kean urgently.


    Kean nodded in acknowledgment. "I am certainly willing to provide you with assistance. However, what exactly should I do? The decisions made by the federal leadership are not easily altered."


    In response to Kean''s counterargument, The Son of the Sun became enraged.


    "You are human, and you are also a member of the Lannisters. Your understanding of the federal leadership should surpass ours. Shouldn''t it be your responsibility to devise a solution?"


    As The Son of the Sun expressed this in anger.


    All the furniture in Kean''s bedroom began to tremble violently.


    The Son of the Sun had projected his power out of the mirror.


    Kean certainly felt the force emanating from The Son of the Sun, but he did not feel fear.


    This was because Kean understood that The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror needed to coborate with him in order to have a chance to resolve the current crisis.


    "Your anger is of no use at this moment. I might be able to conceive a solution. However, my solution will undoubtedly require your assistance."


    Kean''s mind raced swiftly.


    He hoped to seize this rare opportunity to secure greater benefits for himself.


    He aimed to leverage his current statements topel The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror to grant him additional power.


    Before Kean could continue with the thoughts he had already formted, The Son of the Sun spoke directly.


    "We will certainly provide you with assistance! As long as we can stop the federal leadership''s actions, we are willing to go to any lengths! Furthermore, should your n seed, we will offer you a very generous reward."


    The Son of the Sun had lost his capacity for calm judgment.


    He was even unable to discern that Kean had ulterior motives.


    Upon hearing The Son of the Sun''s words, a smile crept onto Kean''s lips.


    "That statement alone suffices! I will formte aplete n within the next two days. Let us reconvene after those two days."


    With that deration, Kean took the initiative to end the conversation with The Son of the Sun.


    The Son of the Sun did not insist on remaining in the mirror in Kean''s bedroom, for he also needed to verify the authenticity of the information Kean had provided through other channels.

 Chapter 237: The Joint Action of Federal Forces

    After concluding hismunication with The Son of the Sun, Kean promptly reached out to his allies within the federal leadership. At longst, Kean learned the specifics of the federal leadership''s current operation from his contacts.


    This particr endeavor by the federal leadership was, in fact, a coalition of all the forces within the federation.


    The military headquarters would deploy its most elite troops, while the intelligence bureau under the federation would also send forth its finest operatives.


    In addition to the forces directly under federal jurisdiction, top-tier Awakened individuals from various cities surrounding the capital would also partake in this operation.


    The determination of the federal leadership was remarkably resolute.


    Every member of the federal leadership was eager to swiftly ensure the safety surrounding the capital.


    Moreover, the purpose of the federal leadership''s current initiative extended beyond merely eliminating the instances associated with sr powers.


    After clearing away the instances rted to sr powers, the federal leadership intended to leverage these resources in an attempt to eradicate other high-difficulty instances.


    Upon grasping the specifics of the federal leadership''s operation, Kean couldn''t help but mutter to himself.


    "It seems that devising a n to thwart the actions of the federal leadership is exceedingly challenging. I appear to need to garner sufficient allies."


    Although Kean had already formed an alliance with The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror.


    He was acutely aware that the powers possessed by The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror were not particrly formidable.


    If he aimed to devise a n capable of halting thebined actions of the federal forces, he would need to reach out to even more allies.


    However, Kean found it impossible to secure a sufficient number of allies in such a short span of time.


    As Kean grappled with the headache of preventing the joint actions of the federal forces, Jeremy and the others finally seeded in clearing the instance they had selected.


    By this time, the sky had begun to darken, and Jeremy felt that everyone should temporarily return to their respective residences.


    "We have sessfully eliminated three instances in the span of just one day. Night is about to fall, we should head back to a safe ce."


    After Jeremy spoke these words, Bonnie and Ritchie nced at the time as well.


    They all felt that it was indeed getting ratherte, and that they should return to a safe location as swiftly as possible.


    Given that everyone shared the same sentiment, Jeremy naturally led the group back to the secure area with haste.


    Upon returning to the safe zone, the group did not opt to return to their individual residences.


    Instead, they chose to gather at Jeremy''s home.


    After a day filled with battles, everyone had experienced a level increase.


    Both Ritchie and Bonnie had surpassed level 40, and the skills they possessed had been enhanced to a certain degree.


    However, their spirits were not as high as those of Emma and ire.


    This was because advancing to the third phase of the ss change, also known as awakening, required reaching level 50.


    Achieving a rapid ten-level increase was simply not feasible.


    ire and Emma, on the other hand, were extremely excited.


    Not only had they obtained the qualification for their second ss change, but they also felt sufficiently prepared for it.


    Emma directly addressed Jeremy, stating.


    "I believe we do not need to prepare for an entire week. We can proceed with the ss change tomorrow, and I feel that during the ss change process, we will indeed be able to enhance our healing skills."Emma confidently asserted.


    Her confidence stemmed entirely from her outstanding performance in thest two instances of battle.


    Emma felt that her mastery of healing skills had reached a level of perfection.


    Thus, she naturally wished to avoid wasting any more time before her second ss change.


    Although ire did not voice her agreement, the expression on her face clearly indicated her support for Emma''s perspective.


    Jeremy replied with a smile,


    "Your mastery of healing skills has indeed improved significantlypared to before. However, I believe you do not need to rush unduly. Continuing to use your healing skills over the next week will ensure that your second ss change is executed more smoothly.


    While you could indeed undergo your second ss change immediately, should any unforeseen circumstances arise, you might find yourself filled with regret."


    Jeremy''s words ultimately quelled Emma''s eagerness.


    ire promptly added, "I think Jeremy is absolutely right. We both really do not need to be overly anxious. Even if we were to rush, we wouldn''t be able to catch up to the levels of others anyway."


    After saying this, ire burst intoughter.


    Emma naturally joined ire in herughter.


    Jeremy, Ritchie, and Bonnie all wore smiles on their faces.


    As everyone was engaged inughter and conversation, Jeremy''s phone suddenly rang.


    He picked up the device and saw that the caller was Howard.


    Jeremy gestured for everyone to be quiet, then answered the call.


    "Is there something exceptionally important that prompts you to call me at thiste hour?" Jeremy inquired in a rather peculiar tone.


    In Jeremy''s view, Howard was an exceedingly rigid individual, yet he was also quite polite.


    Under normal circumstances, Howard would not contact him at such ate hour.


    On the other end of the line, Howard spoke directly, "I am indeed calling you at this hour because there is something of great significance that I wish to discuss with you.


    The federal forces have undertaken a coordinated operation around the capital. They aim to clear out some of the high-difficulty instances surrounding the capital, thereby enhancing the overall security of the area."


    Jeremy listened attentively to Howard''s words.


    The joint operation of the federal forces was certainly a considerable matter, yet Jeremy still did not grasp the relevance of this news to himself.


    After all, Jeremy did not reside in the capital, and his visits there were not particrly frequent.


    Moreover, the powers controlled by the federal hierarchy would not provide any assistance to Moonlight City.


    Jeremy felt that there was no necessity for Howard to inform him of this situation.


    "I know what you are thinking right now, you must believe that the operations around the capital have no bearing on us."Howard urately surmised Jeremy''s thoughts from the other end of the call.


    "That''s not quite how I see it. After all, the capital is the heart of the federation. I do have a vested interest in the safety of the capital."Jeremy replied, feeling slightly awkward.


    "I do not wish to discuss the safety of the capital with you. I am merely informing you of this matter because I also intend to undertake a simr operation in Moonlight City."Howard finally expressed his thoughts.


    "Although the forces of Moonlight City encountered high-difficulty instances previously and were not to me for the sudden assaults, I believe they have sufficiently recovered after a few days of rest.


    Mayor Benjamin once told me that the awakened teams within the Moonlight City government are capable of participating in the uing operations.


    Thus, I am reaching out to you to gauge your opinion. If you are willing to join in the forting endeavors, we can work together to clear out the high-difficulty instances surrounding Moonlight City."


    After hearing Howard''s proposal, Jeremy did not immediately respond.


    He felt that while he had nearly regained his strength, he could not confidently assert that he would perform exceptionally well in high-difficulty instances.


    "I have to wonder if your n is a bit reckless. Even if we pool all the resources of Moonlight City, we may not possess the capability to eliminate high-difficulty instances."Jeremy remarked.


    As soon as Jeremy finished his statement, Howard quickly retorted,


    "You are absolutely correct, which is why, before undertaking any formal actions, we should select some instances that are not as challenging for experimentation.


    If we can sessfully clear those less difficult instances, we will be in a better position to challenge the high-difficulty ones. Conversely, if we cannot even handle the easier instances, I will, of course, abandon my n."


    Howard''s response left Jeremy feeling quite satisfied.


    Jeremy addressed Howard directly, saying, "In that case, I will join you in the operation. Furthermore, mypanions will apany us as well."


    Upon receiving Jeremy''s affirmative response, Howard promptly ended the call.


    Jeremy then turned his attention to the others and detailed Howard''s n.


    After hearing the outline of Howard''s strategy, Ritchie expressed a hint of concern.


    He directly asked Jeremy, "Are ire and Emma also going to join you in this endeavor? I believe it may be rather inappropriate for them to challenge high-difficulty instances.


    They are unable to ensure their own safety, and given the nature of high-difficulty instances, we will not be able to provide them with much assistance."


    As Ritchie articted his concerns, he cast a sidelong nce at ire and Emma.


    ire and Emma''s expressions remainedrgely unchanged.


    In truth, they both concurred with Ritchie''s assessment.


    Although they had reached the required level for a second ss change, level 30 was simply inadequate for the current high-difficulty instances.


    After a brief moment of hesitation, Jeremy replied, "You are correct, therefore, ire and Emma will not participate in the uing operation. They only need to focus on preparing for their second ss change. The only individuals truly required for the forting efforts are you and me."


    Jeremy''s statement left Bonnie utterly astonished.


    With disbelief, she asked Jeremy, "Are you not nning to have me join you? Do you believe my abilities are inferior to Ritchie''s?"


    Jeremy shook his head in response.


    "That is not my intention. I merely meant to convey that if you wish to participate in the uing operations, you will need to obtain your father''s approval first."


    As soon as Jeremy uttered these words, Bonnie''s expression darkened.

 Chapter 238: Varying Preparations Among All Parties

    Jeremy gazed at Bonnie''s sullen expression, momentarily at a loss for how tofort her.


    Consequently, he decided against saying much more to Bonnie, instead wearing a smile as he addressed the group.


    "Let us conclude for today! Although I am unaware of the exact timing for the operation devised by Howard, it is imminent¡ªlikely within the next few days. You may all return and make your respective preparations."


    After delivering this statement, Jeremy stepped outside his home, apanied by ire and Emma.


    He needed to escort ire and Emma back to their residence.


    After all, it was the only way he could ensure the safety of both ire and Emma.


    Ritchie and Bonnie, on the other hand, no longer required Jeremy''s escort, as their levels had significantly increased.


    Thus, the group parted ways, each individual leaving Jeremy''s home in their own direction.


    Jeremy spent approximately half an hour transporting ire and Emma to their dwelling.


    "Make sure to follow the steps I previously outlined to you! Under no circumstances should you act impulsively or deviate from the n!"


    Before departing, Jeremy made a point to remind Emma and ire.


    ire smiled and replied, "Rest assured, both Emma and I will diligently remember what you''ve said. Even if she considers straying from your instructions, I will ensure she promptly alters her course of action."


    ire''s response provided Jeremy with a sense of reassurance.


    "That''s good to hear, then I shall return!"


    After bidding farewell to ire and Emma, Jeremy swiftly made his way back to his own home.


    Jeremy also needed to undertake certain preparations for the uing endeavors.


    Although he had gained a high level of mastery over his talent, The King of Time and Space, after enduring a series of trials.


    The difficulty of the instance he was about to enter was not to be underestimated.


    If Jeremy wished to excel in his performance, he would have to devise a strategy in advance.


    Jeremy meticulously selected his weaponry, ultimately deciding to carry only the Longsword of the Undying.


    Although he possessed several other formidable weapons, they did not synergize well with his talent, The King of Time and Space.


    With the acquisition of The King of Time and Space, Jeremy gained the ability to unexpectedly appear in locations undetectable by his enemies duringbat.


    In such scenarios, employing the most lethal weapon was essential to achieving optimalbat effectiveness.


    Naturally, the Longsword of the Undying was the most powerful weapon at his disposal.


    Once he hadpleted all his preparations, Jeremy retired to rest.


    Though Jeremy''s condition had nearly returned to normal, it had nheless exhausted all his energy.


    He needed to rest as soon as possible to ensure he could regain a vigorous state before Howard''s nmenced.


    Aside from Jeremy, the others were also engaged in their respective preparations.


    Upon returning to his home, Ritchie carefully stored away his most treasured weapon, the Ravager''s Gloves.


    "My level has now reached 41. In about a month, I should be able to advance to level 50. At that point, I will have the opportunity for an awakening."


    Ritchie was quite pleased with his current level.


    While Ritchie''s level did not match Jeremy''s, it was nheless ahead of most others.


    The preparations Ritchie undertook for the forting actions were, in essence, quite straightforward.


    He simply felt that he should retire early for the night, he did not believe he needed to undertake any further preparations.


    After all, he did not possess an abundance of equipment or weapons.


    The only powerful weapon he possessed was the one Jeremy had gifted him.


    ire and Emma did not engage in extensive preparations either.


    After all, the two of them would not be apanying Jeremy in Howard''s operations.


    They merely needed to consistently utilize the skills they had mastered over the course of theing week.


    The individual who truly required the most preparation was Bonnie.


    Upon returning to her residence, Bonnie began to seriously contemte what rationale she should employ to persuade her father.


    Bonnie was acutely aware that her father was not someone who could be easily deceived.


    She had to devise apelling reason to secure her father''s consent for participating in Howard''s uing operations.


    After over an hour of deep reflection, Bonnie finally conceived a reason that she deemed highly appropriate.


    Having formted her argument, Bonnie promptly dialed Benjamin''s number.


    "It''s quitete, what brings you to call me at this hour? If it isn''t urgent, let''s discuss it in my office tomorrow."came Benjamin''s slightly fatigued voice on the other end of the line once it connected.


    "Father, the reason I am calling you at such ate hour is that I have something of great importance to discuss. I hope you will allow me to participate in General Howard''s forting operations."


    Bonnie did not immediately reveal the persuasive rationale she had crafted to convince Benjamin.


    She believed it was imperative not to let her father perceive any hint of uncertainty in her demeanor.


    Benjamin fell silent for a moment before asking, "You are a very intelligent child, do you truly believe I would consent to your participation in such a perilous endeavor?"


    "Father! I am an Awakened! As an Awakened individual, it is only natural that I should take part in the battles! Moreover, General Howard''s mission is aimed at ensuring the safety of Moonlight City.


    As your daughter, I naturally must consider the safety of the citizens of Moonlight City. Furthermore, my current strength is far from weak, even if I were to enter a high-difficulty instance, I would be able to ensure my own safety."


    Bonnie articted her carefully thought-out reasons in one breath.


    On the other end of the line, Benjamin once againpsed into silence. After approximately a minute, he finally spoke slowly.


    "Are you truly prepared to face the immense risks that lie ahead?"


    "Yes, Father! I am indeed prepared to confront any significant risks! Furthermore, Jeremy will also be participating in this operation. He will be able to offer me substantial support throughout the course of the mission."


    In an effort to bolster her argument and ensure that Benjamin would be swayed, Bonnie deliberately mentioned Jeremy.


    On the other end, it seemed as though Benjamin let out a soft sigh.


    "Since you have made this decision, I will not oppose it. However, I expect you to be thoroughly prepared before the operationmences."


    Benjamin''s response exceeded Bonnie''s expectations.


    She had not anticipated that her father would be so easily persuaded.


    However, the current situation filled Bonnie with immense joy.


    Bonnie eximed in an excited tone, "Father, rest assured! I will absolutely ensure that I am thoroughly prepared before the operation begins! I will make sure to bring all of the equipment I possess!"


    "It is reassuring to hear your confidence! As your father, I will, of course, support your endeavor. There is nothing more to discuss, you should quickly get ready for the uing mission."


    Benjamin''s voice sounded exceedingly weary.


    Although Bonnie found this somewhat peculiar, she chose not to press the matter further.


    "Goodbye, Father!"


    "Goodbye!"


    After Benjamin hung up the phone, Bonnie swiftly adjusted her emotions.


    "I must expedite all my preparations. I absolutely cannot allow myself to bring shame to my father during this mission. If my performance in this operation is subpar, it is possible that my father may no longer support my participation in simr endeavors."


    Bonnie swiftly retrieved all the weapons and equipment she possessed.


    After a considerable amount of deliberation, Bonnie ultimately decided to carry the most powerful staff along with two pieces of defensive gear.


    "I cannot carry too much equipment, an excess of gear would significantly hinder my mobility. This would be an exceedingly dangerous situation within a high-difficulty instance."


    Although Bonnie had never actually entered a high-difficulty instance,


    her previous experiences had afforded her some insight into the unexpected situations that might arise within such challenging environments.


    Maintaining a sufficiently high level of agility is imperative in a high-difficulty instance.


    If one''s speed of action is inadequate and one''s reflexesck sharpness, then one will inevitably encounter almost unavoidable dangers within a high-difficulty instance.


    Once she hadpleted her preparations, Bonnie promptly went to rest.


    After all, it was already the early hours of the morning.


    If General Howard moved swiftly enough, he would inform Jeremy of his ns by morning.


    Should Jeremy agree to General Howard''s n, both Ritchie and Bonnie would need to be fully prepared for action within half an hour.


    In addition to Jeremy and the others'' preparations, General Howard was also ensuring that his subordinates made their final arrangements.


    "The uing operation is of utmost importance! We have never entered a high-difficulty instance before, so our understanding of these instances is exceedingly limited.


    You must be prepared for the worst possible scenarios. Only then can we maintain a sufficiently high margin for error during the course of our mission."


    Howard''s admonitions were naturally taken to heart by all of his subordinates.


    In order to ensure the sess of this mission, Howard had made a point of bringing all of his precious weapons and equipment along.


    Despite having made ample preparations, Howard still felt an overwhelming sense of unease.

 Chapter 239: The New Collaborator, Liam

    After an entire night of preparations, General Howard''s aide informed him that all the soldiers were ready.


    "General, everyone is fully prepared! We canmence the operation at any moment!"


    Howard nodded expressionlessly.


    "You all have done exceptionally well, your speed of action has exceeded my expectations by a considerable margin. I will reach out to Jeremy and the others as soon as possible."


    With those words, Howard promptly exited the office.


    His first call was to Benjamin.


    "I have made all the necessary preparations on my end, your subordinates should be able to apany me in the operation, correct?" Howard inquired, as he was quite familiar with Benjamin and felt no need for pleasantries.


    Benjamin replied, his voice tinged with fatigue.


    "My subordinates are fully prepared, they have already assembled at the gymnasium. If you wish tomence your n immediately, I will give them direct orders."


    Benjamin''s response eased Howard''s tension slightly.


    "I will be calling Jeremy next. If he agrees to my n, I will initiate the operation without dy."


    With that statement, Howard hung up the phone on Benjamin.


    He promptly dialed Jeremy''s number.


    At that moment, Jeremy was still deep in slumber, as it was merely six o''clock in the morning.


    Approximately five minutester, Jeremy finally answered Howard''s call.


    "It''s only six in the morning, did you really need to call me this early? Are you nning to execute your operation right now?"


    Jeremy''s tone carried a hint of irritation.


    Howard paid little heed to Jeremy''s tone and calmly stated over the phone, "All our preparations areplete on this end, now we are merely awaiting you and yourpanions."


    "Have youpleted your preparations or not? If you have also finished, then hurry to the city gymnasium to rendezvous with us!"


    Although Jeremy felt a twinge of anger, he understood the necessity of cooperating with Howard.


    "I have made all the necessary arrangements, I will contact mypanions. Let''s meet at the gymnasium in half an hour!"


    With that, Jeremy abruptly hung up the phone.


    Howard quickly returned to his subordinates.


    "Our allies are ready for action! Let us set off for the city gymnasium!"


    Under Howard''s leadership, a substantial force of soldiers made their way to the city gymnasium.


    Meanwhile, Benjamin''s subordinates had already gathered there well in advance.


    Approximately twenty minutester, under the gaze of the crowd, Jeremy, Bonnie, and Ritchie finally arrived at the gymnasium.


    "Are we thest ones to arrive? We shouldn''t bete, should we?"


    Ritchie asked, ncing nervously at the multitude of people inside the gymnasium.


    Bonnie shared his anxiety, feeling somewhat apprehensive as she sensed they might have indeed arrivedte.


    "We are notte, in fact, we are a few minutes earlypared to the scheduled time."


    Jeremy replied in a remarkably calm tone to Ritchie and Bonnie.


    Jeremy''s reassurance alleviated their worries, and the two of them then followed Jeremy as they made their way toward Howard.


    At that moment, Howard was situated on the observation tform of the gymnasium, engaging in a tense discussion with the individual beside him.


    It was only when Jeremy approached within a hundred meters of Howard that he noticed the arrival of Jeremy and hispanions.


    "You''ve finally arrived, I was beginning to think you would bete!"


    Howard managed to force a smile as he addressed Jeremy.


    Jeremy responded with a smile of his own, "How could that be? I am an exceptionally punctual person, I would never arrivete!"


    After saying this, Jeremy shifted his gaze toward the individual sitting next to Howard.


    The person seated beside Howard was a middle-aged man in his thirties, who was also inspecting Jeremy with a scrutinizing gaze.


    "This is Mr. Liam, the director of the Special Situations Handling Bureau of Moonlight City.


    He is also an Awakened, and this time he will lead his subordinates to join us in our operation. His presence will undoubtedly provide us with significant assistance during the course of the mission."


    Howard first introduced Liam to Jeremy.


    He then turned to Liam and said, "You should be somewhat familiar with Jeremy, correct? The Special Situations Handling Bureau must have detailed information on him."


    Liam nodded with a smile.


    "Mr. Jeremy''s reputation indeed precedes him. I have long wished to coborate with Mr. Jeremy, but I have yet to find the right opportunity.


    This mission finally allows me the chance to work alongside Mr. Jeremy. I hope that during this coboration, we can learn something valuable from one another."


    Although Liam''s tone was exceptionally calm, Jeremy couldn''t shake the feeling that there was something about the way he spoke that made him somewhat ufortable.


    Nevertheless, Jeremy maintained a facade of politeness.


    With a smile, Jeremy extended his hand toward Liam, saying, "Although this is our first meeting, I believe there is much I can learn from you."


    Liam merely smiled in response, saying nothing as he also extended his hand to shake Jeremy''s.


    "Now that we are all acquainted, allow me to borate on my n in detail."


    Howard appeared oblivious to the subtle shift in emotions between Liam and Jeremy.


    All of Howard''s attention was focused on his strategy.


    "The challenging instance we are heading to is located five kilometers from the gymnasium. While the overall difficulty of the instance is quite high, its level is not excessively daunting. The instance has an overall level of only fifty.


    Within our team, we do have someone whose level is also fifty. Therefore, he should be able to provide us with substantial assistance during this operation."


    At this point, Howard directed his gaze toward Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded, feeling a touch awkward.


    While it was true that his level was indeed fifty, he didn''t haveplete confidence in his ability to handle every unforeseen situation that might arise within a level fifty instance.


    "Before we enter the instance, I must draw your attention to its unique characteristics."


    Howard retrieved another document from his pocket.


    Within this document, Jeremy and the others could discern the specific details regarding the challenging instance they were about to approach.


    "The unique aspect of the instance we are heading to is that Awakened individuals who have not reached level thirty arepletely unable to locate the entrance.


    This implies that the instance itself has already imposed a limitation on the strength of the Awakened who can enter. I am uncertain whether this is a distinctive feature of the challenging instance we are about to enter or if all high-difficulty instances share this particr characteristic.


    While this may not significantly impact us, as we are higher-level Awakened, it does constrain the number of Awakened individuals we can bring into the instance.


    Thus, I believe it is quite likely that we will encounter challenges within the high-difficulty instance that will require extensive coboration to resolve."


    Howard shared all the information he possessed.


    Liam, Jeremy, and the others listened intently and with great seriousness.


    After Howard finished speaking, Liam smiled and remarked,


    "In fact, our Special Situations Handling Bureau has a certain level of understanding regarding the instance we are about to enter. Moreover, the information we have gathered differs in some respects from what General Howard has shared."


    As Liam spoke, he gestured for his assistant to bring over a ck bottle.


    "This ck bottle is an artifact discovered by our Bureau in the vicinity of the instance we are about to enter.


    Although this bottle may appear rather unremarkable, if you hold it in your hand, you will immediately notice a distinct chill emanating from it.


    Thus, our Special Situations Handling Bureau believes that the high-difficulty instance we are approaching is likely closely associated with the power of winter. Therefore, we must ensure that we carry an ample supply of cold-weather gear."


    Throughout this exnation, Liam kept a watchful eye on Jeremy and the others'' expressions.


    He seemed intent on deciphering some critical information from their reactions.


    Ritchie and Bonnie, however, were oblivious to Liam''s subtle gestures. They were simply frowning in contemtion, processing the intelligence provided by both Liam and Howard.


    Jeremy noticed Liam''s subtle gestures, yet he felt he could not confront him directly.


    He silently reminded himself to remain cautious of Liam during their forting actions.


    Liam had allowed everyone to touch the ck bottle.


    Each individual confirmed that the bottle indeed radiated a consistent aura of icy power.


    However, Jeremy felt that the items surrounding the instance might not necessarily be closely rted to the instance itself.


    "I believe it is unnecessary for us to specifically prepare cold-weather gear. The items found near the instance may have been drawn to this location for entirely different reasons.


    This implies that the characteristics of the instance itself may not corrte with those of the surrounding artifacts. Therefore, we should not fixate on this point."


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s remarks, Liam nodded calmly in agreement.


    "I believe Mr. Jeremy is correct, we certainly do not need to prepare any additional cold-weather gear."

 Chapter 240: The Strong Must Brave Danger

    After Jeremy, Howard, and Liam concluded their discussion regarding the information gathered about the uing instance, Howard made the decision to set off immediately.


    "We only possess this limited amount of information at present. To acquire more knowledge, we must enter the instance ourselves! Therefore, let us hasten our departure!"


    Jeremy and Liam had no objections to Howard''s resolute decision.


    Thus, Howard led the group toward the selected high-difficulty instance.


    On the way to the challenging instance, Bonnie spoke to Jeremy with a hint of concern in her voice, "The information we have about the uing instance is simply insufficient.


    "Could this lead us to encounter significant dangers within the instance? I still feel that our undertaking is somewhat too reckless."Bonnie expressed her concerns.


    In response to Bonnie''s worries, Jeremy replied calmly, "This endeavor is undoubtedly perilous. However, this is the only course of action we can take, as it is essential for obtaining crucial intelligence regarding high-difficulty instances."


    Jeremy''s statement held a measure of truth.


    Yet, the expression on Bonnie''s face remained tumultuous, although she had convinced her father to allow her participation in this mission, she had not managed to persuade herself that it would surely end in sess.


    "If you are genuinely worried, then you should withdraw from this mission. No one will me you! After all, this undertaking is inherently dangerous, and those who participate must do so of their own free will."


    Jeremy spoke directly to Bonnie.


    At that moment, he certainly was not attempting to mock her, he merely felt that this operation would not be significantly different whether Bonnie was present or not.


    Bonnie shook her head in response.


    "Since I have already decided to partake in this mission, there is no way I will back out halfway!"


    After uttering these words, the worried expression on Bonnie''s face quickly vanished.


    "I have adjusted my mindset, I will not allow myself to overthink things. I am determined to contribute meaningfully during the course of the operation."


    With her newfound resolve, Bonnie spoke to Jeremy in a tone filled with confidence.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment.


    "As long as you have confidence, that is what matters! Once we enter the instance, I will certainly provide you with assistance, provided, of course, that I still have some strength left."


    While Jeremy and Bonnie were engaged in conversation, Howard was also discussing the specific action n with his subordinates.


    Howard believed that upon reaching the high-difficulty instance, it was imperative to first send some of the more capable individuals inside. Only this approach would alleviate the concerns of everyone involved.


    The abilities of the individuals Howard had brought along were quite varied.


    If Howard allowed the weaker individuals to enter the high-difficulty instance first, it would undoubtedly lead them to feel as though he considered them expendable.


    Only by allowing the stronger individuals to enter the instance initially could he assure the weaker ones that they would not be treated as mere sacrifices during this operation.


    After discussing for a while, Howard reluctantly addressed his subordinates, saying.


    "Your abilities are not particrly strong, so you cannot apany me into the instance first. Only Jeremy and Liam are qualified to enter alongside me."


    The discussion with his subordinates ultimately reached a rather awkward conclusion.


    None of Howard''s subordinates possessed the strength necessary to warrant being the first to enter the instance.


    This predicament left Howard with no choice but to seek the support of Jeremy and Liam, who certainly had their own perspectives on the matter.


    "General, I believe that those two may not necessarily agree with your n. Therefore, you should lead us into the instance first. This way, it might put their minds at ease."


    Howard''s aide-de-camp suggested at that moment.


    Although Jeremy and Liam possessed sufficient strength, their rtionship with Howard was not particrly close.


    In fact, there existed apetitive dynamic between Liam and Howard.


    In response to his aide''s suggestion, Howard shook his head.


    "Such an action would be utterly pointless and would only serve to squander your lives. Surely, you cannot genuinely believe that the high-difficulty instance poses no dangers?"


    Facing Howard''s inquiry, his aide replied without hesitation, "General, regardless of the peril we may encounter within the instance, I will follow your orders!"


    The aide''s resolute response left Howard both amused and bewildered.


    "I am well aware that you will heed mymands, but the truth remains that your abilities do not meet my requirements. If you wish to assist me in alleviating my burdens during the forting operation, you must enhance your strength as soon as possible."


    Having delivered this statement, Howard then instructed the driver to bring the vehicle to a halt.


    He chose tomunicate with Jeremy and Liam.


    When Jeremy and Liam were summoned by Howard to a location somewhat distant from the group, both of them appeared quite perplexed.


    "General, we are uncertain as to why you have called us over today. Did we not discuss all pertinent matters before our departure?"


    Liam asked Howard quite directly.


    Although Jeremy did not voice a question, it was evident that he shared the same confusion as Liam.


    With a smile on his face, Howard replied, "Indeed, we discussed a great many topics prior to our departure. However, there remains one matter we have yet to resolve."


    Liam and Jeremy remained silent, simply awaiting Howard''s continuation.


    After a brief moment of hesitation, Howard slowly began to exin, "The high-difficulty instance we are about to enter is exceedingly perilous. Therefore, we must send some of the more capable individuals in first.


    Only in this manner can we instill the courage necessary for others to enter the high-difficulty instance. Do you find my reasoning sound? Should we proceed in this manner?"


    Liam and Jeremy both agreed that Howard''s logic was indeed quitepelling.


    If the strongest individuals did not enter the instance first, it was natural that the others would harbor greater concerns.


    "What is it that you truly wish to convey to us? Please do not continue to beat around the bush. As you previously mentioned, our time is exceedingly valuable."


    Liam said, his impatience slightly surfacing, yet he remained very courteous.


    Howard nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Since you have inquired so directly, I shall articte my thoughts inly. I believe that among everyone, the three of us possess the greatest strength. Therefore, we must be the first to enter the instance."


    I am aware that being the first to enter the instance entails considerable risk, but as the three strongest individuals, it is our duty to shoulder this responsibility."


    In response to Howard''s proposal, both Liam and Jeremy exhibited no hesitation and readily agreed.


    "Certainly, there is no issue with that. I have already informed my subordinates that I will enter the high-difficulty instance ahead of them."Liam said with a smile.


    Jeremy quickly added, "Although I have not explicitly told mypanions that I will be the first to enter the high-difficulty instance, I merely need to inform them of my decision. I am confident they will have no objections."


    Howard was exceedingly pleased with their responses.


    "Very well! Then we shall consider this matter settled!"


    After confirming that Liam and Jeremy would apany him into the high-difficulty instance, Howard returned to his vehicle and led the group onward towards the instance.


    Half an hourter, they arrived at the vicinity of the high-difficulty instance.


    Although they were still two hundred meters from the entrance, everyone could feel the overwhelming power emanating from the formidable instance.


    Liam, despite being a well-traveled and knowledgeable individual, was experiencing the sheer force of a high-difficulty instance for the very first time.


    He gazed nkly at the entrance, unable to suppress his astonishment as he remarked, "The high-difficulty instance is indeed entirely different from a standard instance."


    Jeremy, in agreement with Liam''s sentiment, nodded in approval.


    However, Jeremy was currently just observing the surroundings, he had not uttered a single word.


    At that moment, Howard approached Liam and Jeremy.


    "If you are having second thoughts, feel free to speak up. We can adopt a more cautious course of action."


    Howard made this statement because he had sensed that the power of the high-difficulty instance was even more formidable than he had previously assessed.


    Howard himself was beginning to lose confidence.


    Liam and Jeremy reacted almost simultaneously.


    In unison, they dered, "We will absolutely not regret this!"


    After uttering this phrase together, both exchanged slightly surprised nces at one another.


    "Although the power radiating from the high-difficulty instance far exceeds our expectations, that does not necessarily imply that the conditions within will be exceedingly perilous.


    I have previously encountered instances that appeared extremely dangerous but were, in reality, quite easy to navigate. I believe that the high-difficulty instance before us might be one of those cases."


    Liam merely exchanged a nce with Jeremy, then turned to Howard with a smile.


    Howard nodded in response, "In that case, let us hasten to enter the instance."

 Chapter 241: The Mirror Maze

    Upon arriving in the vicinity of the high-difficulty instance, the group immediately set about constructing a temporary camp.


    Once the makeshift camp was established, Howard shared his n with everyone. In truth, most of them were already aware of Howard''s operational strategy.


    "We possess little knowledge about the high-difficulty instance we are about to enter. Furthermore, the very nature of a high-difficulty instance signifies that it is fraught with peril.


    "Therefore, I will first lead Liam and Jeremy, the two individuals with rtively strong capabilities, into the instance. Once we have assessed the general conditions of the instance, you all may enter afterward."


    "This approach will ensure your basic safety. Although I am aware that some of you are not afraid of danger, your abilities are still somewhatcking."


    Everyone present expressed their agreement with Howard''s statement.


    After delivering his message, Howard turned his gaze toward Liam and Jeremy.


    "If both of you are prepared, then let us swiftly enter the instance."


    Liam and Jeremy nodded firmly.


    In truth, they had been ready for quite some time, Liam even brought along a particrly valuable piece of equipment that belonged to one of his subordinates.


    "We will be entering the instance shortly, so the rest of you should take a moment to rest here."


    With that, Howard led Liam and Jeremy to the entrance of the high-difficulty instance.


    At the entrance, the three of them could see flickering lights that appeared to mimic the brilliance of the night sky.


    "I will go in first, you two can decide the order in which you enter the instance."Howard dered, and then he boldly stepped into the instance.


    Liam spoke gently to Jeremy, "You take the rear, I believe your strength surpasses mine."


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment and remained silent.


    Liam then proceeded to enter the instance.


    Jeremy cast onest nce at the individuals remaining outside the instance, and then he stepped into the instance.


    The moment he entered the high-difficulty instance, Jeremy was immediately greeted by a cacophony of voices swirling around him.


    He could faintly discern that some of the voices within this noisy din belonged to familiar individuals. However, the majority of the voices eluded his ability to identify their sources.


    The mor quickly faded, and Jeremy''s attention shifted to a massive mirror standing before him.


    Howard and Liam were nowhere within his line of sight, and Jeremy had not heard either of them speak.


    This implied that upon entering the instance, the three of them had been instantaneously separated into different areas by the high-difficulty instance.


    Weaker individuals would likely sumb to panic in such a situation. Yet, Jeremy and hispanions were certainly not overwhelmed by fear.


    Each of them had prior experience in conquering instances on their own.


    Jeremy was not particrly concerned about Howard and Liam''s whereabouts, instead, he meticulously examined the imposing mirror before him.


    Surrounded by darkness, the only reflection visible in the mirror was his own. He could not see anything behind him through its surface.


    With his left hand firmly gripping the Longsword of the Undying, Jeremy reached out with his right hand to touch the mirror''s reflective surface.


    "This is merely an ordinary mirror. However, given its presence within a high-difficulty instance, it must possess some special qualities that I have yet to uncover."


    Jeremy swiftly concluded regarding the massive mirror before him.


    Although he had not detected anything particrly remarkable, he remained vignt.


    This was due to his sudden realization that the reflection staring back at him differed from his memory of himself.


    Jeremy recalled that he had a faint scar on his forehead, yet the Jeremy in the mirror bore no such mark.


    The instant he recognized the discrepancy between the reflection and his true self, the enormous mirror before him abruptly shattered.


    From the resulting fissure, a pale,rge hand shot forth with rming speed.


    Before Jeremy could react in any capacity, the ghostly hand seized him and pulled him into the mirror''s realm.


    As Jeremy regained his senses, he found himself situated within the interior of the mirror.


    When he nced back toward the mirror''s surface, he noticed another version of himself staring intently at the reflection.


    "This situation is decidedly off!"


    Ordinary individuals would undoubtedly be thrown into a state of panic under such circumstances. However, Jeremy was no ordinary person, he had already undergone the awakening of his rare talent.


    Drawing upon the gift of The King of Time and Space, Jeremy quickly sensed that the space surrounding him was rapidlypressing.


    The rate ofpression was elerating, and if Jeremy could not escape from the mirror''s world within fifteen minutes, dire consequences awaited him.


    He would bepressed into an infinitely small space, subsequently left here for all eternity.


    "There must be a way to break this!" Jeremy thought resolutely. "Although this instance is ssified as high-difficulty, it cannot possibly throw intruders into a state of absolute peril the moment they enter."


    As he contemted potential escape strategies, he also focused on calming his racing heart.


    Jeremy was acutely aware that in the face of danger, it was imperative to maintainposure.


    Once one sumbed to panic, the likelihood of making catastrophic mistakes increased exponentially.


    In a high-difficulty instance, even the slightest blunder could lead to a fate worse than death.


    In the blink of an eye, Jeremy developed a n of action.


    He gripped the Longsword of the Undying tightly with both hands and swung it forcefully toward the mirror''s surface.


    The Longsword of the Undying possessed divine lethality, which meant that even against deities, it could prove effective.


    The world within the mirror must indeed harbor the power of a deity.


    For only the strength of a deity could create an instance so fraught with peril.


    The instant the Longsword of the Undying struck the mirror''s surface, a barely perceptible fissure emerged.


    Seizing this opportunity, Jeremy activated his talent, The King of Time and Space.


    With the enhancement of The King of Time and Space, Jeremy swiftly manipted the divine energy to expand the minute crack in the mirror.


    As the tiny fissure expanded to a size sufficient for a person to pass through, Jeremy wasted no time in wriggling through the opening.


    In this manner, Jeremy escaped from the interior realm of the mirror.


    Once he emerged from the mirror''s inner world, Jeremy quickly surveyed his surroundings.


    He discovered that he was situated not far from the entrance of the instance.


    All around him stood a multitude of mirrors, each corresponding to its own inner world.


    Moreover, the distance between each mirror was rtively short.


    This implied that if someone else were to escape from the depths of a mirror''s world without paying attention to their surroundings, they could easily find themselves thrust into another mirror''s internal realm.


    One mirror after another connected to form an enormousbyrinth.


    For anyone attempting to navigate their way out of this maze, the challenge would be formidable.


    Jeremy realized that he could not afford to move freely in any direction.


    For if he ventured too far in any single direction, he would inevitably collide with the realm of another mirror.


    "Could it be that the boss of this high-difficulty instance is hiding within one of the mirror worlds? If that is indeed the case, I could potentially waste an immense amount of time searching for the instance''s boss.


    By the time I finally locate the instance boss, I will likely be utterly exhausted. At that point, I would certainly be incapable of defeating a boss of such a challenging instance."


    After carefully assessing his surroundings, Jeremy immediately began to formte a mental strategy.


    He realized that it would be utterly impossible for him to conquer the high-difficulty instance alone. In fact, he could even assert that relying solely on his own strength would not suffice to ensure his own safety.


    Jeremy quickly came to the conclusion that his most pressing priority was to locate Liam and Howard.


    "They must be nearby! They could even be in the mirror world right next to me!"


    With determination, Jeremy scrutinized the surrounding mirrors, and soon he noticed one that appeared somewhat different from the others.


    Within this particr mirror, there was a flickering point of light.


    After observing a moment longer, Jeremy was finally able to confirm that this light was indeed Howard.


    "Howard is indeed trapped in the mirror''s inner world! I must find a way to offer him some assistance!"


    After pondering for a brief moment, Jeremy activated his talent, The King of Time and Space, once more.


    Through the creation of an unknown space in front of the mirror, he briefly connected the inner world of the mirror with the unknown space he generated.


    In this manner, Jeremy managed to throw an item into the realm where Howard was located.


    "This is the best I can do for you. As for whether you can escape from the inner world of the mirror, that is beyond my control. You will have to rely on your own efforts."


    Although Jeremy had provided Howard with invaluable assistance, he could not guarantee that Howard would be able to escape from the mirror''s inner world.


    Jeremy then turned his attention to the other mirrors, hoping to locate Liam as quickly as possible.


    However, after spending ten minutes searching, Jeremy still found no trace of Liam. It seemed as though Liam had vanished entirely within the mirror maze.


    "Could it be that he has bepletely lost within the inner world of the mirror? If so, I may be unable to rescue him."Jeremy murmured to himself, a hint of worry creeping into his voice.

 Chapter 242: Eyes in the Shadows

    Although Jeremy found himself ensnared in a predicament and faced with a multitude of thoughts, he nheless remained vignt.


    In a setting surrounded by so many mirrors, Jeremy had to summon every ounce of his focus.


    As he contemted his next course of action, he suddenly sensed something behind him.


    In that instant, Jeremy instinctively reacted.


    He took a step forward, positioning himself between two mirrors to his right, and then swiftly turned around to nce at the spot where he had been standing moments before.


    The spot where Jeremy had been standing was entirely devoid of anything.


    However, Jeremy did not simply dismiss the situation.


    He always felt as though something was watching him from behind.


    This sensation was exceedingly unsettling, and Jeremy knew that if he could not identify what was observing him, he was likely to face a significant crisis.


    "The situation feels awry! I can no longer wait for Howard and Liam, perhaps I should advance alone!"


    Despite the multitude of mirrors surrounding Jeremy,


    there were passages between these mirrors, allowing him to continue deeper into the instance.


    Moreover, when Jeremy looked deeper into the instance, he noticed that the number of mirrors began to dwindle.


    Although he had yet to fullyprehend the rtionship between the mirrors and the instance, he found himself with little choice.


    Having made his decision, Jeremy activated the talent of The King of Time and Space.


    He generated a portal in front of him and began to transport himself forward through it.


    Jeremy could indeed create a portal leading directly to an area of the instance where the mirrors were less densely popted.


    Yet, he refrained from doing so, as he was acutely aware of the high risks involved.


    The portal activated by The King of Time and Space bore a certain resemnce to the mirrors, in a sense.


    If he summoned the portal deep within the instance, the immense power contained within it might well connect the portal to one of the mirrors.


    Should such a scenario arise, Jeremy would find himself thrust into the world within the mirror.


    After having navigated prior crises, Jeremy was decidedly reluctant to enter the realm of the mirrors again.


    Thus, Jeremy continued to flicker back and forth between the mirrors, evading the unseen gaze.


    After approximately ten minutes, Jeremy finally arrived at an area where the mirrors were less densely clustered.


    At the forefront of this area stood a grand door, quietly emanating an ethereal blue glow.


    Jeremy did not act immediately, instead, he took a moment to observe the door radiating the mysterious bluish light.


    Thanks to the talent of The King of Time and Space, he could sense that there was still a vast expanse of space beyond the door.


    This indicated that behind the doory the main region of the mirror maze instance, while the space he had just traversed was merely a buffer zone surrounding the entrance.


    Upon realizing this, a look of profound frustration suddenly crossed Jeremy''s face.


    "Before even entering the main area of the mirror maze instance, both of mypanions have already fallen into grave peril. Is the difficulty of this instance a bit too high?!"


    Jeremy had gained a new understanding of the challenges posed by the mirror maze instance.


    However, he would absolutely not allow himself to regret the path he had chosen, for he knew that regret served no purpose.


    Although proceeding forward would undoubtedly entail greater dangers, retreating now would signify aplete failure of their mission.


    Moreover, even if he wished to return the way he came, he might well find himself unable to exit the mirror maze instance at all.


    Upon entering the instance, Jeremy had distinctly sensed that there existed a formidable barrier separating the mirror maze instance from the reality he knew.


    Jeremy had to venture deep into the mirror maze instance to discover a means of escape.


    After taking a few deep breaths, Jeremy grasped the Longsword of the Undying tightly and slowly approached the door that radiated an ethereal blue glow.


    The moment he arrived in front of the door, all the mirrors behind Jeremy simultaneously reflected their surfaces in his direction.


    Jeremy felt an infinite number of worlds within the mirrors generating portals, surrounding his body.


    This signified that his subsequent actions would require extreme caution.


    For if he made even the slightest error, he would find himself thrust into the unknown world within one of the mirrors.


    As he passed by the previous mirrors, Jeremy carefully observed the differences between the mirrors surrounding the glowing door and those at the entrance of the instance.


    He could ascertain that the patterns on the mirrors encircling the door were far more intricate than those at the entrance.


    This likely indicated that the world contained within the mirrors near the door was more perilous than that of the mirrors surrounding the entrance to the instance.


    "I must remain utterly calm! There can be no hesitation! I am destined to seed!"


    Jeremy felt an immense pressure weighing upon him, and a thin sheen of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.


    Jeremy slowly extended his left hand toward the door that emanated an ethereal blue glow.


    The instant Jeremy made contact with the door, it swung openpletely, revealing its interior.


    Behind the doory a vast hall, shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by the faint glimmers of light emanating from above, which allowed Jeremy to barely discern the hall''s surroundings.


    It appeared that a multitude of chairs were arranged throughout the hall, while a long table upied the center of the space.


    Due to the stark scarcity of light within the hall, Jeremy was unable to clearly see what surrounded the long table.


    He could only vaguely make out that someone seemed to be seated at the head of the long table.


    Taking a deep breath, Jeremy resolved to step into the hall through the open door.


    Under normal circumstances, he had two choices before him.


    The first option was undeniably risky, which involved pressing onward into the hall. The second option was, of course, to retreat back the way he hade.


    At least during Jeremy''s recent actions, he had not encountered any immediate dangers in his vicinity.


    However, Jeremy was acutely aware that he absolutely could not turn back.


    For he could sense that the entity which had been watching him was now present behind him.


    If he were to turn back now, it would surely provoke the entity''s wrath.


    After enduring a series of previous crises, Jeremy hade to realize that his strength was insufficient to contend with the high-level monsters lurking within the mirror maze.


    After hesitating for half a minute, Jeremy ultimately stepped inside the door.


    The moment Jeremy stepped into the hall, the door that radiated an ethereal blue glow mmed shut behind him.


    At the very spot Jeremy had just upied, a cold, piercing eye lurked in the shadows.


    Jeremy''s instincts were remarkably acute.


    Throughout his prior actions, that chilling eye had remained concealed in the darkness, observing Jeremy''s every movement.


    As Jeremy approached the door glowing with an otherworldly light, the cold eye swiftly shifted to a position rmingly close to him.


    Although the cold eye had been hidden in the shadows, it would haveunched an attack the instant Jeremy turned around.


    While the cold eye was not the most formidable creature within the mirror maze instance,


    it was nheless of a significantly high level, boasting a daunting level of 62.


    Despite having undergone his awakening, Jeremy''s level remained considerably lower than that of the cold eye.


    Once Jeremy entered the hall, the cold eye vanished from sight.


    It had retreated back to the mirror-filled region.


    Standing at the edge of the hall, Jeremy was not inclined to recklessly venture deeper without fully understanding the situation at hand.


    However, as time wore on, Jeremy began to feel the temperature around him plummeting rapidly.


    This indicated that he could not afford to linger here for too long.


    With a steely resolve, Jeremy pressed forward in the darkened hall at a slow pace.


    When he was left with merely two hundred meters to traverse to the long table at the center of the hall,


    the figure seated at the head of the long table suddenly emitted a series of creaking noises.


    A figure rose from the seat.


    This figure appeared to be gazing in Jeremy''s direction.


    Faced with this situation, Jeremy felt an intense sense of unease.


    On one hand, he readied himself for a potential confrontation, on the other hand, he attempted to discern the appearance of the figure.


    "Since you have decided to attend the banquet, do not just stand there! Hurry and join us at the banquet table!"


    A clear, melodious voice rang out from the direction of the head of the long table.


    The moment Jeremy heard these words, the entire hall was suddenly illuminated.


    Caught off guard by the rapid change in brightness, Jeremy instinctively closed his eyes.


    During the brief interval that he had his eyes shut, Jeremy could hear a cacophony of voices suddenly erupting within the hall.


    These voices were strikingly simr to the din he had encountered upon entering the instance.


    Finally, Jeremy seized the opportunity to carefully decipher the nature of the chatter surrounding him.


    When he opened his eyes, he was astonished to find the hall filled with animated conversations andughter. He seemed to truly be standing amidst a lively banquet hall.


    "What are you still doing standing there? You are our esteemed guest! Naturally, esteemed guests should be seated at the banquet!"


    The young woman, dressed in a flowing white gown, smiled warmly at Jeremy from her position at the head of the long table.

 Chapter 243: The Dreamlike Banquet

    Confronted with the invitation from the young woman d in a white gown, Jeremy hesitated for a moment.


    He was acutely aware that he was likely trapped within an illusion. Everything around him was fabricated, and the girl who beckoned him was undoubtedly a mere figment of this false reality.


    Moreover, Jeremy spected that the young woman in the white dress might even serve as a phased boss for this particr area.


    "What seems to be the matter? Are you dissatisfied with the banquet? If you find this banquetcking, I can certainly arrange one that meets your approval!"


    The girl in the white dress fixed her gaze intently on Jeremy. Although her tone remained exceedingly gentle, Jeremy could detect an undercurrent of impatience in her voice.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, Jeremy ultimately resolved toply with the other party''s directive.


    After all, given the current circumstances, he had no confidence in his ability to confront her directly and emerge victorious.


    With a smile on his face, Jeremy stated, "I am thoroughly satisfied with this banquet. The level of its magnificence has exceeded my expectations, which is why I was momentarily taken aback. I hope you won''t hold that against me."


    As he spoke, he made his way toward the long table situated in the center of the hall.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s response, the young woman in the white dress replied with evident satisfaction, "I would never hold anything against you! After all, this banquet has been prepared especially for you. It brings me great honor that you find it to your liking."


    Jeremy settled into a position that was neither too close nor too far from the young woman in the white dress.


    Despite the numerous seats surrounding the long table, there were no other guests present aside from Jeremy and the girl in white.


    "Why did you choose to sit there? Do you believe that is a particrly advantageous position?"


    The young woman maintained her gaze on Jeremy, though she seemed merely curious about his choice rather than harboring any intentions of aggression at this moment.


    Jeremy nodded in affirmation.


    "From my perspective, this is indeed an ideal location. It is situated towards the center of the long table, which allows me to engage in conversation with every guest surrounding it.


    Moreover, this position is neither too far nor too close to yours. When you speak to me, I will certainly be able to hear you, and should I exhibit any discourteous behavior, it would not directly impact you."


    Jeremy''s response was impably crafted.


    After all, he had previously managed to coexist harmoniously with Bonnie, ire, and Emma, three women of distinct personalities.


    He was well aware of how to articte words that would satisfy the young woman in the white dress.


    Jeremy''s words brought great satisfaction to the young woman in the white dress.


    "Since you have chosen that seat, let us hasten to bring in the others! The banquet will not officiallymence until all the esteemed guests have arrived."


    The girl in the white dress raised her wine ss and looked at Jeremy, who feltpelled to lift his own ss in response, offering her a cordial gesture.


    Despite the exquisite wine in front of him, wafting with enticing aromas, Jeremy had no intention of consuming its contents.


    Given that the entire banquet was an illusion, it stood to reason that the wine before him was equally deceptive.


    Jeremy found himself unable to ascertain what exactly the liquid in his ss was.


    The young woman in the white dress seemed unconcerned by Jeremy''s hesitations.


    She simply downed the contents of her ss in one swift motion, then smiled as she gazed at the empty seat beside her.


    "Would you be so kind as to fetch the other esteemed guests? I believe Mr. Jeremy must be growing quite anxious."


    As soon as the young woman finished speaking, the chair beside her suddenly shifted backward.


    Upon witnessing this, Jeremy realized he had narrowly avoided a perilous trap.


    Had he chosen to sit too close to the girl in the white dress, he might have found himself in direct proximity to apletely concealed monster.


    Although Jeremy had no knowledge of the creature that remained hidden from his view, he understood that, given the current circumstances, it would be prudent to avoid direct confrontation with any monstrous entity.


    Before long, the door emanating an ethereal blue glow swung open once more.


    The gravely injured Howard and the visibly worried Liam slowly made their way into the hall.


    The moment Jeremyid eyes on the two of them, his expression underwent a dramatic transformation.


    The arrival of his twopanions confirmed his suspicion that this dreamlike banquet was, in fact, a death trap prepared specifically for them.


    "You must be acquainted with these two esteemed guests, correct? They came here with you!"


    The young woman in the white dress asked Jeremy, her smile unwavering.


    Jeremy nodded, "I am indeed familiar with both of them."


    "Although they are your guests, they exhibit apleteck of manners. They actually shattered my vanity mirror, and I waspelled to administer a small punishment to them."


    The girl in the white dress informed Jeremy with a smile, while simultaneously picking up a piece of some unknown creature''s flesh from the te before her.


    "Since they have already been punished, shouldn''t we refrain from expressing further anger towards them?" Jeremy seized the opportunity to inquire directly of the young woman in white.


    She nodded with a smile.


    "Of course, that is precisely why I refer to them as esteemed guests. You two may now take your ces at the banquet table, simply choose a seat that pleases you."


    The girl in the white dress spoke to Howard and Liam in a calm and soothing tone.


    However, Howard and Liam appeared unappreciative of her words, as they remained on high alert, cautiously scrutinizing the young woman in the white dress.


    The actions of Howard and Liam provoked a slight irritation in the young woman in the white dress.


    She slowly lowered the knife and fork in her hands, contemting that if Howard and Liam continued to hesitate in following hermands, she would not hesitate tounch an attack against the two of them.


    At that critical moment, Jeremy interjected with urgency.


    "What are you two still hesitating for? Since we have received an invitation, we ought toply with the directives of our gracious host."


    Prompted by Jeremy''s reminder, Howard and Liam settled into seats beside him.


    Although they could not fathom why Jeremy had chosen that particr spot, they instinctively felt it must be the safest ce in the vicinity.


    Once Howard and Liam had taken their seats, Jeremy smiled at the young woman in the white dress and said.


    "They haveplied with your instructions and taken their seats. Now, may we proceed to the next phase of the banquet? Before we do, I have two questions I would like to ask you. I wonder if you would permit me to do so?"


    Jeremy felt that he had been cooperating with the proceedings all along.


    Thus, he believed he was justified in asking two questions.


    The expression on the young woman''s face flickered with hesitation, but ultimately, she nodded and replied, "You may ask me two questions, but it is ultimately my prerogative whether or not to answer them."


    Jeremy nodded in satisfaction.


    "That is only reasonable. If my inquiries are deemed inappropriate by you, feel free to decline to answer. My first question is, how should we address you? After all, you are the host of this banquet.


    If we do not even know the name of our esteemed host, would that not seem dreadfully impolite? If we, as your honored guests, are exceedingly discourteous, does that not render your banquet a failure?"


    After posing his question, Jeremy borated with a plethora of supporting reasons.


    The reason he adopted this approach was simply to ensure stability.


    Although the young woman in the white dress did notunch a direct attack against him, it was evident that her strength surpassed his own.


    Thus, Jeremy had to extract more information from her without provoking her ire.


    The young woman in the white dress spoke without any hesitation.


    "This is my oversight, I nearly forgot to introduce myself. You may simply call me Scarlett. If you find this banquet to your satisfaction, you may refer to me with the honorific, Miss Scarlett."


    Upon hearing Scarlett''s response, Jeremy quickly remarked,


    "Miss Scarlett, I find your banquet to be nothing short of enchanting. I am immensely satisfied with your event, which prompts me to inquire about my second question.


    What is the ultimate purpose behind this splendid gathering you have orchestrated? Surely, you did not bring us all together merely to indulge in a dreamlike experience."


    Scarlett nodded in acknowledgment.


    "You are indeed as astute as others have imed, you are a remarkably clever individual. However, I believe that being excessively clever can sometimes be a double-edged sword.


    You know I am your enemy, and I am fully aware that you are mine. The purpose of this banquet is, of course, to ensnare all of you! Do you truly think I organized this event to celebrate with you?


    The only reason I have not acted against you directly is due to the constraints imposed by the rules of the Apocalypse Game. Currently, you have not triggered the conditions that would allow me to eliminate you outright.


    Nevertheless, I doubt you can sustain this for much longer, as yourpanions are about to enter the Mirror Maze. They will undoubtedlyck the same level of caution that you possess."


    A chilling expression graced Scarlett''s face as she slowly articted these words.

 Chapter 244: The Clones Within the Mirror World

    Scarlettid out her n candidly, harboring no doubts that Jeremy and hispanions could thwart its sess.


    After listening to Scarlett''s words, Jeremy smiled and nodded slightly.


    "Your n indeed poses a significant threat to us. However, how do you intend to usher ourpanions into the Mirror Maze instance?


    Before we entered the instance ourselves, we explicitly warned our allies. We made it clear that if we did not emerge from the instance, they should refrain from entering under any circumstances.


    Do you truly believe that your illusions can lead them to make erroneous judgments? We have a considerable number ofpanions! Furthermore, they operate as a cohesive unit!


    Even if you manage to deceive some of them, it is impossible for you to mislead everyone. Ultimately, your n is bound to fail!"


    As Jeremy articted these words, his tone exuded unwavering confidence.


    However, in truth, he did not genuinely believe the words he had just spoken.


    The reason Jeremy articted such statements was solely to extract more information from Scarlett.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s remarks, Scarlett let out a series of heartyughs.


    "It seems you are not as clever as you imagined. Do you truly think I would use illusions to persuade yourpanions? I do not resort to such lowly tactics."


    After delivering this statement, Scarlett rose from her seat.


    Behind her, a massive mirror materialized.


    Within that mirror, another version of Scarlett appeared.


    "Now, let me engage you in conversation through my clone from the Mirror World." After saying this, Scarlett swiftly exited the hall.


    The Scarlett in the mirror spoke with an air of arrogance.


    "After entering the instance, you all have traversed into the mirror''s internal world. This implies that you left behind clones within that mirrored realm.


    You cannot manipte those clones, but I possess the ability to control the manifestations within the Mirror World. I will grant those clones a fleeting capacity to appear in the real world.


    At that moment, all I need to do is send forth your clones, and yourpanions will undoubtedly believe every word I utter. They will certainly venture into the instance!"


    After the mirror version of Scarlett finished speaking, she vanished without a trace.


    Once both versions of Scarlett had departed, the atmosphere within the hall underwent a dramatic transformation once again.


    The once lively banquet hall reverted to a dark and silent abandoned chamber.


    Only Jeremy, Howard, and Liam remained within the hall.


    The excitement that once filled the air had been reced by a palpable sense of dread among the three.


    "We must act quickly! If ourpanions enter the instance, they are surely doomed!" Howard eximed urgently to Jeremy and Liam.


    Liam responded with a slight tone of resignation.


    "I, too, wish we could take immediate action. But have you not noticed that we are unable even to leave our seats? We are trapped here by Scarlett!"


    As Liam spoke, Jeremy was also attempting to establishmunication with Bonnie and Ritchie.


    His means of contacting Bonnie and Ritchie was, in essence, a miniature teleportation channel.


    Under normal circumstances, Jeremy could maintain the channel''s functionality using his gift, The King of Time and Space.


    However, Jeremy now confirmed that the teleportation channel had been sealed.


    "Not only are we unable to leave this ce, but we cannot even reach out to anyone else. If you doubt my words, try using your own means to contact someone outside the instance."


    Jeremy spoke in a calm tone.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, both Liam and Howard immediately sprang into action.


    Indeed, just as Jeremy had stated, they were unable to establish contact with theirpanions outside the instance.


    "What are we supposed to do now? Are we just going to sit here and waste time?!"


    Howard shouted at Jeremy and Liam in an uncharacteristic disy of anger.


    In Howard''s view, he had reached a point where he could no longer find a solution to their current predicament. He could do nothing but rely on Jeremy and Liam to devise a n.


    "General Howard, I believe you should try to remainposed. Even if you are exceedingly anxious, raising your voice at us is not advisable. Such behavior will only disrupt our thought processes."Liam coldly addressed Howard.


    The rtionship between Liam and Howard had never been particrly amicable, so Liam was certainly not inclined to amodate Howard under the present circumstances.


    "You two need not continue bickering, I believe that until ourpanions enter the instance, we are unable to take any action."


    Jeremy expressed his viewpoint with a tone of resignation.


    He felt that rather than ruminating here in deep thought, it would be more beneficial to take this opportunity to rest.


    "We should indeed take a moment to rest! For once ourpanions enter the instance, we will undoubtedly encounter even more perilous situations. Before that, we must prepare ourselves mentally and physically."Jeremy asserted.


    After uttering these words, Jeremy closed his eyes.


    In such a critical situation, he chose to rest.


    Jeremy''s actions left both Howard and Liam utterly astonished, for a moment, they were at a loss for words.


    Ultimately, it was Liam who grasped Jeremy''s reasoning.


    Liam also closed his eyes and began to rest, saying, "General, I believe Jeremy''s perspective is quite reasonable. Since we are currently unable to assist ourpanions, let us focus on restoring our own states."


    Liam offered this counsel to Howard.


    Howard was left speechless, yet he found himself with no other recourse.


    After wrestling with his thoughts for a while, Howard too decided to hastily take a break.


    As Jeremy, Howard, and Liam rested, Scarlett''s n was set into motion.


    Around the entrance of the mirror maze instance, the reflections of Jeremy, Howard, and Liam gradually materialized within the mirrors.


    These three were, of course, the doppelg?ngers corresponding to Jeremy and hispanions in the mirrored world.


    Upon their emergence, these doppelg?ngers swiftly departed from the mirror realm.


    They departed from the entrance of the instance under Scarlett''s urging.


    When the doppelg?ngers from the mirror world manifested in the real world, an unusual wave of energy emanated from their surroundings.


    Although these fluctuations urred around the doppelg?ngers, only those with considerable strength and keen perception could detect them.


    Ordinary individuals remained oblivious to the anomalies surrounding the doppelg?ngers from the mirror world.


    The doppelg?ngers of Jeremy and hispanions made their way directly towards the makeshift camp that had been established.


    The first to spot Jeremy''s doppelg?ngers was the aide-de-camp of General Howard, who was patrolling around the camp.


    Upon seeing the three figures, Howard''s aide rushed over to them without dy.


    "You all returned surprisingly quickly! It seems that the high-difficulty instance could not hinder you. When are we set to enter the instance? What are the specific conditions within?"


    Howard''s aide had a multitude of questions to pose.


    After all, once they entered the instance, it would be his responsibility tomand the other soldiers.


    Although Howard was incredibly powerful, he needed to coordinate his actions with Liam and Jeremy.


    The doppelg?nger of Howard in the mirror world slowly shook its head.


    "You need not ask so many questions, you simply have to follow ourmands. We havepleted our exploration of the entire instance, and you may now enter."dered the doppelg?nger of Howard.


    After speaking this statement, Howard''s doppelg?nger proceeded to pass directly by Howard''s aide.


    The doppelg?ngers of Jeremy and Liam followed closely behind as well.


    Howard''s aide was undoubtedly perplexed by the demeanor of the three individuals.


    He could notprehend the reason for such an urrence, however, he did not question the authenticity of the identities of the three before him.


    He merely apanied them as they advanced, and soon the trio, along with Howard''s aide, arrived at the front of the camp.


    "We havepleted the exploration of the high-difficulty instance, you may enter the instance and act alongside us. During the operation, you must exercise caution.


    Although the difficulty of the instance is not particrly high for us, you will still encounter some dangers."


    Stated Jeremy''s doppelg?nger, articting these words in a remarkably fluid manner.


    In terms of logical reasoning, Jeremy''s doppelg?nger was significantly stronger than that of Howard''s.


    This situation arose entirely because Scarlett believed Jeremy was the central figure in this operation.


    Thus, she reasoned that only Jeremy could persuade the others to promptly enter the instance.


    Scarlett''s judgment was fundamentally wed.


    This miscalction led to the participants in the operation not immediately entering the instance.


    Ritchie and Bonnie moved directly to Jeremy''s side.


    Although Jeremy spoke with considerable logic, they couldn''t shake the feeling that something was amiss with the Jeremy before them.


    "Are you truly certain that you have explored the entirety of the instance? Did you not previously tell me that the difficulty of the instance was exceedingly high?" Bonnie inquired, her tone tinged with slight confusion.


    Jeremy nodded, responding, "You are correct, you should indeed enter the instance quickly."


    Jeremy''s response bore no relevance to Bonnie''s question whatsoever.


    This disconnect swiftly led Bonnie and the others to realize that there was undoubtedly something wrong with the three figures before them.

 Chapter 245: Going with the Flow, Entering the Instance

    Although Bonnie had discerned that the three individuals before her were illusions, she refrained from voicing her realization outright.


    In the current situation, Bonnie was uncertain about the potential consequences of making such a statement.


    She could only approach General Howard''s aide and Ritchie, saying to them, "I believe we should consider our options more thoroughly, there is no need for us to make an immediate decision."


    Bonnie''s words left both General Howard''s aide and Ritchie feeling quite perplexed.


    Ritchie, in an unfiltered manner, retorted to Bonnie.


    "Given that Jeremy has informed us they have explored the majority of the instance''s areas, it stands to reason that we should promptly enter the instance. After all, our time is exceedingly precious."


    Ritchie, up to this point, still had not perceived the peculiarities present in the three individuals before him.


    General Howard''s aide seemed to grasp the reasoning behind Bonnie''s remarks.


    He nodded and addressed Ritchie, saying.


    "I believe Bonnie''s suggestion is indeed more prudent. There is no need for us to rush. Furthermore, we ought to consult with the personnel from the Special Situations Handling Bureau."


    After delivering this statement, General Howard''s aide quickly departed.


    Bonnie and Ritchie remained behind.


    Left to exin to the three individuals before them why they could not immediately enter the instance.


    "The three of you should be well aware that our temporary camp is quite popted. Therefore, before we proceed into the instance, we must make some preparations."


    With a smile gracing her lips, Bonnie addressed the three individuals before her: Howard, Jeremy, and Liam.


    The politeness in Bonnie''s tone was so pronounced that it prompted Ritchie, standing beside her, to regard her with a look of utter bewilderment.


    As soon as Bonnie finished speaking, Jeremy interjected directly.


    "You must act swiftly! There are numerous monsters within the instance that require your attention! While the three of us are quite powerful, we cannot eliminate all of those monsters on our own."


    Bonnie nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Rest assured, our pace will be exceedingly swift! General Howard surely has confidence in his subordinates, does he not?"


    After conversing with Jeremy for a moment, Bonnie shifted her focus directly to Howard.


    During the previous conversation, Bonnie had already determined that Jeremy''s logic in dialogue was notably more meticulous than Howard''s.


    Thus, in Bonnie''s view, Howard''s responses were bound to be riddled with inconsistencies.


    Upon hearing Bonnie''s question, Howard provided a perplexing answer without hesitation.


    "All of you must enter the instance as swiftly as possible, and my subordinates are no exception. Only with a sufficient number of individuals entering the instance can our n seed."


    Howard''s response bore little relevance to Bonnie''s question.


    Seizing the opportunity, Bonnie pressed on with another question: "Which of your subordinates do you trust the most? Who would you prefer tomand the forting actions?"


    In response to Bonnie''s inquiry, Howard''s answer remained unchanged.


    He merely continued to persuade Bonnie and the others to hasten their entry into the instance.


    Howard''s replies even left Ritchie feeling somewhat unsettled.


    Ritchie, now deeply perplexed, could notprehend the reason behind such an unusual situation.


    He leaned closer to Bonnie and asked in a lowered voice.


    "Don''t you think the three individuals before us are a bit strange?"


    Bonnie cast a surprised look at Ritchie, saying, "You''re only realizing this now? I had already discerned that these three individuals seemed rather odd. They are very likely monsters in disguise."


    Upon hearing Bonnie''s remark, Ritchie immediately donned his Ravager''s Gloves.


    Since the three individuals before them were likely monsters in disguise, it was only natural tounch an immediate attack on these creatures.


    Bonnie hurriedly intervened to stop Ritchie.


    "We cannot act impulsively right now! General Howard''s aide has gone to confer with others. They should be returning shortly, and we can coordinate our actions then."


    Bonnie''s persuasive efforts proved to be sessful.


    Although Ritchie did not retract his Ravager''s Gloves, he maintained an air of casualness.


    After a few minutes of waiting, General Howard''s aide returned, apanied by a staff member from the Special Situations Handling Bureau.


    "We have discussed for a while, and we all believe we should seize this opportunity to enter the instance."


    With a smile, General Howard''s aide addressed the group before him.


    Upon hearing these words, Jeremy, Howard, and Liam spoke in unison, "Let''s set off now, we will lead the way for you."


    The three individuals spoke in nearly identical tones, which only served to further confirm Bonnie and the others'' suspicions that these three were impostors.


    With a hint of concern, Bonnie turned to General Howard''s aide and inquired, "Don''t we already know they are fake? Then why should we act ording to their instructions?"


    "There must be trapsid for us within the instance. Moreover, I suspect that the first three individuals who entered have likely already fallen into a grave crisis.


    If we proceed into the instance, we will undoubtedly face immense dangers."


    Although Bonnie lowered her voice, the urgency in her tone was palpable to everyone present.


    Ritchie quickly nodded in agreement.


    His thoughts aligned closely with Bonnie''s.


    In Ritchie''s view, since they were aware of the traps that likely existed within the instance, they should certainly take measures to avoid them.


    The aide and the staff member from the Special Situations Handling Bureau exchanged nces before slowly offering an exnation.


    "What you say is indeed valid. We too believe that there are hidden traps lurking deep within the instance. Furthermore, the monsters within the depths are undoubtedly intent on capturing us all.


    However, we cannot simply remain outside the instance and do nothing. As you rightly pointed out, the first three individuals to enter may very well be encountering significant peril.


    I believe that their strength alone may not suffice to extricate them from the crises they face. Hence, I suggested that we should enter the instance ourselves."


    "Although our strength may not be particrly formidable, we have a vast number of individuals at our disposal. We can certainly utilize our numerical advantage to disrupt the internal dynamics of the instance.


    In doing so, the first three individuals who entered the instance might very well discover a means to extricate themselves from their crisis."


    The words of General Howard''s aide were articted with remarkable rity and organization.


    After listening to the exnation, both Bonnie and Ritchie felt that entering the instance indeed appeared to be the most sensible option.


    "The dilemma we face is quite straightforward."the staff member from the Special Situations Handling Bureau continued after General Howard''s aide.


    "Staying outside the instance allows us to ensure our own safety, but it prevents us from extending any assistance to the director and others who have already ventured inside.


    We can only offer them meaningful help by entering the instance ourselves. While this will undoubtedly ce us in a precarious position, I believe that every person here should be undaunted by the prospect of danger."


    The statements made by the Special Situations staff member ultimately convinced Ritchie and Bonnie.


    They exchanged nces, each confirming in the other''s eyes that they were in agreement with this course of action.


    "Alright then, let us promptly proceed into the instance!" Bonnie stated with unwavering determination.


    The aide to General Howard approached the three impostors: Jeremy, Howard, and Liam.


    "We are fully prepared, and we hope to enter the instance immediately. Since you previously mentioned that you could guide us, please lead the way without dy."


    After the aide to General Howard finished speaking, the three individuals before him proceeded directly toward the entrance of the instance.


    Naturally, General Howard''s aide hastened to follow closely behind.


    Bonnie, Ritchie, and the others also trailed right behind the aide to General Howard.


    Following them were individuals withparatively weaker abilities.


    Everyone within the temporary encampment was set to enter the instance, yet the vast majority remained oblivious to the fact that they were about to step into a trap.


    Nevertheless, all of them were aware that they would undoubtedly face danger upon entering the instance.


    Therefore, everyone had already prepared themselves for battle.


    Under the guidance of the three, General Howard''s aide, along with Bonnie and Ritchie, as the first to enter the high-difficulty instance, immediately found themselves ensnared in a predicament.


    Their predicament was entirely akin to that of Jeremy and hispanions.


    The moment they stepped into the instance, they became ensnared within the myriad worlds contained in different mirrors.


    Relying solely on their own abilities, they would undoubtedly be incapable of escaping from the various mirrored realms.


    However, the mere fact that they had entered these disparate mirrored worlds triggered a shift in the dynamics within the high-difficulty instance.


    In the dimly lit hall, Jeremy, utilizing his talent as The King of Time and Space, immediately sensed the spatial fluctuations of the various mirrored worlds within the high-difficulty instance.


    He realized that those waiting outside the instance had indeed entered its confines.

 Chapter 246: The Difficult Task of Making Contact

    As the group waiting outside the instance entered the high-difficulty instance, deep within the dimly lit hall of the instance, Jeremy, Liam, and Howard were hurriedly adjusting their states.


    Jeremy almost simultaneously detected that the others had already stepped into the high-difficulty instance.


    Thus, he quickly turned to Liam and Howard and said,


    "The individuals waiting outside the instance have now entered it. Moreover, some of them are already trapped in the world within the mirrors."


    Jeremy''s statement left Liam and Howard astonished, causing them to widen their eyes and direct their gaze toward him.


    "How do you know that?" Liam inquired, a hint of confusion in his voice.


    "I possess a heightened sensitivity to changes in time and space, when others traverse into the mirror world, the spatial dynamics within that world undergo a transformation."


    "Even though the mirror world and the space of the instance itself are distinctly separated, I am still able to keenly perceive even the slightest signs of their presence."


    Jeremy provided his exnation.


    He did not disclose to Liam that he had alreadypleted his awakening, nor did he reveal the fact that he had acquired the talent known as The King of Time and Space.


    Although Liam had been coborating with Jeremy after entering the high-difficulty instance.


    Jeremy still held reservations about trusting him fully.


    Liam nodded, choosing not to press the matter further.


    At this moment, Howard spoke up with a tone tinged with concern, "We must urgently provide them with assistance. Relying solely on their own abilities, they stand no chance of ensuring their safety within the high-difficulty instance."


    "You are absolutely correct."Jeremy replied, "but I believe we must first establish contact with them before taking action." In truth, Jeremy and Howard shared the same mindset.


    Although the three of them found themselves in a predicament, they possessed sufficient strength to temporarily safeguard their own safety.


    However, those who had just entered the high-difficulty instancecked such formidable power.


    Jeremy imagined that Scarlett was even now waiting at the entrance, which emitted an eerie blue glow, for the arrival of those individuals.


    "Is it possible for us to utilize your acute sensitivity to time and space to make contact with them?" Liam suggested after a moment of silence.


    "It is certainly unlikely that we can easily establish contact with anyone within the high-difficulty instance. All of ourmunication devices have beenpletely damaged."


    "Therefore, we can only rely on your acute sensitivity to time and space to establish tenuous contact with them. I believe this is currently the most feasible approach for achieving sess."


    Afterward, Liam borated on why he had considered this method.


    Both Jeremy and Howard concurred that Liam''s suggestion indeed held the highest potential for sess.


    Jeremy nodded and stated, "You are absolutely right! I will now close my eyes and focus all my attention on perceiving the changes in time and space."


    With that, Jeremy shut his eyes.


    As Jeremy''s consciousness extended, he began to make contact with the countless worlds within the mirrors.


    The vast majority of these mirrored worlds exhibited no alterations in time or space, only those situated at a considerable distance from Jeremy disyed such changes.


    However, each time Jeremy attempted to connect with these mirror worlds that experienced shifts in time and space, he found himself inexplicably hindered by an unseen force.


    After several minutes of fruitless effort, Jeremy opened his eyes and sighed in exasperation.


    "I have located some of the mirrored worlds that have ensnared ourpanions. However, each time I attempt to establish contact with these mirror realms, I find myself obstructed by an unknown force."


    Howard and Liam listened intently to Jeremy''s words.


    After a moment of contemtion, Howard furrowed his brows and asked Jeremy, "Is it possible for you to circuNovelBinent the interference of this unknown force through the use of an artifact? I happen to possess an item that can block external disturbances."


    At this point, Howard reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of earplugs.


    "Do not be deceived by the seemingly shabby appearance of these earplugs. Simply wearing them will allow you to shield yourself from any external influences."


    "However, once you don these earplugs, you must remove them within three minutes. If you exceed that duration, all of your powers will be absorbed by the earplugs."


    "If that happens, you would transition from a highly powerful awakened individual into an ordinary person. Therefore, it is imperative that you keep track of time while using these earplugs."


    Howard not only provided the artifact but also borated on the precautions necessary for its use.


    Jeremy nodded and promptly took the earplugs from him.


    "I am exceedingly sensitive to the passage of time, so I am confident in my ability to adhere to the three-minute limit. I hope you both can ensure my safety during my uing actions."


    "You should be able to manage that, right? If Scarlett returns prematurely, you must alert me immediately! We cannot afford to let her discover our little scheme."


    In response to Jeremy''s request, Howard and Liam readily agreed.


    "Absolutely, there is no problem at all, the two of us will ensure your safety."Howard replied with unwavering confidence, while Liam, standing beside him, nodded emphatically.


    With the assurance of both men, Jeremy ced the earplugs in his ears.


    The moment he donned the earplugs, Jeremy suddenly realized that he could no longer perceive any of the surrounding energies.


    The effect of the earplugs was indeed as evident as Howard had imed.


    Without wasting a moment, Jeremy closed his eyes and swiftly extended his consciousness.


    Before long, he established contact with the mirror worlds that exhibited spatial fluctuations.


    The mirror world that Jeremy established contact with was, in fact, the very realm where Ritchie was trapped.


    At that moment, Ritchie was being pursued by a myriad of strange monsters within the mirror world.


    In the face of this relentless onught, Ritchie employed a variety of tactics.


    Initially, he intended to manipte the shadows of these creatures. However, during his attempts, he suddenly realized that the monsters in the mirror world cast no shadows at all.


    Subsequently, Ritchie sought to utilize the active skills of his Ravager''s Gloves tounch attacks against the monsters inhabiting the mirror realm.


    Though this approach yielded some measure of sess, the sheer number of monsters proved overwhelming.


    Ultimately, Ritchie had no choice but to resort to a constant retreat.


    During his escape, Ritchie faintly discerned a sound near his ear.


    "I think I heard a very familiar voice. Is there perhaps another person trapped in this same mirror world?"


    Upon hearing the faint sound, Ritchie came to an abrupt halt.


    Disregarding the threats posed by the monsters behind him, he resolved to identify the source of the subtle voice.


    After a moment of careful discernment, Ritchie finally confirmed that the faint sound belonged to Jeremy.


    The instant he realized it was Jeremy''s voice, a look of tion spread across Ritchie''s face.


    "Is that you? Jeremy! I finally made contact with you! I am trapped in the mirror world right now! Please,e rescue me!" Ritchie immediately requested assistance from Jeremy as soon as they connected.


    Though Jeremy felt a twinge of helplessness at Ritchie''s words, he was nheless filled with joy.


    After arduous attempts, he had finally established contact with Ritchie.


    "I currently cannot provide you with direct assistance! However, I can certainly inform you of the method to escape the mirror world!"


    Jeremy swiftlymunicated to Ritchie. Though Ritchie felt a twinge of disappointment at Jeremy''s response, he understood that in such a challenging instance, he had to give his all and could not rely on the help of others.


    "Very well, please tell me how to get out of the mirror world! Once I manage to escape, I will quickly reunite with you."


    Jeremy remained nomittal regarding Ritchie''s suggestion.


    At that moment, he had yet to make a final decision, and he was still contemting whether or not to join forces with others.


    Joining up with others had both advantages and disadvantages, of course.


    The advantage was that those weaker individuals might indeed be able to rescue Jeremy and the others from the main hall.


    Conversely, the disadvantage was that if they congregated, they could easily be trapped all at once.


    "Let''s not dwell on other matters for now, you should focus on escaping from the mirror world as quickly as possible. The method for leaving the mirror world is not overlyplicated. You simply need to locate an illogical spatial node within it.


    Once you unleash your strongest attack upon that illogical spatial node, it will copse, causing the entire mirror world to follow suit.


    In that fleeting moment when the mirror world crumbles, you can seize the opportunity to escape. However, I must emphasize that after you exit the mirror world, your speed of movement cannot be too rapid.


    This is because the entrance to the instance is densely popted with numerous mirrors. If you happen to collide with another mirror world upon exiting, it will be exceedingly difficult for me to assist you further."


    Jeremy spoke in a single breath, conveying a wealth of information.


    He did this out of concern that the connection he and Ritchie had established might be severed at any moment.

 Chapter 247: The Long-Awaited Scarlett

    As Jeremy informed Ritchie of the method to escape the mirror world, Howard and Liam in the dimly lit hall finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "It seems that Jeremy has sessfully established contact with the others. They should be able to escape from the mirror world shortly. After that, they will likely follow the path we previously took to reach the door emanating a ghostly blue glow."


    Liam immediately made this deduction.


    However, after uttering these words, Liam suddenly realized that if the neers followed the same course of action as they had, then the consequences they faced would inevitably mirror their own!


    "Shouldn''t we prevent them from advancing along the path we took? If they fall under Scarlett''s control as well, then there will be no one left to save us."


    Liam hastily addressed Howard.


    A wry smile appeared at the corner of Howard''s mouth.


    "I believe you are overthinking this, it is quite likely that Scarlett wille directly after ourpanions. If Scarlett intends to employ the same tactics against our allies, why would she choose to leave this hall?"


    Howard''s words served as a reminder to Liam.


    A look of realization crossed Liam''s face, but it was quickly reced by a deep sense of despondency.


    "I had thought that even if our operation didn''t seed, we wouldn''t face any significant danger. Who could have anticipated that this high-difficulty instance would prove to be so incredibly challenging?


    If we fail this time, Moonlight City may very well be utterly destroyed. After all, we have essentially brought out all the strongest individuals from Moonlight City."


    Liam''s words struck a chord with Howard, filling him with unease.


    Howard had initially embarked on this mission to ensure the safety of Moonlight City.


    He never imagined that as the operation progressed to this stage, Moonlight City would be even less secure.


    "The situation is not as dire as you both believe. I am confident that we can still find a way out of this predicament."


    Just as Liam and Howard were sinking into despair, convinced that their mission was destined for failure, Jeremy''s voice suddenly reached their ears.


    At that moment, Jeremy had removed his earbuds.


    "There are still less than three minutes remaining, you can continue to establish contact with yourpanions and provide them with further assistance! This will enable them to act more swiftly."


    Both Howard and Liam were acutely aware that Jeremy had used those earbuds for less than three minutes.


    Thus, Howard directly expressed his thoughts to Jeremy.


    Jeremy smiled and shook his head.


    "I have already informed mypanions of the method to escape the mirror world. Therefore, I no longer require these earbuds. Besides, I might still need to use themter on.


    If I exhaust the three minutes right now, I will have no opportunity to use these earbuds again afterward. Moreover, I believe we must have a certain level of confidence in ourpanions.


    If we have provided them with the means to escape the mirror world and they still cannot manage to do so, wouldn''t that imply they are utterly ipetent?


    Are you truly considering coborating with a group of inept individuals?"


    Faced with Jeremy''s remarks, both Howard and Liam found themselves at a loss for words.


    "So what should we do now? Shouldn''t we also strive to extricate ourselves from our current predicament?" Liam proposed his thoughts to Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement. "We indeed ought to make an effort to escape our present situation. However, I feel that any actions we take will be futile until Scarlett''s attention has been entirely diverted.


    Therefore, my suggestion is that we take a brief respite for now. Once Scarlett''s focus has shifted, we can then work diligently to extricate ourselves from our current predicament."


    Jeremy''s proposal received the approval of both Howard and Liam.


    The three of them continued to recharge their energy in this manner.


    While the trio was recuperating, Ritchie finally emerged from the mirror world.


    The moment Ritchie stepped out of the mirror world, he was startled by the overwhelming density of mirrors surrounding him.


    "How can there be so many mirrors here?! If Jeremy hadn''t warned me, I might have collided with another mirror world. I''m so grateful for Jeremy''s assistance."


    Ritchie felt an immense sense of relief at that moment.


    After taking a closer look at his surroundings, he confirmed that he was the only one who had sessfully exited the mirror world.


    This indicated that Jeremy held him in high regard.


    Even though Jeremy had not solely instructed him on how to escape the mirror world, he was still the first to seed. This proved that he was the strongest among those whom Jeremy valued.


    Upon further examination of his surroundings, Ritchie approached a mirror.


    Inside this mirror, he saw a figure fleeing, and this figure bore a striking resemnce to Bonnie.


    Thus, Ritchie quickly deduced that Bonnie was trapped within this mirror world.


    Ritchie forcefully struck the mirror with the Ravager''s Gloves.


    The instant the gloves made contact with the mirror, a small crack appeared on its surface. Seizing this opportunity, Bonnie sessfully escaped from the mirror world.


    After emerging, Bonniemunicated with Ritchie for a brief moment.


    The two of them synchronized the information they had acquired.


    In truth, Bonnie had also received assistance from Jeremy, however, her expertisey more in magic than in sheer strength. This specialization had prevented Bonnie from finding a suitable opportunity to shatter the peculiar mirror world.


    Once both of them had stabilized their conditions, they proceeded to rescue everyone else from the mirror world, following the method Ritchie had previously employed.


    As the number of rescued individuals increased, their pace of assistance became ever more rapid.


    After half an hour, all those who had entered the instance were sessfully rescued.


    The general''s aide was not saved by anyone else, he was the only one who had managed to escape using his own strength.


    "Now that we have all escaped the mirror world, we should press onward. Remaining here is bing exceedingly perilous, given the sheer number of mirrors surrounding us."


    After a brief discussion among Howard''s aide, Bonnie, Ritchie, and the personnel from the Special Circumstances Bureau, they resolved to continue their journey.


    The group''s pace was neither too fast nor too slow, and after spending several minutes, they finally arrived at the entrance of a door radiating a ghostly blue light.


    However, before this door stood a petite figure that obstructed their path.


    This figure was d in a flowing white dress, smiling as she regarded the group.


    In response to the sudden appearance of the girl in the white dress, Ritchie, Bonnie, and Howard''s aide remained on high alert.


    "Who are you? Why are you blocking our path?"


    Bonnie stepped forward and inquired directly.


    "You may call me Scarlett."she replied, "I am not blocking your way! I am simply here waiting for you."


    "Waiting for us? Did you already know that we would being here?"


    Ritchie quickly followed up with a question directed at Scarlett.


    Scarlett nodded with an expression of utmost rity.


    "Of course, I knew you would arrive here, for it was I who brought you to this ce. Moreover, I have been waiting for you for quite some time!"


    The moment Scarlett uttered those words, Bonnie, Ritchie, and Howard''s aide came to a profound realization.


    It was evident that the three doppelg?ngers they had encountered outside the instance had been dispatched by Scarlett herself.


    Without hesitation, Bonnie and Ritchie immediately prepared themselves for battle.


    Howard''s aide loudly alerted the individuals behind him, "We have encountered a monster from the instance! All of you must ready yourselves forbat!"


    As soon as Howard''s aide shouted this warning, Scarlett''s form swiftly surged upward.


    She transformed into a colossal bear, her body enveloped in a ghostly green me.


    Scarlett unleashed a terrifying roar and then lunged toward the group.


    Ritchie and Bonnie had been on high alert, fully prepared for a confrontation, so Scarlett''s assault came as no surprise to them.


    Ritchie employed the Ravager''s Gloves to manipte Scarlett''s shadow, while Bonnie pointed her staff directly at Scarlett.


    One after another, frost spells erupted from Bonnie''s staff, hurtling through the air toward their formidable opponent.


    The frost spells, upon striking Scarlett, failed to inflict any discernible harm.


    The monstrous bear that Scarlett had transformed into was incensed by the actions of Ritchie and Bonnie. In an instant, she altered her attack target, deciding to eliminate the two audacious individuals who dared to assault her.


    Outside the door radiating a ghostly blue light, a fierce battle erupted.


    Although Scarlett possessed formidable strength, she found it challenging to secure a swift victory against the onught of the group.


    Meanwhile, within the confines of the door emanating a ghostly blue glow, Jeremy and the others quickly sensed the unusualmotion outside.


    They realized that Scarlett had engaged inbat with theirpanions.


    Recognizing this rare opportunity, the three of them resolved to break free from the oppressive grip of the shadowy hall.


    "We must act in unison! For relying solely on our individual strengths will undoubtedly prove insufficient to escape the control of the shadowy hall!"


    Before they made their move, Jeremy took a moment to remind Howard and Liam.

 Chapter 248: Unable to Cope with a Two-Front Battle

    Under Jeremy''smand, Howard and Liam executed their actions in perfect harmony with him.


    The three of them finally broke free from the oppressive grasp of the shadowy hall, allowing them to rise from their seats.


    Once away from their seats, Jeremy swiftly approached the door radiating a ghostly blue light.


    He hoped to ascertain the current state of the battle unfolding outside the door.


    If the fight outside was nearing its conclusion, Jeremy and hispanions would need to hasten their departure from the shadowy hall to support their allies.


    However, if their teammates were not easily overwhelmed by Scarlett and the conflict remained at a stalemate.


    They would not need to assist theirrades and could instead continue their advance.


    While Jeremy assessed the situation of the battle beyond the door, Howard and Liam kept a watchful eye on the other areas within the hall.


    Howard made his way toward one side of the hall, where he spotted several abandoned statues along the edge.


    Among these statues, there were a few that Howard recognized quite well, as they depicted monsters he had previously vanquished.


    Liam, on the other hand, advanced toward the opposite side of the hall, where he noticed a wall that was uneven and pockmarked.


    After a careful examination, Liam felt certain that a concealed door was hidden within this wall.


    "Hurry over and take a look! I think I''ve discovered a secret door here!" Liam called out to Jeremy and Howard after making his discovery.


    Jeremy and Howard turned their attention toward Liam''s direction.


    Both were acutely aware that Liam was currently positioned on the other side of the hall.


    Without any hesitation, Howard moved toward Liam.


    Though Jeremy felt a slight twinge of uncertainty, he ultimately decided against reuniting with hispanions at that moment.


    He reasoned that even if he wished to leave, he would be unable to open the door that radiated a ghostly blue glow.


    Once the three of them reached the other side of the hall, they began to scrutinize the uneven wall closely.


    Before long, Jeremy discovered a hidden door in an inconspicuous spot on the wall.


    "You were right, there is indeed a secret door here. However, we must cooperate to open it. While I have no idea where this door leads, I believe that it is the only way for us to proceed deeper into the instance."


    Having reflected on previous events, Jeremy felt that Scarlett was hardly the boss of the instance.


    A high-difficulty instance boss should not be so feeble.


    Scarlett was likely nothing more than a temporary gatekeeper boss.


    This meant that they had no need to waste any more time with her.


    Under the close cooperation of Jeremy, Howard, and Liam, they quickly managed to open the secret door.


    Behind the doory a straight and deep corridor, at the far end of which seemed to lurk a terrifying presence.


    Both Howard and Liam felt a twinge of apprehension.


    They believed that recklessly entering the corridor would inevitably lead them into a perilous situation.


    However, Jeremy felt that there was no reason to be overly concerned.


    Moreover, since they had already arrived at this point, they should certainly press onward.


    Their purpose this time was to explore a high-difficulty instance, how could they allow fear of danger to halt their progress?


    "Regardless of what you may think, I am determined to move forward. Our objective is to explore this challenging instance, and I absolutely refuse to pause midway."


    With those words, Jeremy stepped confidently into the corridor.


    Though Howard and Liam felt a slight hesitation, they ultimately chose to follow Jeremy''s lead.


    The moment Jeremy stepped into the corridor, Scarlett, who was engaged in battle outside the main door, became aware of his actions.


    Scarlett was in a profoundly dismal mood.


    She felt that her ns had utterly crumbled.


    Her original strategy had been to use the shadowy hall to first subdue Jeremy, Howard, and Liam, and then deceive theirpanions into entering the instance using the trio''s illusory duplicates.


    In doing so, she would easily eliminate all of theirpanions.


    Once their allies were vanquished, Scarlett could then methodically dispose of Howard, Jeremy, and Liam.


    However, the situation had unfolded far beyond her expectations.


    She found herself unable to handle a two-front battle on her own.


    Scarlett neither managed to defeat Jeremy''s allies outside the door nor could she maintain control over Jeremy, Howard, and Liam for an extended period.


    Faced with such a dire predicament, Scarlett descended into a state of panic.


    She resolved not to engage any further with the individuals before her.


    On


    Instead, Scarlett swiftly transformed into her shadow form, intending to pass through the door that emanated a ghostly blue glow and return to the dimly lit hall.


    If her speed of action were sufficiently swift, she still might be able to thwart Jeremy and the others.


    However, just as she had transformed into her shadow form and was about to make her escape, she suddenly felt her movements sluggish and hindered.


    Scarlett turned her head and was met with the smiling visage of Ritchie.


    "Have youpletely lost your senses? How dare you transform into shadow form in my presence! Do you not realize that my most formidable skill is the maniption of shadows?!"


    Ritchie''s words jolted Scarlett back to reality.


    In her frenzy, she had astonishingly forgotten that Ritchie specialized in shadow maniption.


    While transforming into her shadow form allowed Scarlett to move with incredible speed, it simultaneously rendered her vulnerable to Ritchie''s attacks.


    Scarlett harbored the desire to eliminate Ritchie, but such an act was beyond her reach.


    For by Ritchie''s side, others were already prepared for battle.


    They all understood that Ritchie''s abilities were of paramount importance, and thus, they were resolute in their intention to protect him.


    Bonnie immediately erected a barrier of ice beside Ritchie.


    Although the barrier of ice could not directly obstruct the shadow form of Scarlett, it nheless posed a significant impediment to her movements.


    In the blink of an eye, Scarlett swiftly made a judgment.


    "I have no desire to waste any more time with you all! This time, I shall temporarily let you off the hook!" After uttering these words, Scarlett immediately transformed from her shadow form into that of a bird.


    Transformed into a bird, Scarlett swiftly flew through the main door.


    Faced with Scarlett''s rapid departure, Ritchie, Bonnie, and the others felt utterly helpless.


    Despite their utmost efforts, they were still unable to detain Scarlett.


    "What should we do next? Are we supposed to continue pressing forward?" After barely achieving victory in battle, Ritchie directly inquired of Bonnie and Howard''s deputy.


    Howard''s deputy nodded in affirmation.


    "The reason Scarlett left in such haste must be that Howard, along with the other two, sessfully executed their ns. Therefore, she had to stop those three."


    "We must press on, for as we advance, we will no longer face obstruction from Scarlett. Moreover, moving forward poses a greater threat to her."


    After the deputy finished speaking, Bonnie nodded gravely.


    "My sentiments align with yours, I too believe that continuing forward is the most rational course of action for us. Furthermore, only by advancing can we reunite with Jeremy''s group."


    The staff members of the Special Circumstances Handling Bureau also expressed their agreement with Howard''s deputy''s n.


    In light of the unanimous consent among the three parties, it was only natural that everyone would proceed forward.


    Although the group was eager to move on, they would still require a certain amount of time to open the door that emanated a ghostly blue glow.


    For the time being, Scarlett need not worry about the threats posed by those behind her.


    However, upon returning to the hall, Scarlett was suddenly struck by the realization that Jeremy and the others had already entered the corridor.


    "Oh no! Their speed of action is astonishingly swift! I must thwart their progress! I absolutely cannot allow them to disturb the master''s slumber!"


    Scarlett eximed in a frenzy before hastily stepping into the corridor.


    She felt an urgent necessity to locate Jeremy''s group with the utmost speed.


    No matter what, she had to impede Jeremy and hispanions'' actions.


    Unbeknownst to Scarlett, Jeremy and the others had already set a trap for her well in advance.


    Upon entering the corridor, Jeremy immediately sensed Scarlett''s unusual presence. Therefore, he promptly presented his n to Howard and Liam.


    "Scarlett will undoubtedly pursue us, if we merely continue forward without any precautions, we are certain to fall victim to her sudden ambush. Therefore, I believe we must set a trap for her."


    In response to Jeremy''s proposal, both Howard and Liam expressed their agreement.


    "While we certainly concur on the necessity ofying a trap, what kind of trap should we set at this juncture? I believe a simple trap would not suffice to deceive Scarlett."


    Howard asked Jeremy with a hint of hesitation.


    With a confident smile gracing his face, Jeremy replied, "You need not worry about that! I can assure you that the trap I devise will be exceedingly intricate. No matter what, Scarlett will inevitably fall into it. All you need to do is follow my lead."

 Chapter 249: A Highly Effective Trap

    Under Jeremy''s guidance, Howard and Liam swiftly constructed the rudimentary framework of the trap.


    The two of them utilized the various gadgets they had brought with them to set up two traps in the middle of the corridor, positioned not far apart, capable of posing a threat to any lurking monster.


    In the space between these two traps, Jeremy employed his Time King''s talent to create a highly concealed spatial trap.


    As soon as Scarlett stepped into the spatial trap, she would be ensnared in a chaotic temporal maelstrom.


    Even if Scarlett possessed immense power, it would be nearly impossible for her to escape the influence of the temporal turmoil in a short span of time.


    This would provide Jeremy, Howard, and Liam with an opportunity tounch an attack on Scarlett.


    To ensure the trap''s sess, Jeremy deliberately ced the Longsword of the Undying within the concealed spatial trap.


    The Longsword of the Undying is positioned at the very center of the spatial trap, and anyone who enters this trap must first reach its center in order to escape.


    This implies that even if Scarlett detects the presence of the Longsword of the Undying, she must actively approach it.


    As Scarlett draws near the Longsword of the Undying, Jeremy can manipte it from outside the temporal trap tounch an attack on her.


    After setting up all the traps, Jeremy addressed Howard and Liam directly.


    "What we need to do next is actually very simple: we must patiently wait."


    Jeremy hoped to eliminate Scarlett using the trap, or at the very least, to severely injure her.


    Only once the threat from Scarlett was neutralized would Jeremy consider proceeding deeper into the Mirror Maze instance.


    If Scarlett were to pursue them relentlessly from behind, the further they ventured into the instance, the greater the dangers they would encounter.


    Initially, both Howard and Liam were not entirely in agreement with Jeremy''s n.


    Once the trap waspleted, Liam stated directly to Jeremy,


    "I believe we only need to use this trap to halt Scarlett''s pursuit. We could take advantage of the time she spends in the trap to swiftly delve deeper into the instance.


    Our objective this time is not topletely unravel the high-difficulty instance we are in. Rather, our goal is merely to investigate the specific circumstances within the high-difficulty instance.


    Thus, there is no necessity for us to take such a significant risk by waiting here for Scarlett''s arrival."


    Liam''s thoughts were quite simr to those of Howard.


    Although Howard did not voice his opinion, the expression on his face clearly indicated that he strongly agreed with Liam''s perspective.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Your n is certainly very reasonable. However, do not forget that all of ourpanions have already entered the Mirror Maze instance with us.


    If we were to proceed ording to your strategy, we might indeed find an opportunity to escape from the instance. But how would the others manage to escape? Do you truly believe their abilities are sufficient to facilitate their exit from such a high-difficulty instance?"


    Faced with Jeremy''s counterargument, Liam fell silent.


    Liam had not neglected to consider this matter, he had ultimately concluded that it was eptable to abandon those who were not particrly strong.


    In Liam''s view, as long as he, Howard, and Jeremy¡ªthe three most powerful individuals¡ªcould escape, the overall strength of the Moonlight City Awakeners would not suffer a significant decline.


    Though he harbored such thoughts internally, he could never express them directly in front of Jeremy and Howard.


    As Liam remained silent, Jeremy continued to borate further.


    "Even if the three of us can barely escape from the Mirror Maze instance, we will not be able to ensure the continued safety of Moonlight City.


    You both should be quite familiar with instances, you ought to know that one of the primary characteristics of an instance is its ability to consume the powers of any humans who venture within.


    If the Mirror Maze instance were to devour everyone except for the three of us, the power of this instance would increase dramatically.


    Ultimately, the strength of the Mirror Maze instance could escte to a level where no one would be able to contend with it. At that point, this high-difficulty instance could single-handedly obliterate Moonlight City."


    After Jeremy finished articting this point, Howard finally broke the silence.


    "I believe Jeremy''s perspective is more reasonable. Therefore, let us heed his advice! We shall remain here and await Scarlett''s arrival!"


    Since Howard had expressed his agreement, Liam naturally concurred as well.


    The three of them positioned themselves not far from the trap, prepared to wait for Scarlett''s approach.


    After five or six minutes had passed, Scarlett, now transformed into a monstrous bird, flew to a location very close to the trap.


    However, just as she was about to step into the trap, Scarlett abruptly halted.


    She transformed from her avian form back into her human guise.


    At this moment, Scarlett could clearly see that a trapy not far from her.


    Moreover, she was acutely aware that this trap was exceedingly dangerous.


    Yet, Scarlett had to press on, for her objective was to thwart the actions of Jeremy and the others.


    "Although the trap ahead is exceedingly perilous, there are no other options avable! I must cross the trap to stop those damned humans!"


    Having made her resolution, Scarlett focused all her power into her eyes.


    Her gaze radiated a ghostly blue light, and soon, silhouettes began to materialize around the traps that Jeremy and the others had set.


    These apparitions swiftly entered the trap, and the trap itself began to suffer damage at Scarlett''s hands.


    In the face of this development, Jeremy exhibited no signs of panic.


    He merely lowered his voice and quickly instructed Howard and Liam, "We cannot allow Scarlett to dismantle the trap we painstakingly set! We mustunch an attack on her immediately! Only then can we throw her into a state of confusion."


    Having uttered these words, Jeremy was the first tounch an assault against Scarlett.


    Although the Longsword of the Undying had already been ced within the spatial trap, Jeremy still posed a considerable threat to Scarlett through his innate talent, The King of Time and Space, even without any weapons.


    Following Jeremy''s attack, both Howard and Liam subsequently joined in the assault on Scarlett.


    Howard drew forth his most powerful weapon, an elegantly designed antique pistol.


    This antique pistol had the unique ability to transform Howard''s power into tangible bullets.


    Liam drew forth what appeared to be an ordinary staff. However, with each flourish of the staff in Liam''s grasp, a series of zing fireballs hurtled toward Scarlett.


    Liam was a highly skilled mage, particrly adept at fire-based attacks, and all his abilities were intricately tied to the power of fire elements.


    Moreover, the staff he wielded was capable of enhancing fire element spells.


    In the face of thebined assaults from Jeremy, Howard, and Liam, Scarlett remained remarkably unfazed.


    Scarlett had already discerned that Jeremy was the strongest among the three.


    Thus, she chose to directly target Jeremy.


    Scarlett summoned a mirror before her and then stepped into it.


    As Scarlett entered the mirror, the space surrounding Jeremy, Howard, and Liam underwent a violent transformation.


    It seemed as though the very fabric of their space was being drawn into the mirror.


    Even in the midst of this unforeseen predicament, Jeremy managed to maintain hisposure.


    Just as Jeremy was about to be pulled into the mirror, he sessfully activated the spatial trap he had just set.


    Utilizing his innate talent, The King of Time and Space, Jeremypletely inverted the structure of the spatial trap.


    This maneuver caused the spatial trap to be drawn into Scarlett''s mirror realm before Jeremy and the others were.


    Along with the spatial trap, the Longsword of the Undying was also pulled into the mirrored world.


    The instant the Longsword of the Undying entered the mirror realm, Jeremy manipted it from outside to strike at the singrity of the mirror world.


    Through Jeremy''s efforts, the mirror realm constructed by Scarlett copsed entirely.


    Scarlett herself was forcibly ejected from the shattered mirror world.


    The moment Scarlett emerged from the mirror realm, she unwittingly stepped into the trap that Jeremy and the others had prepared.


    As the trap was triggered, Jeremy, Howard, and Liam joined forces to eliminate Scarlett.


    In the instant of her defeat, Scarlett''s body transformed entirely into a ghostly blue light.


    This ethereal blue light spread outward, swiftly dissipating into the shadowy corridor surrounding them.


    Before beingpletely extinguished, Scarlett managed to utter a final, venomous threat.


    "You wretched humans, even if you seed in defeating me, it does not guarantee that you will escape from the Mirror Maze. My magnificent master will undoubtedly annihte you all!"


    Jeremy, Howard, and Liam paid little heed to Scarlett''s parting words.


    They had heard many simr promations from adversaries before.


    No enemy would easily concede defeat, especially not Scarlett, who was a phase boss within the Mirror Maze instance.


    There was a possibility that she could harness the powers of the Mirror Maze to resurrect herself yet again.


    Nheless, Scarlett''s ominous statement provided Jeremy and hispanions with a crucial piece of information.


    It indicated that there indeed existed exceptionally powerful monsters deep within the instance.

 Chapter 250: Divergence in Action

    Having sessfully eliminated Scarlett, Jeremy and hispanions were finally free to advance deeper into the Mirror Maze instance without any lingering concerns.


    However, just as the three of them intended to proceed, a resounding crash erupted from behind them.


    The trio immediately decided to investigate the source of the thunderous noise.


    It did not take long for them to ascertain that the sound originated from the grand entrance, where a door radiating ghostly blue light had copsed entirely.


    With the barrier of the once-illuminated door removed, the three of them were able to establish contact with theirrades.


    "We can finally reunite with the others, I believe we should wait for them right here."


    Howard stated directly to Jeremy and Liam.


    Without hesitation, Liam expressed his agreement, while Jeremy appeared somewhat hesitant.


    In Jeremy''s eyes, the three of them possessed the strongest capabilities. Thus, it made sense for them to continue their journey deeper into the instance.


    There was no necessity for them to wait here for the arrival of others.


    Even if the others managed to join them, their strength would not be sufficient to continue delving deeper into the instance.


    However, with Howard and Liam in unanimous agreement, Jeremy found no reason to contradict their perspectives.


    Thus, the three of them stepped out from the corridor.


    Ultimately, Jeremy and hispanions sessfully reunited in the grand hall.


    Upon seeing Jeremy, Bonnie and Ritchie disyed expressions of delight.


    The two of them hurried over to Jeremy''s side at the fastest pace possible.


    "Didn''t we perform exceedingly well this time, exceeding your expectations?"


    Ritchie asked Jeremy, a smug smile adorning his face.


    "You merely provided me with a means to escape from the mirror world, in the end, I managed to extricate myself without relying on your power. I believe my performance was significantly stronger than before."


    Ritchie hoped that Jeremy would offer him some praise.


    In Ritchie''s view, his performance within the Mirror Maze instance had been truly remarkable.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Your performance was indeedmendable, but it did not surpass my expectations. Given your capabilities, I felt you should have demonstrated such excellence long ago."


    Jeremy''s words left Ritchie feeling somewhat awkward.


    However, Bonnie did not allow Ritchie to feel ufortable for long, as she had plenty she wished to discuss with Jeremy.


    "We encountered monsters disguised as you, Howard, and Liam at the temporary camp outside the instance. It was those very creatures that led us into the instance.


    What are your thoughts on the origins of these monsters? How much do you know about the Mirror Maze instance? We found ourselves trapped outside a door radiating a ghostly blue light, and we even fought against a girl d in a white dress.


    However, she suddenly vanished without warning. Shortly thereafter, the door glowing with blue light copsed unexpectedly.


    All of this has left me utterly perplexed, surely you can help rify my confusion?"


    In response to Bonnie''s inquiries, Jeremy quickly provided answers.


    Once it became clear that everything was orchestrated by the girl in the white dress, Bonnie let out a slight sigh of relief.


    Although Scarlett was indeed formidable, she had ultimately been defeated by those who had exposed her.


    They no longer needed to worry about Scarlett posing any threat to them.


    "So, should we continue deeper into the instance?"


    Bonnie asked, echoing the sentiments of Howard and Liam.


    Jeremy''s expression froze momentarily. "Why do you ask that? Wasn''t our initial objective to explore the entirety of the instance? We should certainly proceed deeper into it."


    In light of Jeremy''s response, a hint of concern appeared on Bonnie''s face.


    "Our previous n was indeed to explore the entirety of the instance, but we have scarcely just entered before encountering such a multitude of dangers.


    It is certain that the depths of the instance harbor threats beyond our capacity to confront.


    Therefore, I believe it is unnecessary for us to venture further into the depths of the instance.


    We can easily return with the information we have gathered and allocate some time to enhance our own strengths.


    Once each of us has achieved a certain level of improvement, it would be far safer and more prudent to delve deeper into the instance."


    Bonnie''s thoughts aligned perfectly with those of Howard and Liam.


    Upon hearing Bonnie''s words, Jeremy''s expression shifted to one of noticeable difort.


    It suddenly dawned on Jeremy that the others, aside from himself, were likely sharing the same mindset.


    "I understand your perspective, but I cannot make a decision on my own. I will discuss this with the others."


    Having said that, Jeremy proceeded directly to find Howard and Liam.


    While Jeremy conversed with hispanions, Howard and Liam were engaged in discussions with their subordinates.


    As Jeremy approached not far from Howard, Howard turned to look back.


    At that moment, Liam also joined the two of them.


    "Mypanions believe there is no need to rush into the depths of the instance. Their thoughts mirror yours, what do your respective subordinates think?"


    Jeremy was the first to break the silence, addressing Howard and Liam candidly.


    Howard cleared his throat a couple of times. "The opinions of my subordinates align with mine. They also feel there is no necessity to hastily explore the more challenging depths of the instance."


    Liam promptly added, "My subordinates share the same sentiment."


    In light of their responses, a faint smile of resignation appeared on Jeremy''s face.


    "It seems that all of you share the same perspective, I suppose I will have to venture into the depths of the instance alone."


    Jeremy had no intention of altering his ns.


    In his view, when divergences arise during the course of action, individuals should proceed ording to their own convictions.


    If the others wished to temporarily retreat to a ce of safety, then so be it, they could return.


    Jeremy had long since grown ustomed to embarking on perilous adventures solo.


    After making this statement, Jeremy intended to proceed directly into the depths of the instance.


    However, Howard and Liam hurriedly called out to him.


    "Why would you do such a thing? Do you truly believe that all of our judgments are incorrect?" Howard''s tone had begun to exhibit a hint of irritation.


    In Howard''s eyes, Jeremy ought to heed their counsel.


    Since everyone except Jeremy felt that there was no need to hastily delve deeper into the instance at this time, it was only logical for Jeremy to withdraw alongside them.


    If Jeremy were to act alone and ultimately failed to emerge sessfully from the challenging instance, they would all regret it for the rest of their lives.


    Liam promptly added.


    "I know you are incredibly brave! However, there is a distinct difference between bravery and recklessness. Venturing alone into the depths of the instance is not an act of courage, it is sheer folly."


    Faced with the persuasive words of Howard and Liam, Jeremy found himself wavering slightly.


    He had already utilized most of the equipment and weapons he had meticulously prepared for this venture.


    The Longsword of the Undying would not be avable for use again in the immediate future.


    If he were to venture into the instance alone, it was indeed quite possible that he might never return.


    Noticing the hesitation etched on Jeremy''s face, Liam seized the opportunity to continue his persuasion.


    "We have sessfully defeated Scarlett, which signifies that the phase bosses of this high-difficulty instance are not entirely insurmountable.


    All we need to do is bring back the information we have gathered and conduct a thorough analysis, we can then devise aprehensive strategy for easily navigating the initial stages of the high-difficulty instance."


    "In this way, when we re-enter the high-difficulty instance, it will be significantly easier for us. You won''t have to worry about exhausting all your trump cards before reaching the innermost depths of the instance again."


    Liam''s persuasive words ultimately proved sessful.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "You are right, it appears that I have not considered this matter thoroughly enough. Let us withdraw from the high-difficulty instance for now."


    Upon receiving Jeremy''s consent, both Howard and Liam let out a sigh of relief.


    Thus, Jeremy, Howard, and Liam led the others swiftly back to the entrance of the Mirror Maze instance.


    One by one, the others exited through the entrance, leaving only Howard, Liam, and Jeremy behind.


    Jeremy continued to gaze toward the depths of the instance, as if still harboring some hesitation.


    At that moment, Howard addressed Jeremy, saying.


    "Stop staring and hurry up, let''s leave together. It won''t be long before we return, and when we do, we willpletely clear out the Mirror Maze instance!"


    Jeremy silently nodded and then followed Howard and Liam as they departed from the Mirror Maze instance.


    Once everyone had exited the instance, the door radiating a ghostly blue light reappeared.


    Not far from the door, Scarlett''s figure gradually materialized from the void.


    When Scarlett''s form fully solidified, she suddenly opened her eyes wide.


    "I truly did not expect to be defeated by those humans in such a simple manner! However, this will be thest time they triumph over me! I will surely learn from this experience! When they return to the Mirror Maze instance, I will make them understand what true suffering really is!"


    Scarlett red menacingly at the entrance of the Mirror Maze instance, muttering to herself.


    She found it nearly impossible to ept the reality of her defeat at the hands of Jeremy and hispanions.

 Chapter 251: The Ominous News from Afar

    After departing from the Mirror Maze instance, Jeremy and the others first returned to the city center of Moonlight City.


    In the stadium of Moonlight City, Jeremy, Howard, and Liam exchanged a few words. They established channels ofmunication among themselves.


    Moreover, they all agreed to find a suitable time to discuss their subsequent action ns as soon as possible.


    After deliberating for approximately half an hour, the three of them decided to part ways.


    Howard took his subordinates back to the new military base that Benjamin had prepared for them.


    Liam, along with his team, returned to the Special Circumstances Handling Bureau, hoping to promptly synchronize all the information obtained from the Mirror Maze instance into the Bureau''s internal database.


    With the others having departed, Jeremy naturally had no choice but to leave with Bonnie and Ritchie.


    Bonnie chose to bid farewell to Jeremy and Ritchie at the entrance of the stadium.


    "I can no longer apany you both on this journey. I previously made a promise to my father that after concluding our mission in the Mirror Maze instance, I must go to him.


    After all, he wishes to ensure my safety, and I do not want to cause him undue worry. Therefore, you two should return directly."


    Jeremy and Ritchie nodded, and then watched as Bonnie walked away.


    Once Bonnie had departed, Ritchie turned to Jeremy and asked,


    "Is what you expressed in the Mirror Maze instance truly your intention?"


    Ritchie''s question left Jeremy somewhat puzzled.


    "What do you mean by my intention? I had many thoughts while in the Mirror Maze. You need to be more specific."


    "I am referring to your idea of entering the instance alone."Ritchie replied, his expression rxed.


    Although Jeremy had not disclosed his thoughts to anyone, Ritchie had spent a considerable amount of time with him and understood him very well.


    Thus, when Ritchie observed Jeremy''s expression, he could roughly deduce Jeremy''s mindset.


    Jeremy''s expression did not change significantly.


    He simply responded in a calm tone,


    "You should know me quite well. If that is the case, you should understand that I am absolutely unafraid to challenge a particrly difficult instance alone."


    In essence, Jeremy''s words amounted to an admission.


    Ritchie nodded in acknowledgment.


    "I know you are unafraid to face a particrly challenging instance alone. That is why I was genuinely worried at the time. I felt that entering the instance by yourself would inevitably expose you to significant risks."


    A faint smile appeared on Jeremy''s lips.


    "Well, that is all in the past now. Since we have already exited the Mirror Maze instance, let us not dwell on those matters any longer. We should hasten our return to the Flip-Flop Community!"


    Thus, Jeremy and Ritchie swiftly made their way back to the neighborhood where they resided.


    Upon reaching the foot of Ritchie''s building, Jeremy made it a point to offer Ritchie some advice.


    "I believe you must expedite your level advancement in the near future. I hope that before we venture into the next high-difficulty instance, you can elevate your level to at least 45."


    Ritchie nced at Jeremy, his expression filled with concern as he replied,


    "I am still two or three levels away from 45. Do you really think I can achieve a two or three-level increase in such a short time? At least from my perspective, that seems utterly impossible."


    Indeed, Ritchiecked confidence in this regard.


    From Ritchie''s perspective, the difficulty of even ordinary instances had been significantly heightened.


    This meant that even if he wished to challenge an instance of standard difficulty, it would still require a considerable amount of time. Consequently, this would slow down his rate of leveling up.


    To elevate his level by two or three in just ten days was an almost impossible task.


    Jeremy did not voice anyints, he merely responded calmly, "Just do your best! After all, I will need your assistance for my uing endeavors!"


    Ritchie nodded emphatically.


    "Rest assured, I will exert every effort. I will strive to increase my level as much as possible before our next mission. I, too, do not wish to hinder you during our undertaking."


    After exchanging these words, the two bid each other farewell.


    Upon returning home, Jeremy felt a slight sense of unease.


    However, he chose not to dwell on it any further.


    Jeremy nned to get some rest quickly, if Howard and Liam had no intentions of re-entering the Mirror Maze instance in the near future.


    He would need to execute a new action n. It was essential for him to assist Ritchie and Bonnie in leveling up swiftly.


    Once Jeremy fell asleep, he sank into a deep slumber.


    It was not until the early hours of the following day that Jeremy was roused from his slumber by the sound of a ringing phone.


    Jeremy stretchedzily before answering the call.


    "Hello, who on earth is calling me so early?"


    His eyes were still not fully open, and he hadn''t even checked the caller ID before picking up the phone.


    On the other end of the line was Howard''s voice.


    "Jeremy, I must convey some rather dreadful news to you. Just now, the military headquarters informed us of a critical update. Last night, their operation in the suburbs of the capital ended inplete failure.


    Moreover, the powerful awakened individuals dispatched by the military headquarters perished within a high-difficulty instance. They have advised us against recklessly entering high-difficulty instances ourselves.


    If even the military''s formidable forces cannot conquer the boss within that challenging instance, then our own capabilities are woefully insufficient."


    Howard quickly recounted the military''s failed operation from the previous night in the capital''s outskirts.


    Although Howard did not provide an exhaustive ount, Jeremy grasped the general reasons behind the military headquarters'' failure.


    "So you are implying that the personnel from the military headquarters failed because they ventured too deeply into the high-difficulty instance? It seems our strategy in the Mirror Maze instance was indeed the most prudent."


    Jeremy couldn''t help but reflect on this.


    Though the news Howard brought was, without a doubt, a grim piece of information from afar,


    for Jeremy, it served as a valuable reminder.


    Jeremy suddenly realized that his idea of venturing deep into the Mirror Maze instance alone was indeed rather perilous.


    "General Howard, what sort of course of action do you believe we should adopt moving forward? We likely won''t attempt to delve into the depths of the Mirror Maze instance again anytime soon, correct?"


    Although Jeremy had already surmised what Howard''s response might entail, he still chose to directly inquire on the phone.


    Howard on the other end answered forthrightly.


    "You are absolutely correct, we will not be re-entering the Mirror Maze instance in the immediate future. In fact, I will not permit anyone to enter any high-difficulty instances for the time being.


    I will be coordinating with my subordinates to clear out the ordinary instances surrounding Moonlight City as swiftly as possible. If you and yourpanions wish to join us in this endeavor, you are more than wee to do so."


    "If you do not wish to join me in this endeavor, you are more than free to act independently. I believe that, given your and yourpanions'' capabilities, you should be able to handle the monsters within the ordinary instances."


    Howard did not intend to have Jeremy and his group apany him at all times.


    This was because Howard harbored a certain degree of wariness towards Jeremy.


    In the presence of such a highly gifted awakened individual as Jeremy, Howard had always felt that he should enlist in the military. However, Jeremy had consistently rejected Howard''s proposals, which left Howard with some lingering concerns.


    Nevertheless, Howard would certainly not voice his anxieties in front of Jeremy.


    "I think mypanions and I should operate independently. Our methods of operation differ substantially from yours. If we were to act together, we would undoubtedly interfere with one another''s efforts.


    However, I can assure you that during this period, I will do my utmost to clear as many ordinary instances as possible alongside mypanions. It is crucial for them to level up quickly."


    Jeremy''s response greatly satisfied Howard.


    Howard stated directly over the phone, "That is excellent! In the short term, I should not have any further matters to discuss with you. However, whether Director Liam will reach out to you is beyond my ability to ascertain."


    After finishing this statement, Howard promptly hung up the phone.


    Although Jeremy had a few more questions he wished to pose, he realized hecked the time to ask them.


    "Does Howard mean to imply that Liam is looking for me? Why would Liam want to contact me? While I have coborated with him in the past, we are not particrly familiar with one another."


    Jeremy felt a twinge of confusion regarding the information provided by Howard.


    However, he did not dwell on the matter for too long, as Jeremy believed that, regardless of the reason prompting Liam to seek him out, he would be able to respond swiftly.


    "The most pressing concern at the moment is to assist Bonnie and Ritchie in leveling up. If Bonnie is unable to continue apanying me, then I will have no choice but to focus on helping Ritchie."


    Jeremy quickly redirected his attention to the most critical task at hand.


    Consequently, he dialed Ritchie''s number, and after three rings, Ritchie finally answered the call.

 Chapter 252: Ritchies Exclusive Instance

    After waiting for several minutes, Jeremy was bing slightly impatient.


    Once the call connected, Jeremy immediately remarked, "It is already eight o''clock in the morning, and you still haven''t gotten out of bed? You told mest night that you would do your utmost to level up as quickly as possible.


    So why are you still sleeping in? Shouldn''t you already be on your way to the ordinary instance by now? You need to exin this to me."


    Jeremy felt quite rxed while speaking with Ritchie, as he knew that Ritchie would not easily lose his temper.


    On the other end of the line, Ritchie''snguid voice quickly emerged.


    "I did indeed tell you that I would strive to level up as quickly as possible. However, you also know that I am not an early riser. If I wake up too early, my entire day tends to go poorly."


    Ritchie offered a slight defense and then turned to Jeremy with a question.


    "Is your early morning call merely an attempt to get me out of bed so I can level up? If that''s the case, why don''t you juste downstairs to my ce?"


    "If I were toe directly downstairs, I would still have to wait for you."Jeremy exined. "So I decided to call you before I set off, giving you a chance to prepare."


    Having said that, Jeremy ended the call.


    He then gathered his gear and drove directly to Ritchie''s residence.


    When Jeremy arrived at the foot of Ritchie''s building, Ritchie was just finishing up his preparations, slowly making his way down with his equipment.


    "Stop wasting time and get in the car! The instance we are heading to today is exclusively yours!"


    Jeremy shouted as he opened the car door in Ritchie''s direction.


    Ritchie quickened his pace and hurried into the vehicle.


    Without waiting for Ritchie to settle in, Jeremy pressed the elerator and sped off.


    "You just told me that the instance we are heading to today is exclusively mine. What exactly does that mean? My level isn''t even 50 yet, so I can''t undergo awakening."


    Ritchie had misunderstood Jeremy''s statement.


    He assumed that Jeremy was referring to an instance specifically for his awakening.


    However, what Jeremy meant by an instance that was exclusive to Ritchie was simply one that was highly suitable for Ritchie to level up.


    "We''re not going to your awakening instance. Moreover, even if you do reach level 50 and qualify for awakening, I won''t be able to apany you into that instance."


    After Jeremy spoke, he turned his gaze toward the window.


    During the course of their conversation, Jeremy had already driven a considerable distance.


    Now, Jeremy and Ritchie found themselves at the very edge of Moonlight City.


    This area was rife with abandoned buildings, and there were even some monsters lurking in the shadows.


    Neither Jeremy nor Ritchie paid much attention to the monsters hidden in the darkness, as their strength was quite feeble.


    Moreover, even if they were to eliminate those creatures, the experience points they would gain would be negligible.


    "The instance I referred to as exclusive to you is one that is well-suited for you to level up."Jeremy exined.


    "I know you excel at manipting shadows, so you must be in an instance filled with shadow monsters to quickly enhance your level."


    Jeremy''s words brought a look of surprise to Ritchie''s face.


    "Did you really find such an instance? I had been seeking an instance filled with shadow monsters, but I never managed to locate one!"


    Ritchie was acutely aware that an instance teeming with shadow monsters was crucial for him.


    During his previous solo expeditions, he had constantly searched for such an instance.


    However, shadow monsters themselves were exceedingly rare, which naturally made instances filled with them incredibly difficult to find.


    In response to Ritchie''s inquiry, Jeremy nodded.


    "Although you were unable to locate an instance filled with shadow monsters, you must not forget that I possess the talent known as The King of Time and Space."Jeremy stated.


    "When shadow monsters traverse through different areas of darkness, they create certain fluctuations in the fabric of time and space."


    "As someone endowed with The King of Time and Space talent, I can effortlessly perceive these temporal and spatial disturbances. Therefore, I had long ago pinpointed an instance abundant with shadow monsters."


    "The reason I hadn''t informed you earlier was simply because we had numerous important matters to attend to. However, now that we finally have some free time, we can venture into the instance filled with shadow monsters."


    Jeremy''s exnation garnered Ritchie''splete trust.


    In reality, Ritchie would not dare to dispute anything Jeremy said.


    After all, Ritchie held an immense amount of faith in Jeremy, and the instance Jeremy mentioned was indeed something Ritchie desperately needed.


    "How far are we from the instance? I am fully prepared for battle! I can engage at any moment!"


    Ritchie pulled the Ravager''s Gloves from his pocket.


    He swiftly equipped the Ravager''s Gloves, entering a state of readiness forbat at any time.


    "Don''t rush just yet! We are approximately twenty minutes away from the instance. You can use this time to make further preparations."Jeremy said.


    Upon finishing his statement, he directly handed a notebook to Ritchie.


    "I have recorded the detailed information about the instance filled with shadow monsters in this notebook. It would be wise for you to review all the information before taking any action."


    Ritchie picked up the notebook and began to read it intently.


    After spending about ten minutes poring over the contents, Ritchie confirmed that he had memorized everything written in the notebook.


    "It appears that the difficulty level of the instance teeming with shadow monsters is quite substantial. The information you noted indicates that the monsters within the instance are generally above level 45."


    "I imagine it would be exceedingly challenging for me to handle these monsters alone. However, if you assist me in dealing with them, the experience points I would gain would be significantly diminished."


    Ritchie''s expression no longer bore the same joy it once did.


    He suddenly realized that the instance he was about to enter was not as straightforward as he had initially thought.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment.


    "That is precisely why I urged you to prepare thoroughly before we reach the instance. Moreover, this time, I will allow you to use my own equipment."


    As he said this, Jeremy gestured with his eyes for Ritchie to look toward the back seat of the car.


    Ritchie turned his head and immediately spotted the Longsword of the Undying on the back seat of the car.


    Although Ritchie had seen the Longsword of the Undying before and possessed a certain level of understanding regarding it, he had never actually wielded the weapon himself.


    Furthermore, Ritchie believed that the Longsword of the Undying inherently inflicted a degree of harm upon its user.


    Jeremy was capable of using the Longsword of the Undying because his own strength was exceptionally formidable. He could withstand the damage inflicted by the Longsword of the Undying due to his considerable power.


    However, Ritchie felt that he did not possess the same level of strength as Jeremy.


    With a slightly hesitant tone, Ritchie inquired of Jeremy,


    "Do you truly believe I can use the Longsword of the Undying? Are you not concerned that it may harm me?"


    In response to Ritchie''s question, Jeremy appeared somewhat indecisive.


    Before deciding to entrust the Longsword of the Undying to Ritchie, Jeremy had indeed considered the possibility that Ritchie could be harmed by the weapon.


    However, from Jeremy''s perspective, this was not a significant concern.


    As long as Ritchie was not killed by the Longsword of the Undying, he could bring Ritchie to Emma.


    Emma could easily employ her healing skills to restore Ritchie''s health.


    "I do believe that the Longsword of the Undying will indeed inflict harm upon you. However, in my view, this is not a major issue. As long as you are not killed by the Longsword of the Undying, I will be able to ensure your recovery.


    Moreover, as an awakened being, I believe you should not fear pain. If it allows for a rapid increase in levels, enduring a state of suffering should be eptable."


    Jeremy''s words left Ritchie feeling quite distressed, yet he found himself at a loss for any counterarguments.


    After a moment of hesitation, Ritchie finally replied.


    "You are correct, if it means I can level up quickly, I certainly wouldn''t mind enduring some pain."


    Ritchie''s gaze remained fixated on the Longsword of the Undying, as if he were attempting to familiarize himself with it through sheer observation.


    "Stop staring at the Longsword of the Undying! No amount of looking will make it familiar to you. If you genuinely wish to limate yourself to the Longsword of the Undying before entering the instance, it would be best to actually wield it."


    Under Jeremy''s urging, Ritchie grasped the Longsword of the Undying without hesitation.


    The moment Ritchie''s hand made contact with the Longsword of the Undying, he was ovee by excruciating pain.


    In an instant, Ritchie hurled the Longsword of the Undying away from him.


    "Why does it hurt so much? Did you also endure such intense pain while using the Longsword of the Undying?"


    Ritchie''s question left Jeremy slightly perplexed.


    Although Jeremy was aware that the Longsword of the Undying caused some harm to its wielder, he had not experienced such intense pain during his usage.


    Jeremy spected that this was likely due to Ritchie''sck of familiarity with the Longsword of the Undying.


    The best solution he could think of was to encourage Ritchie to try using the Longsword of the Undying once more.


    "The more you familiarize yourself with the Longsword of the Undying, the less you will feel that intense pain."

 Chapter 253: The Shadow Mine

    Under Jeremy''s persistent urging, Ritchie reluctantly continued to wield the Longsword of the Undying.


    Although Ritchie could feel the piercing pain throughout the process of using the Longsword of the Undying, he noticed that, with the passage of time, the intensity of the pain began to diminish slightly.


    Ritchie, somewhat taken aback, addressed Jeremy.


    "You are indeed correct, as the usage time increases, the damage inflicted upon me by the Longsword of the Undying seems to be less severe than it was before."


    Ritchie''s response brought Jeremy a measure of relief.


    "That''s good to hear! We have only a few minutes left before you reach your very own instance. Get ready to plunge into battle at a moment''s notice."


    A few minutester, Jeremy and Ritchie parked their vehicle not far from the entrance of a mine.


    After exiting the car, they both turned their gazes toward the mine.


    "The entrance to the instance lies deep within the mine. Given that there are numerous shadow monsters within the instance, I have decided to name it The Shadow Mine.


    If you feel that the name of this instance is not to your liking, you are wee to rename it. After all, this instance is uniquely yours, I merely discovered it."


    Jeremy spoke to Ritchie in a calm tone.


    Ritchie nodded in agreement.


    "I believe The Shadow Mine is indeed a fitting name, so there is no need for any changes. Now, let us proceed into the instance."


    With those words, Ritchie moved forward, heading straight for the mine.


    However, as Ritchie was about to enter the mine, he suddenly noticed that Jeremy remained in the same spot, not advancing alongside him.


    "Why are you still standing outside? Do you not intend to apany me in the uing endeavor?"


    In response to Ritchie''s inquiry, Jeremy replied with a smile.


    "I mentioned to you before that The Shadow Mine is an instance that belongs solely to you. In order to ensure that your level-up speed is sufficiently rapid, I will not be entering the instance."


    Jeremy was fully aware that even if he entered the instance solely to guarantee Ritchie''s safety without engaging any monsters, he would still be siphoning off some of Ritchie''s experience points.


    To enable Ritchie to level up quickly, Jeremy understood that it was essential for Ritchie to personally clear The Shadow Mine instance.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Ritchie exhibited a slightly worried expression.


    "Isn''t this approach a bit too risky? The information you provided earlier indicated that the monsters within The Shadow Mine are all above level 45. Such high-level creatures pose a significant threat to me."


    Ritchie hoped that Jeremy would join him in the venture.


    In his view, only by doing so could he ensure his own safety.


    However, once Jeremy had made a decision, he was not one to easily change his mind.


    "I have faith in your ability to conquer the entire instance through your own strength. Moreover, I am confident that you will not be annihted by the monsters within the instance. I hope you can also have some faith in yourself."


    As Jeremy said this, he nced at his watch.


    "The current time is nine o''clock in the morning, you must exit the instance before two o''clock in the afternoon. After two o''clock, the monsters within The Shadow Mine will receive a significant enhancement."


    Jeremy imparted this crucial piece of information to Ritchie.


    Ritchie''s expression turned increasingly anxious. "Why didn''t you inform me of this sooner? Are you intentionally trying to set me up?"


    Although Ritchie was feeling quite despondent, Jeremy remained steadfast in his decision.


    "In a sense, I am indeed trying to set you up, but I must emphasize that my intention is solely to expedite your leveling process."


    After Jeremy finished speaking, Ritchie furrowed his brow and contemted for a moment.


    "To enhance my level, it is worth enduring a certain degree of risk!" Ritchie lifted his head and said earnestly to Jeremy.


    A smile finally appeared on Jeremy''s face.


    "I will purchase your favorite snacks and wait for you at the entrance of the instance."Jeremy said, waving the car keys he held in his hand towards Ritchie.


    Ritchie nodded, then turned without looking back, advancing deeper into the mine.


    After several minutes of traversing through the mine, Ritchie finally arrived at the entrance to the instance.


    The entrance to The Shadow Mine was surrounded by a plethora of flickering shadows.


    These elusive shadows could indeed be utilized by Ritchie, but their inherent strength was rather limited.


    Thus, even if Ritchie were to make use of these shadows, he would be unable to manipte them tounch an attack against the high-level monsters.


    After taking onest nce at the surroundings of The Shadow Mine instance entrance, Ritchie firmly grasped the Longsword of the Undying and stepped into the instance.


    The moment he entered the instance, Ritchie sensed an abundance of shadows swirling around his body.


    This urrence was attributed to two primary factors: on one hand, The Shadow Mine inherently possessed a tremendous amount of shadow energy.


    Even in the absence of monsters as vessels, this shadow energy could autonomously generate various shadows.


    On the other hand, Ritchie possessed a remarkably acute perception of shadows.


    As a result, he was able to detect shadows that others could not see.


    Taking a deep breath, Ritchie confirmed that there was nothing amiss with his condition before he advanced deeper into the instance, holding the Longsword of the Undying.


    It wasn''t long before Ritchie encountered his first monster within the instance.


    Before him stood a shadowy spider, an ominous creature boasting a formidable level of 46.


    Engaging the shadow spider head-on would undoubtedly lead to Ritchie''s defeat, thus, he opted for a highly cautious approach.


    He maneuvered to a position outside the shadow spider''s line of sight while simultaneously using the Ravager''s Gloves to manipte the shadows surrounding the creature.


    Ritchie refrained from directly controlling the shadows of the shadow spider itself, as he believed the creature, beingposed of shadow energy, would easily break free from his grasp.


    To sessfully ensnare the shadow spider, Ritchie needed to manipte the unconscious shadows to construct a shadowy prison around it.


    His actions soon proved fruitful.


    A prison entirelyposed of shadows materialized around the shadow spider, and the moment the prison formed, the shadow spider reacted immediately.


    The shadow spider unleashed a furious roar andunched an attack against the shadowy prison.


    Seizing the opportunity presented by its assault, Ritchie activated the Ravager''s Gloves once more, this time intending to manipte the shadow spider''s own shadows.


    Under thebined pressure of Ritchie''s efforts and the shadowy prison, the shadow spider''s strength rapidly diminished.


    At this point, the shadow spider posed no further threat to Ritchie.


    However, Ritchie still found himself unable to directly eliminate the shadow spider.


    This was because, in addition to its shadow abilities, the shadow spider possessed other forms of power.


    Topletely eradicate the shadow spider, Ritchie would need to wield the Longsword of the Undying.


    After observing the shadow spider more closely for a moment, Ritchie confirmed that it could no longer endanger him.


    Thus, he approached the shadow spider with the Longsword of the Undying in hand and swung it toward the creature with determination.


    Under the might of the Longsword of the Undying, the shadow spider was swiftly vanquished.


    At the instant of its demise, a plethora of shadows burst forth from the shadow spider''s body, most of which were seized by Ritchie''s Ravager''s Gloves.


    Ritchie could feel the power of the Ravager''s Gloves significantly amplified on his hands.


    "It seems this instance truly belongs to me! In The Shadow Mine, not only can I elevate my level, but I can also harness the shadow energy within the instance to enhance the Ravager''s Gloves and my shadow maniption skills."Ritchie thought to himself, filled with tion.


    At that moment, Ritchie was in high spirits.


    Ritchie finally understood why Jeremy had repeatedly told him that this instance was uniquely his before he arrived at The Shadow Mine.


    "Jeremy truly is a great brother to me! Once I elevate my level sufficiently, I will certainly provide him with ample assistance in the actions toe."


    Ritchie felt an immense sense of gratitude towards Jeremy.


    However, Ritchie was not the type to merely express his thanks verbally, he would demonstrate his appreciation through his actions.


    After taking a brief respite, Ritchie continued his journey deeper into The Shadow Mine.


    Eliminating a single shadow spider would not suffice to elevate Ritchie''s level, he needed to vanquish a substantial number of shadow creatures to raise his level by two or three tiers.


    At the very least, he needed to clear more than four ordinary instances to reach level fifty.


    Yet, clearing more than four ordinary instances would require a considerable amount of time.


    In fact, Ritchie needed to take a rest for a while between clearing two instances.


    Unlike Jeremy, who was an exceptionally powerful awakened one, Ritchie could not remain in a highly tensebat state for an extended period.


    Regardless, the current situation was sufficiently optimistic for Ritchie.


    He simply needed to follow the n that Jeremy had meticulouslyid out for him.

 Chapter 254: An Ominous Foreboding

    While Ritchie was fighting valiantly within The Shadow Mine instance, Jeremy was driving through a bustlingmercial street in Moonlight City, searching for a shop that sold Ritchie''s favorite cake.


    Jeremy had previously promised Ritchie that he would be waiting at the entrance of The Shadow Mine instance with Ritchie''s beloved cake in hand.


    He initially believed that he would be able to procure Ritchie''s favorite cake without much dy.


    However, the reality of the situation proved to be far more challenging than he had anticipated.


    After the onset of the apocalypse game, although order had been restored in Moonlight City.


    The locations of the shops that once existed had undergone significant changes.


    After searching for quite some time along themercial street, Jeremy was unable to locate a shop that sold Ritchie''s favorite cake.


    Feeling slightly disheartened, he parked his car by the roadside.


    He intended to ask someone else for assistance.


    Jeremy casually approached the owner of a nearby cake shop and said, "Hello, I would like to inquire if you know of any cake shop that sells a chocte cake with six different vors?"


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s question, the cake shop owner furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment.


    "I do know of a cake shop that offers a chocte cake with six different vors."


    The owner''s response filled Jeremy with joy.


    However, the following words from the cake shop owner plunged Jeremy back into a state of disappointment.


    "Unfortunately, that cake shop should no longer be in Moonlight City. After the emergence of the monsters, the owner likely fled to arger city. They may have even reached the capital by now."


    Upon receiving this news, Jeremy found himself at a loss for what to do next.


    He certainly couldn''t just dash off to the capital merely to buy a slice of cake. Yet, without heading to the capital, he had no means of fulfilling his promise.


    After hesitating for a while, Jeremy decided to seek out Bonnie and ask her if she had any good ideas.


    When Jeremy arrived at Bonnie''s house, he noticed that the front door was just opening.


    Bonnie''s father, Benjamin, stepped out through the doorway.


    Behind Benjamin stood Bonnie, her expression slightly tinged with disappointment.


    Upon seeing Jeremy, Benjamin and Bonnie disyed entirely different expressions.


    While Benjamin wore a faint smile, Jeremy could sense that he was not particrly wee.


    Bonnie''s smile, however, appeared more natural and genuine.


    "I didn''t expect to find you here, Mayor Benjamin."Jeremy said with a smile. "I came to see Bonnie today. I hope to discuss something important with her."


    Benjamin shook his head and replied, "My daughter will not be joining you in any further endeavors. So, you need not seek her out for discussions concerning the monsters."


    Jeremy was taken aback by Benjamin''s words.


    As Benjamin spoke, Bonnie''s expression shifted to one of increased disappointment.


    Jeremy quickly shook his head in protest.


    "Mayor, I assure you that my purpose in seeking Bonnie is not to discuss matters rted to the monsters or the instance. I would like to ask her how to create a chocte cake with six different vors."


    Jeremy''s response seemed to surprise Benjamin slightly.


    After a moment of silence, Benjamin said, "In that case, you two may proceed with your chocte-making. I have many pressing matters to attend to, so I shall return to the city hall for now."


    With that, Benjamin turned and left without looking back.


    Jeremy and Bonnie watched as Benjamin departed.


    Once the vehicle carrying Benjamin hadpletely vanished from their sight, Jeremy turned directly to Bonnie and asked.


    "What on earth is going on? You previously told me that your father would no longer prevent you from entering the instance."


    In response to Jeremy''s inquiry, Bonnie spoke with a hint of frustration.


    "My father did indeed promise me that I could enter the instance."Bonnie said. "However, he believes that the risks I faced during my previous endeavors were far too great. Consequently, he has no intention of allowing me to take any further risks."


    "Moreover, to ensure that I could not ess the instance, he specifically took away all of my equipment. Now, even if I were to enter the instance, I would have to rely solely on my own skills to fight."


    Jeremy was astounded to learn that Benjamin had gone so far as to confiscate all of Bonnie''s equipment in an effort to prevent her from participating.


    "You need not worry about this situation. If you truly wish to re-enter the instance, I can provide you with more than enough equipment. I happen to possess a considerable amount of gear."


    Jeremy''s words lifted Bonnie''s spirits slightly.


    However, it seemed that Bonnie had no intention of dwelling further on the matter.


    With a smile, she skillfully shifted the topic.


    "You mentioned to my father that you came to see me in order to ask for help in making a chocte cake? Is that true?"


    It was only upon Bonnie''s reminder that Jeremy regained his focus.


    "I absolutely meant it! I genuinely hope you can assist me in creating a chocte cake! Furthermore, I would like us to work at a sufficiently brisk pace!"


    Jeremy''s tone was filled with urgency, which took Bonnie by surprise.


    Subsequently, Jeremy recounted the events that had transpired as swiftly as he could.


    Bonnie responded with a smile, "I never expected that you would be preparing a congrattory gift for Ritchie. However, it is indeedmendable that Ritchie has the courage to challenge an instance on his own."


    After saying this, Bonnie led Ritchie into her home.


    Bonnie''s house was adequately stocked with materials, so the two of them did not need to venture out to purchase ingredients for the chocte cake.


    "I will attempt to make the chocte cake ording to the characteristics you described. However, the final product may not necessarily meet your expectations."


    Bonnie was capable of making chocte cakes.


    Yet, she felt that her own creations might not be exceptionally delicious, at the very least, they would certainly notpare to the chocte cakes made by professional bakeries.


    "That''s not an issue at all. You simply need to incorporate all the characteristics of the chocte cake that I mentioned. Even if the final vor is somewhatcking, I believe Ritchie wouldn''t be able to tell the difference."


    Encouraged by Jeremy''s persuasion, Bonnie immediately began to prepare the chocte cake.


    Jeremy did not merely stand by idly, he also lent Bonnie a helping hand.


    With theirbined efforts, the process of making the chocte cake proceeded remarkably swiftly.


    Within half an hour, the chocte cake waspleted. Moreover, it featured over a dozen different decorations, and the entire cake boasted six distinct vors.


    From the surface, the chocte cake seemed to align perfectly with Jeremy''s requirements.


    "It appears that you are indeed quite skilled at making chocte cakes, so let me have a taste and see how it fares!"


    Jeremy took a bite of the chocte cake, and immediately, his expression soured significantly.


    Although Bonnie''s chocte cake looked exactly like the one Ritchie loved most,


    the difference in taste between the two cakes was stark.


    Even Jeremy could discern the disparity, let alone Ritchie.


    Upon seeing the expression on Jeremy''s face, Bonnie had already deduced that the chocte cake she had made was quite unappetizing.


    Nheless, she still inquired of Jeremy, "What do you think I should improve? Is it possible that the spices added to the chocte cake are a bit too sparse?"


    Bonnie took a bite herself.


    While she too found her chocte cake to be somewhatcking in taste, she also believed that Jeremy''s reaction was a tad exaggerated.


    At that moment, Jeremy''s expression was incredibly contorted.


    He appeared to sense something truly dreadful, as though he had encountered a monster that was insurmountable.


    "While I acknowledge that this cake is indeed not particrly enjoyable, you need not wear such a face, do you?" Bonnie asked, her tone slightly displeased.


    Jeremy offered no response.


    The grimace etched on his face was not solely due to the vor of the chocte cake.


    As he tasted the cake, an overwhelming sense of foreboding suddenly washed over him.


    The King of Time and Space''s innate talent allowed him to perceive intense fluctuations in the fabric of time and space.


    At the same time, he sensed a familiar aura beginning to manifest around him.


    This familiar aura belonged to the architect of the apocalypse game, known as "The Sun."


    When these two sensations werebined, it implied that "The Sun" had likely made significant progress toward his revival.


    Jeremy felt he could no longer afford to squander time.


    He had to swiftly enhance his own strength, he needed to acquire the capability to confront "The Sun" head-on before the resurrection was fully realized.


    Bonnie was deeply concerned about Jeremy''s condition.


    She even spected that Jeremy might have been poisoned.


    Unable to contain herself, Bonnie nudged Jeremy.


    In an instant, Jeremy snapped back to attention, his eyes zing red as he fixed his gaze upon Bonnie.


    This sudden reaction caused Bonnie to instinctively take several steps back. She perceived Jeremy as exceedingly menacing at that moment, fearing he mightunch an attack against her.


    Bonnie''s apprehensions were somewhat unfounded.


    The fierce expression on Jeremy''s facested only a brief moment before he quickly regained hisposure.

 Chapter 255: The Preliminary Revival of the Deity

    Once Bonnie noticed that Jeremy''s expression gradually returned to calm, she cautiously inquired.


    "Is my cake really that terrible? Why did your face look so contorted just now? I thought you might have been poisoned."


    Upon hearing Bonnie''s question, a faint smile appeared on Jeremy''s face.


    "Your cake isn''t as dreadful as you might imagine. The reason for my earlier grimace was not due to your cake but rather some other issues."


    Bonnie was less than satisfied with Jeremy''s response.


    In her view, Jeremy had directly evaded her question.


    "What could that reason be? Has something unpleasant urred?"


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Indeed, there have been some unfortunate events, and they are rted to the nning of the apocalypse game. However, I can only reveal this much to you at present, for the more I disclose, the greater the danger you will face."


    Jeremy had no intention of informing Bonnie about the preliminary revival of the Sun.


    In his view, Bonnie would only sumb to meaningless anxiety upon learning this news.


    Bonnie had no means to influence the revival of the Sun.


    Although her expression bore a hint of disappointment, she understood that Jeremy''s approach was entirely justified.


    After all, if she was unable to join Jeremy in his endeavors, there was no need for her to be privy to such critical information.


    With a slight expression of dejection, Bonnie said to Jeremy,


    "In that case, let us continue making the chocte cake. We must hasten our pace, as I suspect Ritchie may soon clear the entire instance."


    While Bonnie made an effort to mask her emotions during the conversation,


    Jeremy could still detect the hint of frustration in her tone.


    "We truly should focus on making the chocte cake,"


    Jeremy replied, merely echoing Bonnie''s sentiment.


    At this moment, he found himself unable to offer any assistance to Bonnie.


    On one hand, he could not persuade Benjamin to allow Bonnie to apany him.


    On the other hand, he had no means to directly prevent the revival of the Sun.


    After all, he only knew that the Sun had achieved a preliminary revival, but hecked any further precise intelligence regarding the matter.


    Thus, Bonnie and Jeremy fell into silence, dedicating their efforts solely to the task of creating the chocte cake.


    Meanwhile, in an instance located in the suburbs of the capital, The Son of the Sun, The Person in the Mirror, and the recently arrived Kean were engaged in a celebration.


    "The great Sun has finally achieved its preliminary revival. Soon, it will rise to full power! Our n has met with immense sess!"


    The Son of the Sun eximed excitedly to the gathered figures of The Person in the Mirror and Kean.


    The Person in the Mirror was genuinely pleased about the revival of the Sun, deriving joy from the moment. However, Kean''s enthusiasm was not as pronounced as it appeared.


    In Kean''s perspective, his primary goal was to enhance his own power through coboration with The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror.


    Should the Sunplete its full revival, Kean would find himself of no further use to The Person in the Mirror.


    Thus, Kean believed he should secure as many benefits as possible from The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun before the Sun achieved itsplete resurgence.


    Driven by this thought, Kean spoke directly to The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror.


    "If the great deity truly manages toplete its revival, that would indeed be a cause for celebration. However, it is essential to acknowledge that the deity has only reached a preliminary revival stage.


    We have numerous tasks ahead of us, and it is possible that the military headquarters and the federal highmand will join forces once again. If you wish for my assistance in thwarting enemy actions, you must provide me with more support."


    Kean''s remarks delicately conveyed his underlying intentions.


    The Son of the Sun responded with a smile, saying.


    "Of course, there is no issue whatsoever. In fact, without your assistance, the great Sun could not have achieved its preliminary revival at such a rapid pace.


    Moreover, without your help, we would have struggled to eliminate all the awakeners dispatched by the military headquarters not long ago. As a token of gratitude for your contributions, I shall ensure that you receive a reward that meets your expectations."


    The Son of the Sun was already well aware of Kean''s true motives.


    However, from The Son of the Sun''s perspective, as long as Kean continued to cooperate with them, that was sufficient.


    Throughout their previous coborations, Kean had provided significant support to both The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror.


    The recent joint operation conducted by the military headquarters and the federal highmand failed primarily due to the strategies implemented by Kean.


    This resulted in the demise of numerous powerful human operatives associated with the military and the federal leadership within instances rted to the Sun''s power.


    Such an oue granted the Sun a power that surpassed The Son of the Sun''s expectations, ultimately facilitating thepletion of the Sun''s preliminary revival.


    In response to The Son of the Sun''s remarks, Kean''s smile grew even more radiant.


    "Of course, I shall continue to cooperate with you! Moreover, I possess additional information regarding the federal highmand and the military headquarters. We could even take the initiative tounch an attack against them."


    Upon hearing these words, The Son of the Sun nodded in acknowledgment.


    "I am confident that with your assistance, we can mount a counteroffensive against the human elite. However, I believe we have already made significant progress beyond the originally nned timeline.


    Thus, there is no need for us to rush. Furthermore, in order to facilitate the great Sun''s further revival, we must perform other rituals. The Person in the Mirror requires some time to make the necessary preparations for these ceremonies."


    The Son of the Sun''s statements effectively dissuaded Kean from pursuing his previous line of thought.


    Consequently, Kean decided not to borate further; he was now merely waiting for The Son of the Sun to fulfill the promised rewards.


    The Son of the Sun extended his hands, and in the palms of each hand rested a glowing orb radiating a golden light.


    Under Kean''s gaze, the two glowing orbs gradually transformed into two pieces of equipment.


    "This is the equipment that I am bestowing upon you as your reward. I believe you will find great satisfaction in these two items, for they are perfectly suited to your skills and the awakening talents you have acquired."


    As The Son of the Sun spoke, he presented the two pieces of equipment before Kean.


    The moment Kean made contact with the two items, he immediately gleaned the specific information regarding each piece of equipment.


    [Name: Holy Sword of the Sun]


    [Level: 52]


    [Type: Weapon]


    [Attributes: Increases damage from rule-type skills by 75%, elerates health restoration speed by 300%, and enhances fire elemental resistance by 50%.]


    [Equipped Skills: 1. Sunlight Blessing. 2. zing Radiance.]


    [Skill Description: 1. The Sunlight Blessing skill allows the user to generate a faint yellow shield surrounding their body. This shield can block all attacks from dark-type spells and can also mitigate a portion of damage from other types of magical assaults.


    The zing Radiance skill enables the user to summon a blinding beam of light at the tip of the Holy Sword of the Sun. This radiant light can inflict a certain degree of damage on all enemies within its forward path. The extent of the damage is contingent upon the overall strength of the adversaries.]


    As a level 52 piece of equipment, the Holy Sword of the Sun possesses attributes that are already impressively high. Furthermore, the Holy Sword of the Sun boasts two active skills.


    Although these two active skills may not seem to perfectly align with Kean''s own abilities, it is essential to consider that Kean is coborating with both The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun.


    Thus, there exists a possibility that Kean may soon acquire the powers bestowed by the Sun.


    Should Kean indeed attain the strength granted by the Sun, he could fully harness the sr energy through his awakened talent as a deity''s avatar.


    In such a scenario, the Holy Sword of the Sun would y a significantly impactful role.


    In addition to the Holy Sword of the Sun, another piece of equipment has also brought great satisfaction to Kean.


    [Name: Shield of the Corona]


    [Level: 52]


    [Type: Armor]


    [Attributes: Increases resistance to all types of damage by 75% and boosts health by 50%.]


    [Skill: Passive Skill, Deity''s Blessing.]


    [Skill Description: Deity''s Blessing is the passive skill of the Shield of the Corona. Simply by wielding the Shield of the Corona, one can receive the protective effects of the deity''s blessing.]


    The Deity''s Blessing skill, during its duration, grants the user of the Shield of the Corona a remarkable 50% reduction in damage taken.


    Additionally, it allows the user''s physical stature to appear more imposing and formidable.


    Although the Shield of the Coronacks any active skills, its passive ability, Deity''s Blessing, is indeed a remarkably powerful skill.


    As long as he wields the Shield of the Corona, Kean feels confident in his ability to engage Jeremy in a direct war of attrition.


    With the assistance of the Shield of the Corona, Kean believes that even if Jeremy''s level surpasses his own, it would be impossible for Jeremy to dominate him in terms of damage output.


    After all, half of the damage inflicted by Jeremy would be effectively blocked by the Shield of the Corona.


    Having familiarized himself with the information regarding the two pieces of equipment, Kean smiled as he ced them into his backpack.


    "What should we do next?" Kean directly inquired of The Son of the Sun.


    With a smile, The Son of the Sun replied, "All you need to do is continue leveling up. I will be coordinating with The Person in the Mirror to prepare for the uing ritual.


    Once the preparations for the ritual areplete, I will inform you. We will still require your assistance when the ritual takes ce."

 Chapter 256: Ritchies Significant Improvement

    Kean was very satisfied with The Son of the Sun''s n, nodding in agreement as he spoke.


    "There are no issues at all; once the preparations for the ritual areplete, you can simply inform me. I will promptly offer my assistance."


    Kean''s response was sinct and decisive, which finally allowed The Son of the Sun to breathe a sigh of relief.


    The Son of the Sun''s greatest concern was that Kean might withdraw his cooperation.


    Although both The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror had not ced much trust in Kean, they had to acknowledge the substantial assistance he had provided them thus far.


    "We will likely need around ten days toplete our preparations. Therefore, during this ten-day period, you can challenge other instances to enhance your level and strength.


    If our preparations for the ritual are nearingpletion, I will notify you a day in advance. Thus, you need not constantly await my updates."


    The Son of the Sun was, in fact, considering Kean''s situation as well.


    With a smile, Kean nodded in acknowledgment.


    "If there are no further matters to discuss, I shall return to my home for the time being. Over thest couple of days, I have been providing assistance to you both. I am now exceedingly fatigued and require some time to rest adequately."


    Upon hearing Kean''s words, The Son of the Sun nodded heavily in agreement.


    "You are free to go and rest now!"


    Having received The Son of the Sun''s permission, Kean swiftly departed.


    The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror watched as Kean''s figure gradually faded from view.


    Once Kean waspletely out of sight, one of The Person in the Mirror spoke to The Son of the Sun with a hint of concern in his voice.


    "Do you genuinely believe that continuing our coboration with Kean will not expose us to greater risks?"


    The Son of the Sun''s face was devoid of any trace of a smile.


    He did not turn his gaze toward the person who had just posed the question; instead, he remained focused on the direction in which Kean had vanished, calmly countering.


    "Why would continuing our partnership with him present us with greater risks?"


    "If he is capable of assisting us in confronting the formidable beings of the human world, then he must possess sufficient abilities to aid those same formidable beings against us. During our previous endeavors, he has already acquired a wealth of information pertaining to us."


    "If he truly intends to coborate with other powerful beings from the human realm, we would find ourselves utterly defenseless. Moreover, I believe that those other powerful beings would not hesitate to ally with him."


    The Person in the Mirror who had raised the question hurriedly rified the reasoning behind his inquiry.


    The Son of the Sun slowly nodded in acknowledgment.


    "You are correct; your concerns are indeed quite valid. However, I feel that we currently have no better options avable to us. Kean is the strongest human we have been able to find who is willing to cooperate with us.


    In order to facilitate the swift revival of the great Sun, I believe it is worth epting a certain level of risk."


    As The Son of the Sun articted these words, there was a hint of resignation in his tone.


    As an inherently divine being, The Son of the Sun was naturally reluctant to engage in deep coboration with humans.


    However, given the current state of affairs, the question of whether to cooperate with humans was no longer the primary concern for The Son of the Sun.


    He unexpectedly realized that the strategies of other apocalypse game nners were systematically siphoning away the inherent power of the Sun.


    If they did not manage to revive the Sun at the earliest possible moment, there was a possibility that the Sun might never resurrect.


    For without sufficient power to sustain it, the Sun simply could note back to life.


    Although The Son of the Sun was acutely aware of the deeper threats lurking beneath the surface,


    he had no intention of revealing this threat to The Person in the Mirror.


    In The Son of the Sun''s view, The Person in the Mirror was merely human after all.


    He could engage in cooperation with The Person in the Mirror and even manipte him,


    but he simply could not allow The Person in the Mirror to know that the deity he had always revered might very well be consumed by other deities.


    "Very well, we need not dwell on this matter any longer. At least during our previous coboration, Kean has not posed a significant threat to us. Hence, there is no need for us to harbor baseless suspicions about him.


    What you need to focus on moving forward is quite straightforward: you must expedite the preparations for the uing rituals. I will provide you with the detailed information regarding the preparations that you are required to undertake."


    The Son of the Sun swiftly diverted the conversation to a different topic.


    Although The Person in the Mirror felt that something was somewhat amiss, they did not ce too much emphasis on the issue at hand.


    All the individuals known as The Person in the Mirror were attentively listening to The Son of the Sun as he outlined the preparations required for the uing rituals.


    Meanwhile, in Bonnie''s home located in the urban area of Moonlight City, Bonnie and Jeremy had finallypleted the creation of their second chocte cake.


    The two of them took a moment to savor the taste of the second chocte cake.


    Although Jeremy felt that the vor of the cake was still slightly off-putting to him, overall, it was significantly better than the first cake they had made.


    "How do you feel about it? Should we consider making another one?" Bonnie inquired of Jeremy, her tone tinged with uncertainty.


    She too took a bite of the cake she had crafted.


    While she believed that the texture and taste of the second cake were indeed an improvement over the first, she still found the vor of the second cake to be less than satisfactory.


    "I don''t think we need to make another chocte cake. We are running out of time, and even if we were to create another one, I doubt there would be a substantial enhancement in taste or texture," Jeremy asserted as he promptly ced the finished chocte cake into a box.


    Afterward, he hurriedly left with the chocte cake in hand.


    Bonnie watched Jeremy depart, not intending to follow him.


    She was well aware that if she stepped outside, Benjamin would likely notice her absence immediately.


    Bonnie certainly did not wish for any conflict to arise between Benjamin and Jeremy.


    In a situation where Bonnie could no longer apany Jeremy or offer him assistance, she felt even morepelled to avoid provoking any conflict between Benjamin and Jeremy.


    Jeremy, however, paid little heed to Bonnie''s concerns.


    His remaining time was swiftly dwindling.


    It was already two o''clock in the afternoon, and even if Ritchie was progressing at a sluggish pace within the instance, he should now be approaching the location of the final boss.


    If Ritchie were moving rapidly, there was even a possibility that he had already defeated the final boss.


    This would mean that Jeremy might not have the chance to greet Ritchie at the entrance of The Shadow Mine instance.


    Jeremy drove back to the entrance of The Shadow Mine instance with all the speed he could muster.


    After a fric thirty-minute drive, Jeremy finally arrived just a short distance from the entrance of The Shadow Mine instance.


    Before he could even allow himself a moment of relief, he spotted Ritchie''s figure gradually emerging from the cave.


    The moment Jeremy witnessed this scene, he quickly exited the vehicle.


    "You are faster than I anticipated. I thought it would take you longer to clear The Shadow Mine instance,"


    Jeremy remarked with a smile, holding a cake in his hand as he addressed Ritchie.


    Ritchie''s expression was somewhat peculiar.


    His face seemed to be a blend of joy and sorrow.


    Although Ritchie noticed the cake in Jeremy''s hand, he did not appear particrly ted. In fact, he seemed unable to focus entirely on the cake Jeremy was holding.


    Such a reaction from Ritchie left Jeremy feeling quite perplexed.


    Given his deep understanding of Ritchie, Jeremy expected him to fixate on the cake.


    After scrutinizing Ritchie from head to toe, Jeremy confirmed that there were no apparent changes in Ritchie''s condition.


    Thus, he decided it was time to pose a direct question to Ritchie.


    However, before Jeremy could open his mouth, Ritchie spoke first.


    "Jeremy, I feel that my strength has significantly increased. I have now reached level 54, and my shadow maniption skill has maxed out. I am now able to directly control the shadows of monsters over level 50."


    Ritchie''s statement left Jeremy momentarily stunned.


    But after a brief moment of astonishment, Jeremy eximed joyfully, "That''s wonderful news! Why didn''t you seem happier just now?"


    Ritchie shook his head.


    "I am genuinely pleased. The reason I didn''t express it is that the shadow maniption skill has had some effects on my body. I am currently unable to fully control my own shadow.


    This has resulted in my shadow exerting a certain constraint on my body. Therefore, I need to rest for a day to stabilize my condition."


    Jeremy did not voice any objections to Ritchie''s n.


    He believed that Ritchie''s abilities had indeed seen a considerable enhancement. Moreover, after reaching max level with the shadow maniption skill, it was reasonable to take one or two days to solidify one''s state.


    "You really should take a break! Once you feel rested, you can enjoy this cake that I specifically brought for you. It''s your favorite vor,"


    Jeremy said with a smile, raising the cake in front of Ritchie.


    Upon seeing the cake, a small smile appeared at the corners of Ritchie''s mouth. However, the next question he asked took Jeremy by surprise.


    "Where did you buy this cake? I recall that the bakery selling this cake has relocated."


    Facing Ritchie''s inquiry, Jeremy felt a bit embarrassed as he replied, "This is a cake that Bonnie and I made ourselves."

 Chapter 257: Steady Progress of the Companions

    Upon hearing Jeremy''s response, Ritchie''s expression remainedrgely unchanged, yet his eyes conveyed a subtle shift.


    Ritchie was unable to disy overlyplex emotions at the moment; he could only express his thoughts through his gaze.


    Jeremy could discern that the meaning behind Ritchie''s eyes was one of gratitude towards both him and Bonnie.


    "You both went out of your way to make my favorite cake, which truly exceeds my expectations. I must express my gratitude, and I will do my utmost in our future endeavors,"


    Ritchie stated to Jeremy with a very serious tone.


    Jeremy nodded, feeling a touch of embarrassment as he replied, "Actually, you don''t need to thank us so much. Both Bonnie and I think that the chocte cake we made isn''t all that great in vor and texture."


    After Jeremy finished speaking, both he and Ritchie shared augh.


    "Alright, we don''t need to linger here any longer. Although the monsters around The Shadow Mine are not particrly high in level, you still need to rest quickly. Let''s get in the car!"


    Jeremy promptly led Ritchie back to his residence with great haste.


    When they arrived at the foot of Ritchie''s building, Jeremy made sure to give Ritchie a specific reminder.


    "In the next couple of days, you absolutely must refrain from engaging in anybat with enemies. The shadow maniption skill, once it reaches max level, can actually pose a significant threat to its wielder.


    Therefore, for your safety, you must not use the shadow maniption skill at all during this period. Once you have stabilized your condition, you will be free to utilize the skill at your discretion."


    In response to Jeremy''s warning, Ritchie smiled and nodded.


    "Alright, I understand. I will not step outside my home for the next two days. This way, I can avoid any encounters with enemies.


    Moreover, if I do find myself in a situation of severe danger, I will not hesitate to seek your assistance. You will be staying in Moonlight City for the next couple of days, won''t you?"


    In response to Ritchie''s inquiry, Jeremy answered without hesitation.


    "Of course, I will be staying in Moonlight City for at least the next month. This uing month is crucial for us to enhance our own strengths.


    Moreover, I believe that General Howard and Director Liam will not be able to adequately prepare for further exploration of high-difficulty instances within such a short time frame."


    Jeremy''s conclusion was the result of synthesizing a considerable amount of information.


    Thus, he felt confident that his judgment was sound.


    Ritchie also ced a great deal of trust in Jeremy''s assessments, which led him to bid farewell to Jeremy directly.


    After escorting Ritchie back to his home, Jeremy did not return to his own residence; he did not focus on leveling up either.


    Instead, Jeremy decided to check on ire and Emma.


    He had not been in contact with them for several days.


    Although ire and Emma were not undertaking particrly perilous missions, and they were not entering instances to engage inbat.


    Jeremy still felt a twinge of guilt.


    He realized that he had been somewhat neglectful in his attention towards ire and Emma.


    He needed to visit their ce to ascertain their current condition. If both of them were in good shape, he would not hesitate to facilitate their second ss change.


    When Jeremy arrived at ire and Emma''s residence, it was already four o''clock in the afternoon.


    At that moment, ire was busy preparing dinner.


    When she saw Jeremy arrive, a look of sheer surprise spread across her face.


    "You finally came to see me. I thought you had forgotten all about me!" ire eximed as she rushed up to Jeremy and enveloped him in a warm embrace.


    Jeremy gently patted ire on the head.


    "How could I ever forget you? I have simply been swamped with responsibilities. Besides, you should be well aware of the multitude of foes I must contend with.


    Whether it''s the monsters from the apocalypse game or the lurking menace of Kean, they all pose a significant threat to me. Thus, I cannot afford to let my guard down easily.


    Today, I finally found a moment of respite, so I decided toe here and see you."


    ire fully epted Jeremy''s exnation.


    She promptly ushered Jeremy into the living room of her home.


    She then began to chat with Jeremy about recent events.


    After conversing for a while, Jeremy directly asked ire, "How do you feel about your current condition? Have you been practicing the methods I taught you consistently?"


    ire nodded in affirmation.


    "I have been diligently following the techniques you advised me to practice. I believe I have be quite proficient in my mental skills. I can now easily manipte the thoughts of monsters that are slightly lower in level than I am, and I am also immune to the mental attacks from certain types of creatures."


    To substantiate her ims, ire deliberately demonstrated one of her mental skills in front of Jeremy.


    After witnessing ire''s disy of skill, Jeremy had to admit that her mastery of mental abilities was indeed impressive.


    "You have certainly demonstrated a high level of proficiency with your mental skills. I believe you could be ready for your second ss change within the next two or three days."


    Jeremy''s words filled ire with immense joy.


    "If Iplete my second ss change, will I be able to fight alongside you? I truly hope to assist you in battle."


    In response to ire''s inquiry, Jeremy hesitated slightly.


    Afterpleting her second ss change, ire''s level would be able to surpass level 30.


    However, Jeremy''s level had now reached 53, and in order for ire to provide him with any meaningful assistance in battle, she would need to elevate her own level to at least 40.


    Although Jeremy felt that ire would be unable to aid him in the uing battles.


    He did not wish to dampen her enthusiasm. Thus, he needed to formte a more tactful response as quickly as possible.


    Noticing Jeremy''s hesitation in answering her question, ire realized that he was undoubtedly searching for a more diplomatic way to express himself.


    So, ire quickly interjected, "Even if I am unable to assist you in the forting battles, I don''t think it matters all that much. As long as I can enhance my own strength, I will be able to ensure my own safety.


    In a sense, that also provides you with a measure of support, doesn''t it? After all, once both Emma and I have improved our abilities, you won''t have to constantly worry about our safety."


    ire''s words sessfully alleviated the tension for Jeremy.


    He nodded emphatically.


    "You are absolutely correct. I believe that after youplete your second ss change, your strength will indeed be sufficient to ensure your own safety. However, where is Emma right now? Shouldn''t she be with you?"


    "She will be back very soon; she has already been out fighting all day. I believe Emma has also be quite proficient in her skills, and she should be ready to undergo her second ss change alongside me."


    Just as ire finished speaking, Emma pushed the door open and walked in.


    Upon seeing Jeremy, Emma became visibly excited.


    "You finally came to see me! I thought you had forgotten all about me!" Emma''s reaction mirrored ire''s almost perfectly.


    After all, the two had been living together for quite a long time.


    They were well aware of each other''s thoughts and feelings.


    In light of this situation, Jeremy could only offer someforting words to Emma.


    Once Emma''s emotions had calmed downpletely, Jeremy turned to her and asked.


    "I assume you have also be quite adept at your healing skills by now, right?"


    "Of course! My mastery of the skills I use has reached an extraordinary level. I feel that I could initiate the second phase of my ss change at any moment."


    Emma''s response brought immense joy to Jeremy.


    He felt that although hispanions may not possess strength on par with his own, they were all diligently striving to enhance their abilities.


    Moreover, during this recent period, all of hispanions, with the exception of Bonnie, had experienced steady improvements in their strength.


    Although Ritchie, ire, and Emma had not progressed rapidly, their advancement was remarkably stable.


    This stability ensured that they would not easily stray from the path of enhancing their abilities.


    After pondering for a moment, Jeremy addressed ire and Emma.


    "You are indeed ready to initiate your second ss change at any time. However, I believe it would be prudent for you to take one to two days to prepare. After all, the ss change ceremony does require certain materials.


    Furthermore, you cannotplete your ss change in a single day; I think it would be best for you to space it out over two days. During your ss change process, I will remain by your side.


    This way, we can ensure your safety and allow me the opportunity to intervene swiftly should any unforeseen circumstances arise."


    Jeremy''s n was undeniably reasonable.


    Neither ire nor Emma voiced any objections; they were merely concerned about when they shouldmence their second ss change.


    After giving it some thought, Jeremy settled on a date. However, before he had the chance to articte it, his phone began to ring.

 Chapter 258: Liams Invitation

    Jeremy nced at the caller ID and discovered that the call was from a strange number.


    He felt a twinge of confusion.


    Howard and Benjamin had previously assured him that his phone number would not easily be known to unrted individuals.


    This meant that the person calling him must be someone of great significance.


    Before answering the call, Jeremy deliberately shifted his gaze towards ire and Emma.


    "I am about to take an important call, so I would appreciate it if you both could wait for a moment."


    ire and Emma quickly nodded in agreement.


    Only after confirming that they would not be upset did Jeremy proceed to answer the phone.


    "Mr. Jeremy, your timing for this call seems ratherte. Are you perhaps engaged in battle within an instance? If so, please feel free to continue with your fight."


    The voice on the other end was one that Jeremy recognized quite well.


    After rifling through his memories for a moment, Jeremy finally determined that the caller was Liam, the director of the Special Situations Handling Bureau.


    Jeremy had no clue as to why Liam was calling.


    Thus, he could only respond,


    "I am not engaged in battle; I am currently at a friend''s house. Is there something of great importance that prompted your call? If there is something significant, I believe it would be more appropriate for you to visit me in person rather than calling."


    To Jeremy, phonemunication was inherently unreliable.


    There was a considerable risk that their conversation could be intercepted by others.


    Consequently, Jeremy felt that meeting face-to-face was the safest option.


    On the other end of the line, Liam instinctively praised him, saying, "You truly are a very cautious individual. You are correct; discussing crucial matters over the phone is indeed unreliable.


    Therefore, I did not call to discuss anything of great importance. The primary purpose of my call is to invite you to our Special Situations Handling Bureau.


    Have you not always expressed keen interest in the affairs of our bureau? In order to facilitate better cooperation in our uing endeavors, I believe it is essential for you to gain a more in-depth understanding of our operations."


    Faced with Liam''s invitation, Jeremy felt quite tempted.


    He understood that if he wished to eradicate all instances in Moonlight City, he would need the assistance of other forces within the city.


    Although Howard was willing to offer assistance to Jeremy, the information he possessed was rather limited.


    The Special Situations Handling Bureau was entirely different from the military; intelligence that the military was unaware of could very well be known to the Bureau.


    "I can ept your invitation. When do you intend for me toe over?"


    "You maye at your convenience. Since I have extended an invitation to you, it means you are free to choose a time that suits you. If you are particrly busy, you could even postpone your visit to our Special Situations Handling Bureau by a week."


    Liam''s tone was exceedingly gentle.


    He believed that this was an opportunity to win Jeremy over.


    Even if he could not fully sway Jeremy to his side, Liam hoped that Jeremy could remain neutral in the forting actions.


    Although Liam and Howard had coborated before, their rivalry was also quite intense.


    The Special Situations Handling Bureau was part of the federally controlled administrative system, while Howard was a general in the military.


    The ongoing struggle between the federal leadership and the military headquarters had already begun to affect their respective subordinate agencies.


    Upon hearing Liam''s response, Jeremy felt a slight hesitation.


    His initial n was to assist ire and Emma inpleting their second ss change in theing days.


    Yet, Jeremy sensed that visiting the Special Situations Handling Bureau might be a more pressing matter.


    As Jeremy hesitated, ire lowered her voice and spoke to him.


    "I believe you need not be overly concerned about our preferences. Although we are all ready to undergo our second ss change immediately, we can certainly wait a few more days.


    You should prioritize establishing your rtionships with other factions, especially the Special Situations Handling Bureau, as they possess a wealth of exclusive intelligence."


    After ire finished speaking, Emma quickly chimed in.


    "I think ire makes a very valid point; there is no need for you to rush into helping usplete our second ss change. You should focus on your own more pressing matters."


    With the support of both Emma and ire, Jeremy turned directly to Liam on the other end of the line.


    "If you have time, I can visit your Special Situations Handling Bureau tomorrow. However, before I proceed, there is one important matter I must rify with you."


    Jeremy felt it necessary to give the other party a heads-up.


    "What is it that you wish to say? Just speak your mind. Since I have invited you, you are wee to express any requests you may have."


    Liam''s tone remained calm and steady on the other end of the call.


    "I do not intend to make any demands of you; I merely hope that during my visit, you can ensure I am not disturbed by others. I certainly do not wish to have personnel from your Special Situations Handling Bureau gathering intelligence while I am touring."


    Jeremy harbored ack of trust towards the Special Situations Handling Bureau.


    In his view, the Bureau was an exceedingly enigmatic organization, one that would undoubtedly seek to extract as much information from him as possible.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s remarks, Liam burst into heartyughter.


    "Rest assured, we will not use this opportunity to search for more information rted to you. In fact, we already possess a considerable amount of intelligence concerning you.


    However, this information does not allow us to urately assess your true capabilities, nor does it provide insight into your genuine intentions.


    That is precisely why I thought to invite you to the Special Situations Handling Bureau. Since you have epted my invitation, I will naturally ensure that you are not disturbed during your visit."


    Liam''s response was both straightforward and reassuring, which put Jeremy more at ease.


    "Very well! Let''s schedule it for tomorrow morning then! I will do my utmost to arrive before nine o''clock!"


    The reason Jeremy did not provide a more precise time was that he felt it quite likely he would struggle to rise that early the following day.


    If he was unable to rise before eight o''clock, then that would ultimately mean he would not be able to arrive before nine.


    Liam felt a slight dissatisfaction with Jeremy''s response.


    In Liam''s view, Jeremy ought to provide him with a very precise time.


    However, Liam quickly adjusted his mood.


    After all, it was Liam who had taken the initiative to invite Jeremy, and it was entirely reasonable for Jeremy to have other matters to attend to.


    "That is certainly no problem at all! I will be at the Special Situations Handling Bureau all day. So as long as you do not arrive toote, I will be perfectly fine with it."


    "That''s great! Then it''s settled!"


    Once they reached an agreement, Jeremy promptly hung up the phone.


    "The Director of the Special Situations Handling Bureau, Liam, just called me; he invited me to tour the Bureau. I believe this is a wonderful opportunity, so I epted it right away.


    You two should continue to familiarize yourselves with your skills over the next few days. Once I havepleted my visit to the Special Situations Handling Bureau, I will assist you inpleting your second ss change."


    After finishing this statement, Jeremy nned to make a swift journey back home.


    ire and Emma apanied Jeremy all the way to the door.


    They watched as he drove away, and only after his car disappearedpletely from view did ire and Emma return to their home.


    Emma seemed a bit reluctant; she voiced herints to ire with a hint of frustration.


    "While I think it''s truly remarkable that so many people value Jeremy, it''s also evident that he is far too busy. He hardly has any time left to spend with us."


    In response to Emma''s grievances, ire let out a sigh.


    "I believe this is entirely normal, especially considering that the crisis of the apocalypse game has yet to be resolved. Exceptional individuals like Jeremy naturally bear greater responsibilities.


    Therefore, there is no need for us toin; what we must focus on is enhancing our own capabilities. Although we cannot increase our levels beforepleting the second ss change, we can continue to practice the skills we possess ording to Jeremy''s n."


    ire''s demeanor remained considerably more stable than Emma''s.


    Part of the reason, of course, was that ire was a psychologist, but another reason was that the skills she had acquired were rted to mental well-being.


    Even if ire found herself in a moment of panic, she could immediately utilize her skills to calm herself down.


    In a certain sense, ire is the most emotionally stable person among all those Jeremy knows.


    Consequently, Jeremy is also the one most eager to engage in conversation with ire.


    ire never engages in direct conflict with Jeremy; rather, she simply offers him a series of helpful insights and suggestions.

 Chapter 259 : First Entry into the Special Situations Handling Bureau

    Jeremy did not, as he had anticipated, continue to rest until around noon the following day.


    Instead, he awoke early the next morning.


    He still felt it was imperative to arrive at the Special Situations Handling Bureau as soon as possible.


    Even if Liam had no pressing matters to discuss with him, Jeremy could seize this opportunity to conduct a thorough investigation of the Bureau.


    Perhaps during this inquiry, Jeremy might uncover some intelligence that he had never encountered before.


    After a brief morning routine, he set off in his car toward the agreed-upon location with Liam.


    In their conversation the previous day, Jeremy and Liam had arranged to meet at a caf¨¦ located within amercial building in the Moonlight City business district.


    If Jeremy could arrive on time, he would find Liam waiting for him.


    If Jeremy ultimately failed to arrive on time, Liam would instruct his subordinates to wait for him.


    When Jeremy reached the designated location, there was still about an hour remaining before the time he and Liam had agreed upon.


    "It seems I''ve arrived a bit too early after all. Havinge this far in advance, Liam surely won''t be here yet,"


    Jeremy muttered to himself as he stepped into the caf¨¦.


    As he pushed open the door to the caf¨¦, he was suddenly astonished to discover that Liam was seated at a table deep within the establishment.


    Upon hearing the sound of the door opening, Liam turned his gaze toward the entrance.


    Upon spotting Jeremy, a faint smile spread across Liam''s face.


    "You''ve arrived much earlier than our scheduled time; it appears you, like me, are someone who enjoys being punctual," Liam remarked with a smile as Jeremy hurried to the caf¨¦ table.


    Jeremy nodded in response.


    "You arrived even earlier than I did; when did you get here? Or have you been waiting here all along?"


    Jeremy did not perceive Liam as someone with an abundance of free time.


    Thus, he spected that the caf¨¦ they were currently in might very well be one of the entrances to the Special Situations Handling Bureau.


    This way, Liam could both wait for Jeremy and attend to his own tasks simultaneously.


    With a smile, Liam replied.


    "You are indeed a very perceptive individual. I have been here all along because there is an entrance that leads directly to the Special Situations Handling Bureau."


    Liam''s statement brought a slight rxation to Jeremy''s expression.


    Jeremy had initially believed that Liam would not disclose much of the truth to him.


    This wasrgely due to his less-than-favorable first impression of Liam.


    In truth, Jeremy held a somewhat negative view of Liam, perceiving him as a highly cunning individual.


    When dealing with someone so shrewd, Jeremy felt it was imperative to tread carefully.


    "Given that, shall we proceed to the Special Situations Handling Bureau now?"


    Jeremy was not inclined to waste any more time; since Liam had summoned him for the purpose of exploring the Bureau.


    It was only natural that they should take action immediately.


    Liam nodded in agreement, saying, "You''re absolutely right; please follow me."


    The moment Liam stood up, arge door suddenly appeared behind him. This door was embedded in the wall of the caf¨¦.


    "We can pass through this door to enter the elevator lobby. This elevator leads directly to the main hall of the Special Situations Handling Bureau."


    With a smile, Liam walked toward the elevator.


    At that moment, Jeremy did not immediately follow him inside.


    Instead, he was utilizing his talent, The King of Time and Space, to examine the spatial integrity of the area surrounding the elevator.


    Upon entering the caf¨¦, Jeremy had not detected any spatial anomalies within the establishment.


    However, the elevator lobby before him was clearly an abnormal space.


    This situation indicated that Jeremy''s talent, The King of Time and Space, was being influenced in some manner while he was inside the caf¨¦.


    Just as Jeremy appeared to be hesitating, Liam, standing inside the elevator, spoke in a very gentle tone.


    "I am aware that you possess an exceptional ability to perceive changes in time and space. Therefore, you must have also sensed the anomalies present in this elevator lobby."


    "This elevator is indeed not situated within a normal spatial context. We have sessfully constructed a portal between the caf¨¦ and the main hall of the Special Situations Handling Bureau using a particrly powerful artifact."


    "The external manifestation of this portal takes the form of the elevator."


    Liam borated on the reasons behind this unusual circumstance.


    Jeremy nodded in understanding and then stepped into the elevator.


    Although Jeremy''s questions had not been thoroughly answered, he felt it was prudent not to divulge too much information about himself.


    If Jeremy were to reveal to Liam that he had not perceived any spatial anomalies, it would likely allow Liam to discern the upper limits of Jeremy''s talent, The King of Time and Space.


    This revtion could potentially lead Liam to underestimate Jeremy in the uing endeavors.


    "It seems you still have a multitude of questions." Liam observed. "However, you need not worry too much; all your inquiries will be addressed in due course."


    Liam could see that Jeremy''s expression remained somewhatplex and uncertain.


    Thus, he directly offered some reassurance.


    Jeremy made no response; he simply stood impassively beside Liam.


    The elevator that Liam and Jeremy were in ascended rapidly.


    After approximately a minute had passed, the elevator finally came to a halt, and the doors slowly opened.


    "Wee to the Special Situations Handling Bureau!"


    With a beaming smile, Liam was the first to step out.


    Jeremy followed closely behind, entering a remarkably busy and technologically advanced hall.


    This hall was the administrative center of the Special Situations Handling Bureau.


    As Liam and Jeremy made their entrance, all eyes in the hall turned toward the two of them.


    "This is Jeremy," Liam announced loudly, a proud smile adorning his face. "Though you may have heard of his illustrious name before, I believe you have never had the pleasure of meeting him in person. Today, I have finally brought him here."


    "Now, let us extend a warm wee to Mr. Jeremy!"


    As soon as Liam''s words fell, the hall erupted into enthusiastic apuse.


    For a moment, Jeremy felt slightly awkward.


    Although he had encountered simr situations before, he believed he stillcked the sufficient ability to cope with such a scene.


    An embarrassed smile adorned Jeremy''s face as he waved his hand in the direction of the crowd.


    "Alright, everyone can return to your work. I will be showing Mr. Jeremy around our Special Situations Handling Bureau."


    Liam''s smile dimmed slightly after he made this announcement.


    Once he finished speaking, the people in the hall quickly immersed themselves back into their work.


    "It seems these individuals are entirely obedient to you. Whatever you say, they undoubtedly agree with." Jeremy remarked candidly to Liam.


    "You are correct; as staff members of the Special Situations Handling Bureau, they are naturally expected to follow my directivespletely. After all, I am the head of the Bureau."


    Having said this, Liam led Jeremy down a central pathway in the hall, heading toward therge door on the opposite side.


    The pace at which they walked was neither hurried nor slow, and it took them about ten minutes to finally reach the other side of the hall.


    "Only upon pushing open this door do we truly enter the inner sanctum of the Special Situations Handling Bureau."


    Liam paused deliberately as they arrived at the threshold.


    He smiled as he observed Jeremy''s expression.


    Jeremy merely nodded; he did not speak, nor did he disy any particrly notable emotion.


    "Are you not the least bit excited? Others do not have the privilege to casually tour the Special Situations Handling Bureau. Do you think that we, the Bureau, are not a formidable force to you, or are you already well-acquainted with our operations?"


    Although Liam''s tone remained very gentle when he spoke these words,


    Jeremy couldn''t shake the feeling that there was an underlying hint of threat woven into the fabric of what was said.


    "I simply feel that there is nothing particrly novel about all that I am witnessing right now. I have previously been inside a military headquarters, where the facilities are far more impressive than those you have here."


    In response to Jeremy''s statement, Liam spoke with a hint of exasperation in his voice.


    "That is undoubtedly true; after all, the funding that the military headquarters receives each year vastly exceeds our own. Furthermore, the number of awakened individuals avable to the military headquarters is significantly greater than that of our Special Situations Handling Bureau."


    "However, at least within Moonlight City, our Special Situations Handling Bureau is by no means weak. The power we wield is capable of standing toe to toe with the forces led by General Howard that are stationed in Moonlight City."


    As Liam conveyed this, his tone was imbued with pride.


    Jeremy did not concur with Liam''s assertion, nor did he outright refute it.


    This was primarily because Jeremy had yet to witness any conflict between the Special Situations Handling Bureau and General Howard''s forces. Consequently, he could not ascertain whether the two sides were evenly matched.


    "We have already squandered enough time; now, let us proceed into the inner workings of the Special Situations Handling Bureau!"


    Liam approached the grand door, which then opened automatically.


    Before Liam and Jeremyy apletely dark tunnel.


    "Do not be afraid; should any danger arise, I will protect you." Liam said with a reassuring smile before stepping into the darkness.

 Chapter 260 : The Information That Was Deliberately Concealed

    Liam quickly vanished from Jeremy''s line of sight.


    Jeremy appeared to hesitate slightly; although he was aware that there was virtually no danger within the confines of the Special Situations Handling Bureau, he couldn''t shake the feeling that Liam harbored a subtle animosity toward him.


    Just as Jeremy was lost in thought, Liam''s voice echoed from the darkness.


    "What''s the matter? Are you afraid to step into the darkness? If that''s the case, you are free to leave right now. Because what I am about to share is information that only the courageous are entitled to hear."


    Liam spoke these words in a tone that waspletely different from his earlier demeanor.


    Previously, Liam''s tone had been exceedingly gentle, and their conversation had felt like a casual chat between long-time friends.


    However, this time, Liam had abruptly adopted a very serious tone.


    A faint smile crept onto Jeremy''s lips.


    "There is no need for you to resort to such tactics to urge me into the darkness. I am fully aware that I am a person of considerable courage. However, courage does not equate to recklessness.


    I was merely assessing whether the dark area you have entered poses any danger. It is only after I am certain that it is devoid of peril that I will step inside."


    "It is precisely through this approach that I have been able to emerge unscathed from one perilous instance after another."


    Jeremy''s exnation was indeed a reflection of his true thoughts.


    Upon hearing these words, Liam couldn''t help but burst intoughter.


    "You are correct; exercising caution is never detrimental for any awakened individual. So, have you nowpleted your assessment of the dark area?"


    Jeremy nodded in affirmation.


    "I have finished evaluating the dark area, and it seems that there is not much danger present."


    "Not much danger? Are you not implying that there is absolutely no danger?"


    "The only threat within the dark area is you. I believe there is a strong possibility that you mayunch an attack against me shortly."


    After this exchange, both individuals gained a deeper understanding of one another.


    Through his previous actions and words, Jeremy made it clear to Liam that he was not a reckless individual who relied solely on bravado.


    Conversely, Liam''s series of actions conveyed to Jeremy that he did not harborplete trust in him.


    After a moment of silence, the two of them spoke almost simultaneously.


    "Then let us proceed."


    Both were slightly taken aback to hear the same words echoed from the other.


    As they uttered the phrase in unison,ughter erupted between them.


    "It seems we are not devoid ofmon ground after all. At the very least, our thought processes align perfectly."


    Liam stepped out from the shadows, a smile adorning his face as he addressed Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement. "Indeed, so now you can tell me the true purpose for summoning me. The matter you mentioned that only the courageous are entitled to know must pertain to this, correct?"


    Jeremy did not hesitate to articte his conclusion.


    In fact, he had discerned Liam''s general intent from the very beginning.


    However, Jeremy had refrained from stating it outright earlier, as he believed it prudent to proceed cautiously in order to ascertain Liam''s true thoughts further.


    Liam nodded in acknowledgment.


    At that moment, the way Liam looked at Jeremy had transformed significantly.


    Liam had begun to regard Jeremy as someone with sufficient intellect to be a potential coborator.


    Although Liam still did not fully trust Jeremy, he believed that cooperating with him posed little risk.


    "It is somewhat risky to discuss this matter here. Let us move to my office to talk further."


    With that statement, Liam snapped his fingers.


    Then, the dark area ahead of Liam and Jeremy waspletely illuminated.


    "My office is located at the end of the corridor, and on our way there, you need not fear the darkness any longer. The entire path has been lit."


    Liam said this in a seemingly joking tone, then turned without looking back and swiftly made his way towards the end of the corridor.


    This time, Jeremy disyed no hesitation; he followed closely behind at a brisk pace.


    Upon arriving at Liam''s office, Liam immediately sealed the room entirely.


    "What I am about to share with you is of utmost importance. This matter pertains not only to your safety and mine, but it also concerns the safety of Moonlight City as a whole and, indeed, all of humanity."


    Liam spoke these words with an air of solemnity.


    He then powered on hisputer, and a map that Jeremy found somewhat familiar appeared on the screen.


    Upon seeing the map, Jeremy''s expression underwent a dramatic transformation.


    "It appears that you possess some knowledge of this map as well. This map was discovered in an instance located in the outskirts of Moonlight City.


    Under normal circumstances, we would not pay much attention to this map or the information it presents. However, after conducting a meticulous examination, I discovered that the information marked on this map is indeed decipherable.


    In each of the four corners of the map, four names are inscribed, and one of those names is yours!"


    As Liam spoke these words, he pointed at the lower right corner of the map.


    In that very corner, there was indeed an abstract symbol depicted.


    After undergoing certain geometric transformations, this highly abstract symbol would, in fact, be converted into Jeremy''s name.


    Witnessing this scene, Jeremy''s expression gradually became moreposed.


    "Why have you chosen to disclose this information to me alone? Is it merely because my name appears on this map?"


    In response to Jeremy''s inquiry, Liam nodded.


    "It is precisely for this reason. I have not even shared the details of this map with my subordinates. In this world, only the two of us are aware of its existence."


    Liam''s demeanor shifted to one of profound seriousness.


    "The moment I first discovered this map, I sensed that it was emanating an immense power."


    "I employed several items imbued with sealing abilities to sessfully confine this map."


    "Every time I retrieve this map from its seal, the power it radiates grows increasingly potent."


    "I fear that it will not be long before I am unable to contain this map any longer. And once that urs, it is certain that formidable creatures, beyond our imagination, will emerge from it."


    Liam''s words finally brought full understanding to Jeremy.


    Liam had deliberately concealed this map.


    For he knew that should this map be discovered by others, Jeremy would undoubtedly face an enormous threat. Moreover, this could very well render all of Liam''s prior precautions utterly ineffective.


    After delivering this sobering message, Liam paused for a moment.


    Once he confirmed that Jeremy believed him, Liam slowly inquired, "You should now be able to tell me which ce this map represents, correct?"


    Jeremy nodded silently.


    "The location represented by this map is the Tower of Exile. The Tower of Exile is a realm within the Void Spirit World. I was fortunate enough to have visited the Void Spirit World, and I even had the privilege of witnessing the Tower of Exile firsthand."


    "However, I have never entered the interior of the Tower of Exile. Because within the Tower of Exile, there exists at least one nner of the apocalypse game."


    "I believe you, as the director of the Special Circumstances Handling Bureau, should be well aware that the nners of the apocalypse game are referred to by a term familiar to us humans, known as deities."


    As Jeremy shared the information he possessed, a flicker of fear finally crossed Liam''s face.


    Although Liam was the director of the Special Circumstances Handling Bureau, his jurisdiction only extended over Moonlight City.


    He did not have the same breadth of responsibility as the Intelligence Bureau, which oversaw the entire federation.


    Thus, Liam was not privy to much information rted to the nners of the apocalypse game.


    Moreover, he was unaware that one of these nners was actively seeking resurrection in the real world.


    Consequently, when he heard that a nner of the apocalypse game resided within the Tower of Exile, he naturally fell into a state of deep trepidation.


    "What should we do? If we do not take action, the seal will inevitably be breached by the map. At that point, the nner of the apocalypse game you mentioned could very well enter the real world."


    "And even if the elite forces of the federation manage to repel the nner of the apocalypse game, Moonlight City will undoubtedly be destroyed by them."


    As Liam spoke, his voice trembled with evident fear.


    Jeremy nodded gravely in response.


    "You are correct; therefore, I believe we must first address the troubles this map has brought us. I am convinced that only by entering the Tower of Exile will I have the opportunity topletely eliminate the crisis posed by this map."


    Jeremy articted his thoughts without hesitation.


    However, Liam believed that Jeremy''s n was destined for failure.


    Although Liam was aware of some intelligence rted to the Void Spirit World, he felt that individuals like them, who were not among the most powerful of humanity, could not possibly gain entry into the Void Spirit World.


    Liam even suspected that there was a degree of bravado in what Jeremy had said. He believed that the information Jeremy provided was likely obtained from the military headquarters.


    Thus, Liam did not immediately respond to the n proposed by Jeremy.

 Chapter 261: Preparing to Head to the Tower of Exile

    In the absence of any response from Liam, Jeremy''s mood grew increasingly impatient.


    "Why are you silent? Do you think I am lying right now?"


    Jeremy keenly sensed that Liam did not truly believe in him.


    Thus, in Jeremy''s perspective, Liam''sck of a direct response to his n indicated that he regarded Jeremy''s previous statements as mere fabrications.


    Liam lifted his head and gazed at Jeremy.


    "Have you genuinely ventured into the areas you mentioned? It''s not that I distrust you, I merely find the things you are saying somewhat unbelievable."


    At that moment, Liam''s expression was exceedingly serious.


    He genuinely believed that the question he posed was of utmost importance.


    Moreover, Liam felt that Jeremy must provide a satisfactory answer to this inquiry.


    Jeremy remained silent, he simply retrieved an item from his pocket.


    The item he retrieved from his pocket was a gemstone.


    This gemstone was one that Jeremy had acquired in the Land of Eternal Night, which meant it possessed the unique powers inherent to that realm.


    "Surely the Special Situations Bureau has the capability to assess the power contained within this gemstone, right? Take a closer look at it, once you do, you will have no further doubts."


    Jeremy casually ced the gemstone on the desk in front of Liam.


    Liam''s expression disyed a flicker of hesitation.


    He believed that Jeremy''s unwavering confidence likely indicated that he was indeed speaking the truth.


    If he were to take the gemstone and utilize the Bureau''s internal equipment to ascertain the veracity of Jeremy''s ims, there was a strong possibility that Jeremy would be enraged.


    Yet, if he refrained from doing so, he still harbored a lingering distrust towards Jeremy. A sliver of apprehension would persist in the depths of his mind.


    "You need not continue hesitating, the reason I presented this gemstone to you is to earn your trust. Therefore, examining whether this gemstone is genuine will not provoke my anger."


    Jeremy had perceptively recognized Liam''s concerns.


    In order to facilitate the smoother progression of his uing ns, Jeremy naturally chose to directly alleviate the other man''s worries.


    Liam nodded in response.


    "Then I shall have my subordinates promptly examine the various properties of this gemstone."


    Having uttered those words, Liam immediately picked up the telephone on his desk.


    A few minutester, a staff member from the Special Situations Bureau knocked on the door of Liam''s office, subsequently taking the gemstone that Jeremy had provided.


    While awaiting the results, Liam and Jeremy engaged in casual conversation.


    "What led you to enter the Void Spirit World? Although our Special Situations Bureau does not possess extensive information regarding the Void Spirit World, we can ascertain that each region within it is exceedingly perilous."


    Although Liam had not yet fully convinced himself of Jeremy''s truthfulness, he still opted to employ indirect inquiries in an attempt to extract more intelligence from Jeremy.


    Jeremy responded with a smile.


    "Do you not already possess a wealth of information regarding me? Are you unaware that I previously encountered a tremendous crisis? Kean had provoked me in the past.


    Moreover, there was a contest over a divine artifact between us. As a result, Kean, in conjunction with the nning of the apocalypse game, set a trap for me.


    I was forced to enter the Land of Eternal Night within the Void Spirit World. However, ultimately, through my own efforts and the assistance of mypanions, I sessfully escaped from the Land of Eternal Night.


    In fact, during the escape, mypanions and I also managed to severely wound one of the nners behind the apocalypse game."


    Jeremy sinctly recounted the events he had encountered in the Land of Eternal Night.


    After attentively listening to Jeremy''s ount, Liam''s expression transformed into one of sheer astonishment.


    "You truly aplished such feats?! I previously thought that all the intelligence I had gathered was merely fabrications of your own design.


    I assumed you were attempting to persuade General Howard and Mayor Benjamin that you were someone capable of saving Moonlight City through such means.


    It appears my earlier judgment of you was fraught with numerous errors. I assure you, I will not repeat the same mistakes in the future. I shall harbor far fewer doubts regarding your credibility."


    In truth, at this juncture, Liam had cedplete trust in Jeremy.


    To Liam, it was inconceivable that someone who had never entered the Void Spirit World could articte such intricate details.


    This realization confirmed that Jeremy was indeed not lying.


    No sooner had Liam finished speaking than his subordinate returned with the gemstone that Jeremy had entrusted to them.


    "Director, we meticulously examined this gemstone with the equipment at our disposal. This gemstone possesses the power of the apocalypse game nners.


    However, we are unable to ascertain the source of this power, as our databasecks corresponding information. Should we record the details of the powers contained within this gemstone?"


    In response to his subordinate''s inquiry, Liam promptly shook his head without hesitation.


    "There is no need to document the powers of this gemstone! Moreover, I would like you to purge all information rted to this gemstone from the database."


    Liam''s statement left his subordinate thoroughly perplexed.


    "What? Did you not hear what I just said?"


    Liam''s gaze suddenly turned icy, and he questioned his subordinate in a remarkably chilling tone.


    Upon hearing this, Liam''s subordinate quickly processed the situation.


    "I understand! I will act ording to your orders without fail!"


    After leaving the gemstone behind, Liam''s subordinate swiftly exited the room.


    "I apologize for the inconvenience, sometimes my subordinates exhibit inexplicable behavior. After all, not all personnel in the Special Situations Bureau are exceptionally astute."


    Liam then pushed the gemstone in front of Jeremy and smiled as he addressed him.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment.


    "There is nothing to worry about, among mypanions, there are indeed some rather unreliable individuals."


    Having uttered these words, Jeremy felt there was no need to continue beating around the bush.


    "Now, you should be able to trust me, right? I remainmitted to my previous n, and I intend to find an opportune moment to enter the Tower of Exile in the near future.


    I believe the unusual map you discovered must have originated from the Tower of Exile. Moreover, it likely contains the machinations of the apocalypse game nners."


    This time, Liam did not hesitate as he had before.


    "You are correct, however, I believe your solo entry into the Tower of Exile would be exceedingly perilous. Therefore, I hope to apany you during this endeavor."


    Liam''s deration left Jeremy momentarily at a loss for words.


    Although Jeremy had indeed adjusted his perception of Liam during their earlier conversation,


    he was not prepared to undertake such a dangerous operation alongside him.


    "I believe that our chances of sess would be significantly diminished if we attempted to act together. It would be far more advantageous for me to undertake this mission alone, as the probability of sess would be greater."


    "Moreover, I am not certain whether you will be able to enter the Tower of Exile, as it is situated within the Void Spirit World. Only I, possessing the King of Time and Space talent, can freely ess the Void Spirit World."


    What Jeremy stated was, in fact, a falsehood.


    Before acquiring the King of Time and Space talent, he was already able to enter the Void Spirit World due to the assistance of the World and the ss change goddess, Janna.


    If Liam could obtain assistance from either the World or the ss change goddess Janna, he would also be able to ess the Void Spirit World.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Liam slowly nodded his head.


    "Very well, then proceed with your solo mission. Before you take action, feel free to visit our Special Situations Bureau''s armory to select any weapons you desire.


    This undertaking will undoubtedly be fraught with danger, so I must do everything in my power to assist you. You are free to utilize any weapons or items possessed by the Special Situations Bureau."


    Although Liam had not been able to persuade Jeremy to allow him to apany him.


    He believed that Jeremy''s mission was crucial for the safety of Moonlight City, and thus he feltpelled to provide assistance in any way possible.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "I greatly appreciate your offer of assistance, however, I believe the weapons and items I currently possess are sufficient to confront any crises I may encounter within the Tower of Exile.


    What I truly require from you is one particr item: the unusual map you just showed me. Only with that map in hand can I uncover the truth behind the events within the Tower of Exile."


    Jeremy''s request caused Liam to hesitate slightly.


    However, after contemting for a moment, Liam retrieved the unusual map from its seal.


    "You are correct, once you enter the Tower of Exile, you will indeed need this unusual map to unveil the truth of the events. Therefore, I will allow you to use it.


    However, I can only hand it over to you at the moment you are about to enter the Tower of Exile, as I doubt you could adequately seal the map once you have it."


    Liam was not deliberately trying to make things difficult for Jeremy, his concerns were entirely reasonable.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment. "You are right, I will return to find you once I am adequately prepared!"

 Chapter 262: Gathering Necessary Intelligence

    After departing from the Special Situations Bureau, Jeremy promptly returned to his home.


    Although Jeremy had resolved to enter the Tower of Exile, he still perceived this endeavor as exceedingly perilous. The level of danger within the Tower of Exile was undoubtedly higher than that of the Land of Eternal Night.


    Thus, before venturing into the Tower of Exile, Jeremy recognized the imperative need to gather essential intelligence.


    Currently, Jeremy had several channels through which he could collect information.


    He had already acquired some intelligence from Liam, and if he sought assistance from Bonnie, she would likely be able to provide him with additional information.


    However, the intelligence Bonnie could furnish would primarily consist of data held by the Moonlight City government. This subset of information was unlikely to possess significant value.


    Moreover, Jeremy could obtain some intelligence from Howard.


    Additionally, Howard maintained very close ties with the military headquarters, which meant that the information he provided would be considerably more valuable.


    In addition to these individuals from the real world, Jeremy could certainly also seek assistance from the World and the ss change goddess, Janna.


    However, Jeremy felt it was essential to rely on his own strength to gather a certain amount of intelligence first, and only after that should he seek help from the World and the ss change goddess, Janna.


    Jeremy''s first stop was to find Bonnie.


    He recounted his uing ns to Bonnie in detail.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s n, Bonnie''s face disyed an expression of sheer astonishment.


    "Have you lost your mind? Why would you even think about entering the Void Spirit World? Have you forgotten the series of crises we faced during our previous encounters in the Void Spirit World?"


    Bonnie spoke to Jeremy with a pained expression and an utterly shocked tone.


    She believed that any endeavor to enter the Void Spirit World was fraught with extreme risk.


    "I am fully aware that entering the Void Spirit World will expose us to danger. However, we currently have no other options avable to us. Do you think we should simply stand by and allow the forces from the Void Spirit World to infiltrate our reality?


    Only within the Void Spirit World can we deliver a crushing blow to the architects of the apocalypse game. I even feel that our efforts in the real world are utterly meaningless."


    Jeremy''s statement left Bonnie momentarily at a loss for words.


    In truth, Bonnie also believed that Jeremy''s assessment was remarkably urate.


    After hesitating for a moment, Bonnie spoke slowly.


    "Since you have made your decision, I will certainly provide you with assistance. I will go find my father immediately and request the necessary permissions to ess the documents held by the city government."


    Bonnie''s words elicited a faint smile from Jeremy.


    "Let''s go together to review the information! I believe I need to act swiftly! The longer I dy, the worse the situations we encounter will be."


    Jeremy''s statement convinced Bonnie, and the two of them made their way to the archives of Moonlight City.


    Within the archives of Moonlight City, Jeremy indeed discovered some intelligence rted to the Tower of Exile.


    However, all this information pertained solely to the monsters.


    Some of the creatures had entered the real world from the space housing the Tower of Exile, while others had been tainted by the power wielded by the Tower of Exile.


    Jeremy found no instances that were directly connected to the Tower of Exile.


    This indicated that the master of the Tower of Exile was an exceptionally cautious individual. Moreover, this person was likely very familiar with Jeremy.


    Immediately, Jeremy thought of a certain architect of the apocalypse game he had encountered before known as the White Tower.


    If the master of the Tower of Exile truly was the White Tower, then Jeremy''s subsequent actions would undoubtedly face immense peril.


    Upon considering this possibility, Jeremy''s expression grew exceedingly grim.


    "What''s wrong? Did youe across information thatpletely caught you off guard?" Bonnie asked directly after noticing the troubled expression on Jeremy''s face.


    Jeremy shook his head and then nodded.


    "I did not encounter information that was entirely unexpected, however, from the intelligence avable to us, it can be inferred that the enemies within the Tower of Exile must possess considerable knowledge about me."


    Jeremy''s words caused Bonnie to feel a slight twinge of concern as well.


    Nevertheless, Jeremy quickly adopted a much lighter tone as he continued speaking.


    "However, this is merely our current hypothesis. The information contained within the archives is actually quite limited. My next destination will be the military camp where General Howard is stationed. I should be able to acquire more substantial intelligence there."


    After articting this, Jeremy stood up abruptly from his seat, with Bonnie closely following behind him.


    "You don''t need to apany me any further! You can go home and rest!"


    Jeremy smiled at Bonnie as he spoke.


    Bonnie shook her head, saying, "Since I can no longer assist you within the instance, I hope you will allow me to provide you with additional help in the real world."


    Bonnie''s words ultimately persuaded Jeremy.


    "Very well, then you may apany me. With your assistance, I believe my speed in gathering intelligence will significantly increase."


    After half an hour, Jeremy and Bonnie arrived at the military camp where General Howard was stationed.


    At that moment, General Howard was strategizing how to lead his troops in clearing out some rtively low-difficulty instances.


    The arrival of Jeremy and Bonnie left Howard somewhat puzzled.


    "What brings you two to me at this hour? Have you uncovered some remarkable intelligence?"


    Howard remarked with a hint of yful sarcasm.


    Jeremy nodded, affirming, "Indeed, we have discovered significant intelligence. We found that the powers within the Tower of Exile are attempting to infiltrate the real world. Therefore, I hope to obtain information rted to the Tower of Exile from you.


    Once I have gathered sufficient intelligence, I intend to enter the Tower of Exile."


    Jeremy''s statement caused Howard''s expression to shift swiftly to one of seriousness.


    "I see! Then let us not waste any more time. I will have my aide take you to search for information rted to the Tower of Exile as soon as possible."


    Howard''s response was marked by remarkable efficiency.


    Under the guidance of General Howard''s aide, Jeremy quickly gathered intelligence rted to the Tower of Exile.


    However, the information he obtained this time was, in fact, rather limited.


    Jeremy learned that the Tower of Exile is a highly concealed area, and even within the Void Spirit World, few beings are aware of the specifics regarding the Tower of Exile.


    After receiving this concerning intelligence, Jeremy felt that he could no longer acquire any more information in the real world, so he chose to bid farewell to Howard and Bonnie.


    Jeremy swiftly returned to his home.


    Once there, he secured his residence and retrieved the gemstone that had been entrusted to him by the entity known as the "World."


    After sessfully activating the power within the gemstone, Jeremy found himself in the realm of the ss change goddess, Janna.


    "You''vee again? Shouldn''t you be utilizing your awakened talents to tackle those instances and monsters in the real world?"


    As soon as Jeremy arrived in the space of the ss change goddess, Janna''s voice echoed around him.


    Jeremy took a few seconds to stabilize his own condition.


    "I encountered a perplexing situation in the real world. I discovered an anomalous map that emanates the powers of the Tower of Exile. Therefore, I intend to enter the Tower of Exile.


    Only by doing so can I unravel the truth of this world and confront the enemies hidden behind this anomalous map. If I do not act swiftly, a multitude of terrifying monsters will surely emerge from that map.


    Thus, I chose toe here to seek your assistance. I hope to obtain information rted to the Tower of Exile."


    Jeremy rapidly articted his purpose.


    Upon hearing his words, the expression on the ss change goddess Janna''s face grew somewhat peculiar.


    "I believe that with your current strength, you are not capable of entering the Tower of Exile. While the monsters within the Tower of Exile are not particrly high in level, the power of the Tower''s master is exceedingly formidable."


    Janna''s tone wasced with hesitation as she spoke.


    It seemed she deliberately refrained from mentioning the name of the master of the Tower of Exile.


    Seizing this opportunity, Jeremy pressed further.


    "Is the master of the Tower of Exile one of the nners behind the apocalypse game? Is it indeed the one known as ''the White Tower''?"


    Jeremy voiced his spection, however, upon hearing his words, the expression on the ss change goddess Janna''s face remainedrgely unchanged. This indicated that Jeremy had indeed guessed incorrectly.


    "The master of the Tower of Exile is not at all ''the White Tower.'' ''The White Tower'' merely serves as the guardian of the Tower of Exile. The true master of the Tower of Exile is the most powerful entity among the nners of the apocalypse game, and is also the principal architect of the cataclysm itself¡ª''Fool!''"


    The moment the ss change goddess Janna uttered the name "Fool."it appeared as though she were being interfered with by some anomalous force.


    The blue aura surrounding Janna rapidly transformed into a deep ck. Her expression swiftly contorted into one of savagery.


    In response to this sudden turn of events, Jeremy did not immediately take action.


    He chose to step back a few paces, once he had retreated to a sufficiently safe distance, he began to closely observe the state of the ss change goddess Janna.


    Jeremy would not act rashly, for he understood that he was incapable of defeating the ss change goddess in this realm.

 Chapter 263: The Blessing of the Cosmic Will

    Although Jeremy did not intend to engage inbat with the ss change goddess Janna, who was ensnared in an abnormal state, he remained thoroughly prepared for battle.


    Even though he had entered the realm belonging to the ss change goddess Janna without carrying any weapons or items, he still possessed the innate ability known as The King of Time and Space.


    Jeremy believed that by effectively utilizing the powers bestowed upon him by The King of Time and Space, he could ensure his safety in the impending confrontation that might erupt.


    As he readied himself for the potential conflict, Jeremy took a few steps backward.


    At that moment, the distance between Jeremy and the ss change goddess Janna had expanded to over ten meters.


    However, such a distance did little to ease Jeremy''s apprehension.


    This was because the condition of the ss change goddess Janna had deteriorated significantly.


    The violet aura that had once surrounded her body had now transformed entirely into a menacing shade of ck. Moreover, the eyes of the ss change goddess Janna had now fixated upon Jeremy.


    The ss change goddess Janna seemed to regard Jeremy as an enemy that she must annihte.


    Upon meeting the gaze of the ss change goddess Janna, Jeremy promptly activated the ability known as The King of Time and Space.


    Before him appeared an ethereal portal, and behind the ss change goddess Janna, an identical illusionary doorway manifested as well.


    Jeremy resolved that the moment the ss change goddess Jannaunched an assault against him, he would leap through this spectral doorway, instantaneously transporting himself to her rear.


    At that point, whether to evade the ss change goddess Janna''s strike or to mount a counterattack from behind, he would find himself in an advantageous position.


    As Jeremy conjured these two illusory portals, the ss change goddess Janna surged toward him with remarkable speed.


    At this moment, her movements exhibited a peculiar and unsettling quality.


    The ss change goddess Janna neither employed her formidable magical attacks, nor did she approach Jeremy in a conventional manner. Instead, her limbs contorted grotesquely as they supported her body, allowing her to advance rapidly toward him.


    Faced with this sudden and bizarre development, Jeremy sprang into action without hesitation.


    He stepped through the ethereal portal and instantly arrived at the location where the ss change goddess Janna had previously stood.


    "I''m sorry! Your current state is exceedingly strange, and I must take action against you!" Jeremy said softly, gazing in the direction of the ss change goddess Janna.


    As he spoke, Jeremy''s left hand reached forward, clenched into a fist.


    Suddenly, a fissure appeared in the space surrounding his left hand, rapidly expanding toward the area where the ss change goddess Janna was situated.


    When the crack reached the vicinity of the ss change goddess Janna, a peculiar space materialized around her body.


    Before she could react, the ss change goddess Janna found herself sealed within this enigmatic realm.


    With the sealing of the ss change goddess Janna sessfully aplished, Jeremy let out a slight sigh of relief.


    "Regardless, I can at least ensure my safety for now. But what should I do next? The ss change goddess Janna merely mentioned the name of the master of the Tower of Exile and was immediately tainted by the power possessed by the [Fool].


    If I were to truly enter the Tower of Exile, it is highly likely that I would be obliterated by the power of the [Fool]. After all, my strength is somewhat inferior to that of the ss change goddess Janna."


    At this moment, Jeremy was feeling quite troubled.


    He sensed that the dire situation had far exceeded his capacity for control.


    Just as Jeremy was grappling with his anxiety, he keenly detected fluctuations in the surrounding space.


    The ss change goddess Janna had sessfully broken through the spatial seal, and a pale hand extended directly from the peculiar realm.


    The pale hand belonged to the ss change goddess Janna, and with a swift motion, it hurled an unusually malevolent curse directly at Jeremy.


    Jeremy had initially intended to use the ability of The King of Time and Space to swiftly teleport away.


    However, as he attempted to activate The King of Time and Space, he suddenly realized he was immobilized, locked in ce.


    "Why is this happening?! Could it be that after being tainted by the [Fool], the ss change goddess Janna has gained the ability to counter my spatial skills?"


    Jeremy was utterly astonished.


    Amidst his shock, he found himself spiraling into a state of deep panic.


    The only resource he could rely on was the power of The King of Time and Space that he possessed.


    If the ss change goddess Janna truly had the capacity to negate the spatial abilities granted by his talent, there was no way he could endure for much longer.


    Unable to take any action, Jeremy remained rooted in ce, forced to watch as the ss change goddess Janna gradually broke free from the peculiar spatial seal.


    The ss change goddess Jannapletely emerged from the enigmatic realm.


    At that moment, she fixed Jeremy with an intensely cold gaze.


    As Jeremy observed her movements, he simultaneously attempted to activate his talent, The King of Time and Space, hoping to free himself from the immobilization.


    Although Jeremy exerted every ounce of his strength, his efforts proved to be in vain.


    The ss change goddess Janna approached Jeremy, lifting her head and opening her mouth wide enough to swallow him whole.


    All Jeremy could perceive was an overwhelming abyss of darkness.


    Just as Jeremy felt he was on the brink of being devoured by the ss change goddess Janna, she suddenly let out a wail of despair.


    In the next instant, the ss change goddess Janna was forcefully propelled away.


    Before Jeremy couldprehend what had transpired, he found himself liberated from the state of confinement.


    He warily scanned his surroundings, and it wasn''t long before he spotted the figure of the [World].


    "You finally arrived! I was beginning to think you wouldn''t show up here!"


    Upon seeing the [World], Jeremy felt a sense of calm wash over him, dispelling the panic that had previously engulfed him.


    In his view, the [World] was bound to provide him with immense assistance, and moreover, its power significantly surpassed that of the ss change goddess Janna.


    "I rushed over as soon as I received your message. However, I encountered a few minor obstacles along the way, which dyed me slightly."


    The [World] replied to Jeremy in a cool tone, subsequently shifting its gaze towards the ss change goddess Janna.


    Jeremy followed suit, directing his attention towards the ss change goddess Janna.


    Although she had been severely wounded by the [World]''s recent attack, she still remained tainted by the corrupting influence of the [Fool].


    "What should we do now? Is it not possible to remove the [Fool]''s taint from her?" Jeremy asked the [World] directly.


    The [World] slowly nodded in response.


    "Indeed, we must eliminate the [Fool]''s corruption. However, the extent of the contamination that the ss change goddess Janna has suffered is quite severe. It cannot bepletely eradicated in a short period of time."


    The [World]''s reply left Jeremy feeling a tinge of concern.


    "What should we do then? Is there anything I can do to assist the ss change goddess Janna and you?" Jeremy asked, even though he was acutely aware that he was entangled in his own troubles, still, he wished to provide some measure of support to his allies.


    Upon hearing this, the [World] turned its gaze towards Jeremy.


    "The most important matter for you right now is not to assist us. What you must prioritize is entering the Tower of Exile as swiftly as possible."


    A bitter smile crept onto Jeremy''s lips upon hearing this statement.


    "How can I possibly dare to enter the Tower of Exile? The ss change goddess Janna merely mentioned the [Fool] and was immediately afflicted by its corrupting power.


    If I were to step into the Tower of Exile, survival would be utterly impossible for me. Thus, I have essentially abandoned my own ns."


    The [World] shook its head.


    "The reason the ss change goddess Janna was tainted is not merely due to her mentioning the [Fool]. Rather, it is because her inherent divinity is already linked to the [Fool].


    When the ss change goddess Janna inadvertently recalled the [Fool] again, the [Fool] sessfully corrupted her by exploiting the connection between their divine essences.


    Therefore, even if you enter the Tower of Exile, you will not be easily tainted by the [Fool]''s power. Moreover, I shall provide assistance throughout your journey.


    I will grant you the protection of the Cosmic Will!"


    As soon as the [World] finished speaking, Jeremy felt a sudden surge of pure white light swirling above his head.


    Within the luminous radiance, the faint outlines of stars began to materialize.


    "What you see above you is the Cosmic Will! As long as you do not encounter a true deity within the Tower of Exile, the Cosmic Will will ensure your safety."


    After delivering this assurance, the [World] waved its hand decisively.


    "Leave the matters here to me. You should return to the real world and make your final preparations for entering the Tower of Exile. My understanding of the Tower of Exile is actually quite limited, so your subsequent actions willrgely depend on you."


    Jeremy wanted to ask the [World] something further upon hearing this.


    However, before he could articte his question, he found himself abruptly back in the real world.


    Although he had returned to his home, Jeremy had not yet fully extricated himself from the earlier state of panic.


    He murmured to himself, still somewhat incredulous,


    "Could it be that the [World] is facing an insurmountable problem, just like me? It has never beente before! It seems I truly must hasten my pace!"

 Chapter 264: Swiftly Choosing a Companion for Action

    After making up his mind, Jeremy immediately began to prepare for his expedition to the Tower of Exile.


    First, Jeremy took out all the weapons and items he possessed from his home.


    This mission was fraught with peril, so Jeremy resolved to bring along all of his most powerful weapons. Additionally, some essential items were imperative to include as well.


    "The Longsword of the Undying, the Dark Core, and the High-Dimensional Data Storage Device¡ªthese three are absolutely essential. Beyond that, I must also carry some provisions."


    Jeremy promptly organized the items he intended to take with him.


    However, having everything sorted did not mean he couldmence his journey immediately.


    For Jeremy was still confronted with another dilemma: should he bring apanion along for this venture?


    Although Bonnie had not provided him with much assistance during the operation in the Land of Eternal Night.


    She remained the only person he could truly trust in critical moments.


    Without the intelligence that Bonnie had supplied him at pivotal times, Jeremy would not have been able to emerge unscathed from his venture in the Land of Eternal Night.


    Thus, Jeremy felt it was prudent to select apanion for his journey into the Tower of Exile.


    However, this time, he was unable to choose Bonnie once again.


    On one hand, Bonnie was currently under the watchful eye of Benjamin.


    On the other hand, Jeremy believed that he had a more suitablepanion avable.


    The first person that came to Jeremy''s mind as a potential partner was, of course, Ritchie.


    Ritchie''s rtionship with Jeremy was exceptionally good.


    Moreover, during their previous joint operations, whenever Jeremy found himself in peril, Ritchie would undoubtedly exert every effort to assist him.


    When selecting a partner, trust was, of course, the most critical element to consider.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, Jeremy swiftly made his choice for apanion.


    "This time, I will team up with Ritchie! Furthermore, following our earlier experience in the Shadow Mine instance, Ritchie has significantly enhanced his abilities.


    At the very least, his skill level in shadow maniption has improved considerablypared to before. In the mission at the Tower of Exile, he can utilize shadows to help me gather more intelligence."


    Having made his decision, Jeremy promptly arrived at Ritchie''s doorstep.


    Ritchie was somewhat surprised by Jeremy''s visit.


    To Ritchie''s mind, Jeremy should have been upied with assisting ire and Emma in their ss change. It seemed unlikely that Jeremy would have time to chat with him.


    With a hint of confusion in his voice, Ritchie inquired of Jeremy.


    "Have youe to me for something of great importance? Shouldn''t you be assisting ire and Emma with their ss change right now?"


    Jeremy did not respond to Ritchie''s question, he simply entered Ritchie''s home with his backpack in tow.


    "We must ensure that there are no spies in your vicinity. Therefore, I willpletely seal off your home. The uing conversation cannot be known to anyone else."


    The moment he stepped into Ritchie''s house, Jeremy immediately utilized his talent, The King of Time and Space, to iste Ritchie''s home from the surrounding areas.


    Jeremy''s actions only served to heighten Ritchie''s anxiety.


    "What you have to tell me must be a significant matter, right? Please don''t share it just yet, allow me to prepare myself mentally first!" Ritchie said quickly, his voice tinged with nervousness.


    Taking a few deep breaths to steady himself, Ritchie braced himself while Jeremypleted the sealing of Ritchie''s home.


    "You can speak now! What news do you bring me?"


    Once Ritchie felt ready, he asked Jeremy with a very serious tone.


    Jeremy nced at Ritchie and then replied in an equally grave manner.


    "I havee to invite you to be my partner for the next operation. I hope you can assist me in this endeavor."


    After Jeremy finished speaking, he fixed his gaze intently on Ritchie.


    Ritchie understood that he had to acquiesce to Jeremy''s request for the conversation to proceed.


    If Ritchie had no intention of joining Jeremy in the operation, Jeremy would withhold any information rted to the Tower of Exile.


    Upon hearing these words, Ritchie suddenly exhaled in relief.


    "This is what you wanted to discuss?! Of course, I am more than willing to partner with you!"


    After uttering this, Ritchiefortably sank into the sofa.


    "We have previously faced perilous missions together. Therefore, I believe that as long as we both put our minds to it, we can ovee any challenges that arise."


    Ritchie said to Jeremy with a smile on his face.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "In that case, I will share the details of our uing operation with you. However, you must promise not to panic excessively upon receiving this information."


    "Alright, alright, I understand. We have already tackled high-difficulty instances before, what information could possibly cause me to panic? Just tell me what I absolutely need to know for the next operation."


    Ritchie maintained a remarkably rxed demeanor.


    Seeing Ritchie''s state, Jeremy finally felt a sense of relief wash over him as well.


    "We are about to enter the Void Spirit World, which contains numerous regions. The area we will be entering this time is the Tower of Exile.


    I have obtained some crucial information regarding the Tower of Exile from a friend, and a map of the Tower of Exile has somehow made its way into the real world."


    "We must uncover the truth that lies hidden beneath all of this. Furthermore, we need to ascertain what formidable enemies exist within the Tower of Exile that pose a significant threat to us."


    Jeremy conveyed all the information he possessed in one breath.


    Upon hearing this, Ritchie''s expression turned exceedingly grave.


    "I can''t be mistaken, can I? Are you suggesting that this operation involves just the two of us entering the Tower of Exile?"


    "Indeed, this operation will consist solely of the two of us. Moreover, the others in the real world will not be able to assist us, as they cannot channel their powers into the Tower of Exile."


    Jeremy''s response heightened Ritchie''s agitation.


    Ritchie stood up from the sofa and began pacing back and forth in his room.


    "Isn''t this risk a bit too great? As far as I know, every region within the Void Spirit World is exceedingly perilous. Additionally, the monsters and instances we currently face are all manifestations of the Void Spirit World.


    The enemies we encounter in the Void Spirit World are bound to be far more powerful than we can possibly imagine. Are you truly prepared for this?"


    After a moment of hesitation, Ritchie ultimately posed a crucial question to Jeremy.


    In Ritchie''s view, as long as Jeremy was adequately prepared, he would follow him into action without hesitation.


    For Ritchie had always ced unwavering trust in Jeremy''s judgment.


    "I am fully prepared! All I need you to do is bring your weapon! I firmly believe that our mission will be a resounding sess!"


    Jeremy looked into Ritchie''s eyes and spoke with unwavering conviction.


    Upon hearing the response, Ritchie''s anxious expression swiftly vanished.


    With a smile on his face, Ritchie said,


    "Then I will certainly join you in this endeavor! When do we leave?"


    "We can depart immediately! However, we will not head directly to the Tower of Exile, first, we need to go to the Special Situations Bureau in the center of Moonlight City. There, we will be able to gather more information."


    After delivering this statement, Jeremy led Ritchie to the Special Situations Bureau.


    The state of the Special Situations Bureau remainedrgely unchanged from before, the director, Liam, had not informed anyone else about the anomalous map.


    Upon seeing Jeremy and Ritchie again, Liam began to grasp Jeremy''s n.


    "Have you genuinely decided to take him along instead of me?" Liam inquired, scrutinizing Ritchie from head to toe.


    Although Liam had encountered Ritchie during thest operation, he hadn''t paid much attention to him.


    In Liam''s eyes, Ritchie was merely a reasonably skilled yer in the apocalypse game.


    After hearing this, Ritchie''s impression of Liam deteriorated even further.


    Jeremy quickly interjected, "Ritchie and I have a remarkably seamless synergy. Thus, I believe it is best for me to partner with him during this perilous mission.


    The only reason I came to see you was to request more information. If you have already shared everything you know with us, we will take immediate action."


    Jeremy did not dwell on the issue of partnerships.


    He also did not wish for Liam to fixate on the matter any longer.


    Liam nodded, acknowledging, "The degree of synergy between partners is indeed of paramount importance. With the two of you working together as a team to enter the Tower of Exile, I am confident that you will be able to fulfill our n.


    I have no further intelligence to provide, but I will allow you to take the anomalous map with you. The Special Situations Bureau can no longer seal the anomalous map.


    Perhaps by returning the anomalous map to the Tower of Exile, we can entirely eliminate the threat it poses to us."


    As he spoke, Liam handed a briefcase to Jeremy.


    "The anomalous map is contained within this briefcase! The seal on the briefcase can hold for approximately half a day! After that, the anomalous map will break free from the briefcase''s confinement!"

 Chapter 265: Entering the Tower of Exile

    Jeremy took the briefcase containing the anomalous map from Liam''s hands.


    "I understand, I will remember all the precautions. If you have no further reminders, I will immediately enter the Tower of Exile with mypanions."


    Liam cast a deep, prating gaze at Jeremy and Ritchie.


    "I have no further enhancements to offer you. I only hope you can exercise caution during your endeavors. Once you enter the Tower of Exile, you will undoubtedly encounter numerous perils."


    Although Liam still had notpletely ced his trust in Jeremy,


    he recognized that Jeremy''s actions within the Tower of Exile were of paramount importance to all of humanity.


    Therefore, Liam did not wish for Jeremy''s mission to end in failure.


    Jeremy nodded, affirming, "I understand! Await my good news, I am absolutely certain I will not fail."


    After exchanging a few pleasantries with Liam, Jeremy quickly returned home with Ritchie.


    He thoroughly secured his house, ensuring that it waspletely sealed off.


    The gemstone entrusted to Jeremy by the "World" was already positioned in the center of his living room.


    At this moment, the gemstone was emitting a dazzling radiance.


    Ritchie gazed at the gemstone in the living room and noticed that within the luminous glow, a series of ethereal shadows flickered in and out of existence. These phantoms appeared to be projections from different worlds.


    However, Ritchie was unable to discern any specific characteristics of these apparitions.


    "Are you ready?" Jeremy approached Ritchie''s side and asked him in a very solemn tone.


    Ritchie nodded in affirmation.


    "Take my hand! We are about to enter the Tower of Exile!" Jeremy extended his right hand while grasping the brilliantly glowing gemstone with his left.


    Ritchie took a deep breath and reached out, sping Jeremy''s right hand.


    The moment their hands connected, a blinding white light shed before Ritchie''s eyes.


    The white brilliance was incredibly intense, rendering Ritchie nearly unable to see anything at all.


    After a brief moment, Ritchie''s vision gradually began to return.


    Suddenly, he realized he was now inside a very dpidated house.


    Jeremy stood not far from him, alertly surveying their surroundings.


    "You should be all right, shouldn''t you?" Jeremy did not turn his gaze toward Ritchie, he remained focused on the environment while addressing him.


    Ritchie shook his head and struggled to stand up.


    "I am not seriously injured! It''s just that the white light was a bit too blinding, my vision has yet to fully recover."


    "That is nothing to be overly concerned about!


    The white light that emanated upon entering the Tower of Exile is merely the glow of the teleportation gateway.


    The light emitted by the teleportation pathway will not affect you in any detrimental way.


    All you need to do is observe the scenery around you, and your vision will restore itself in no time."


    As Jeremy spoke to Ritchie, he swiftly made his way to one of the walls in the room.


    Jeremy gave the wall a firm knock, and then immediately pressed his ear against the surface.


    "This wall is hollow behind it! Perhaps we can break through this wall and enter another space!"


    Jeremy''s thoughts were remarkably clear.


    He understood that he could not remain trapped in this room with Ritchie for too long, as the conditions of their current surroundings were rather dire.


    The room they upied was exceedingly cramped, and the tiles on the walls were in a state of disrepair, with signs of decay evident on the surfaces.


    Jeremy could even detect the musty scent of decaying vegetation in the air.


    After muttering this to himself, Jeremy took a step back.


    Then, he gripped the Longsword of the Undying tightly and struck the wall with considerable force.


    The moment the Longsword of the Undying made contact with the wall, an ear-piercing scream echoed throughout the surrounding walls of the room.


    It seemed as though the sword had struck something alive.


    The piercing scream inflicted a severe headache upon both Jeremy and Ritchie.


    However, this pain swiftly propelled them into a state of heightened alertness and readiness forbat.


    Jeremy quickly surveyed their surroundings, having activated his ability known as The King of Time and Space.


    At that moment, several spatial positions had already begun to materialize around Jeremy''s body.


    Ritchie, on the other hand, swiftly donned the Ravager''s Gloves.


    Once he equipped the Ravager''s Gloves, Ritchie''s sensitivity to shadows was significantly enhanced.


    He was actively employing his shadow perception ability to sense any potential shadows that might be lurking nearby.


    The shrill scream soon subsided, yet neither of them dared to let down their guard.


    This was because, at that precise moment, both of them caught the overwhelming scent of blood.


    The source of the metallic odor was unmistakably the wall that Jeremy had struck with the Longsword of the Undying.


    As the scent of blood intensified, Jeremy and Ritchie instinctively retreated in unison, moving away from the wall.


    Both of them maintained a vignt gaze directed at the wall, and soon, under their watchful eyes, a humanoid creature began to materialize from its surface.


    The instant the creature emerged, Jeremy received a notification from The Eye of Omniscience.


    [Note: Eliminating the Faceless Entity before it fully manifests will grant you additional intel.]


    At the moment the notification from The Eye of Omniscience appeared, Jeremy had already discerned the specific data regarding the Faceless Entity.


    [Name: Faceless Entity]


    [Level: 49]


    [Type: Cursed Monster]


    [Attack Skills: 1. Soul Theft. 2. Blood Devouring.]


    The Faceless Entity was merely at level 49, which indicated that it was not an extraordinarily difficult monster to contend with.


    Jeremy felt confident that he could swiftly eliminate it using the Longsword of the Undying.


    Upon reaching this conclusion, Jeremy grasped the Longsword of the Undying and leaped into action.


    Under Ritchie''s astonished gaze, Jeremy instantly found himself positioned before the Faceless Entity, which had yet to fully reveal its true form.


    With tremendous force, the Longsword of the Undying swung downwards towards the Faceless Entity.


    As the de made contact with the Faceless Entity, anguished screams echoed once more from the walls surrounding the room.


    However, this time, the screams did not linger for long, as the Faceless Entity sumbed to its demise after enduring two brutal strikes from the Longsword of the Undying.


    Although Ritchie and Jeremy were spared from hearing the piercing screams again, the stench of blood in the room had intensified significantly.


    Ritchie found it increasingly difficult to breathe.


    "After the monster''s demise, a passage has appeared where it once stood. We need to hurry through this passage and leave! The smell of blood is overwhelming, I can hardly breathe!"


    Ritchie shouted loudly at Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded in affirmation and promptly proceeded through the passage.


    Ritchie quickly followed suit, racing to catch up with Jeremy as they both ventured through the darkened corridor.


    Upon exiting the passage from the previous room, Ritchie and Jeremy suddenly found themselves in a dimly lit cave.


    The two could hear the distant sound of flowing water echoing throughout the cavern.


    However, the cave waspletely devoid of any light, leaving both individuals only able to barely discern each other''s positions.


    Beyond a short distance, visibility was entirely lost.


    "What should we do next? I suppose we can only continue forward, right?"


    Although Ritchie had no particr n, he felt that pressing onward was their only viable option.


    After all, since their entry into the Tower of Exile, they had yet to acquire any useful information.


    Jeremy did not immediately respond to Ritchie''s inquiry, as he was preupied with the intelligence provided by The Eye of Omniscience after vanquishing the Faceless Entity. This information left Jeremy in a state of considerable confusion.


    [You have not entered the Tower of Exile, it is even possible that you may never gain ess to it. The area you currently upy is merely an auxiliary region of the Tower of Exile.]


    The message indicating that they had not entered the Tower of Exile was something Jeremy couldprehend.


    After all, the Tower of Exile was an area of great concern to the entity known as [Fool], which implied that gaining entry into such a domain would be exceedingly challenging.


    Jeremy did not believe that the gem provided by the light screen, referred to as [World], would grant them ess to the Tower of Exile.


    However, the assertion that they might never be able to enter the Tower of Exile was something Jeremy found utterly perplexing.


    Even if Jeremy and Ritchie were unable to ess the Tower of Exile, he was convinced that [World] would offer them assistance when it was most needed.


    Moreover, Jeremy was now under the protection of the Cosmic Will.


    Under ordinary circumstances, they would not linger in the outer regions of the Tower of Exile for an extended period.


    As Jeremy was lost in thought, Ritchie gently tapped him on the shoulder.


    Jeremy turned his head, casting a questioning nce at Ritchie.


    Lowering his voice, Ritchie said to Jeremy, "Do you not sense that there seems to be other entities around us? It feels as though those things have been closely observing our every move."


    Upon hearing Ritchie''s words, Jeremy suddenly realized that he had been too focused on his immediate surroundings.


    He should not have neglected the environment while engaged in such perilous actions.


    Without dy, Jeremy extended his Divine Consciousness, sweeping it across the area surrounding the two of them.


    To his surprise, Jeremy discovered numerous hidden presences lurking in their vicinity.


    However, these concealed entities appeared to harbor no hostility towards Jeremy and Ritchie.


    They were merely observing Jeremy and Ritchie''s actions, showing no intention ofunching an attack.


    Thus, Jeremy felt nopulsion to act rashly.

 Chapter 266: The Soulless Ones

    After confirming that the hidden entities around them did not exhibit any overt hostility, Jeremy took a step forward and spoke in a voice that was slightly louder than necessary.


    "We bear you no ill will. We have no desire to harm you, and I sincerely hope that you do not harbor any hostility towards us either. If you are willing to provide us with some valuable information, we would be more than happy to offer you appropriate rewards in return."


    Upon concluding his statement, Jeremy deliberately retrieved several energy gemstones and soul crystals from his pocket.


    The moment the energy gemstones and soul crystals were produced, both Jeremy and Ritchie could sense a peculiar surge of energy fluctuations emanating from the surrounding area.


    Ritchie appeared somewhat tense, lowering his voice as he posed a question to Jeremy.


    "What should we do now? The energy gemstones and soul crystals you disyed seem to have provoked them."


    Jeremy did not share Ritchie''s anxiety, he felt that it was still unwise to take any immediate action.


    After all, they had yet to ascertain whether the surrounding entities truly harbored any hostility.


    Just as Jeremy hesitated, he suddenly noticed several humanoid figures materializing not far from him.


    These apparitions floated toward Jeremy, extending their fingers toward the energy gemstones and soul crystals he held.


    Understanding their intent, Jeremy promptly responded.


    "If you are willing to provide us with information, we can offer you these energy gemstones and soul crystals in exchange."


    Upon finishing his sentence, the closest humanoid figure spoke in a raspy and ethereal voice.


    "What type of information do you seek? You may ask us questions, but for each question answered, you must provide us with one energy gemstone or soul crystal."


    As soon as the figure finished speaking, Jeremy replied without hesitation, "No questions are off the table!"


    He then raised an energy gemstone in front of the nearest humanoid figure.


    "My first question is: who are you? Why are you here?"


    "We are the Soulless Ones, and we find ourselves here because we have been exiled to this ce."the nearest humanoid figure replied without dy.


    Jeremy immediately tossed the energy gemstone to the entity.


    Upon receiving the gemstone, the figure swiftly became transparent and vanished from Jeremy''s sight.


    "It seems that each Soulless One will answer only one question. However, given the abundance of Soulless Ones here, we should be able to gather ample information."


    Jeremy quickly made a judgment and conveyed his thoughts to Ritchie.


    Ritchie nodded in acknowledgment.


    While Jeremy was engaged in a transaction with the Soulless One, Ritchie remained vignt, carefully observing their surroundings.


    He certainly did not want Jeremy to fall victim to an enemy ambush.


    Jeremy addressed the second Soulless One that approached him, asking, "What is the current location we find ourselves in? Is it part of the Tower of Exile?"


    "You are currently beneath the Dark River, this area does not belong to the Tower of Exile, and it is situated quite a distance away from it."the Soulless One replied.


    From this response, Jeremy gleaned the name of the ce known as the Dark River.


    He could deduce that the water sounds he and Ritchie had previously heard must have originated from the Dark River above them.


    After handing over another energy gemstone to the Soulless One, another figure promptly materialized in front of Jeremy.


    "What is the precise location of the Dark River? If you cannot answer that, you may also indicate what areas surround the Dark River."


    The Soulless One before Jeremy appeared to hesitate in response to the question posed.


    Noticing the hesitation, Jeremy unhesitatingly produced another energy gemstone.


    "If you are willing to answer my question, I can offer you two energy gemstones in return."


    After a moment of deliberation regarding the reward offered by Jeremy, the Soulless One slowly began to respond.


    "The Dark River is only connected to two areas, if you choose to go upward, you will directly enter the Dark River. If you choose to go downward, you will find yourself in the Giant''s Graveyard."


    Upon receiving this answer, Jeremy promptly handed over the two energy gemstones to the entity.


    Of course, Jeremy could have pressed for further information regarding the Dark River and the Giant''s Graveyard.


    However, he sensed that if he were to pose such inquiries, the Soulless One would likely be quite irate.


    This was due to their initial agreement that each Soulless One would only respond to a limited number of questions.


    Taking a deep breath, Jeremy resolved to directly ask the next Soulless One for information rted to the Dark River and the Giant''s Graveyard.


    Yet, before he could even open his mouth to inquire, the Soulless One before him spoke up.


    "I know what you are about to ask. I can answer your questions, but I do not desire energy gemstones, what I seek are soul crystals instead."


    Jeremy did not hesitate at the request presented by the entity.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement and stated,


    "As long as you are able to answer my questions, I am willing to provide you with either energy gemstones or soul crystals."


    The Soulless One acknowledged with a nod, saying, "Very well, you may now ask the questions you wish to pose."


    "My question pertains to the characteristics of the Dark River and the Giant''s Graveyard. Will we encounter any dangers upon entering these two areas?"


    "The Dark River possesses no distinctive features, anything that enters the Dark River remains trapped within it. Even those endowed with divine powers cannot escape its grasp.


    The Giant''s Graveyard is a burial site for giants. It is filled with enormous coffins, and I have heard that some giants were interred there while still alive.


    Therefore, should you choose to enter the Giant''s Graveyard, you must be wary of the attacks from those giants who are not yet fully deceased."


    After receiving this information, Jeremy promptly offered the entity two soul crystals.


    "I have another question I would like to ask: has any Soulless One ventured into the Giant''s Graveyard?"


    The Soulless One hesitated for a moment before ultimately providing a response.


    "We do not know the answer to that question. This is because all Soulless Ones have lost the majority of their memories. The information we have shared with you is merely what we have gathered since arriving beneath the Dark River."


    Jeremy nodded in understanding and casually handed over the two soul crystals to the entity.


    Subsequently, Jeremy engaged in transactions with several more Soulless Ones.


    However, he did not receive any significantly more useful information from them.


    This implies that Jeremy and Ritchie must continue their journey, they are headed toward the Giant''s Graveyard as mentioned by the Soulless One.


    "From the information we have gathered, it can be inferred that our only path forward leads to the Giant''s Graveyard. Anything that enters the Dark River will be eternally bound within its depths.


    While we could dismiss the intelligence provided by these Soulless Ones, their very name suggests that the Dark River is considerably more perilous than the Giant''s Graveyard."


    Jeremy articted his thoughts to Ritchie.


    Ritchie nodded in agreement.


    "I believe you are correct, the Dark River is likely far more dangerous than the Giant''s Graveyard. After donning the Ravager''s Gloves, I can sense a powerful shadow energy emanating continuously from above us."


    "I believe that this formidable shadow energy is likely the very power possessed by the Dark River. Such potent shadow forces are certainly capable of binding any existence.


    Therefore, we should hasten our journey to the Giant''s Graveyard. Perhaps we might encounter some giants who have not yet fully perished. They should be able to provide us with valuable information!"


    Ritchie contributed additional insights.


    His information corroborated the intelligence provided by the Soulless Ones.


    This further reinforced Jeremy''s confidence in the validity of his judgment.


    "Very well! Let us set off at once! ording to the information given by the Soulless Ones, we need only continue downward through the cave.


    We must avoid any upward paths, every branching point must lead us downhill. Only in this manner can we reach the Giant''s Graveyard."


    Before departing, Jeremy left behind some energy gemstones for the Soulless Ones once more.


    In Jeremy''s perspective, these Soulless Ones bore him no ill will and had been immensely helpful to him.


    Providing them with more energy gemstones could enhance their goodwill towards him even further.


    "If they were to encounter danger in the future, the Soulless Ones might indeed provide them with some assistance."


    After bidding farewell to the Soulless Ones, Jeremy and Ritchie swiftly advanced through the dimly lit cave.


    As they progressed, they encountered numerous forked paths, each presenting two distinct choices. One option led upward, while the other descended downward.


    After approximately an hour of navigating through the cave, Ritchie and Jeremy finally arrived before a massive bronze door.


    This enormous bronze door was intricately carved with the likeness of a cyclops.


    Upon seeing this grand door, both of them realized that beyond ity the Giant''s Graveyard.


    "It seems that the information provided by the Soulless Ones is indeed urate. We should proceed to enter the Giant''s Graveyard next!"


    Jeremy took a deep breath and spoke to Ritchie.


    He felt a slight twinge of anxiety, as he sensed a formidable presence lurking behind the bronze door.

 Chapter 267: The Cemetery of Giants

    Upon noticing the slight look of concern on Jeremy''s face, Ritchie immediately inquired.


    "What''s the matter? Is there some exceedingly dangerous entity lurking behind the bronze doors? Do we need to prepare for a longer duration before we can enter the Cemetery of Giants?"


    Even Ritchie, who was typically very timid, understood that since they had already arrived at this location, there was no turning back.


    Therefore, regardless of the dangers thaty ahead, they had to muster their courage and press on.


    Jeremy hesitated for a moment before shaking his head and responding,


    "There is indeed danger behind the bronze doors. However, we do not need to make any further preparations! Step aside, I will open the bronze door by myself!"


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s reply, Ritchie chose not to say anything further.


    He promptly moved to a position that was a considerable distance away from the bronze doors.


    Ritchie was acutely aware that, should they encounter danger, he would not be able to ensure his own safety.


    Thus, when faced with potential peril, Ritchie could only seek to protect himself.


    Once Ritchie had found a rtively safe spot, Jeremy slowly began to push open the bronze doors.


    As the bronze doors creaked open, an extremely chilling breeze swept through from the other side.


    Even though Ritchie was positioned quite far from the bronze doors, he could feel the temperature around him plummeting rapidly.


    When the bronze doors were fully opened, Ritchie sensed that the moisture in the air around him hadpletely frozen.


    Hastily, Ritchie utilized the supplies he had on hand to prevent his body from losing heat too quickly.


    Ritchie had already felt an intense chill, and there was no need for Jeremy to borate further.


    Standing beside the bronze doors, the moment they swung open, Jeremy felt a sharp sting on his face. Moreover, he could sense his body rapidly sumbing to the freezing temperatures.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy activated the talent of The King of Time and Space, generating a folded space in front of his body.


    This folded space sessfully blocked the icy winds that were emanating from within the bronze doors.


    As a result, Jeremy gained sufficient reaction time to ensure that he would not be immediately frozen to death by the frigid gusts.


    Once he stabilized his condition, Jeremy turned to check on Ritchie.


    "Are you alright? Can you continue moving forward? If you can''t, we can rest here for a while."


    Jeremy believed he was capable of pressing onward, but his only concern was Ritchie''s state.


    In Jeremy''s view, Ritchie was at high risk of bingpletely frozen.


    Ritchie quickly shook his head in response.


    "I can still move forward! I feel that the dangers we face here may very well be greater than those within the Cemetery of Giants."


    After Ritchie finished speaking, he struggled to quickly reach Jeremy''s side.


    Although Ritchie had not fully recovered from the effects of the biting cold wind, he was already able to continue moving alongside Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment.


    Even though he could see that Ritchie''s condition was far from ideal, his thoughts aligned with Ritchie''s perspective.


    The longer they lingered in the Tower of Exile area, the more dangers they would inevitably encounter.


    Thus, rather than remaining stagnant, it was far more prudent to press onward, at the very least, continuing their journey would allow them to gather more information.


    With that understanding, Jeremy and Ritchie entered the Cemetery of Giants, moving in a lead-follow pattern.


    The moment they stepped through the bronze doors, Jeremy and Ritchie suddenly discovered that they were now situated in a remarkably expansive hall.


    Above them, countless points of light sparkled like stars in the night sky.


    However, both of them were acutely aware that these luminous spots were not actual stars, they could very well be living creatures.


    "We should exercise caution, we still have no idea whether those lights above harbor any hostility towards us!" Jeremy lowered his voice to caution Ritchie.


    Ritchie nodded in acknowledgment, confirming that he had received Jeremy''s warning.


    The two of them proceeded slowly through the hall.


    They made every effort to avoid making any sound as they moved forward.


    However, due to the pervasive darkness of the hall, they inevitably bumped into several coffins along the way.


    The coffins in the Cemetery of Giants were exceedingly massive, but interspersed among them were some smaller coffins.


    These smaller coffins appeared to be intended for creatures of human size.


    After advancing for a while, Jeremy suddenly halted in front of a colossal coffin.


    "What''s wrong? Did you notice anything unusual in the surroundings?" Ritchie, unaware of Jeremy''s sudden stop, leaned in closer and whispered his inquiry.


    Jeremy shook his head and gestured for Ritchie to remain silent.


    This action only heightened Ritchie''s sense of unease.


    He began to scan the area, hoping to identify anything that could exin Jeremy''s sudden wariness.


    Before long, he noticed that the arrangement of coffins surrounding the two of them was distinctly different from before.


    These coffins appeared to possess the ability to move on their own.


    Upon realizing this, Ritchie wore a look of profound astonishment on his face.


    "What on earth is happening? We must take immediate action! Should we leave this ce as swiftly as possible?!"


    Ritchie remained silent, instead manipting his shadow to write out this message on the ground.


    After observing the message crafted by Ritchie''s shadow, Jeremy slowly shook his head.


    Then, Jeremy pointed toward the enormous coffin directly in front of them.


    Following Jeremy''s indication, Ritchie finally discerned the source of Jeremy''s heightened concern.


    The gigantic coffin ahead of them had beenpletely opened, and a cyclops was half-sitting up from within it. The cyclops seemed to be fixated on both Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Upon catching sight of the Cyclops, Ritchie felt his heart rate surge dramatically.


    A bead of cold sweat also appeared on Ritchie''s forehead.


    He nced at Jeremy, whose eyes were filled with a palpable urgency, he desperately hoped Jeremy would provide him with guidance on what to do.


    Jeremy remained silent, slowly moving toward the coffin.


    Ritchie refrained from mimicking Jeremy''s actions, as he was convinced that even the slightest movement on his part could provoke the Cyclops intounching a direct attack against him.


    It took Jeremy a full fifteen minutes to cautiously position himself beside the coffin.


    The moment he made contact with the coffin, a sudden influx of memories that did not belong to him flooded Jeremy''s mind.


    In an endless forest, Cyclopes appeared to be constructing a massive pyramid. As the construction reached its midpoint, the sky darkened ominously with thick clouds.


    Then, a series of lightning bolts descended from the heavens, obliterating the pyramid that the Cyclopes had built. Simultaneously, an indescribable chaotic entity manifested in the sky.


    The instant the chaotic entity emerged, all the Cyclopes turned their gazes toward it. Uponying eyes on this chaotic existence, the Cyclopes became puppets of the entity.


    Only the most powerful Cyclopes could tenuously resist the mental corruption inflicted by the chaotic presence.


    However, even the mightiest Cyclopes could not hold out for long.


    The vision of the Cyclopes narrowed increasingly, their sight overwhelmed by a cacophony of frenzied and chaotic phenomena.


    Ultimately, all the Cyclopes transformed into puppets of the chaotic entity.


    The Cyclopes began to construct a colossal tower under the influence of the chaotic entity.


    This immense tower stretched infinitely toward the heavens, ultimately leading to an unknown realm.


    The memory concluded at this point, and Jeremy''s consciousness finally detached from the recollection.


    However, in that fleeting moment, he suddenly felt the sensation of being watched.


    Following his instinct, Jeremy turned to look in the direction of the gaze and found himself locking eyes with the Cyclops within the enormous coffin.


    At that moment, Jeremy felt an overwhelming pressure, he could sense the Cyclops scrutinizing him intently.


    Moreover, the Cyclops''s hand had gradually moved closer to Jeremy''s side.


    "I suppose the memory I just experienced must belong to you, right?" Jeremy feltpelled to utter something, a means to probe the Cyclops.


    Thus, he directly posed his most pressing questions to the Cyclops.


    The Cyclops offered no verbal response, however, its hand ceased its approach toward Jeremy.


    "The Cemetery of Giants must be where your kin are buried, correct? Have all of you, including the creature I witnessed, been entirely transformed into puppets? Did you and your kin perish during the construction of the tower?"


    Jeremy unleashed three questions in a single breath.


    It was evident that the Cyclopsprehended the inquiries posed by Jeremy.


    The Cyclops''s face remained remarkably expressionless, so impassive that it betrayed no emotions. However, its single eye shifted from white to a deep crimson hue.


    Two streams of blood tears cascaded down from the Cyclops''s solitary eye.


    Upon witnessing this scene, Jeremy realized the answers to the questions he had previously posed.


    "Is the tower you constructed known as the Tower of Exile?" Jeremy ventured to ask his final question.


    The moment he uttered this query, the Cyclops abruptly rosepletely from the coffin.


    With its crimson eyes fixed intently on Jeremy, the Cyclops raised its left foot high and brought it down forcefully toward him!

 Chapter 268: The Giant Puppet

    The Cyclops''s sudden movement triggered a series of reactions within the Cemetery of Giants.


    All the coffins in the Cemetery of Giants emitted tremendous noises. Additionally, it seemed that the creatures lying within these coffins were straining against their confines.


    Upon witnessing this spectacle, Jeremy naturally refused to remain stationary.


    After all, Jeremy understood that he could not withstand the Cyclops''s full-force strike with his physical strength alone.


    Thus, he immediately utilized the talent of The King of Time and Space to execute a short-distance teleportation skill.


    In an instant, Jeremy blinked to Ritchie''s side.


    At that moment, Ritchie had yet to regain hisposure, his face still bore an expression of utter shock.


    "Stop dawdling! Quickly, move with me! We must defeat the Cyclops!"


    Jeremy''s words finally jolted Ritchie into action.


    Although Ritchie believed that the two of them stood little chance against the formidable Cyclops before them.


    However, Ritchie found himself without any alternative options, he could only fight alongside Jeremy.


    Once Ritchie entered the state of battle, he wielded the Ravager''s Gloves to manipte the shadow of a Cyclops corpse at will.


    Under Ritchie''s control, the Cyclops''s lifeless body began to move slowly.


    Nevertheless, the Cyclops''s corpse had been dead for a considerable length of time.


    While manipting the shadow allowed the corpse to exhibit some movement, it was incapable of performing particrly agile actions.


    Thus, at the outset, Jeremy needed to attract the Cyclops''s attention.


    Drawing forth the Longsword of the Undying, Jeremy utilized his teleportation skill to continually evade the Cyclops''s attacks.


    Moreover, during this process, he seized opportunities to strike the Cyclops whenever it was caught off guard.


    Although Jeremy''s assaults did not inflict significant damage upon the Cyclops, the cumtive effect of his persistent efforts gradually undermined the creature''s ability to maintain its footing.


    Ultimately, through an unrelenting barrage of attacks, Jeremy managed to bring the Cyclops crashing down.


    In the instant the Cyclops copsed, Jeremy immediately blinked to the side of its eye.


    He raised the Longsword of the Undying high above his head and brought it down with force towards the Cyclops''s eye.


    At the moment the Longsword of the Undying struck the Cyclops''s eye, it emanated a plume of ck smoke. Simultaneously, the sword exhibited signs of losing control.


    Jeremy sensed that he might no longer be able to fully master the Longsword of the Undying.


    Thus, Jeremy made a swift decision and discarded the Longsword of the Undying, teleporting himself to a position rmingly close to Ritchie.


    "What on earth are you doing? Why are you still unable to assist me?"


    Jeremy directly interrogated Ritchie.


    Ritchie''s forehead was already slick with cold sweat, in truth, he had exerted himself to the utmost, yet his shadow maniption skills were manifestly slow to yield results.


    "Stop pressuring me! I''ve already given it my all, I will soon be able to control the Cyclops''s corpse tounch an attack on the living Cyclops!"


    After Ritchie spoke these slightly anxious words, his shadow maniption skill finally reachedplete sess.


    Under the influence of the shadow control, the Cyclops''s lifeless body moved toward the struggling Cyclops. Subsequently, it came crashing down upon the writhing creature.


    Although Ritchie''s actions proved sessful, this assault did not significantly impact the Cyclops.


    The Cyclops slowly rose to its feet, and at that moment, a massive crack appeared in its eye. This fissure was clearly the result of the blow dealt by the Longsword of the Undying.


    The Cyclops appeared exceedingly furious, it directed its gaze toward the ceiling of the hall and let out a thunderous roar.


    Immediately afterward, the Cyclops charged at full speed toward the location of Jeremy and Ritchie.


    "I need you to help me distract the Cyclops! You don''t need to attack it any longer, you merely have to keep moving within the shadows to draw its attention."


    After uttering these words, Jeremy teleported to the side of the Longsword of the Undying.


    The Longsword of the Undying remained in a state of chaos, yet Jeremy, drawing upon his experience, swiftly restored it to normalcy.


    At that moment, Ritchie had been cornered by the Cyclops into a precarious position.


    Although Ritchie could constantly shift his location through shadow movement, the Cyclops was adept at discerning Ritchie''s position with each maneuver. Thus, Ritchie waspelled to employ his shadow swap skill continuously.


    However, the shadow swap skill was the most resource-intensive of all the abilities at Ritchie''s disposal.


    Under the relentless pressure of the Cyclops, Ritchie swiftly found himself in a state of utter exhaustion.


    "Hurry and save me! If you don''te to my aid soon, I will be annihted by this colossal Cyclops! Why is it that it can see me every single time?!"


    Ritchie shouted in a tone filled with bewilderment and urgency.


    Upon hearing Ritchie''s voice, Jeremy swiftly teleported to the rear of the Cyclops.


    He wielded the Longsword of the Undying and struck forcefully at the Cyclops''s heel.


    Channeling all his strength into this attack, Jeremy managed to sever the Cyclops''s heelpletely.


    Before the Cyclops could even react, it lost its bnce.


    The massive creature toppled heavily in the direction of Jeremy, who then teleported to Ritchie''s side.


    "We cannot afford to give it any more opportunities to continue fighting!


    Engaging it in a war of attrition is decidedly unfavorable for us! I hope that in our uing assault, you can fully cooperate with me! We need to strike decisively!"


    Jeremy had already formted a strategy to defeat the Cyclops.


    He intended to utilize Ritchie''s shadow maniption skill to bind the Cyclops''s soul directly to its shadow.


    Then, he nned to bring the Longsword of the Undying down upon the Cyclops''s shadow.


    Since the Cyclops''s shadow possessed rtively low resistance, this indicated that Jeremy''s attack could likely shatter itpletely.


    Once the shadow was destroyed, the Cyclops''s soul, attached to it, would be utterly obliterated.


    After quickly outlining his n, Ritchie responded eagerly.


    "I believe your n is bound to seed! Let us not waste any more time, we must act swiftly!"


    As soon as Ritchie''s words left his lips, Jeremy grasped Ritchie and teleported them both to the vicinity of the Cyclops''s eye.


    "Now is the moment! Immediately use your shadow maniption skill to control its soul!"


    At Jeremy''s urging, Ritchie quickly activated his shadow maniption skill.


    Ritchie sessfully ensnared the Cyclops''s soul within its shadow.


    "I have seeded! Now it is time for you to take action!"


    Upon hearing Ritchie''s deration, Jeremy raised the Longsword of the Undying and struck fiercely at the Cyclops''s shadow.


    The instant the shadow was hit, it shatteredpletely, sending countless fragments flying in all directions. At the same time, the Cyclops''s soul was also dispersed into the air.


    As the Cyclops''s soul was shattered, all of its movements came to an abrupt halt.


    The Cyclops''s eyes gradually shifted from a deep crimson to a pale red.


    "It seems we have sessfully defeated it!"


    Jeremy keenly sensed that the Cyclops had been utterly vanquished. At the very moment the Cyclops met its demise, all other sounds within the Cemetery of Giants fell silent.


    Ritchie let out a sigh of relief and promptly sank to the ground, taking a few deep breaths.


    "That battle was exceedingly intense! If we had made even the slightest mistake during the fight, we would have been obliterated by the Cyclops."


    Jeremy certainly concurred with Ritchie''s sentiments, however, he believed that this was not the time to let his guard down.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy approached the fallen Cyclops.


    He intended to utilize his spirit summoning abilities tomune with the Cyclops''s soul.


    Ritchie, sensing Jeremy''s intentions, rushed to caution him, saying, "Isn''t that approach a bit too reckless? The Cyclops''s soul could potentially be immensely powerful.


    If you attempt to gather its soul using your summoning technique, there''s a real chance its spirit could bacsh against you! I fear it might even seize your body to resurrect itself!"


    Jeremy paid little heed to Ritchie''s warnings.


    To Jeremy, the information he currently possessed was exceedingly limited.


    In order to acquire more intelligence, he deemed it worthwhile to take on a certain level of risk.


    "I must employ spirit summoning to delve deeper into the Cyclops''s memories. I believe the Cyclops may not necessarily be our adversary, for it is merely a puppet of some powerful entity. The being we just fought was nothing more than a puppet giant!"


    Jeremy''s statement left Ritchie profoundly astonished.


    Ritchie promptly relinquished any further attempts to persuade Jeremy.


    He was well aware that in order to sessfully aplish their objectives within the Tower of Exile, both of them would need to face considerable peril.


    "You are absolutely right, then go ahead and begin your summoning! I will stay by your side to ensure your safety! My shadow maniption abilities can restrain the soul."


    Not only did Ritchie concur with Jeremy''s viewpoint, but he also quickly devised ways in which he could assist Jeremy in this critical undertaking.

 Chapter 269: The Birth of the White Tower

    Once Jeremy and Ritchie had adequately prepared themselves, Jeremy promptly initiated his summoning ritual.


    He ced the Longsword of the Undying beside him, then closed his eyes and positioned his hands on the ground.


    Spirit summoning, by its very nature, is exceedingly perilous, therefore, during the process, the practitioner must ensure that their mind remains utterly serene and free from any tumultuous thoughts.


    At this moment, Jeremy''s objective was to achieveplete tranquility within himself.


    After a period of preparation, Jeremy felt that his mind was devoid of any distracting thoughts.


    Thus, hemenced with his summoning endeavor.


    As the spirit summoning began, Ritchie could see the fragmented souls from the Cemetery of Giants rushing toward Jeremy.


    Under normal circumstances, Ritchie would have employed his shadow maniption skills to prevent these soul fragments from reaching him.


    However, at this moment, he was resolute in his decision not to intervene in that manner.


    For if he were to obstruct these soul fragments, there was a significant likelihood that Jeremy''s summoning would ultimately fail.


    A multitude of soul fragments coalesced before Jeremy, and under his guidance, they ultimately formed theplete soul of a cyclops.


    Upon the reemergence of the cyclops''s soul, Jeremy found himself immersed in the memories of the cyclops.


    The first memory he encountered depicted the cyclopes engaged in a peculiar ritual around a massive foundation.


    All of the cyclopes were prostrated on the ground, repeatedly uttering something.


    Although Jeremy had entered this memory, he could not discern the words spoken by the cyclopes.


    Moreover, the incantations seemed to possess some arcane power.


    Whenever Jeremy intended to focus intently on deciphering the cyclopes'' pronunciations, he always felt a dull ache manifesting in his mind, causing the sounds to blur into indistinctness.


    The initial memory was rather simplistic, and Jeremy did not glean any valuable information from it.


    However, he did not feel disheartened, he simply continued with his summoning practice.


    Before long, Jeremy transitioned into the second memory of the cyclops.


    In this memory, the foundation of the tower had beenpleted, and the cyclopes had constructed the initial two or three levels.


    However, the number of giants appeared to be significantly diminishedpared to before.


    It seemed that during the process of constructing the tower, the cyclopes had suffered substantial poption losses.


    The remaining cyclopes continued their arduousbor, yet these beings were far from whole. Each cyclops bore certain imperfections, manifesting as distinct ws.


    At the conclusion of the memory, a cyclops who had lost all four limbs turned its gaze toward Jeremy''s direction.


    In that fleeting moment of eye contact with the cyclops, Jeremy was suddenly overwhelmed by a surge of its anguish. Consequently, he was forcibly expelled from that memory.


    "The process of the cyclopes constructing the tower must have been excruciating."Jeremy murmured to himself, his face contorted with evident pain.


    Under normal circumstances, he would not have feltpelled to utter such a statement, but the torment he had just experienced was so profound that he felt the need to vocalize it in order to somewhat restore his mental equilibrium.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Ritchie found himself even more perplexed.


    "What does this mean? What tower are the cyclopes constructing? Could it be that the tower they are building is the Tower of Exile?"


    Given that Ritchie had not witnessed the cyclopes'' memories himself, his conjecture could only be loosely rted to the Tower of Exile.


    Jeremy''s spection was quite simr to Ritchie''s.


    However, Jeremy was not in a hurry to reach a conclusion, as he still had the opportunity to observe two more memories of the cyclopes.


    After taking several deep breaths, Jeremy entered the third memory.


    In this recollection, the tower had reached an impressive height, so tall that its pinnacle was entirely obscured from view at ground level, and atop the tower, there appeared to be fierce, raging mes.


    Just as Jeremy intended to seek additional information within this memory, a tremendous sound erupted from the direction of the tower.


    The entire structure copsed in half.


    A multitude of stones plummeted from the sky, and the surviving cyclopes were once again beset by cmity.


    The already sparse poption of cyclopes faced further casualties due to these falling debris.


    As the tower crumbled, Jeremy suddenly spotted High-Dimensional Data amidst the ruins of the tower.


    In that instant of seeing the High-Dimensional Data, he immediately associated the tower with one of the nners of the apocalypse game, known as "the White Tower."


    Moments after observing the High-Dimensional Data, Jeremy abruptly sensed the emergence of another source of High-Dimensional Data. This new manifestation of High-Dimensional Data appeared directly within the memory of the cyclops.


    Suddenly, Jeremy realized that he was likely detected by "the White Tower."prompting him to hastily withdraw from this memory.


    The abrupt exit from the memory inflicted immense pain upon Jeremy.


    After resting for a brief moment, he managed to speak to Ritchie with great difficulty.


    "I have most likely been discovered by one of the nners of the apocalypse game! Even within the memory, the White Tower can manipte High-Dimensional Data. Our subsequent actions must be executed with heightened caution!"


    Jeremy''s warning not only perplexed Ritchie but also heightened his sense of vignce.


    The fact that High-Dimensional Data could manifest within memories implied that it could appear at any moment in their immediate vicinity.


    "What should we do now? Should we retreat to our original location? I believe that beneath the Dark River, High-Dimensional Data would be unable to find us.


    After all, the Soulless Ones once told us that anything entering the Dark River could never emerge again. Thus, the Dark River should also provide a shield against High-Dimensional Data."


    In response to Ritchie''s suggestion, Jeremy shook his head resolutely.


    "We cannot only refrain from returning to our previous location, I will not cease my irvoyance! I must witness the final memory!


    I have already learned that the tower experienced a catastrophic copse during its construction. Furthermore, it is highly likely that during this copse, one of the nners of the apocalypse game, known as the White Tower, was born.


    This is our first opportunity to uncover the origins of a nner of the apocalypse game. Therefore, we absolutely cannot abandon this pursuit halfway."


    After delivering this statement, Jeremy did not wait for Ritchie''s response.


    He immediately plunged into the final memory of the cyclops.


    In thisst memory, the sky was shrouded inplete darkness. A towering structure extended into the sky, leading to an unknowable realm.


    Countless forces descended from directly above the tower.


    One eye after another emerged from the tower, all focusing their gaze upon Jeremy simultaneously.


    In that instant, Jeremy heard a voice that was both familiar and filled him with dread.


    "You have finally arrived here! This time, I will not let you escape, you will surely be annihted by me!"


    The voice belonged to one of the nners of the apocalypse game, the White Tower.


    The utterance of these words by the White Tower confirmed that Jeremy''s previous suspicions were entirely urate.


    Unlike before, Jeremy did not hastily exit the memory.


    Instead, he merely smiled and gazed in the direction of the tower as he spoke.


    "So you were born here, which means that if I can destroy the Tower of Exile, I canpletely annihte you! The Fool is unlikely to provide you with much assistance.


    In the eyes of the Fool, you are merely a character of little significance! Should you fail toplete the tasks he assigns you, he will not hesitate to let you perish."


    Jeremy''s words infuriated the White Tower.


    Countless bolts of lightning and immense torrents of High-Dimensional Data surged toward Jeremy simultaneously.


    However, Jeremy regarded the White Tower''s assault with utter disdain.


    "You truly are a remarkably easily provoked nner of the apocalypse game. Do you honestly believe I would patiently wait here for your attack? I will not engage you in this memory, as that would serve no purpose.


    I will confront you within the Tower of Exile! I will find you soon enough! Just prepare for your demise!"


    After uttering these words, Jeremy voluntarily exited the memory.


    Ritchie clearly observed the change in Jeremy''s expression and, feeling slightly concerned, inquired.


    "Nothing too disastrous urred, I hope? Did you stumble upon some fortunate event in the memory? Why does your face appear so joyous?"


    In response to Ritchie''s question, Jeremy quickly replied.


    "I indeed encountered some good fortune within the memory. I have finally grasped how the nners of the apocalypse gamee into existence. While I only learned about the birth of one nner.


    I believe that the origins of the other nners are somewhat rted to the White Tower''s emergence. Once we understand their birth processes, we can conceive methods to eliminate them."


    Jeremy was genuinely ted.


    He had discovered a potential means to eradicate the nners of the apocalypse game without relying on the assistance of the World.


    As long as he could utilize High-Dimensional Data to return to the moment of the White Tower''s birth, he could bring about its total destruction.


    The Tower of Exile itself was a realm of chaotic time and space, and with Jeremy possessing the talent of The King of Time and Space,


    this meant he was the most likely individual to achieve the feat of annihting the White Tower.


    Jeremy''s revtions left Ritchie utterly astonished.


    Yet Ritchie quicklyposed himself and responded, "This is simply marvelous! What should we do next?"

 Chapter 270: Entering the Mist of History

    Jeremy had long since devised a n for their uing actions.


    Therefore, when Ritchie inquired about what they should do next, Jeremy immediately responded.


    "What we need to do is continue forward! As soon as we traverse the Giant''s Graveyard, we will be able to reach the history that the Cyclops once experienced!"


    Jeremy''s reply left Ritchie somewhat puzzled.


    Ritchie did not quite understand the implications of Jeremy''s statement.


    "Are you saying that after we pass through the Giant''s Graveyard, we will undergo some sort of time travel? Will we be transported back to the period when the Cyclops was still alive?"


    In light of Ritchie''s question, Jeremy realized that he had not fully rified the situation.


    Thus, Jeremy began to patiently exin what kind of circumstances they would encounter thereafter.


    "The area we are currently in is not the actual location of the Tower of Exile, to enter the Tower of Exile, we must first locate its true entrance."


    The area we currently upy has been temporarily simted by the High-Dimensional Data owned by the Tower of Exile. Thus, every region we traverse is exceedingly chaotic.


    Each area corresponds to a specific temporal node where High-Dimensional Data is concentrated within the Tower of Exile.


    The shadowy river we previously navigated corresponds to the time when the foundation of the Tower of Exile was being constructed.


    Those Soulless Ones are presumably the very individuals who built the foundation of the Tower of Exile. Afterpleting the foundation, their souls werepletely stripped away by the Tower of Exile.


    This is why they transformed into Soulless Ones, doomed to wander endlessly within their respective temporal nodes.


    The Giant''s Graveyard corresponds to the historical period when the Cyclopes constructed the Tower of Exile.


    Given the immense significance of that history, the Tower of Exile deliberately entombed the giants within the graveyard.


    The Cyclops we just battled was, in fact, the very first tomence the construction of the Tower of Exile. It is precisely for this reason that the High-Dimensional Data possessed by the Tower of Exile has such profound control over him.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s exnation, Ritchie immediately remarked.


    "So, after we pass through the Giant''s Graveyard, we will enter into another segment of history. That segment should correspond to the time after thepletion of the Tower of Exile."


    "You are absolutely correct!"


    Jeremy''s affirmation brought great joy to Ritchie.


    However, Ritchie felt that recklessly entering into history was an exceedingly perilous endeavor.


    "Although I do not possess the gift of The King of Time and Space, and my perception of temporal changes is not particrly acute, I cannot shake the feeling that stepping into history might expose us to even greater dangers.


    Just as you mentioned, the High-Dimensional Data at significant temporal nodes must be more abundant. Doesn''t this suggest that the White Tower would be more likely to detect our presence?"


    Ritchie''s hypothesis delighted Jeremy immensely.


    "I never would have expected that you have be significantly more astute than before. What you have said is entirely urate, as we progress, the probability that the White Tower will lock onto our location will indeed increase.


    Yet, we must proceed in this manner, for it is only by reaching the present temporal node that we can truly enter the Tower of Exile.


    Before we achieve that, the White Tower will undoubtedly exert every effort to impede us.


    As we traverse one temporal point after another, we will certainly gather vital intelligence rted to the Tower of Exile.


    With a sufficient amount of information at our disposal, the High-Dimensional Data we can manipte will also increase significantly.


    In the final confrontation, the White Tower may not necessarily seed in defeating us."


    As Jeremy spoke these words, he continuously searched the surrounding High-Dimensional Data.


    Having defeated the Cyclops, Jeremy had acquired a portion of the High-Dimensional Data.


    However, this High-Dimensional Data was insufficient to enable Jeremy to triumph over the White Tower in the ultimate confrontation.


    Although Ritchie still did not fullyprehend the situation, he ultimately decided to cease overthinking it.


    "Since you are confident enough, let us continue onward! After all, as long as I follow your decisions during each operation, we are bound to achieve sess."


    Ritchie''s statement brought even greater joy to Jeremy.


    "Very well, then! Let us press forward. However, as we traverse through various historical segments, you must ensure that you do not be lost in history.


    If you were to lose yourself in the annals of time, I may very well be unable to rescue you. For we currently exist in this area as beings of consciousness."


    After Jeremy finished speaking, he gestured for Ritchie to use his shadow maniption skill to control his own shadow.


    Once Ritchie activated the shadow maniption skill, he indeed discovered that both of them existed in the form of consciousness.


    This indicated that their physical bodies were likely situated elsewhere.


    "We must move quickly! I do not wish to exist in this state of consciousness for too long! If we remain outside our bodies for an extended period, there is a significant risk that our souls may dissipate."


    Upon realizing that he existed in the form of consciousness, Ritchie''s emotions became exceedingly agitated.


    The shadow maniption skill that Ritchie possessed could indeed influence beings of consciousness.


    As a result, Ritchie had a certain degree of understanding regarding consciousness entities.


    He was acutely aware that existing as a being of consciousness posed significant risks.


    Given that Ritchie had expressed such concerns, Jeremy naturally would not waste any more time.


    He walked directly towards the end of the Giant''s Cemetery.


    At the end of the Giant''s Cemetery, the two of them beheld a narrow window.


    Aside from this window, the end of the cemetery was merely a thick wall.


    "Are we supposed to pass through this window? How can we be certain that there are no enemies lurking on the other side? Let us not forget that we encountered a monster as soon as we entered this area."


    Ritchie kindly reminded Jeremy.


    However, Jeremy did not take this concern to heart.


    In Jeremy''s view, Ritchie''s considerations were somewhat excessive.


    "Thank you very much for your reminder, but I believe the area beyond this window is likely to be shrouded in mist. For at every junction of history, High-Dimensional Data tends to create regions that are disconnected."


    Jeremy possessed a certain level of understanding regarding High-Dimensional Data.


    Although he could not fully master High-Dimensional Data, he was aware that the worldposed of such data was, after all, not a genuine reality.


    This understanding implied that there would inevitably be some anomalous regions between the two distinct temporal nodes fabricated by High-Dimensional Data.


    The simplest manifestation of these anomalous regions was, of course, fog.


    With Ritchie''s gaze upon him, Jeremy passed through the narrow window.


    The moment he traversed the constricted opening, Jeremy found himself enveloped in a thick white mist.


    Extending his Divine Consciousness, Jeremy swiftly scanned the surrounding area. He did not detect any monsters lurking nearby.


    Consequently, Jeremy turned back to Ritchie, who remained in the Giant''s Cemetery, and eximed,


    "Stop wasting time! There are no monsters here! Hurry ande over!"


    Upon hearing these words, Ritchie quickly followed through the narrow window.


    The two of them advanced through the fog for approximately fifteen minutes.


    The surrounding fog appeared to bepletely identical, and neither of the two had discovered anything within the mist.


    Ritchie felt that something was slightly amiss.


    "Is this the fog of history? Have we be lost in the mists of time?"


    In response to Ritchie''s anxious inquiry, Jeremy merely smiled and said,


    "If we were truly lost in the fog of history, we would not possess any capacity for thought at this moment. Any consciousness that bes lost in the historical mists would be transformed into High-Dimensional Data."


    Jeremy''s statement only heightened Ritchie''s concern.


    Yet, Ritchie at least understood that he was not in immediate danger.


    After continuing forward for an additional fifteen minutes, both of them coincidentally heard the distant sound of a waterfall.


    "It seems we are about to step into another segment of history. Before we enter this new chapter, you must be adequately prepared. For within that historical context, there will undoubtedly be enemies present."


    Before proceeding further, Jeremy specifically cautioned Ritchie.


    Ritchie donned the Ravager''s Gloves and nodded emphatically.


    "Rest assured, I am fully prepared for battle! No matter what kind of adversary we encounter, I can swiftly retaliate."


    Although Ritchie had numerous shorings.


    Jeremy believed he was still the best partner.


    Because when faced with crises, Ritchie would never abandon Jeremy. Moreover, Ritchie would absolutely avoid any severe conflicts with Jeremy.


    In times of discord, Ritchie would always choose to amodate Jeremy.


    Furthermore, when confronted with difficult decisions, Ritchie would invariably heed Jeremy''s counsel.


    Once Ritchie was ready forbat, Jeremy also made some preparations for the impending confrontation.


    He grasped the Longsword of the Undying firmly in his hand and then proceeded toward the direction of the waterfall''s sound.


    After advancing approximately ten meters, Jeremy suddenly noticed that the historical fog around him hadpletely dissipated. He found himself beside a lush waterfall.


    Below the waterfally a vastke, teeming with aquatic life.


    Everything appeared exceptionally beautiful and tranquil.

 Chapter 271: The Followers of the Goddess of Life

    Jeremy was not deceived by the beautiful scenery surrounding him.


    He was acutely aware that the area in which he found himself was exceedingly perilous. Given that they had already encountered formidable foes in the Giant''s Cemetery, it was only logical to assume that they would face even stronger adversaries here.


    Ritchie, however, was not quite as cautious as Jeremy.


    He found thendscape to be exceptionally beautiful, which led him to lower his guard.


    "I believe there shouldn''t be any enemies around here. Let''s continue onward, perhaps we might encounter some adversaries up ahead."


    Ritchie actually hoped to encounter some enemies.


    For Ritchie, the absence of adversaries indicated ack of any clues.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    Although he did not share Ritchie''s perspective, continuing forward was indeed a very reasonable course of action.


    After advancing for a while, the two discovered that their surroundings had undergone a dramatic transformation.


    What had once been a vibrant area teeming with life suddenly morphed into a Death Desert, where nts withered rapidly.


    "What on earth is happening? Is it possible that our own lives might also vanish just as abruptly?"


    Upon witnessing the unexpected turn of events, Ritchie hastily eximed.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "What just transpired should have no bearing on us. I did not detect any alteration in the spatial realm, so this must merely be a natural cycle of life, birth and decay."


    Jeremy promptly offered his assessment.


    Yet, he was uncertain whether his judgment was urate or misguided.


    He expressed these thoughts solely in hopes of calming Ritchie down.


    Ritchie nodded in acknowledgment, epting Jeremy''s exnation.


    The two continued their journey and soon came upon a vige.


    All the houses in the vige were constructed of thatch, presenting an appearance that was strikingly primitive.


    In the very center of the vige, a roaring bonfire zed brightly.


    The presence of the fire seemed incongruous with the surroundingndscape.


    Given the lush greenery around them, the sudden emergence of a bonfire hinted at the likelihood of impending danger.


    "Should we enter the vige?"


    Ritchie whispered to Jeremy, lowering his voice.


    Jeremy nodded his head.


    In truth, Jeremy had no other options avable to him, if he wished to acquire more information, he had to venture into the vige.


    Although entering the vige posed certain dangers, it was still preferable to remaining outside.


    Staying outdoors would result in wasting too much time, and their avable time was already limited.


    If they continued to squander more moments, they risked bingpletely lost in the mists of history.


    Upon entering the vige, Jeremy refrained from recklessly inspecting any of the buildings.


    Instead, he called out loudly near the entrance of the vige.


    "Is anyone there? We are here to ask for directions! We bear no ill will!"


    After uttering this statement, Jeremy quietly observed his surroundings.


    After a brief pause of several seconds, a young man emerged from a thatched hut at the far end of the vige.


    The young man scrutinized Jeremy and Ritchie from head to toe.


    "Why are you here? Are you messengers sent by the Goddess of Life?"


    The young man''s question piqued the curiosity of both Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Although he had not provided any information, his mention of the Goddess of Life indicated that he might not view them as direct enemies.


    "We got lost, which is why we ended up here! Furthermore, we are not messengers of the Goddess of Life!"


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s response, a look of profound disappointment crossed the young man''s face.


    "Since you are not messengers of the Goddess of Life, I am under no obligation to assist you! You would do well to leave quickly, otherwise, we shall treat you as sacrifices to be offered to the Goddess of Life."


    The young man''s words left both Jeremy and Ritchie somewhat taken aback.


    They had not anticipated that the Goddess of Life would require sacrifices.


    In Jeremy and Ritchie''s eyes, only the masterminds behind the apocalypse games would resort to such measures to sustain their power.


    Other deities should not need to maintain their strength through such brutal means.


    Jeremy was acquainted with two deities: one was Janna, the Goddess of ss Change, and the other was the entity known as "The World."


    Neither of these deities had ever demanded that Jeremy conduct human sacrifices.


    Jeremy began to wonder if the Goddess of Life mentioned by this young man was actually a pseudonym for some apocalypse game designer.


    "If you truly intend to sacrifice us to the Goddess of Life, we might not outright refuse. After all, if you provide us with no information, we are likely to perish here anyway."


    Jeremy spoke in a voice that was slightly subdued.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, the young man''s expression grew somewhat hesitant.


    "You should stay here for the time being, I will go inform the others in the vige. We will discuss a resolution as swiftly as possible, but until then, do not take any rash actions."


    After delivering this message, the young man quickly returned to the central thatched hut of the vige.


    After a span of several minutes, arge group of people emerged from the thatched hut.


    Leading the procession was an elderly man with snow-white hair, he was the vige chief.


    "What do you wish to inquire about? Feel free to ask me directly. If I know the answer, I will share it with you. Once I have provided you with sufficient information, you must leave."


    Faced with the conditions set forth by the vige chief, Jeremy and Ritchie naturally had no intention of refusing.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "If you can answer our questions, we will indeed depart promptly. We assure you that we will not cause you any trouble!"


    The vige chief nodded in acknowledgment and gestured for Jeremy to begin asking his questions.


    "I would like to know exactly where this ce is. How can we leave from here? We seem to have lost our way in this area, and we wish to exit as soon as possible."


    Jeremy framed himself and Ritchie as mere tourists who had be disoriented in this locale.


    The vige chief did not question Jeremy''s ount, instead, he quickly responded to Jeremy''s inquiries.


    "This is Green Grass Vige. Within a twenty-mile radius around the vige, there are only a few other viges. Therefore, if you wish to continue on, you will need to travel at least one hundred miles to reach a town.


    The way to leave is quite simple, just follow this little path. After approximately half a day''s journey, you wille across a main road. Continue along this main road, and you will soon encounter other travelers. At that point, you can ask them for the answers to the questions you seek."


    After delivering this information, the vige chief promptly turned to head back into the vige.


    Jeremy hurriedly intervened to stop him.


    "I have more questions to ask! Is the Goddess of Life the deity you all worship? Why have I never heard that name before?"


    Jeremy''s inquiry caused everyone in the vige to turn their gaze toward him.


    In that instant, Jeremy felt a palpable hostility emanating from all the vigers.


    Ritchie also sensed the animosity among the vigers, prompting him to take a step back, ready to engage inbat if necessary.


    After a moment of tense silence, the vige chief slowly turned his head back.


    "Since you wish to know about the Goddess of Life, I shall inform you. However, you must be prepared to pay a price, for knowing the Goddess of Life also means that the Goddess of Life knows about you."


    Without hesitation, Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    In Jeremy''s perspective, the masterminds behind the apocalypse games were indeed capable of such feats.


    Thus, if the Goddess of Life truly possessed power on par with that of the assumed game designers, then she certainly should be able to do the same.


    "The Goddess of Life we revere embodies not only the birth of life but also its inevitable demise. In the realm watched over by the great Goddess of Life, life flourishes rapidly and fades just as swiftly.


    It is precisely through the divine power of the Goddess of Life that we are able to survive in such a deste ce. Do not be deceived by the lush greenery surrounding you, in reality, cultivating crops here is exceedingly difficult."


    The vige chief, upon reaching this point, directly pulled up the grass in front of him.


    After uprooting the grass, Jeremy discovered that beneath the greeneryy nothing but gravel.


    "Can nts really grow on gravel? Where do these nts derive their nutrients from?"


    Upon witnessing this scene, Ritchie could not help but pose the question to the vige chief.


    The vige chief replied with a smile.


    "This is a manifestation of the great Goddess of Life''s divine power! She bestows her blessings upon us, transforming thisnd into a realm of both birth and demise.


    Thus, all of us worship the Goddess of Life, and to the best of our knowledge, there is not a single soul here who is not a follower of the Goddess of Life. Now, it is your turn to answer my questions."


    At this juncture, the vige chief''s expression underwent a dramatic transformation.


    The benevolent look that had adorned his face vanished entirely, reced by an expression filled with suspicion and hostility.


    "Why do you not know of the Goddess of Life?! How did youe to be here?!"


    As the vige chief asked this question, the surrounding vigers began to brandish their weapons.


    Seeing this, Ritchie instantly prepared tounch an attack.


    However, Jeremy timely intervened to prevent him.


    "I can answer your questions, but only on the condition that you lower the weapons you are holding."

 Chapter 272: The Knight of the Hunting Deity

    As Jeremy warned the vigers, he simultaneously prepared himself for battle.


    Although he believed that these vigers were not devoid of reason, his cautious naturepelled him to brace for the worst possible oue.


    Behind Jeremy, Ritchie had already begun to manipte the shadows of the surrounding trees.


    While the shadows cast by the ntscked significant sentience, controlling them still afforded Ritchie the opportunity to dy the enemies'' movements.


    "I am not negotiating with you! You must answer our questions, or we will never allow you to leave this ce. Anyone who seeks to harm the Goddess of Life is our enemy! We will not permit any injury to befall the Goddess of Life!"


    The vige chief spoke in a voice that was both aged and filled with anger.


    Upon hearing these words, a look of confusion crossed Jeremy''s face.


    "Why would I wish any harm upon your Goddess of Life? I have merelye here to ask for directions, and we are indeed lost in this area. We have been brought here by an unknown force, and we wish to leave as quickly as possible."


    What Jeremy said was indeed the truth.


    Moreover, as he spoke these words, his expression was exceedingly sincere.


    After observing Jeremy''s demeanor for a moment, the vige chief gradually rxed his emotions.


    "It appears that what you say is indeed true, you are merely lost in this area."


    As the vige chief delivered this statement, his tone carried not only a sense of relief but also a hint of fatigue.


    "Others may lower their weapons, they pose no threat to us, nor will they endanger the Goddess of Life."


    Under the chief''s persuasion, the vigers slowly set down their weapons.


    The chief then turned to Jeremy and Ritchie and said, "You simply need to continue along the main road I just indicated. You will eventually reach the town ahead.


    Once you arrive there, you should be able to find a way to leave this area. We can only assist you up to this point, as we do not possess knowledge of anything beyond that."


    After finishing this statement, the chief intended to return to the vige.


    At that moment, Jeremy suddenly called out to the chief.


    "Please hold on! I wish to gather more information from you. If you are willing to share additional intelligence, I can offer you and your vigers some weapons.


    The weapons I provide will undoubtedly be far more powerful than those you currently possess. With these weapons in your hands, you will have a significantly greater capacity for self-defense against your enemies."


    As Jeremy spoke, he retrieved a powerful weapon from his pocket.


    Although this formidable weapon had been brought into the Tower of Exile by Jeremy, he did not expect it to have a significant impact.


    If he could leverage this weapon to obtain more information from the vige chief, it would certainly be worthwhile.


    The vige chief turned around and scrutinized the powerful weapon that Jeremy had produced.


    "The weapon you offer is indeed incredibly potent! Are you truly willing to give this weapon to us? Surely, you are not deceiving us, are you?"


    While the chief hade to believe Jeremy''s earlier words, that did not imply he would fully trust him.


    In response to the chief''s skepticism, Jeremy directly handed the weapon to the nearest young viger.


    "I can entrust this weapon directly to your people for safekeeping. Surely, this demonstrates my sincerity, does it not?"


    Now that Jeremy had taken such a step, the chief naturally felt reassured of Jeremy''s good intentions.


    The chief returned to Jeremy and calmly inquired, "What kind of information do you wish to obtain from me?"


    "The information I seek is something you undoubtedly know. You previously mentioned that I might pose a threat to the Goddess of Life.


    Although I harbor no animosity towards you or the Goddess of Life, your inquiry suggests that there are indeed individuals who may wish to harm her."


    "I would like to inquire about your understanding of those individuals who are adversarial to the Goddess of Life. Perhaps these people could also be our enemies!"


    Jeremy''s words furtherplicated the expression on the chief''s face.


    With a hint of confusion in his eyes, the chief nced at Jeremy and then at Ritchie standing behind him.


    "Do you truly not possess any information regarding the hunting knights? No matter which direction you approach our vige from, you will inevitably encounter the hunting knights."


    The chief directly mentioned the term "hunting knights."


    Neither Jeremy nor Ritchie had ever heard the term "hunting knights" before.


    Thus, Jeremy quickly replied, "We were dropped into the vicinity of your vige by some unknown force. Therefore, we have not encountered any hunting knights. It is possible that these hunting knights might also turn against us."


    Ultimately, Jeremy''s statement seeded in alleviating the chief''s suspicions.


    The chief nodded and spoke in a tone that was both resigned and somewhat sympathetic, saying, "The hunting knights will undoubtedly be your enemies! This is primarily because you do not worship the deity they hold sacred! The deity they venerate is a malevolent god that devours the souls of mortals."


    "The Goddess of Life has continuously protected us, which is why these hunting knights consider her their enemy.


    Whenever the hunting knights encounter the followers of the Goddess of Life, they will kill them without hesitation.


    Many followers of the Goddess of Life have already fallen at the hands of the hunting knights, and our vige has managed to survive only through great hardship. If you truly have nowhere else to go, our vige can offer you shelter."


    Upon realizing that Jeremy and hispanions were not adversaries, the chief began to entertain the idea of bringing them into his vige.


    After all, Jeremy had already shown his willingness to entrust them with a remarkably powerful weapon, which implied that he must possess even more formidable ones.


    Moreover, Ritchie, standing behind Jeremy, clearly exuded an aura of considerable strength inbat.


    Integrating two such powerful individuals into his vige would undoubtedly enhance its defensive capabilities.


    After reflecting on the information provided by the chief, Jeremy paused for a moment before speaking.


    "Is the deity worshiped by the hunting knights called ''Fool''?"


    The instant Jeremy posed this question, the expressions on the chief and the vigers'' faces underwent a dramatic transformation.


    In a toneced with palpable fear, the chief eximed, "Do not utter the name of the dark god! Once you mention the name, the dark god will take notice of you! The dark god will also use you to locate our vige!"


    Jeremy felt a slight perplexity regarding the chief''s reaction.


    In Jeremy''s recollections, ''Fool'' was indeed the most powerful deity among the creators of the apocalypse game.


    However, ''Fool'' did not possess the authority to directly know the identities of those who mentioned his name.


    Only another figure among the creators of the apocalypse game, known as ''the White Tower,'' had such capabilities.


    However, after oveing his initial perplexity, Jeremy quickly pieced together the entire situation.


    Since the White Tower was birthed within the Tower of Exile, it logically followed that shortly after its creation, the White Tower must have fought valiantly for Fool.


    It was highly probable that the White Tower had manufactured a multitude of hunting knights, who acted in the name of Fool.


    These knights were tasked with collecting souls for Fool, and they might even directly confront the Goddess of Life on his behalf.


    Once Jeremy grasped the circumstances, he smiled at the chief and said, "Fool is unlikely to discover our presence, but his subordinates should certainly be able to do so. I suspect that some hunting knights are already en route."


    "Therefore, mypanions and I will not be leaving hastily, we will remain here to assist you in oveing the hunting knights!"


    Jeremy''s deration left Ritchie and all the vigers utterly astonished.


    With a tone that mingled confusion and delight, the chief asked, "Are you truly willing to protect our vige?! If you are indeed willing to safeguard our home, then I must apologize to you. I should not have doubted you earlier!"


    The chief was immensely grateful for Jeremy''s decision.


    He understood that the vigers alone could not possibly triumph over the hunting knights.


    Only with the addition of Jeremy and Ritchie could the vige hope to withstand the onught of the hunting knights.


    With a smile on his face, Jeremy remarked.


    "You need not apologize, it is indeed wise to maintain a certain level of vignce. For without such caution, you could easily fall prey to the deceptions of the hunting knights."


    "Regardless, mypanions and I cannot hastily depart to another location, so we will certainly remain here to assist you in your struggle against the hunting knights."


    Jeremy''s words brought a profound sense of relief to the chief and all the vigers.


    Subsequently, the chief led Jeremy and Ritchie into the vige.


    Moreover, he took special care to find the cleanest room avable for the two to reside in.


    Although this was the best amodation the chief could offer, to Ritchie and Jeremy, the room still appeared quite dpidated. The two could only sleep on a straw mat.


    "Why are you choosing to stay and confront the hunting knights? ording to the chief''s ount, the hunting knights are likely very powerful.Their levels may even surpass level 50."


    Ritchie couldn''t help butin to Jeremy.


    Jeremy calmly responded, "The hunting knights are our enemies as well. You must have heard my earlier analysis.


    The hunting knights are likely under the directmand of the White Tower.


    This implies that during this historical segment, we are bound to engage in a direct confrontation with the hunting knights. We may even have the opportunity to face the White Tower itself!"

 Chapter 273 : 273: The Cruel and Mad Knights

    While Jeremy and Ritchie were deliberating on their next course of action, the chief was also engaged in discussions with the key figures within the vige regarding their subsequent steps.


    In truth, none of the vigers held any resentment towards Jeremy and Ritchie.


    They understood that even without Jeremy and Ritchie, the hunting knights would soon discover their whereabouts.


    "Chief, do you truly believe that these two outsiders can provide us with assistance? While their abilities aremendable, I find it hard to believe that they can ovee the hunting knights.


    We should stick to our original n and lead everyone in the vige to safety."


    A middle-aged man spoke to the chief, his voice tinged with anxiety.


    The chief did not respond to the man''s query, he merely surveyed the faces of those around him and slowly stated.


    "Do you really think we can find a safe ce?"


    In response to the chief''s question, no one dared to offer an answer.


    They all understood that there were no safe havens left in their vicinity.


    The hunting knights had nearly cleared out all the surrounding areas, leaving their vige with virtually no allies.


    "When I was younger, the areas surrounding us were filled with devotees of the Goddess of Life.


    Moreover, the massive town not far from here was home to a grand cathedral belonging to the Church of the Goddess of Life.


    However, over the course of thirty years, the number of followers of the Goddess of Life has dwindled significantly. The regions that once upheld the faith in the Goddess of Life have be increasingly confined.


    We can no longer escape. Even if we attempted to flee, we could not venture very far, for the territory of our vige has been entirely seized by the hunting knights.


    All we can do now is to cling to our existence in a desperate struggle."


    The chief uttered these words with a profoundly mournful tone.


    Upon hearing hisment, the expressions of the others transformed into reflections of deep sorrow.


    Several individuals were so ovee with emotion that they began to weep openly.


    "You need not shed tears, for the great Goddess of Life has bestowed upon us Her grace. These two outsiders are the glimmer of hope for our survival, a gift from the Goddess of Life.


    The strength of these two outsiders is not as simplistic as it may appear.


    They surely possess weapons of even greater power. With their assistance, we can triumph over the hunting knights."


    The chief''s promation ultimately brought an end to the discord.


    Everyone in the vige understood that they had no way out.


    They could only ce their hopes on Jeremy and Ritchie, believing that they would unleashbat abilities beyond their wildest imaginations in the uing battle.


    After resting for a night, Jeremy sought out the chief first thing the next morning.


    "When do you believe the hunting knights will arrive? Should we set traps around the vige?"


    In response to Jeremy''s inquiry, the chief''s expression brightened slightly.


    "Do you truly know how to set traps? The people in our vige are only capable of basic hunting, they have no knowledge of trap-setting whatsoever.


    If you could assist us inying traps, our defenses would undoubtedly be much more robust.


    However, the task of setting these traps will solely depend on you and yourpanion, as the vigers cannot offer any aid."


    The chief''s words did not discourage Jeremy in the slightest.


    Jeremy nodded and replied calmly.


    "Very well then, let us take on the responsibility of setting the traps. Ritchie and I will swiftly prepare the traps in the surrounding area! You merely need to focus on getting ready for the impending battle!"


    With that, Jeremy quickly departed.


    The chief remained fixated on the actions of Jeremy and Ritchie.


    In the span of just one hour, Jeremy and Ritchie managed to set several traps around the vige.


    These traps wereid with remarkable stealth, and Jeremy had also ced various items within them that possessed highly detrimental effects.


    "We only need to set these traps! Given our limited manpower, we cannot ensure that every direction of the vige is fortified with formidable defenses."


    After establishing a few traps, Jeremy turned to Ritchie with a smile.


    Ritchie offered no verbal response, he merely nodded and then sat down on the ground.


    During the process of setting the traps, Ritchie had been employing his shadow maniption skill to conceal various shadowy threats within the traps aimed at the hunting knights.


    Due to the excessive use of the shadow maniption skill, Ritchie''s stamina had been nearly depleted.


    "You can''t just rest like that! The hunting knights might arrive here at any moment. You must be prepared to engage in battle against them."


    Jeremy said this with a smile.


    Aware that Ritchie had exhausted himself and would need some time to recuperate before he could re-enter the fray.


    However, Ritchie and Jeremy shared a very close rtionship, so Jeremy decided to disregard Ritchie''s objections.


    Ritchie nced at Jeremy and retorted tly, "I must rest! Don''t even mention the hunting knights, even if the apocalypse were to descend upon us, I wouldn''t stand up!"


    No sooner had Ritchie finished speaking than Jeremy abruptly turned his gaze toward the distance.


    Jeremy''s Divine Consciousness detected several powerful presences rapidly approaching the vige.


    "Stop sitting around here! If you truly wish to rest, then go back into the vige! The hunting knights have arrived!"


    Without hesitation, Jeremy urged Ritchie to return to the safety of the vige.


    Although Jeremy wanted to observe the situation a bit longer, after careful consideration, he too decided to retreat back into the vige temporarily.


    As Jeremy and Ritchie were just returning to the vige, three hunting knights d in dark armor, riding steeds adorned with demonic horns, appeared at the entrance of the vige.


    "All vigers, gather at the vige entrance immediately!"


    The leader of the hunting knights bellowed in a hoarse voice, directing his fury toward the vige.


    Upon hearing thismand, every viger was instantly prepared for battle.


    "It seems you truly are followers of the Goddess of Life! Then do not me me for being impolite! I shall execute everyst one of you wretched souls and reduce your vige to ashes!"


    The hunting knight raised his dark red longsword high above his head.


    Suddenly, a crimson beam of light shot forth from the dark red longsword.


    The entire vige was instantly engulfed in roaring mes.


    Although the vigers possessed remarkable fortitude.


    They found it exceedingly difficult to endure the mes that could scorch their very souls.


    One by one, vigers fled from their homes in desperation.


    Witnessing this scene, the hunting knights erupted into arrogantughter.


    All of the hunting knights were cruel and deranged, reveling in the torment of other deities'' followers and taking pleasure in the annihtion of any form of civilization.


    Just as the hunting knights were indulging in their mockingughter, the leader of the hunting knights suddenly fell silent.


    He directed his gaze toward a particr room in the vige.


    In that room, Jeremy and Ritchie slowly emerged.


    Jeremy held the Longsword of the Undying in his hand, a smile adorning his face as he regarded the hunting knights.


    "You dare to defy us because you have received aid from outsiders! Then I shall ensure that you and those who would dare assist you meet their demise together!"


    The leader of the hunting knights charged over the vige walls on his demonic steed, crashing into the heart of the vige.


    Thebination of the hunting knights and their demonic horses formed a remarkably potent duo.


    Moreover, during their charge, the hunting knights benefited from the additional attributes granted by their demonic steeds.


    They believed that failure in battle was an impossibility for them.


    Jeremy, however, did not evade the hunting knights'' assault, he merely gripped the Longsword of the Undying, prepared to confront them head-on.


    When the dark red longsword wielded by the hunting knight shed against Jeremy''s Longsword of the Undying.


    A tremendous explosion echoed through the air, and to everyone''s astonishment, the hunting knight''s weapon shattered into pieces.


    In stark contrast, Jeremy''s Longsword of the Undying remainedpletely unscathed.


    Every onlooker was momentarily rendered speechless by this spectacle.


    Then, the vigers erupted into wild cheers, while the expressions of the two other hunting knights soured significantly.


    "We must assist the captain! The one wielding the sword is the strongest in the vige! If we can eliminate him, the entire vige will fall!"


    Upon making this determination, the two hunting knights immediatelyunched their attack.


    In response to the assault from the two hunting knights, Jeremy was not inclined to react in the same manner as before.


    He chose to focus intently on a single adversary.


    By defeating one enemy, Jeremy would find it far easier to deal with the other hunting knight that remained.


    Furthermore, Ritchie would also provide valuable assistance at Jeremy''s side.


    As the hunting knights surged forward, Ritchie began to employ his shadow maniption skills.


    Although his stamina had not fully recovered, he was still capable of using shadows to restrain the charging hunting knights.


    Caughtpletely off guard, one of the hunting knights was yanked down from his demonic steed by the shadow.


    Without the benefit of the demonic horse, thebat prowess of the hunting knight was significantly diminished.


    Thus, Jeremy easily dispatched the hunting knight who had fallen from his mount.


    By ying even one hunting knight, Jeremy proved beyond doubt that he possessed the capability to protect the entire vige!

 Chapter 274 : 274: Slaying the Hunting Knights

    Jeremy''s swift elimination of one of the hunting knights invigorated all the vigers immensely.


    Seizing this opportunity, the vige chief shouted loudly to the vigers.


    "The hero from afar has already assisted us in ying one of the hunting knights, we must provide support to our heroes. Let us no longer cower in fear, let us unite our strength and eliminate the other two hunting knights!"


    Under the chief''s rallying cry, the vigers surged forth from their hiding ces.


    With only two hunting knights remaining, their situation became increasingly precarious in the face of the collective onught.


    The captain of the hunting knights fixed his gaze fiercely upon Jeremy.


    He understood that the current crisis was entirely instigated by Jeremy''s actions.


    Thus, he resolved to eliminate Jeremy directly.


    If he could seed in vanquishing Jeremy, he would be able to intimidate the other vigers into submission.


    With this determination forged in his mind, the captain gripped his massive sword tightly and charged swiftly toward Jeremy.


    Any viger who dared to stand in the way of the captain of the hunting knights would be violently shoved aside.


    The captain had no intention of ughtering these vigers.


    He understood that killing these vigers would only serve to squander his precious time.


    He had already regarded Jeremy as an opponent of equal caliber, in a confrontation of such parity, any action that wasted time was tantamount to suicide.


    The captain''s approach reinvigorated the confidence of another hunting knight.


    That hunting knight, unscathed by any attack, urged his demonic steed forward, galloping swiftly towards Jeremy and Ritchie.


    All the vigers turned their gazes toward Jeremy.


    Though they wished to assist him, they found themselves utterly powerless.


    In the face of the full-force assault from the two hunting knights, Jeremy and Ritchie had long since prepared themselves.


    Moreover, Jeremy hoped that this battle would demonstrate to all the vigers that his strength far surpassed that of the hunting knights.


    Gripping the Longsword of the Undying, Jeremy fixed his determined gaze upon the charging captain of the hunting knights.


    As their weapons collided, a sharp and thunderous explosion echoed throughout the area.


    Everyone present was affected by the reverberating st.


    The vigers, who possessed almost no formidablebat abilities, crouched down and covered their ears with their hands.


    Meanwhile, the vige chief and the two young men in the vige with somebat prowess were only mildly affected. Though they experienced a degree of headache, they were still able to continue fighting, albeit with difficulty.


    Ritchie, positioned behind Jeremy, also felt a slight headache, however, he did not believe that this difort would hinder his forting actions.


    Seizing the opportunity created by the sh of weapons between Jeremy and the captain of the hunting knights, Ritchie swiftly began to utilize his shadow maniption skill.


    He aimed to directly control the shadow of the captain of the hunting knights.


    Yet, before Ritchie couldplete his preparations for the shadow maniption skill, another hunting knight riding the demonic steed charged directly in front of him.


    The hunting knight raised his machete high and swung it forcefully in Ritchie''s direction.


    In order to avoid suffering a potentially crippling injury, Ritchie had no choice but to temporarily retreat into the shadows.


    "I cannot provide you with direct assistance any longer! Thebat prowess of the hunting knight on the demonic steed is simply too formidable! I must evade his attacks for the time being!"


    As Ritchie slipped into the shadows, he also shouted a warning to Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment.


    Although hecked the energy to turn around and engage the hunting knight on the demonic steed, he was not overly concerned.


    He had already gained the upper hand in his battle against the captain of the hunting knights.


    The sh between Jeremy and the captain was aplete contest of inner strength.


    Using his significant level advantage and the unique talent of The King of Time and Space, Jeremy sessfully overpowered the captain.


    The Longsword of the Undying gradually pressed down the captain''s massive sword.


    The de of the Longsword of the Undying was now less than a hand''s breadth away from the captain''s neck.


    "What are you still dawdling for?! Hurry up and assist me, do you want to watch him chop me to death?!"


    The captain of the hunting knights shouted at hispanion in a chilling tone.


    The hunting knight on the demonic steed reacted swiftly to this call.


    "Captain, I''ming to your aid right now!"


    The hunting knight violently urged the demonic steed forward, which then charged at full speed towards Jeremy and the captain of the hunting knights.


    Seeing this unfold, a triumphant smile spread across the captain''s face.


    "Although I do not know where you hail from, it is indeed true that your strength surpasses mine. But what of it? I can still coborate with myrades to eliminate you."


    In response to such arrogant words, Jeremy merely replied with a hint of indifference.


    "Do you truly believe that you can defeat me using such tactics? My power is beyond yourprehension!"


    Jeremy''s deration instilled a degree of apprehension within the captain of the hunting knights.


    However, the captain remained convinced that Jeremy was merely bluffing.


    After all, no one had ever survived the onught of two hunting knights working in tandem.


    Moreover, the one currently attacking Jeremy was the hunting knight mounted on the demonic steed.


    The hunting knight on the demonic steed charged towards Jeremy with astonishing speed.


    Just as he was about to bring his machete down upon Jeremy, a brilliant sh of white light erupted behind Jeremy. In an instant, Jeremy vanished from sight.


    The sudden disappearance of Jeremy left both the hunting knight and the captain of the hunting knights momentarily stunned.


    The hunting knight on the demonic steed was unable to halt his momentum, so he careened towards the captain.


    At that moment, the captain was exerting all his strength to hold his massive sword against Jeremy''s attack.


    With Jeremy''s abrupt vanishing act, the captain suddenly lost his bnce.


    Consequently, the hunting knight on the demonic steed collided directly with the captain of the hunting knights.


    The demonic steed was cleaved in half by the massive sword wielded by the captain of the hunting knights, while the captain himself suffered severe injuries from the machete held by the hunting knight.


    After the collision between the two, Ritchie immediately seized the opportunity tounch an attack from the shadows.


    Ritchie swiftly manipted the shadow of the hunting knights'' captain, and then used that very shadow to eliminate the hunting knight who was barely able to continue fighting.


    The already gravely injured captain of the hunting knights, upon witnessing the death of hisst subordinate, promptly chose to retrieve a scroll from his pocket.


    Ritchie was unaware of the scroll''s purpose or potential effects.


    However, regardless of its significance, Ritchie was determined to prevent the captain from utilizing it.


    With great speed, Ritchie controlled the captain''s shadow to restrict his movements.


    At that moment, a sh of white light surged forth, and Jeremy reappeared directly in front of the hunting knights'' captain.


    "I told you before that you could never easily defeat me. After all your subordinates have perished, you still dare to attempt to escape using a teleportation scroll. Do you genuinely believe you can seed in fleeing?"


    Jeremy said with a smile directed at the captain of the hunting knights.


    Jeremy possessed the talent of The King of Time and Space, which enabled him to ascertain that the scroll being wielded by his adversary was indeed a teleportation scroll.


    The captain of the hunting knights red at Jeremy with a fierce and menacing expression.


    "Even if you manage to defeat us, you shall inevitably face retribution. The great Fool will never allow you to escape unscathed."


    Upon hearing these words, Jeremy erupted into loudughter.


    "Do you genuinely believe that you serve the Fool? You have absolutely no idea whom you are truly serving!"


    In truth, Jeremy felt a twinge of pity for the hunting knights.


    These knights would die without everprehending that they were not fighting for the Fool at all, they had been unwittingly serving the White Tower.


    At this juncture, the White Tower had yet to reveal its true identity, fully aware that its current power was not sufficiently formidable.


    "What on earth are you talking about? You have noprehension of the immense powers possessed by the Fool! You are blissfully ignorant of the consequences of crossing him!"


    The captain of the hunting knights certainly did not believe Jeremy''s ims.


    Thus, he clung to his convictions and began to threaten Jeremy.


    Jeremy simply smiled and shook his head.


    "I have no further words to exchange with you. My sole objective is to eradicate you. Once you are eliminated, I have my own methods by which I can gather more intelligence."


    With that, Jeremy raised the Longsword of the Undying and swiftly dispatched the captain of the hunting knights.


    After eliminating three hunting knights in quick session, the vige was once again restored to safety.


    The vige chief, apanied by the vigers, gathered around Jeremy and Ritchie.


    "We are immensely grateful to you both, without your assistance, we would certainly have perished. On behalf of all the vigers, I must apologize to you. I should not have doubted you from the very beginning."


    The chief spoke with heartfelt sincerity.


    Jeremy shook his head and replied with a smile,


    "Truthfully, there is no need for you to apologize, your initial caution was entirely justified. However, this is not the time for such discussions. I wish to conduct a s¨¦ance immediately. Only then can I extract more information from these hunting knights."


    The vige chief nodded in understanding. "I understand, and I will instruct the vigers to return swiftly to their homes!"

 Chapter 275 The Hunting Castle

    Once all the vigers had returned to their homes, the vige chief took the initiative to guide Jeremy and Ritchie to a secluded location.


    This ce was situated at the farthest end of the vige, beyond whichy a vast river.


    "This is the safest area within the vige."the chief stated calmly to Jeremy.


    "You can conduct your s¨¦ance here without the fear of being disturbed."


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment and then began to arrange the s¨¦ance ritual.


    As Jeremy was setting up the elements for the s¨¦ance, Ritchie found himself staring nkly in the direction of the great river.


    Ritchie noticed that there seemed to be a series of shadows lurking beneath the surface of the river. Furthermore, those shadows appeared to be aware of their presence.


    "Chief, I would like to inquire if there is anything peculiar about that river."


    Ritchie asked with a hint of uncertainty in his tone.


    Upon hearing this question, the vige chief''s expression grew slightly odd. He did not answer Ritchie''s inquiry directly but instead posed a counter-question.


    "Why do you ask such a thing? Do you believe there is something strange about the river?"


    Ritchie nodded in response.


    "I can see some shadows lurking at the bottom of the river. Moreover, those shadows seem to possess a consciousness of their own, as they continuously nce toward the direction of the vige. Are we truly safe conducting the s¨¦ance here without encountering any danger?"


    Ritchie did not wish to extract more information from the chief in this manner.


    He merely hoped to ascertain that their s¨¦ance would proceed without anyplications.


    At that moment, the chief let out a sigh of relief.


    "I thought you were particrly concerned about that river. Indeed, there are many shadows within its depths. Those shadows are the souls of the vigers who once inhabited our settlement.


    The Goddess of Life has bestowed blessings upon our vige, and she has also granted our souls a means to return to her. After a viger passes away, their ashes must be cast into the river.


    In doing so, their souls can return to the embrace of the Goddess of Life, allowing them to achieve eternal rest.


    Therefore, conducting a s¨¦ance here poses no issue. The Goddess of Life will never be our adversary, she will always bestow blessings upon us."


    After hearing the chief''s exnation, Ritchie remained outwardly silent.


    However, internally, he was even more troubled.


    Ritchie understood that a s¨¦ance must not be disrupted by other souls.


    Even though the vigers'' souls had returned to the embrace of the Goddess of Life.


    However, the current state of the Goddess of Life is also quite suspicious. It is highly likely that the Goddess of Life has beenpletely consumed by the White Tower.


    This would imply that the souls within the river may very well be entirely under the control of the White Tower.


    Upon realizing this, Ritchie approached Jeremy''s side and whispered.


    "Do you genuinely believe that now is the right time to conduct the s¨¦ance?"


    Jeremy nodded affirmatively.


    "I heard your conversation with the chief quite clearly. Although the vigers'' souls could potentially interfere with the s¨¦ance, our time is running short.


    Have you not sensed that the High-Dimensional Data surrounding us is increasing exponentially? The White Tower is about to pinpoint our exact moment in time.


    If the White Tower prates theyers of history and mist to reach our current timeline, it could fully integrate with its past self.


    In such a scenario, defeating it would be utterly impossible."


    After delivering this statement, Jeremy began to hasten the arrangement of the s¨¦ance ritual.


    Ritchie understood Jeremy''s perspective, thus refraining from posing any further questions.


    With Ritchie''s assistance, Jeremy swiftlypleted the setup for the s¨¦ance ritual.


    "Honorable Chief, it would be best for you to keep your distance. Once the s¨¦ancemences, there is a high likelihood that it may also affect you."Jeremy cautioned before the initiation of the s¨¦ance.


    The chief responded in a gentle tone,


    "Though I do not personally practice s¨¦ance rituals, I have witnessed others conducting them during my youth. Please proceed with your s¨¦ance, I will not be adversely affected."


    Jeremy smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.


    Although he did not verbally express his thoughts, he had begun to harbor doubts about the vige chief.


    However, no matter what transpired, Jeremy would not abandon his n.


    Only by acquiring more information regarding the hunting knights through the s¨¦ance ritual could Jeremy swiftly uncover intelligence rted to the Tower of Exile at this particr moment in time.


    After making the necessary preparations, Jeremy promptly initiated the s¨¦ance ritual.


    He first activated his spiritual essence to seek the soul of the captain of the hunting knights. Upon locating the soul, he immediatelymenced the s¨¦ance.


    The fragments of the hunting knights captain''s soul coalesced, forming a spectral figure that materialized at the very center of the s¨¦ance ritual.


    "Disclose all that you know. Which deity are you hunting? Whom do you serve? Where is your headquarters located?"


    Jeremy unleashed a flurry of questions in one breath.


    Under the influence of the s¨¦ance ritual, the soul of the hunting knights captain rapidly divulged everything he knew.


    "We serve the great Fool. Our mission is to hunt all other malevolent deities, including the Goddess of Life and the ss change goddess, both of whom are our targets.


    Our headquarters is situated in Hunting Castle, where an angel of the Fool guides our actions. That angel is incredibly wise and possesses the ability to foresee all that will transpire."


    Upon hearing the words of the hunting knights captain''s soul, the expressions of both Jeremy and Ritchie soured considerably.


    They both keenly noted the mention of the ss change goddess.


    Both men were aware of who the ss change goddess was, and they also knew that she was still alive.


    This likely indicates that the ss change goddess they encountered in the apocalypse game is very possibly an incarnation disguised by the game''s orchestrators.


    If Jeremy''s conjecture is correct, then all of his previous actions would have been under the control of the apocalyptic schemers, wouldn''t they?


    Jeremy could no longer maintain hisposure.


    His state of mind was exceedingly frantic, and under such circumstances, the s¨¦ance ritual could not be sustained any longer.


    Observing this scene, Ritchie immediately interjected.


    "This is not a moment for panic. At the very least, we should ascertain the location of Hunting Castle. If necessary, we can directly journey to Hunting Castle to seek clues."


    With Ritchie''s reminder, Jeremy managed to partially stabilize his thoughts.


    "Where exactly is the Hunting Castle you mentioned? What means must we employ to gain entry into Hunting Castle?"


    "Hunting Castle is situated twenty miles outside the vige, you merely need to don the armor of the hunting knights to enter."


    "Are there any precautions we should be aware of? What activities do you hunting knights engage in while at Hunting Castle?"


    "Do not converse with anyone. The sole purpose of Hunting Castle is to store the spoils acquired by hunting knights during their missions.


    The angel of the Fool will provide rewards to the hunting knights based on the quantity and rarity of the spoils they have gathered."


    Only by acquiring a sufficient amount of spoils can the hunting knights upgrade to the rank of hunting knights captain. After that, the hunting knights captain also has the opportunity to ascend to a higher echelon of hunting knights.


    Once the hunting knights captain''s soul had answered these questions, it dissipatedpletely.


    The s¨¦ance ritual could not be sustained for an extended period, and the soul of the hunting knights captain was not particrly strong, thus, it could only endure for so long.


    After the s¨¦ance ritual concluded, Jeremy''s forehead was slick with cold sweat.


    "How are you? Is your body holding up well?" Ritchie approached Jeremy, expressing his concern.


    At that moment, the vige chief also came to Jeremy''s side.


    As he observed Jeremy''s condition, he retrieved a handful of herbs from his pocket.


    "I can see that you are quite agitated, fortunately, I happen to have some calming herbs. After you consume these, you should be able to regain yourposure."


    Jeremy nced at the herbs in the vige chief''s hand and, without any hesitation, took them.


    Once he ingested the herbs, Jeremy gradually began to calm down.


    "I believe we have gathered sufficient intelligence, there is no need for us to linger in the vige any longer. Let us set off for Hunting Castle tomorrow morning.


    I am eager to see what the angel of the Fool at Hunting Castle is truly like. Although I understand that my power does not match that of the Fool.


    I believe I at least have a chance to ovee the angel of the Fool."


    Jeremy dered this with unwavering conviction.


    Ritchie refrained from saying much, for he knew that Jeremy had made up his mind.


    The vige chief hesitated, appearing as though he wished to dissuade Jeremy, but ultimately, he did not voice his concerns.


    "Since you havee to a decision, you should get some rest. I will ensure that this ce is tidied up! Tomorrow morning, I will provide you with the necessary supplies.


    These provisions will guarantee that you will not have to worry about food before you reach Hunting Castle."


    The vige chief seemed to be aware of something significant, yet he hesitated over whether to reveal it. In the end, he resolved to keep this information to himself.

 Chapter 276 The Path of the Hunting Knights

    Before the sun had even begun to rise, Jeremy found himself wide awake.


    "The time hase, we should set out as soon as possible. On our journey to Hunting Castle, we are bound to encounter unforeseen circumstances. If we wish to escape this historical haze swiftly, we cannot afford to waste even a moment."


    Upon awakening, Jeremy immediately roused Ritchie from his slumber.


    Ritchie, still bleary-eyed, protested.


    "Isn''t it a bit too early? The sun hasn''t even risen yet. If we head out now, we are certain to run into even more dangers. Let me sleep for just a little while longer."


    After voicing hisint, Ritchie turned over and resumed his sleep.


    In response, Jeremy delivered a swift kick to Ritchie''s side.


    "Get up! The vige chief is already waiting for us outside!"


    Despite his dissatisfaction, Ritchieplied with Jeremy''s urging and followed him to the vige entrance.


    There stood the vige chief, awaiting their arrival.


    The vige chief held two bundles in his hands.


    "Within these packages is a selection of food, you are certain to grow hungry on your journey to Hunting Castle. Additionally, the provisions I have brought you will provide more benefits than mere sustenance.


    These foods contain herbs, which means that if you find yourselves injured, consuming them will aid in your recovery."


    Jeremy nodded appreciatively and took the two bundles from the chief''s grasp.


    "Thank you for providing us with these supplies. There is no need for further discussion, we shall set off without dy. Once we are able to destroy Hunting Castle, you will no longer have to live in fear."


    With that deration, Jeremy promptly strode toward the vige''s exit.


    Ritchie closely followed behind, sensing that Jeremy''s demeanor was somewhat peculiar.


    Once they had distanced themselves sufficiently from the vige, Ritchie, with a hint of confusion, inquired of Jeremy, "Why do I get the impression that you are exceedingly eager to leave that vige? Do you believe that remaining there might expose us to some form of danger?"


    Upon hearing this question, Jeremy came to a halt.


    He looked at Ritchie with keen interest and asked, "What makes you think that? Do I appear particrly anxious?"


    Jeremy''s response indicated that he indeed acknowledged his urgency to depart from the previous vige.


    "You don''t seem overtly anxious. However, I know you quite well. Under normal circumstances, you would not simply leave without bidding farewell to the other vigers."


    Upon hearing Ritchie''s reply, Jeremy smiled broadly.


    "You are absolutely right. I am indeed eager to leave that previous vige, for I suspect the vige chief possesses crucial information that he has chosen not to disclose to us.


    The longer we remain in the vige, the greater the likelihood that we will uncover the secrets he has kept hidden. Once we discover those secrets, he will no longer be inclined to assist us as he has in the past."


    Ritchie''s expression suddenly darkened significantly.


    "Are you implying that the vige chief harbors some ill intentions towards us? I have sensed something odd about him for a while. Furthermore, his exnation regarding the shadows in the river behind the vige did little to convince me."


    "As for whether he has any harmful intentions, I cannot say with certainty at this moment. At the very least, we have now left the vige, which means we can temporarily set aside concerns about the chief''s threats.


    Let us proceed along the path pointed out by the vige chief. Once we reach Hunting Castle, we should be able to uncover the answers to all our questions."


    After delivering this statement, Jeremy swiftly moved in the direction indicated by the chief.


    After they had traveled for a while, the two suddenly found that there was no longer any broad road ahead of them.


    Before themy a lush thicket, within which a narrow path, worn by many footsteps, could be discerned.


    "This path must be the Hunting Knights'' trail that the chief mentioned. The Hunting Knights would have used this route to depart from Hunting Castle.


    This implies that once we traverse this thicket, we will be able to reach Hunting Castle."Jeremy concluded without hesitation.


    He then drew forth the Longsword of the Undying.


    "You had better be prepared for battle, I have a strong feeling that we are bound to encounter some unforeseen dangers within this thicket."


    Jeremy specifically cautioned Ritchie.


    However, even without the warning, Ritchie was already mentally primed forbat.


    Upon seeing the thicket, Ritchie also sensed that this jungle was quite peculiar.


    Once both of them were ready for a confrontation, they stepped onto the narrow path that wound through the jungle.


    The moment they entered the underbrush, they both felt the temperature around them plummeting rapidly.


    "Shouldn''t this environment resemble a tropical rainforest? Why is it so cold here? Can such low temperatures sustain the growth of tropical nts?"


    After advancing for a short while, Ritchie lowered his voice and inquired of Jeremy.


    Jeremy offered no response, he remained vignt, carefully observing their surroundings.


    At that moment, the sound of an arrow being loosed suddenly erupted near Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Instinctively, both of them made evasive maneuvers, and after a brief heartbeat, a poisoned arrow struck the tree beside them.


    They immediately assumed a defensive stance.


    Jeremy gripped the Longsword of the Undying, on high alert, as he scanned the direction from which the arrow hade.


    Ritchie, meanwhile, slipped into the shadows, using the cover to ensure his safety. Additionally, he began manipting the shadows of the surrounding trees to scout their environment.


    Before long, the sound of thundering hooves echoed through the jungle.


    Signifying that Jeremy and Ritchie had been surrounded by a multitude of hunting knights.


    "Who are you? What business do you have here?"


    A raspy voice suddenly emerged not far from where Jeremy and Ritchie stood. This voice was nearly identical to that of the hunting knights'' captain they had encountered earlier.


    Jeremy and Ritchie exchanged nces, each registering the other''s concern.


    They were uncertain whether they should provide an answer. If they chose to remain silent, the hunting knights would likelyunch an immediate assault on them.


    After a moment of hesitation, Jeremy directed his voice toward the source of the sound.


    "We inadvertently found ourselves here, if you believe we ought not to be present, we shall depart at once!"


    As soon as Jeremy had uttered this half-hearted deration, a barrage of arrows was unleashed in his direction.


    At that moment, both Jeremy and Ritchie came to the stark realization that the hunting knights surrounding them had no intention of engaging in dialogue.


    The earlier raspy voice had merely served to ascertain the positions of Jeremy and Ritchie.


    In the face of this perilous situation, Jeremy and Ritchie swiftly devised a response.


    Jeremy brandished the Longsword of the Undying, advancing deeper into the jungle.


    During his advance, he executed swift teleportations. Although his talent, The King of Time and Space, faced a degree of suppression within the Tower of Exile, he was still capable of utilizing short-distance teleportation.


    While Jeremy adeptly maneuvered through the shadows, Ritchie employed his shadow leap skill, darting back and forth among the various shadows.


    Ritchie and Jeremy moved with remarkable speed.


    The two of them traversed the entire jungle in less than a quarter of an hour.


    In reality, they had spent less than five minutes leaving all the hunting knights behind.


    However, both were apprehensive that if they reduced their pace, the hunting knights might very well catch up to them.


    Thus, they continued to advance at full speed until they hadpletely exited the jungle.


    Before them loomed a tall, foreboding ancient castle. Your journey continues at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    This towering, ominous structure was none other than the Hunting Castle.


    At that moment, the Hunting Castle was eerily silent, devoid of any sound.


    All the entrances to the Hunting Castle were sealed off by massive iron gates.


    "It seems that the hunting knights have already departed! The ones we encountered in the jungle must have been thest batch to leave the Hunting Castle."Jeremy deduced.


    He believed that all the hunting knights had vacated the premises of the Hunting Castle.


    This was extremely advantageous for Jeremy''s forting ns.


    He certainly did not wish to engage inbat with the hunting knights within the confines of the Hunting Castle.


    Although the individualbat prowess of the hunting knights was not as formidable as one might imagine, when they operated in concert, they could execute remarkably intricate strategies.


    "What should we do next? The iron gates of the castle do not appear to be easily destroyed."Ritchie inquired directly after surveying the situation at the Hunting Castle.


    Jeremy smiled as he replied, "Why should we destroy the castle''s iron gates? One of us can open a Portal, while the other can utilize shadow leap. We can simply use our abilities to enter the Hunting Castle."


    After delivering this statement, Jeremy swiftly approached one side of the castle wall.


    He employed his gift, The King of Time and Space, to create a Portal on the wall.


    After confirming that no one had noticed him and Ritchie, Jeremy promptly pulled Ritchie through the Portal.


    To avoid detection by any potential enemies that might exist within the Hunting Castle, Jeremy closed the Portal on the castle wall immediately after they entered.


    Thus, Jeremy and Ritchie found themselves inside the Hunting Castle.


    They now upied a weapons storeroom, filled with a bewildering array of bizarre and varied weaponry.

 Chapter 277 The Angel of the Fool

    Jeremy and Ritchie gazed at the bizarre assortment of weapons within the storeroom, momentarily at a loss for what to do.


    The weapons in the storeroom exhibited a diverse array of styles, indicating that they must have originated from various civilizations. Furthermore, the powers contained within these weapons were equally eclectic.


    "Could it be that the hunting knights serve all the nners of the apocalypse games? If that were not the case, there would be no exnation for the astonishing amount of power these weapons possess.


    Even the most formidable nner among the apocalypse games, known as the Fool, should not be capable of wielding such a vast array of power. If he truly could control so much power, why would he still require the assistance of other apocalypse game nners?"


    Ritchie was filled with perplexity, feeling that everything here was utterly nonsensical.


    Jeremy remained silent, not uttering a word.


    After thoroughly examining all the weapons in the storeroom, Jeremy turned to Ritchie and said, "There is no longer any point in remaining here, we should exit this ce and explore other areas of the Hunting Castle more meticulously."


    Having uttered those words, Jeremy pushed open the door to the storeroom.


    At the very instant the storeroom door swung open, Jeremy perceptively sensed a spatial disturbance urring in a particr area within the Hunting Castle.


    "We may have already been discovered by others! We must act swiftly!"


    After proiming this, Jeremy hurriedly advanced towards another section of the Hunting Castle at his utmost speed.


    Ritchie followed closely behind Jeremy, matching his pace with equal urgency.


    Although Ritchie was apanying Jeremy in this endeavor, it did not imply that he deemed Jeremy''s actions to be entirely reasonable.


    Ritchie felt that, in the absence of any definitive leads, Jeremy should not be progressing in a singr direction.


    They ought to examine every single room within the Hunting Castle.


    "Why are you skipping over so many areas? Shouldn''t we check every room in the Hunting Castle?" Ritchie couldn''t help but inquire as they moved forward.


    "We simply do not have that much time, and I already have a lead. The person we are searching for should be located at the very top of the Hunting Castle. That angel of the Fool resides there!"


    Jeremy pinpointed the location of the Fool''s angel through the fluctuations in space.


    He had already gained a considerable understanding of the hunting knights.


    Although the hunting knights were exceedingly mad and ruthless, theirbat prowess was not as formidable as one might expect. Moreover, the vast majority of the hunting knights were incapable of utilizing spell-based attacks.


    Their mode of movement was merely through themand of demonic steeds.


    This implies that the spatial disturbances within the Hunting Castle must have been caused by a presence far more powerful than the hunting knights.


    Taking into ount the information Jeremy had acquired from the hunting knights'' captain during the s¨¦ance ritual, he astutely deduced that the Fool''s angel was indeed situated within the Hunting Castle.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s assertion, Ritchie''s expression transformed into one of profound astonishment.


    "If you are aware that the Fool''s angel is within the Hunting Castle, then you should be even less hasty! We ought to prepare ourselves for battle before confronting the Fool''s angel!"


    Ritchie believed that it would be exceedingly foolish to face the Fool''s angel without adequate preparation forbat.


    Even if the Fool''s angel were not as powerful as the Fool himself, it would undoubtedly be significantly stronger than the hunting knights.


    If the two of them failed to prepare properly, they were at substantial risk of being defeated by the Fool''s angel.


    "There is no time left for us to prepare! The Fool''s angel is about to fully descend upon the Hunting Castle! The fluctuations in space are still ongoing!"


    After exining this, Jeremy had no intention of borating further.


    Although Ritchie still did not fullyprehend the situation, he chose not to question Jeremy any longer.


    The two quickly arrived at the very top of the Hunting Castle.


    Here, they were confronted by arge door adorned with intricate and abstract symbols, barring their passage.


    "I will create a portal directly! Once the portal is opened, you must swiftly throw the Dark Core to the other side of the portal."


    As Jeremy began to construct the portal, he simultaneously retrieved the Dark Core from his pocket.


    Even though the vast majority of the Dark Core''s power had already dissipated, the remaining energy was still quite substantial.


    The moment Ritchie grasped the Dark Core, he felt the dark power beginning to corrode him from within.


    "When will the portal be ready? I can''t shake the feeling that before the portal is fully constructed, I might very well bepletely consumed by the Dark Core."


    Ritchie said in a trembling voice to Jeremy.


    Jeremy did not provide an answer, for he needed to concentrate all his mental energy on constructing the portal.


    At the very moment the portal waspleted, therge door adorned with intricate abstract symbols suddenly swung open.


    Within the doorway, an extraordinarily twisted and dark phantasmal figure materialized before Jeremy and Ritchie.


    This time, Ritchie experienced no hesitation, before Jeremy could even offer him a signal, he hurled the Dark Core toward the direction of the distorted, dark apparition.


    As the Dark Core passed through the door marked withplex abstract symbols, it detonated violently.


    An unusually immense surge of dark powers surged directly toward Jeremy and Ritchie.


    In that instant, Jeremy generated a portal anew.


    Before Ritchie could react in any way, Jeremy grasped his hand firmly.


    Then, the two of them swiftly traversed through the portal together.


    In the blink of an eye, Jeremy transported both himself and Ritchie to the first floor of the Hunting Castle.


    Although they were now at a considerable distance from the top of the Hunting Castle, both still sensed an overwhelmingly powerful presence of dark powers surrounding them.


    "It seems that the remaining strength of the Dark Core is far more potent than I had anticipated. For now, we need not engage in directbat with the Fool''s angel.


    Let us first seek a safe location, once the dark powers have dissipated somewhat, we can return! This approach would be the safest course of action for us!"


    After Jeremy finished speaking, he intended to swiftly lead Ritchie away from the Hunting Castle.


    However, just as the portal Jeremy was constructing was nearingpletion, he suddenly sensed that the space within the Hunting Castle had be entirely sealed off.


    Simultaneously, the dark powers within the Hunting Castle were rapidly dissipating.


    Ritchie also felt the dark powers waning quickly, and with a smile on his face, he turned to Jeremy and asked.


    "We no longer need to flee. The dark power has dissipated, we can continue to fight here."


    Ritchie believed that the swift decline of the dark powers was a fortunate turn of events for them.


    Yet, Jeremy''s expression was far from pleasant.


    He realized that the rapid dissipation of the dark powers was not a good sign for them.


    The dark forces had beenpletely absorbed by the Fool''s angel.


    What they were about to face was an empowered Fool''s angel, enhanced by the dark powers.


    "I hope you can still maintain your smile. What we are about to confront is a Fool''s angel. Although this is merely an angel from the mists of history, the power it can wield is still exceedingly formidable."


    Jeremy lowered his voice and spoke to Ritchie.


    The smile on Ritchie''s face quickly vanished.


    "What should we do then? Weren''t you just constructing the portal? Let''s escape through the portal directly."


    "The portal can no longer bepleted. The space surrounding the Hunting Castle has been entirely sealed off, all we can do now is confront the Fool''s angel head-on."


    After saying this, Jeremy fell silent.


    His gaze was fixed intently on the staircase within the Hunting Castle.


    Ritchie followed Jeremy''s line of sight.


    An unusual stillness had settled over the Hunting Castle.


    Both Ritchie and Jeremy could hear the steady thumping of their own heartbeats.


    In this oppressive atmosphere, a dark tentacle began to extend down from the staircase.


    At the tip of the tentacle was a massive eye.


    The moment this eye caught sight of Jeremy and Ritchie, they were both struck by a violent headache.


    Simultaneously, Ritchie sensed that his shadow was being manipted by the Fool''s angel.


    "He''s alreadyunched an attack on us! We must retaliate! The Fool''s angel''s control over shadows is far more powerful than we anticipated!"


    Ritchie shouted out his discovery, his voice echoing in the eerie silence.


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy immediately utilized the talent of The King of Time and Space to teleport beside the tentacle.


    Although Jeremy doubted that his attack would be sufficient to directly eliminate the Fool''s angel, he was determined to act.


    Nevertheless, he still gripped the Longsword of the Undying tightly and swung it fiercely at the tentacle of the Fool''s angel.


    In that instant, as the Longsword of the Undying made contact with the Fool''s angel, it sprouted numerous tentacles of its own.


    Simultaneously, the true form of the Fool''s angel materialized in the grand hall of the Hunting Castle.


    The essence of the Fool''s angel was an amalgamation of numerous ethereal shadowsyered upon one another.


    Anyone who beheld the true form of the Fool''s angel would be met with a violent mental storm.


    Ritchie dared not lift his gaze to look at the Fool''s angel, for he knew that if he were to glimpse its true essence, he would surely lose consciousness in an instant.


    Jeremy, having elevated his level to above fifty and having gained a portion of divine power, was able to withstand the mental influence exerted by the Fool''s angel due to his inherent resistance.


    However, even so, Jeremy felt a severe headache piercing through his mind.


    At the same time, he sensed that his mental state was rapidly shifting, as a cascade of strange thoughts began to flood into his consciousness.

 Chapter 278 An Unprecedented Strong Enemy

    Enduring a severe headache, Jeremy did not hesitate for a moment.


    He directly utilized his talent, The King of Time and Space, to generate a portal behind him. He wanted to use this portal to create distance between himself and the Fool Angel.


    However, Jeremy''s actions did not achieve sess quickly.


    At the instant the portal was created, the Fool Angel''s tentacles in front of it suddenly flickered with strange light.


    Arge amount of different attributes of power surged into the portal.


    In that moment, the portal was shattered by the mixed forces.


    At the same time, various strange thoughts in Jeremy''s mind became increasingly specific.


    In addition to the intense headache, Jeremy even had the thought of tearing his own face off.


    "What the hell is going on? Why do I feel like my limbs have lost all control? My limbs want to tear me apart!"


    Jeremy suddenly realized, aside from his slowed thinking speed, his limbs hadpletely lost control.


    His left hand tightened around his neck.


    His right hand was relentlessly pulling at his ear, as if trying to rip it off his face.


    Although Jeremy''s eyes could still move back and forth,


    the things he could see had be very limited.


    In his current field of vision, he could only see the projection of the Fool Angel.


    At this moment, the Fool Angel seemed to be pressed right against Jeremy''s face.


    Theyered shadows of the Fool Angel and its numerous tentacles almost directly extended into Jeremy''s brain.


    Jeremy felt like his memories and thoughts were rapidly fading away.


    Even though he struggled continuously, and he could use his talent, The King of Time and Space, to slow the loss of his memories and thoughts,


    without a way to interrupt the Fool Angel, all his actions were fundamentally doomed to fail.


    He lost track of time, and Jeremy even forgot his name and his location.


    All he could do was stare nkly at the projection of the Fool Angel in front of him.


    "Where exactly is this? What is in front of me? Why am I here? Why do I feel such pain?"


    A series of questions lingered in Jeremy''s mind.


    Meanwhile, a multitude of voices filled Jeremy''s mind. These voices all urged Jeremy tomit suicide.


    "Stop struggling. Your struggles will only prolong your suffering. Give up resistance and let the great Fool Angel take you away."


    "Don''t waste any more time. Sink into eternal silence."


    "Just close your eyes and empty your mind, and you can return to a safe ce. You won''t need to worry about anything anymore. Everything will be taken care of by the Fool Angel."


    Faced with the cacophony of voices, Jeremy gradually found their arguments to be quite reasonable.


    He slowly began to give up the struggle, not even intending to use his talent, The King of Time and Space, to dy the loss of his memories and thoughts.


    Jeremy''s soul was gradually being stripped away by the Fool Angel.


    At that moment, Jeremy felt himself slowly rising into the sky. He could see his body remaining in the same ce, but there were no thoughts in his mind. It seemed he hadpletely transformed into a puppet.


    Just as Jeremy''s soul was about to be entirely stripped away, he suddenly felt an unusual change in his shadow.


    In that instant, Jeremy recalled a crucial piece of information.


    "I am fighting alongside Ritchie! Although I can''t remember who our enemy is, I absolutely cannot give up so easily!"


    The unusual change in Jeremy''s shadow was caused by Ritchie.


    Although Ritchie was also affected by the powerful mental force of the Fool Angel,


    the Fool Angel had not primarily targeted Ritchie for its attacks, so Ritchie sessfully found an opportunity to manipte Jeremy''s shadow and help him regain his self-awareness.


    The moment Jeremy regained his self-awareness, he immediately used his talent, The King of Time and Space, to teleport his soul back into his body.


    At the same time, taking advantage of the Fool Angel''s moment of unpreparedness, he struck fiercely at the Fool Angel''s extending tentacle with the Longsword of the Undying.


    While the Longsword of the Undying could not inflict severe damage on the Fool Angel,


    it was still capable of dealing some degree of divine damage.


    After suffering divine damage, the Fool Angel quickly retracted its tentacles.


    Jeremy and Ritchie finally let out a sigh of relief.


    Ritchie hurried to Jeremy''s side. "We need to escape quickly! The Fool Angel shouldn''t be able to chase us immediately!"


    The recent battle had left Ritchie in a state of terror.


    He felt that there was no way they could defeat the Fool Angel.


    They hadn''t even been able to see how high the Fool Angel''s level truly was.


    However, Jeremy shook his head at that moment.


    "It''s already toote to run. The Fool Angel will never let us escape! It will appear right in front of us soon!"


    As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, numerous tentacles surged from the void not far from Jeremy and Ritchie.


    At the connection points of all the tentacles, ayered shadow gradually revealed its true form.


    The Fool Angel had finally decided to retaliate using its true body against Jeremy and Ritchie.


    The instant the Fool Angel''s true form manifested, Jeremy and Ritchie suddenly found themselves unable to see anything.


    "Stay calm! Don''t let panic set in. You can use your perception of shadows to assess the situation around you. I can sense our surroundings through the changes in time and space."


    Suddenly losing one''s sight can throw anyone into a state of panic.


    And once a person bes panicked in battle, they can no longer take the most effective tactical actions.


    Jeremy''s words were meant to prevent Ritchie from fleeing in a blind panic.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Ritchie immediately began to use his shadow maniption skills to observe his surroundings.


    Although the two of them could no longer see anything, they were still able to sense the presence of the Fool Angel.


    Moreover, the Fool Angel did not give them any more time to prepare, it summoned a horde of unknown monsters.


    The moment these monsters appeared, they charged directly toward Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Jeremy fought against the monsters with the Longsword of the Undying in hand, while also slowly moving towards the entrance of the Hunting Castle.


    Ritchie''s actions were much simpler and more straightforward, he had no intention of fighting the monsters.


    Ritchie quickly hid in the shadows and then leaped between different shadows to reach a position farthest from the Fool Angel.


    "If you can hear me, hurry and move toward me! I can create a pathway using shadows! We can escape the Hunting Castle through this passage."


    In a state of heightened mental tension, Ritchie quickly took action.


    He constructed a passage using different shadows.


    Although the shadow-formed passage wasn''t as quick as a Portal for transporting someone to another location, the passage made of shadows had its own advantages.


    The biggest advantage was that it was difficult to be affected by skills other than shadow maniption.


    After hearing Ritchie''s words, Jeremy chose to open a Portal and quickly arrived at Ritchie''s side.


    The two immediately passed through the shadow passage and emerged outside the Hunting Castle.


    Once they sessfully escaped the Hunting Castle, they could finally see a faint glimmer of light.


    However, this glimmer was still very blurry. They still couldn''t make out their surroundings through this faint light.


    "What should we do now? It seems the Fool Angel isn''t going to pursue us."


    Ritchie didn''t sense the Fool Angel''s presence, so he believed it was unlikely the Fool Angel would continue to chase them.


    But just as he finished speaking, the Fool Angel appeared out of thin air right in front of them.


    The Fool Angel''s tentacles ensnared both of them tightly.


    They could both feel their souls being rapidly stripped away.


    At the same time, a voice echoed in their minds.


    "How dare you enter my divine realm! I will not let you go. After I strip your souls away, I will use your bodies to create new Puppets. Then, I willmand these Puppets to annihte all yourpanions.


    You will only be able to watch as yourrades are destroyed by your own hands, unable to do anything. I will ensure you experience total destruction, from your souls to your bodies."


    Ritchie couldn''t identify the voice because he had never encountered its owner before.


    However, Jeremy immediately recognized the voice''s owner, it belonged to the White Tower.


    Indeed, the Fool Angel before them was affiliated with the White Tower.


    Realizing this, a new battle n sprang to mind for Jeremy. Perhaps when facing a Fool Angel belonging to the White Tower, High-Dimensional Data could y a bigger role.


    With this inspiration, Jeremy took action without dy.


    He pulled a data storage device from his pocket and threw it directly at the Fool Angel.

 Chapter 279 The Power Granted by the Goddess of Life

    As the data storage device flew toward the Fool Angel, Jeremy immediately utilized his High-Dimensional Data.


    A massive amount of High-Dimensional Data surged from Jeremy''s mind toward the Fool Angel.


    The Fool Angel perceived Jeremy''s attack as the most threatening one it needed to counter right away.


    Thus, the Fool Angel didn''t have time to intercept the data storage device.


    The moment the data storage device struck the Fool Angel, a torrent of High-Dimensional Data erupted from it.


    The Fool Angel''s essence was directly affected by the vast amount of High-Dimensional Data, causing its form to scatter.


    In that instant, both Jeremy and Ritchie were freed from the Fool Angel''s control.


    Seizing the opportunity, Jeremy activated his talent, The King of Time and Space.


    As the Portal formed, Jeremy pulled Ritchie into it.


    Jeremy didn''t actually know where the other side of the Portal led.


    However, he had no other options left. The High-Dimensional Data from the data storage device did indeed affect the Fool Angel, but it was nowhere near enough to destroy it.


    He could only take advantage of the Fool Angel''s brief moment of distraction to quickly escape with Ritchie.


    After passing through the Portal, Jeremy suddenly realized that he and Ritchie had returned to the vige where they first encountered the troubles.


    Their sudden appearance astonished the vigers in the area.


    The young viger who had initially spoken to Jeremy approached them with a smile.


    "Have you destroyed the Hunting Castle? If that''s the case, I must tell the vige chief right away. We need to throw a celebration for you!"


    Jeremy hurriedly interrupted the young viger.


    "Now is not the time for that! You all need to find a safe ce to hide! The threat you are about to face is not just the hunting knights anymore, you are facing an enemy far more powerful than the hunting knights."


    As Jeremy spoke, his tone was urgent and anxious.


    Upon hearing this, the vigers immediately sprang into action.


    Under normal circumstances, the vigers wouldn''t move that quickly.


    However, after the hunting knights'' attack on their vige, the vigers knew that their home was always in danger.


    Thus, everyone moved with remarkable speed.


    Just as the vigers were quickly fleeing back to their huts, a tentacle suddenly appeared behind Jeremy and Ritchie.


    In the blink of an eye, the essence of the Fool Angel reappeared before the two of them.


    This time, the power of the Fool Angel was even stronger than before.


    The moment Jeremy saw the tentacle, he activated his talent, The King of Time and Space, once more.


    Without waiting for Ritchie to react, he pulled Ritchie into the Portal.


    Once again, the construction of the Portal was very hasty, so Jeremy still had no idea where it led.


    However, no matter where they ended up, Jeremy thought it was far better than staying near the Fool Angel.


    The power and overwhelming attack potential of the Fool Angel sent Jeremy into a state of panic.


    After passing through the Portal, Jeremy suddenly found himself and Ritchie by arge river at the back of the vige.


    As they arrived at the riverbank, the Fool Angel almost simultaneously reached their location.


    Jeremy wanted to activate The King of Time and Space again, but he suddenly discovered that the talent couldn''t function here.


    The Fool Angel''s tentacles had once more ensnared both Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Jeremy felt his consciousness rapidly fading away, and he began to regret his hasty decision.


    He thought he shouldn''t have rushed into the Tower of Exile.


    If he hadn''t been so eager to enter the Tower of Exile, he wouldn''t have put himself and Ritchie in such a dire situation.


    Just as Jeremy felt his consciousness was about to vanishpletely, he suddenly heard a melody.


    The song was filled with the power of life, and Jeremy''s awareness gradually began to return.


    After regaining his consciousness, Jeremy looked in the direction of the singing.


    He saw the vigers gathered around the vige chief, singing continuously, while the chief was praying amidst their circle.


    "Is this the vige chief''s hidden secret? So he has been able to harness the power of the Goddess of Life all along. No wonder his vige has survived the attacks of the hunting knights for so long."


    Upon witnessing this, Jeremy immediately made a judgment.


    He didn''t just watch the chief''s ritual.


    After regaining his awareness, Jeremy also took action against the Fool Angel. He once again used the Longsword of the Undying to attack the Fool Angel''s tentacles.


    This time, although the attack did not achieve any sess, he sessfully determined that the Fool Angel''s primary target had shifted to the vige chief.


    Jeremy quickly said to Ritchie,


    "We need to regain ourposure fast! The Fool Angel won''t target us for now, but we can''t afford to waste too much time.


    The Fool Angel is highly likely to kill all the vigers very soon. We mustunch a new offensive against the Fool Angel before all the vigers are in."


    Although Ritchie had regained his consciousness, his condition was not very good.


    He could only manage a weak nod.


    While Jeremy and Ritchie anxiously tried to gather themselves, the Fool Angel had already arrived among the vigers.


    The moment the Fool Angel appeared, arge number of vigers were transformed into Puppets.


    Their souls werepletely stripped away, and those souls were twisted by the Fool Angel into new monsters.


    Faced with the Fool Angel''s assault, the vige chief, surrounded by the vigers, showed no change in expression.


    He continued to sincerely recite his prayers, seemingly asking the Goddess of Life for a more powerful blessing.


    Despite the vige chief''s deep devotion, it ultimately failed to elicit a stronger power from the Goddess of Life.


    After most of the vigers had been killed by the Fool Angel, its tentacles finally targeted the vige chief.


    The chief could no longer continue speaking, as his soul was gradually being torn from his body.


    In this critical moment, Jeremy gripped the Longsword of the Undying and rushed toward the Fool Angel as fast as he could.


    He knew that this attack was unlikely to yield good results. He also understood that this attack could potentially put him in a dangerous situation.


    But as a yer of the apocalypse game, as one of the most talented members of humanity, and as someone who had once received help from the vige chief, he absolutely could not stand by and watch the chief be killed by the Fool Angel.


    As Jeremy charged toward the Fool Angel, he felt a green light surrounding his body.


    This green light continuously enhanced his divine powers.


    Moreover, the wounds on his body were healed by this green light.


    In that instant, Jeremy suddenly realized that he had received the Goddess of Life''s bestowed power! Find exclusive stories on m_v l|e-NovelBin


    With the realization that he had the deity''s help, Jeremy felt even less apprehensive. The Longsword of the Undying in his hand even began to glow with green light.


    When Jeremy was not far from the Fool Angel, he leaped high into the air.


    Just as he was about to strike the Fool Angel with the Longsword of the Undying, the Fool Angel finally reacted.


    The Fool Angel immediately transferred all its power to face Jeremy.


    In that moment, Jeremy felt a violent mental shock.


    However, Jeremy would not back down at all, he had resolved that this attack must seed.


    The Longsword of the Undying, infused with powerful life force, struck the Fool Angel.


    For the first time, the Fool Angel let out a chilling cry of agony.


    The green light quickly surged into the Fool Angel''s body through the Longsword of the Undying.


    The Fool Angel''syers of shadows transformed into rapidly growing nts under the green light.


    The power possessed by the Fool Angel waspletely converted into life force.


    The souls of the vigers that had once been stripped away by the Fool Angel all flew toward the great river.


    At this point, Jeremy could no longer take any action, he could only lie on the ground, gasping for breath, watching as the power of the Goddess of Life gradually dismantled the Fool Angel.


    When the Fool Angel''s power had been nearly exhausted, itsst tentacle shone with a colorful glow.


    Then, that tentacle vanished without a trace.


    In the end, the Fool Angel chose to flee.


    Although both Jeremy and the vige chief had lost theirbat abilities, the power bestowed by the Goddess of Life had still dealt a significant blow to it.


    After confirming the Fool Angel''s departure, Jeremy slowly closed his eyes.


    In the recent battle, Jeremy had nearly exhausted all his stamina.


    If thatst attack had not seeded, he would have had to ept his fate.


    Fortunately, with the help of the power granted by the Goddess of Life, he had sessfully repelled the Fool Angel.


    Though he had notpletely annihted the Fool Angel, he had certainly inflicted serious damage.


    At least in this fog of history, the Fool Angel would not pose a threat to them again for some time.

 Chapter 280 Audience with the Goddess of Life

    Jeremy felt as if he was drifting in a seaposed of memories, with everything from his past rushing toward him.


    He kept pondering whether he could have done better in his previous actions. Could he have made himself stronger than he was now?


    After an unknown amount of time, Jeremy slowly opened his eyes.


    He suddenly realized he was lying in a thatched cottage, with an ordinary viger nearby brewing herbal medicine.


    Jeremy wanted to say something, but he suddenly found that he couldn''t open his mouth.


    At the same time, he felt an intense thirst.


    Jeremy slowly moved his hand, hoping to catch the viger''s attention.


    However, he discovered that his movements were extremely difficult, even moving a finger took a long time.


    After a few minutes, the viger finally noticed Jeremy''s efforts.


    The viger eximed with surprise,


    "You''re finally awake! We''ve all been very worried about you! I will inform the vige chief and yourpanions right away!"


    After expressing his excitement, the viger quickly left.


    At this moment, Jeremy couldn''t help but sigh inwardly.


    "Could you at least give me a drink of water before you go? I''m really very thirsty! Is there anyone who can bring me a sip of water?!"


    Before long, the vige chief and Ritchie hurried over.


    When the two of them saw Jeremy, smiles finally appeared on their faces.


    "You''re finally awake! We were all very worried about you! After defeating the Fool Angel, you suddenly lost consciousness. We thought we wouldn''t be able to bring you back."


    Stay connected via m-v l|e''-NovelBin


    The vige chief spoke in a rush.


    Wanting Jeremy to understand the current situation.


    However, he suddenly realized that Jeremy seemed to want to express something.


    After observing Jeremy closely for a moment, he finally understood that Jeremy wanted water.


    "Quick, get him a ss of water!"


    After drinking a ss of water, Jeremy was finally able to speak.


    "What''s the situation now? Even though we defeated the Fool Angel, the hunting knights haven''t beenpletely eradicated. Have the hunting knightsunched any attacks against us?"


    The vige chief hurriedly replied,


    "The hunting knights have all returned to Hunting Castle. The serious blow to the Fool Angel must have caused panic among the hunting knights. So we don''t need to worry about their threat for the time being."


    Upon hearing the vige chief''s words, Jeremy finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "What''s my current condition? How long will it take for me to fully recover?"


    Since there would be no immediate danger, the next thing Jeremy needed to worry about was, of course, his own condition.


    If he couldn''t recover quickly, he would end up dying too long in this historical fog. At that point, he might not be able to swiftly unravel the secrets of the Tower of Exile.


    Now it was Ritchie''s turn to respond.


    Ritchie said with a hint of concern, "From what I can see, your condition seems fine. However, you definitely can''t unleash your full strength right now. Perhaps you should seek the help of a deity."


    When Ritchie mentioned thest part, Jeremy turned his gaze toward him.


    "What do you mean by that? Which deity should we seek help from?"


    Before Ritchie could answer Jeremy''s question, the vige chief interjected directly.


    "I hope you can directly meet the Goddess of Life. I saw you receive the blessings of the Goddess of Life during the battle. This means she has already recognized you.


    The suggestion for you to receive help from a deity was also mine. I believe that only with the help of the Goddess of Life can your condition recover swiftly."


    The vige chief spoke these words with a very sincere tone.


    Ritchie was also persuaded by the vige chief''s tone.


    After thinking for a moment, Jeremy nodded.


    "You''re right, perhaps I can only rely on the help of the Goddess of Life. But how can I go about meeting her?"


    Jeremy felt that the vige chief must know the answer to this question.


    So he directly asked him.


    The vige chief responded with a smile.


    "We have long prepared all the rituals, we were just waiting for your affirmative answer. Since you are willing to meet the Goddess of Life, we can certainly prepare the necessary ceremony right away."


    After saying this, the vige chief, along with Ritchie, lifted Jeremy and carried him to the center of the vige.


    At that moment, Jeremy noticed that the center of the vige was adorned with various totems.


    All the totems depicted the power of life.


    Meanwhile, there were various fast-growing nts surrounding the totems.


    "We just need to sing the sacred hymn belonging to the Goddess of Life, and she will direct her gaze here. If she can see you, she will surely allow you to meet her directly."


    In the vige chief''s description, the power of the Goddess of Life was incredibly strong.


    However, Jeremy did not share this belief.


    In Jeremy''s view, if the Goddess of Life were truly that powerful, how could the vigers who worship her be continuously hunted by the hunting knights?


    Although Jeremy had his own thoughts, he felt it unnecessary to voice them right now.


    After all, he still needed the help of these vigers.


    Once the vigers had made all their preparations, they began the ceremony.


    Arge number of vigers surrounded Jeremy, singing the sacred hymn of the Goddess of Life.


    During the course of the hymn, Jeremy suddenly felt as if he was being watched by a powerful presence.


    In that moment, his consciousness was abruptly elevated to a space beyond reality.


    At that time, Jeremy could still see everything within the vige.


    However, his expression in the vige was extremely vacant.


    "My consciousness seems to have detached from my body. Where am I right now? Has the Goddess of Life taken my soul?"


    Jeremy muttered to himself.


    As soon as he finished speaking, a warm and gentle voice suddenly appeared behind him.


    "I haven''t taken your soul, I''ve merely elevated your consciousness to the realm of the deities."


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy quickly turned around.


    Then he saw the Goddess of Life, enveloped in green light and radiating a powerful life force.


    The face of the Goddess of Life waspletely obscured by the immense power of life, and Jeremy couldn''t make out her features at all.


    "You are the Goddess of Life, right? Thank you so much for your help. Without your assistance, I could never have defeated the Fool''s angel!"


    Jeremy did not fixate on the Goddess of Life.


    He was very aware that her power far surpassed his own. If the Goddess of Life truly intended to eliminate him, it would be a simple task.


    Moreover, the Goddess of Life had indeed provided him with significant help before.


    Without the help of the Goddess of Life, he would never have been able to sessfully defeat the Fool''s angel.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, the Goddess of Life smiled slightly.


    "Anyone who battles the Fool''s angel will receive my blessing of strength. Because the Fool''s angel is my greatest enemy. In fact, the Fool''s angel constantly makes enemies of other deities."


    "Besides you, there is no one else who can save me. In the true timeline, I have already been destroyed by the Fool and other evil gods."


    The Goddess of Life''s words left Jeremy in shock.


    Seeing Jeremy''s astonished expression, the Goddess of Life smiled and said,


    "Did you really think I was unaware that we are currently trapped in the mists of history? I am merely a projection right now. The real me was long ago killed by the Fool. My powers have beenpletely stripped away by him."


    "I know why you havee here, so I will definitely provide you with assistance. However, whether you seed in the endpletely depends on you."


    "I will grant you powerful abilities, which will help you swiftly escape this historical fog. But the next segment of the historical fog will be even more challenging. Therefore, you cannot rush forward until you are fully prepared."


    "In the next segment of the historical fog, you will directly face the White Tower. Although this evil god is still just a projection, the next segment of the historical fog is very close to the true location of the White Tower."


    This also means that the White Tower can mobilize very powerful forces. I believe you already understand enough about him, you should be well aware of how powerful High-Dimensional Data can be when it gathers together!"


    With the Goddess of Life''s reminder, Jeremy finally understood what he should do next.


    Jeremy nodded solemnly.


    "Thank you very much for your reminder. I will continue to rest in this historical fog for another day or two. After two days, I must move forward again. Only by passing through the historical fog can I enter the Tower of Exile."


    "If I let my fear of the White Tower in the historical fog hold me back, then I would have no way to enter the Tower of Exile, right? Wouldn''t that mean my mission wouldpletely fail?"


    In fact, Jeremy was subtly declining the Goddess of Life''s suggestion.


    Upon hearing this, the Goddess of Life chuckled softly.


    "Indeed, you are a very brave person. I will keep my promise, after you leave, you will possess powerful life force. However, this life force can only be used within this historical fog."

 Chapter 281 The Doomsday of the Hunting Knights

    While Jeremy and the Goddess of Life were conversing, the hunting knights returned to the Hunting Castle.


    The hunting knights actually knew very little about what had happened inside the Hunting Castle.


    They returned quickly simply because they sensed that the Fool''s angel had suffered a severe blow.


    "What on earth is going on? Why would the great Fool''s angel suffer such a heavy injury? Is there an even more powerful presence here?"


    One of the hunting knights captains couldn''t help but ask the others.


    In response to his question, none of the hunting knights gave a direct answer.


    Because all the hunting knights were unaware of the specific reasons.


    After a moment, one hunting knight finally spoke up.


    "I don''t think there is a more powerful presence here! Even the Goddess of Life that those damned bastards worship doesn''t possess such great power."


    "Moreover, the Goddess of Life has already suffered significant injuries. Even if she could bestow her powers upon her followers, they would still be unable to severely injure the Fool''s angel."


    All the hunting knights strongly agreed with the previous statement.


    The hunting knights fell silent once again.


    Although they were highly skilled inbat, they would be extremely flustered when victory was out of reach.


    At that moment, a hunting knight suddenly burst into the Hunting Castle.


    "I know what happened! The Fool''s angel was severely injured by two outsiders! These two outsiders are in that vige we haven''t cleared out."


    "We must avenge the Fool''s angel! We should strike quickly! If we join forces, we will definitely eliminate those two outsiders."


    When the hunting knights heard this information, their expressions became veryplex.


    On one hand, they were filled with anger and wanted to avenge the Fool''s angel.


    On the other hand, they felt some apprehension.


    After all, if the Fool''s angel couldn''t achieve victory, could they really win in battle?


    Everyone turned their gaze to the most seasoned hunting knight.


    The expression on the most seasoned hunting knight''s face was very serious.


    After a long pause, he slowly spoke, "We must go after those two outsiders. Because even if we don''t seek them out, they wille for us. After injuring the Fool''s angel, they will certainly target us next."


    The most seasoned hunting knight was indeed the wisest.


    His guess aligned perfectly with Jeremy''s n.


    At this moment, Jeremy had returned from his conversation with the Goddess of Life.


    Jeremy ryed his dialogue with the Goddess of Life to the vige chief and Ritchie.


    After listening to Jeremy, the vige chief fell silent for a long time.


    "I know you can see that I am hiding a very important secret. In fact, the information you just shared is the secret I have concealed. I and everyone in our vige have long since died.


    What exists here are just our projections. That''s why I was initially so unfriendly to you. I thought you must be hiding crucial intelligence.


    However, after I witnessed your willingness to fight against the hunting knights, my perception of you has significantly changed. You truly possess the capability to assist us in breaking free from this curse.


    In truth, whether it is the Goddess of Life, the vigers like us, or even the hunting knights associated with the Hunting Castle, we are all ensnared by this curse.


    We find ourselves eternally wandering within this fog of history, unable to truly dissipate, and powerless to escape the predicaments we face.


    The hunting knights have always believed they were achieving victory, but they do not realize they are being continuously consumed.


    Even the most seasoned hunting knight cannot survive for too long."


    Moreover, we vigers, in reality, possess no self-awareness whatsoever. We are merely projections of this fog of history. The only entity that may possess self-awareness is the angel of the Fool.


    However, the angel of the Fool has already been severely injured, and it is impossible for him to return in the near future.


    The vige chief''s words finally cleared up the misunderstandings between Jeremy and him.


    Jeremy smiled and said,


    "You really should have told us this information sooner. If we had known this earlier, I could have made a more urate judgment.


    But it''s not toote for you to share this information now. I will help you eliminate all the hunting knights.


    At least this will ensure that you and the vigers won''t be affected for a while.


    After we deal with the hunting knights, I will continue my journey. I cannot stay in this fog of history for too long."


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, the vige chief finally showed a hint of a smile.


    "Rest assured, I will do everything I can to assist you. I can guarantee that you won''t encounter any trouble in your uing actions.


    You won''t even need to go to Hunting Castle yourself.


    All the hunting knights are approaching here, you just need to eliminate them right here!"


    As soon as the vige chief finished speaking, Jeremy and Ritchie heard the sound of demonic steedsing from the surrounding jungle.


    Jeremy nodded with a smile.


    "Let us have our final battle in this fog of history! After we finish this fight, we will part ways.


    Make sure not to leave yourself with too many regrets."


    After saying this, Jeremy walked straight to the edge of the vige.


    He shouted loudly towards the jungle, "You hunting knights are all worthless. You im to fight for the Fool, yet you cannot even ensure the safety of the Fool''s angel.


    You are nothing but madness and brutality, utterly useless. The Fool must be blind to consider you his warriors."


    Jeremy''s words were highly provocative.


    The expressions on the vige chief and Ritchie''s faces changed dramatically upon hearing him.


    Ritchie, looking somewhat worried, whispered,


    "These words shouldpletely infuriate the hunting knights, right? Will the hunting knights rush at him out of anger?"


    The vige chief nodded slowly.


    "From what I know about the hunting knights, I believe they will indeed do that. They will never allow anyone to insult the deity they worship."


    As soon as the vige chief finished speaking, arge number of hunting knights charged out from the jungle.


    Their attack target was very clear: they aimed to eliminate Jeremy quickly.


    In the face of the hunting knights'' assault, Jeremy''s expression remained calm.


    He simply held the Longsword of the Undying, waiting for the hunting knights to arrive.


    When the hunting knights came near him, he swung the Longsword of the Undying, using the power bestowed by the Goddess of Life to swiftly transform them into one nt after another.


    The attacks of the hunting knights yielded no discernible effect whatsoever.


    Furthermore, in a state of lost rationality, the hunting knights will not cease their relentless assaults.


    In just a few minutes, the vast majority of the hunting knights were eliminated by Jeremy.


    "I know some of you are hiding in the back! Stop hiding, because you cannot escape my eyes!"


    After saying this, Jeremy charged into the jungle, wielding the Longsword of the Undying.


    A few minutester, the battle in the jungle also came to an end.


    Jeremy had sessfully eliminated all the hunting knights.


    Seeing this scene, the vige chief couldn''t help but exim.


    "Jeremy''s strength truly exceeds my imagination! He managed to wipe out all these hunting knights in such a manner! If I had known he possessed such powerful abilities, I should have sought his help sooner." Your next chapter is on m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    Ritchie smiled upon hearing this.


    "I believe that under normal circumstances, Jeremy wouldn''t have such immense power. He likely possesses this strength due to the gifts bestowed by the Goddess of Life.


    So, when you first encountered him, he couldn''t achieve this kind of result. At that time, the Goddess of Life had not fully acknowledged Jeremy."


    The vige chief strongly agreed with Ritchie''s words.


    When Jeremy returned once again, Ritchie and the vige chief were already prepared.


    "These items are gifts for you. Although I know you cannot take them away from this fog of history,


    they can still provide you with some assistance."


    The vige chief handed two packages to Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Jeremy and Ritchie did not inspect the contents of the packages, they simply smiled and thanked the vige chief.


    "We have gathered everything. Now that all threats from this fog of history have been eliminated,


    there''s no need for us to waste any more time."


    After saying this, Jeremy and Ritchie moved towards the end of the path.


    The vige chief watched Jeremy and Ritchie until their figurespletely vanished, then he sighed.


    When he turned back, the vigers in the vige reappeared. A new cycle had begun again. Until Jeremy and Ritchie cleared the Tower of Exile, they would not be able to escape the curse of being trapped in this fog of history forever.


    Jeremy and Ritchie were well aware of this, so they did not say goodbye to the other vigers.

 Chapter 282 The Moment the Tower is Completed

    Although Jeremy and Ritchie felt a tinge of reluctance, they unhesitatingly set forth on the path ahead.


    "If we wish to rescue these vigers, we must eliminate the architect of the apocalypse game within the Tower of Exile.


    I believe there is a high probability that there exists only one architect of the apocalypse game inside the Tower of Exile, and that is the White Tower.


    I do not think that the most formidable entity among the apocalypse game architects, known as the Fool, would remain in the Tower of Exile indefinitely. The Fool must be engaged in something of greater importance."


    As they moved forward, Jeremy continuously shared his conjectures with Ritchie.


    At times, Ritchie nodded in agreement.


    While at other moments, he furrowed his brow in deep contemtion.


    Although Ritchie had already acquired a significant amount of information, his ability to integrate that information was notably poor.


    He was unable to assess the overall situation through minute details as Jeremy did.


    After advancing for a while, the two found themselves once again enveloped in the fog.


    This signified that they hadpletely departed from the previous historical mist.


    "From now on, you must closely follow in my footsteps! I believe this stretch of historical mist will prove to be exceedingly long. If you are unable to keep up, I may very well be utterly lost in this ce."


    Jeremy instinctively issued a warning to Ritchie.


    The reason Jeremy expressed this concern was that he had sensed the vast expanse enveloped by this historical mist.


    Even with the gift of the King of Time and Space, Jeremy found himself unable to ascertain the endpoint of the historical mist.


    Ritchie quickly nodded in acknowledgment and then did his utmost to keep pace with Jeremy.


    The two of them advanced through the fog, though they had lost all sense of time.


    Both Ritchie and Jeremy felt as though their stamina was on the verge of depletion.


    At that moment, a glimmer of light suddenly pierced through not far from them.


    Upon seeing this light, Jeremy immediately eximed to Ritchie, "Hold on! We are about to emerge from the historical mist!"


    Jeremy sprinted towards the direction of the light, with Ritchie struggling to keep up behind him.


    After passing through the light, Jeremy and Ritchie found themselves in a somber space.


    Although the entire area was remarkably expansive, the sky above waspletely shrouded in ominous clouds. In the distance of their sight, both of them beheld a colossal tower.


    This tower was the very one Jeremy had glimpsed in the memories of the Cyclops.


    It was none other than the Tower of Exile!


    The moment Jeremyid eyes on the Tower of Exile, he finally allowed himself to smile.


    "It seems this is thest stretch of historical mist we must traverse! As long as we can emerge from this fog, we will reach the Tower of Exile."


    Jeremy''s words brought immense joy to Ritchie.


    "Then what are we waiting for? Let us hasten towards the tower!"


    After uttering this exmation, Ritchie began advancing in the direction of the tower.


    Though Jeremy felt that Ritchie''s approach was somewhat reckless, he refrained from stopping him.


    After they had progressed for a while, they abruptly realized that the distance between themselves and the tower remained unchanged. The tower perpetually lingered at the farthest point of their sight.


    "What on earth is happening? Why do I feel as though we have been moving for such a long time without closing the gap to the tower?"


    Ritchie inquired of Jeremy, his tone tinged with confusion.


    Jeremy''s expression reflected a slight gloom, and he merely shook his head, offering no response.


    "Should we continue moving forward? I can''t shake the feeling that no matter how much we press on, we won''t ever reach the tower." Find your next read on m_v l|e-NovelBin


    Ritchie continued to press for answers.


    Once again, Jeremy remained silent, and his reticence filled Ritchie with concern.


    Ritchie found Jeremy''s current demeanor to be exceedingly strange. He had already donned the Ravager''s Gloves he had brought with him.


    If Jeremy were to suddenly transform into a monster, Ritchie would immediatelyunch an attack.


    After a brief moment of silence, Jeremy turned to Ritchie and said,


    "We can no longer proceed, continuing forward is a trap. The tower we see at the very edge of our vision is not the Tower of Exile at all!"


    Jeremy''s revtion left Ritchie utterly astonished.


    "If that tower is not the Tower of Exile, then where on earth is the Tower of Exile? There are no other structures in this space!"


    Faced with Ritchie''s inquiry, Jeremy furrowed his brow, unsure of how to respond.


    Jeremy''s previous judgment stemmed entirely from theck of any perceived spatial changes.


    This indicated that, on a spatial level, they had not actually made any progress whatsoever.


    After pondering for a moment, Jeremy suddenly had an epiphany and eximed.


    "It is highly probable that we are already within the Tower of Exile. However, the Tower of Exile we currently inhabit is merely a newly constructed version."


    "No deities have yet been born within the Tower of Exile! The formidable powers of the White Tower cannot directly affect us. It can only entrap us using High-Dimensional Data."


    "The distant tower we perceive is likely an illusion created by the High-Dimensional Data. Our task now is to shatter this illusion and uncover the true scene surrounding us."


    Jeremy''s words deepened Ritchie''s confusion.


    Nevertheless, Ritchie grasped Jeremy''s line of reasoning and directly asked.


    "ording to your logic, how should we go about breaking the illusion around us? Should we use the data storage device to capture all the surrounding High-Dimensional Data?"


    Ritchie''s thoughts aligned with Jeremy''s.


    Jeremy nodded and promptly retrieved the data storage device.


    The moment the storage device was activated, all the surrounding High-Dimensional Data was drawn into it.


    As the High-Dimensional Data dissipated, Jeremy and Ritchie suddenly discovered that they were actually in a sealed room.


    This enclosed space was surrounded by colossal stones, the very same monoliths they had once encountered in the Cemetery of Giants.


    This confirmed that Jeremy''s hypothesis was indeed correct.


    "You are absolutely right, we are currently within the Tower of Exile! But how do we escape from here? This room ispletely sealed!"


    Ritchie assessed his surroundings.


    He attempted to manipte the shadows within the room, but after several tries, he realized that the shadows possessed very little power.


    Faced with this predicament, Jeremy remained entirely unperturbed.


    He merely tapped his hand against the walls of the room.


    After knocking for a short while, he suddenly identified a weak spot.


    "Step back, I will use the Longsword of the Undying to cleave this wall!"


    Under Jeremy''smand, Ritchie took a step back.


    Then, Jeremy swung the Longsword of the Undying forcefully at the vulnerable wall. At the moment the sword struck the feeble barrier, the wails of giants echoed through the air.


    At that moment, the wall suddenly copsed.


    Once the wall hadpletely crumbled, Jeremy and Ritchie finally caught sight of whaty on the other side.


    On the other side of the wall, several cyclopes were busily constructing a wall using enormous stones.


    Upon witnessing this, Jeremy immediately realized that although the Tower of Exile hadrgely beenpleted, the finishing touches were still not finished.


    The cyclopes in front of them were engaged in those final tasks.


    The wounded cyclops, who was howling in pain, red menacingly at Jeremy and Ritchie while clutching its bleeding arm.


    Meanwhile, the other cyclopes standing beside the injured one had already armed themselves and were preparing tounch an attack against Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Jeremy quickly addressed these cyclopes, saying,


    "I do not wish to be your enemy! In fact, I can even be considered your ally! We share amon foe! We are all trapped here by the enemy!"


    Jeremy''s words had a certain impact.


    The cyclopes did not immediately attack him, but they also did not lower their guard.


    A few cyclopes standing nearby cautiously surveyed their surroundings.


    Then, the injured cyclops slowly inquired of Jeremy,


    "Who exactly are you? How did you end up in this sealed room? If the intelligent machines discover us, we shall all pay a heavy price.


    Since you have managed to escape from the sealed room, you should leave at once. The intelligent machines should pose no threat to you."


    The injured cyclops spoke in a remarkably calm tone.


    From their exchange, Jeremy and Ritchie gleaned crucial information.


    The intelligent machines were likely the overseers monitoring the cyclopes, and their presence indicated that High-Dimensional Data had highly aggregated.


    Even if the White Tower had not yet been born, it was rmingly close toing into existence.


    "Our purpose ining here is to eliminate the malevolent deity that is in the process of being born!"


    Jeremy dered without hesitation.


    A look of panic crossed the faces of the cyclopes as they scrutinized Jeremy''s expression, seemingly trying to determine whether he was speaking the truth or boasting.


    "I hope you can believe what he is saying! His power is tremendous, and if you provide him with assistance, he can indeed eliminate the malevolent deity that is being born!"


    Ritchie quickly added, standing beside Jeremy. Ritchie also hoped that Jeremy''s approach would persuade the cyclopes to offer them sufficient help.


    After all, they would surely not be able to gather enough intelligence on their own.

 Chapter 283 The Threat of Intelligent Machines

    After Jeremy and Ritchie articted their purpose, they patiently awaited the cyclopes'' response.


    Although neither of them felt particrly confident, they were not overly rmed.


    Even if the cyclopes chose not to offer their assistance, it was highly unlikely that they would pose any trouble for them. After all, the cyclopes had just urged them to leave this perilous location.


    The cyclopes were unable to make an immediate decision.


    A few of them huddled together to deliberate for a moment, and ultimately, one cyclops stepped forward and addressed Jeremy.


    "We are willing to provide you with assistance and relevant information. However, we will not apany you in your endeavors, as the risks involved are simply too great.


    Our cyclopean race is numerous, and we cannot make decisions on behalf of the entire cyclops poption. Therefore, we cannot offer you any guarantees."


    Ritchie felt a twinge of disappointment upon hearing this statement.


    Nevertheless, Jeremy smiled and replied.


    "As long as you are willing to assist us, that is sufficient! I do not require you to bear excessive risks, for I am prepared to face the malevolent deity alone if necessary."


    After saying these words, Jeremy stepped directly out of the sealed room.


    Ritchie followed closely behind him, emerging as well.


    "Now, can you provide me with sufficient intelligence? I would like you to inform me about the surrounding situation, and I also hope you can share information regarding the Intelligent Machines."


    Upon hearing this, the cyclopes revealed the answers to Jeremy''s queries.


    "You are currently in the uppermost level of the Tower of Exile. The Tower of Exile was constructed from the bottom up, which means that the topmost level was thest to bepleted.


    Today marks the final day of construction for the Tower of Exile. After the Tower of Exile is fullypleted, it will be entirely sealed off.


    We will only be able to remain here for less than half a day. Therefore, after this half-day has passed, you will only be able to act alongside yourpanions, as we will be departing from the Tower of Exile."


    Upon listening to their exnation, Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment.


    "I understand. My subsequent actions will not trouble you. Therefore, please simply provide me with the relevant information about the Intelligent Machines."


    "The Intelligent Machines are entirely generated from High-Dimensional Data. Initially, these Intelligent Machines possessed no self-awareness, however, after acquiring High-Dimensional Data, they gained consciousness."


    "We do not know whom these Intelligent Machines ultimately serve. The elders within our tribe have previously stated that these Intelligent Machines are in the service of a more powerful deity.


    However, he is also unsure whether this more powerful deity refers to the one that is currently being born or to one that has already descended."


    In the cyclopes'' description, the deity that is in the process of being born is clearly the White Tower, while the deity that has already arrived is undoubtedly the Fool.


    Although the cyclopes cannot ascertain for whom the Intelligent Machines serve, Jeremy has his own suspicions.


    Jeremy believes that the Intelligent Machines are indeed in service to the White Tower.


    Even though the White Tower has not yet officiallye into existence, it is already capable of manipting sufficiently powerful High-Dimensional Data.


    In this context, the White Tower is certainly capable of controlling all the Intelligent Machines.


    "Some of these Intelligent Machines are exceptionally powerful, theirbat capabilities are exceedingly high, and you would be unable to confront them head-on. Therefore, I advise you to avoid those particrly strong Intelligent Machines.


    The vast majority of the Intelligent Machines, however, are not nearly as formidable, as most of them are employed to monitor us cyclopes. These Intelligent Machines serve merely a reconnaissance function."


    After providing the information regarding the Intelligent Machines, the cyclops who had previously been injured by Jeremy added one final note.


    "Your pace must be swift! If your goal is to eradicate the emerging malevolent deity, you must make your way to the first level of the Tower of Exile.


    The distance from the uppermost level of the Tower of Exile to the first level is considerable, and you will undoubtedly encounter a multitude of Intelligent Machines along the way. If you can circumvent certain Intelligent Machines, it would be wise to do so."


    Upon hearing the cyclopes'' description, Jeremy hase to a general understanding of the threat posed by the Intelligent Machines.


    With a smile on his face, Jeremy expressed his gratitude to the cyclopes.


    "Thank you very much for the assistance you have provided. If you wish to leave now, then do so quickly, mypanions and I will soonmence our actions!"


    Given Jeremy''s statement, the cyclopes naturally began to depart one after another.


    Once the cyclopes had vacated the area, Jeremy turned to Ritchie with a smile and said,


    "We must follow closely behind the cyclopes! The attention of the Intelligent Machines will undoubtedly be focused on them, and by following in their wake, we can evade the Intelligent Machines."


    Ritchie nodded in agreement, recognizing that Jeremy''s n was indeed sound.


    The two of them then proceeded to follow in the footsteps of the cyclopes, gradually making their way down toward the Tower of Exile.


    During this journey, Jeremy and Ritchie encountered a significant number of Intelligent Machines.


    However, the vast majority of these Intelligent Machines possessed very weakbat capabilities.


    As the cyclopes had mentioned, these Intelligent Machines were all employed solely for reconnaissance purposes.


    After descending several levels, the cyclopes all came to a halt. They had arrived at their dwelling, which was the former site of the Cemetery of Giants.


    Witnessing this scene, both Jeremy and Ritchie felt a profound sense of emotion.


    Ritchie lowered his voice and asked Jeremy,


    "Should we perhaps remind them? If our mission fails, there is a strong possibility that they will repeat the same mistakes. It''s possible that one of the Puppet giants we fought previously was among the cyclopes who once aided us."


    Ritchie spoke these words with a toneden with sorrow.


    Jeremy''s expression was likewise somber, however, he believed that taking such action would be futile.


    "Let us not forget that we are currently enveloped in the mists of history. This means that everything we are experiencing has already transpired.


    Even if we were to warn them, it would not alter what has already urred. Our priority must be to locate the White Tower, which has not yet fullye into existence.


    Only by doing so can we ensure our entry into the true Tower of Exile. At that point, we will have the opportunity to eliminate one of the masterminds behind the apocalypse game!"


    Jeremy''s words elicited a heavy sigh from Ritchie.


    "I suppose I have been somewhat na?ve. It appears I am not suited to be apletely heartless killer. I cannot seed on my own. Therefore, I will certainly heed yourmands from now on."


    While Ritchie had always believed that Jeremy was stronger than himself, deep down, he still felt capable of independent action.


    However, after this experience, Ritchie hadpletely relinquished any notions of going solo.


    He felt that he did not possess the requisite cold-hearted determination.


    Nor did he possess particrly keen judgment. Therefore, he certainly had no qualifications to act independently.


    Ritchie''s words evoked a sense of reflection in Jeremy as well.


    "You truly need not belittle yourself! Your strength is formidable, it is merely that the area we find ourselves in is exceedingly perilous. Thus, your thoughts are somewhat misguided."


    In response to Jeremy''s constion, Ritchie simply nodded faintly.


    After exchanging these sentiments, the two of them pressed forward with urgency.


    Upon traversing the Land of Giant Dreams, they arrived at a familiar gateway.


    This recognizable entrance was none other than the gate of the Cemetery of Giants.


    "Onest nce at these cyclopes."Jeremy suggested. "Once we pass through this gate, these cyclopes will forever slumber in the graveyard. After all, the concluding tasks rted to the Tower of Exile have already beenpleted."


    Jeremy''s words deepened Ritchie''s sorrow.


    However, Ritchie did not turn to look back.


    "I will not look back at these giants, for as you said, they are merely figures within the mists of history. What we must do is resolve to move forward!


    Only by vanquishing the White Tower do we stand a chance of truly saving these suffering giants!"


    Although Ritchie often gave the impression of being unreliable,


    he was capable of quickly adjusting himself in the face of significant crises.


    At heart, Ritchie was a very earnest individual.


    Though his previous endeavors had met with little sess, it was only because he had not taken them to heart.


    When Ritchie genuinely invests himself in a task, he would undoubtedly exert every effort to see it through.


    Jeremy nodded firmly.


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    "You are absolutely correct! Our next course of action is to swiftly locate the yet-to-be-born White Tower. While we can only eliminate its historical projection amid the mists of history,


    we are very close in time to the actual moment of the Tower of Exile. If we can eradicate the historical projection of the White Tower, its very essence will suffer significant weakening. Thus, our subsequent actions will be considerably easier."


    After articting this, Jeremy stepped through the gateway ahead.


    Ritchie followed closely in Jeremy''s footsteps, also passing through the gateway.


    Once they had crossed through the entrance, all the giants behind the gate closed their eyes.

 Chapter 284 The Deluge of Data

    The moment Jeremy departed from the Cemetery of Giants, he was suddenly enveloped by a vast torrent of data.


    Some of this data was ordinary, while other segments constituted High-Dimensional Data. Although the proportion of High-Dimensional Data was rtively small, the energy inherent in High-Dimensional Data was extraordinarily potent.


    Jeremy was able to perceive the existence of High-Dimensional Data because he had encountered a simr phenomenon in an instance within the realm of reality.


    Ritchie, who had never encountered a situation like this before, appeared quite perplexed.


    Although he sensed that something was amiss in their surroundings, he was unable to pinpoint the exact cause of this disquiet.


    Ritchie carefully scrutinized the environment and, in a hushed tone, posed a question to Jeremy.


    "Do you feel that there seems to be an elusive force surrounding us? Could it be that this force is somehow connected to the yet-to-be-born White Tower?"


    While Ritchie was not particrly attuned to High-Dimensional Data, his experiences from previous events led him to surmise that any unexpected urrences they faced were inextricably linked to the White Tower.


    Jeremy, maintaining a calm expression, nodded in affirmation.


    "The elusive force enveloping us is, in fact, High-Dimensional Data. However, it appears that this High-Dimensional Data has yet to be controlled by anyone.


    Let us not concern ourselves with the effects of this High-Dimensional Data, instead, we should proceed directly towards the depths of the Tower of Exile. We must reach the lowest level of the Tower of Exile with utmost urgency.


    If I am correct, the White Tower is on the verge ofing into existence. If we fail to arrive before its birth, we will lose our opportunity to defeat it."


    Jeremy had no intention of utilizing his data storage device to gather all the surrounding High-Dimensional Data.


    His reasoning for this was rooted in a desire not to alert any potential threats.


    Should he collect all of this High-Dimensional Data, the White Tower would instantly be able to detect the changes in the High-Dimensional Data.


    Although the White Tower had yet to officiallye into existence, it maintained a very close rtionship with High-Dimensional Data. Jeremy had to navigate his actions with caution to avoid any oue that could lead to detrimental consequences.


    Since Jeremy had made a decision, Ritchie naturally expressed no dissent.


    The two of them swiftly descended the staircase of the Tower of Exile, making rapid progress towards the lower levels.


    After advancing two floors, Jeremy suddenly came to a halt.


    "Wait! It seems there is a formidable presence ahead! We must immediately prepare ourselves for battle!"


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Ritchie promptly drew forth the Ravager''s Gloves.


    The moment he donned the Ravager''s Gloves, Ritchie was struck by the overwhelming sensation that there were numerous shadows around them, each possessing a distinct sense of consciousness.


    Under normal circumstances, shadows could not possibly exhibit independent awareness.


    Even the shadows of monsters wouldck independent consciousness before detaching from their physical forms.


    The emergence of shadows endowed with independent consciousness signified that these shadows were, quite evidently, manifestations of their original entities.


    Ritchie immediately conveyed his discovery to Jeremy.


    Jeremy, after surveying the surroundings, disyed little astonishment. In his view, the shadows surrounding them posed minimal threat.


    "There is no need to concern ourselves with these shadows, they likely harbor little hostility towards us. After all, they have not attacked us thus far. What we truly need to confront is that powerful entity not far in front of us."


    After articting this observation, Jeremy proceeded forward quietly and at a measured pace.


    Ritchie followed closely behind Jeremy, vigntly observing their surroundings.


    After proceeding for a while, Jeremy abruptly came to a stop.


    He signaled to Ritchie with his gaze that the formidable presence he had previously detectedy just around the corner.


    Jeremy unsheathed the Longsword of the Undying, and Ritchie was already prepared for battle.


    Having confirmed thatunching an immediate attack was the most prudent course of action, Jeremy boldly charged towards the direction of the powerful entity.


    As Jeremy rounded the corner, he was taken aback to discover that there was, in fact, no formidable presence at all.


    What he had sensed was actually the Deluge of Data.


    A vast umtion of data converged to form the immensely powerful Deluge of Data.


    Within this Deluge of Data, numerous High-Dimensional Data entities wereing into existence.


    Upon witnessing this scene, Jeremy immediately recognized that the High-Dimensional Data emerging from the Deluge was likely intended to augment the power of the White Tower.


    Consequently, without a moment of hesitation, Jeremy sprinted towards the Deluge of Data, wielding the Longsword of the Undying.


    Although the Longsword of the Undying could not directly annihte the Deluge of Data,


    Jeremy was resolute in his determination to confront this overwhelming force.


    However, Jeremy possessed the skill known as The Mechanical Puppet Technique.


    He could simultaneouslyunch an attack while employing The Mechanical Puppet Technique to disrupt the High-Dimensional Data within the Deluge of Data.


    As long as the High-Dimensional Data was torn apart, the Deluge of Data, which was centered around it, would subsequently be shattered as well.


    At that point, the Longsword of the Undying would be able to fulfill its intended purpose.


    Jeremy''s speed of attack was extraordinarily swift, before Ritchie even caught sight of the Deluge of Data.


    Jeremy had already swung the Longsword of the Undying towards the Deluge.


    There were no ws in Jeremy''s execution, and his n indeed seeded.


    The Deluge of Data was directly torn into four distinct fragments.


    However, what transpired next exceeded all of Jeremy''s expectations.


    Rather than rapidly dissipating after being torn apart, each fragment of the Deluge of Data began to absorb the surrounding data.


    The piece of Deluge of Data closest to Jeremy transformed into a colossal mechanical monster.


    Thanks to the insights provided by the Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy immediately discerned the characteristics of this enormous mechanical creature before him.


    [Name: Mechanical Rampage Beast ]


    [Category: Special Derivative Boss ]


    [Level: 54 ]


    [Skills: 1. Mechanical Assembly. 2. Total Bombardment. ]


    [Skill Description:


    Mechanical Assembly. The Mechanical Rampage Beast possesses the remarkable ability to continuouslybine any mechanicalponents it encounters during battle.


    Each time the Mechanical Rampage Beast integrates a part into its own form, it gains an additional unique ability.


    Once the Mechanical Rampage Beast has assembled a sufficient number of mechanical parts onto itself, its attributes will experience a significant enhancement. Furthermore, the level of the Mechanical Rampage Beast will correspondingly increase.


    Total Bombardment. The Mechanical Rampage Beast is armed with a vast array of weapons.


    Throughout the course ofbat, it employs various weapons tounch attacks against its foes.


    After each weapon has been utilized at least once, the Mechanical Rampage Beast will activate the Total Bombardment skill.


    When the Total Bombardment skill is triggered, every attack executed by the Mechanical Rampage Beast will unleash a simultaneous barrage of fire from all its weapons.


    Each weapon''s attack will grant an additional damage bonus to the attacks of other weapons.


    If the enemycks any special defensive skills, they will suffer severe injuries.]


    [Tip: Absolutely do not allow the Mechanical Rampage Beast to assemble too many mechanical parts! By defeating it before the Mechanical Rampage Beast can assemble fourponents, one can obtain additional intelligence.]


    Upon reviewing all the data concerning the Mechanical Rampage Beast, Jeremy immediately resolved to unleash his full power in order to initiate an assault.


    Under the guidance of The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy understood that he must not prolong the battle for too long.


    Moreover, to secure the extra rewards from The Eye of Omniscience, he needed to eliminate the Mechanical Rampage Beast before it could assemble four mechanical parts.


    Jeremy remained unaware of the speed at which the Mechanical Rampage Beast could assemble itsponents.


    If the Mechanical Rampage Beast were to assemble its parts at an extremely rapid pace, it was highly probable that Jeremy would be unable to prevent it from reaching four assembledponents.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy activated the talent of The King of Time and Space, using a Portal to teleport directly behind the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    The rear of the Mechanical Rampage Beast was not heavily armored, instead, numerous electronic conduits wereid bare across its back.


    Jeremy lifted the Longsword of the Undying and struck heavily toward the direction where the electronic conduits converged on the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s back.


    This attack proved effective.


    As the Mechanical Rampage Beast was severely injured by Jeremy''s strike, emitting a deafening roar of metal shing.


    Simultaneously, the red lights on the Mechanical Rampage Beast began to flicker ominously.


    Just as Jeremy intended to continue his assault, he suddenly sensed a tremendous threat.


    Though he could not discern the source of this threat, Jeremy ultimately decided to temporarily create some distance between himself and the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    Once more, Jeremy activated the talent of The King of Time and Space, and with the appearance of the Portal, he teleported back to his original location.


    At that moment, Ritchie had just witnessed the Mechanical Rampage Beast in its frenzied state.


    Upon seeing the Mechanical Rampage Beast, Ritchie''s expression turned profoundly grim.


    This was due to the fact that mechanical-type monsters are exceedingly difficult to control with shadow maniption skills.


    Mechanical creatures, in essence,ck souls, all mechanical monsters are driven by High-Dimensional Data.


    Ritchie felt that he would be unable to provide any assistance to Jeremy in the impending battle.


    However, just as Ritchie hesitated, Jeremy suddenly spoke up.


    "Focus your mind! The Mechanical Rampage Beast before us cannot be easily defeated!


    Moreover, we must not prolong the confrontation for too long! The Mechanical Rampage Beast will only be stronger as the duration of the battle increases.


    We must strive for a swift resolution, so there is no need for you to reserve your ultimate skill until the end!


    Go ahead and unleash your decisive ability right now!"

 Chapter 285 The Tenacious Mechanical Rampage Beast

    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Ritchie immediately sprang into action.


    He activated the active skill of the Ravager''s Gloves, and during this process, he also employed his shadow maniption abilities.


    Although the shadow of the Mechanical Rampage Beastcked a soul, as long as he could control its shadow, Ritchie was still able to impose certain restrictions on the actions of the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    While Ritchie was manipting the shadow of the Mechanical Rampage Beast, Jeremy had already made preparations for furtherbat.


    This time, Jeremy did not intend to utilize the Portal to teleport directly around the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    Instead, Jeremy opted to throw several powerful items from a distance.


    The first item Jeremy tossed was the Dark Core.


    Even though he had expended all his dark powers during his battle with the Fool angel, the Dark Core still possessed a measure of inherent strength.


    After the Dark Core was thrown, it passively absorbed a portion of the surrounding High-Dimensional Data.


    This resulted in the Mechanical Rampage Beast, as well as the three fragments of The Deluge of Data nearby, being unable to grow any stronger.


    As the Dark Core flew through the air, it captured the attention of the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    The Mechanical Rampage Beast had no intention ofunching an attack directly towards Jeremy.


    Instead, it charged straight towards the direction of the Dark Core.


    "It seems he intends to absorb all the High-Dimensional Data that the Dark Core has gathered for himself. I will absolutely not allow his n to seed!"


    Jeremy quickly discerned the objective of the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    Thus, Jeremy immediately dashed towards the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    With the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s focus diverted by the Dark Core, Jeremy''s attack once again proved to be sessful.


    This time, the Longsword of the Undying directly struck the left arm of the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    Although the left arm of the Mechanical Rampage Beast was protected by exceptionally thick defensive armor, the Longsword of the Undying possessed armor-piercing capabilities.


    Moreover, the Longsword of the Undying held the power to inflict divine damage.


    No matter how thick the defensive armor, it could never withstand the damage inflicted by a divine attack.


    The left arm of the Mechanical Rampage Beast was severed cleanly by Jeremy''s strike.


    In losing its left arm, the Mechanical Rampage Beast finally managed to swallow the Dark Core whole.


    As the Mechanical Rampage Beast and Jeremy brushed past each other, they exchanged positions in the midst of their high-speed movements.


    Jeremy suddenly found himself at the center of the three fragments of The Deluge of Data.


    Meanwhile, the Mechanical Rampage Beast came to a halt just a step away from Ritchie.


    Both Jeremy and Ritchie recognized the precariousness of their current situation.


    Jeremy swiftly utilized the talent of The King of Time and Space to teleport to another room.


    Ritchie, seizing the opportunity while the Mechanical Rampage Beast was still recovering from its actions, concealed himself within a shadow.


    Although Jeremy and Ritchie''s movements were impressively swift, their actions were merely reactive and improvised.


    It was impossible for them to evade the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s attacks for an extended period.


    After consuming the Dark Core, the Mechanical Rampage Beast radiated a dark, ominous glow.


    The three nearby fragments of The Deluge of Data also soared towards the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    Once a fragment of The Deluge of Data entered the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s body, its form suddenly surged to more than double its original size.


    However, the Mechanical Rampage Beast did not absorb the remaining two fragments of The Deluge of Data into its body.


    Afterpleting the absorption of one fragment, it charged directly towards the room where Jeremy was located.


    Although Jeremy realized that the Mechanical Rampage Beast wasunching an attack against him, he found himself unable to activate the talent of The King of Time and Space once more.


    High-Dimensional Data not only provided assistance to mechanical monsters, but it also suppressed the powers that Jeremy possessed.


    At this moment, Jeremy needed to wait approximately one hour to reactivate the talent of The King of Time and Space.


    During this hour, Jeremy could only rely on his skills and the weapons he held in his hands to engage inbat.


    Just as Jeremy prepared himself, a nearby wall was suddenly demolished with a tremendous force.


    The enhanced Mechanical Rampage Beast red with its crimson eyes as it raised its hands, and at that moment, its left arm had been entirely repaired by High-Dimensional Data.


    Its hands were equipped with ws constructed from intricate mechanical devices.


    These ws shimmered with a dark glow, a manifestation of the dark powers they wielded.


    With a powerful leap, the Mechanical Rampage Beast instantly appeared before Jeremy.


    The left w of the Mechanical Rampage Beast swung toward Jeremy with terrifying speed, in the blink of an eye, Jeremy could only manage to raise the Longsword of the Undying in defense.


    The Longsword of the Undying collided with the left w of the Mechanical Rampage Beast, producing a sharp and resounding crack.


    In this sh, neither Jeremy nor the Mechanical Rampage Beast gained a significant advantage.


    Jeremy was violently struck by the force of the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s attack.


    Crashing through the floor and tumbling down to the next level of the Tower of Exile.


    The Mechanical Rampage Beast''s body also exhibited signs of short-circuiting in its devices.


    Both Jeremy and the Mechanical Rampage Beast required a moment to recalibrate their conditions.


    Around the battlefield, Ritchie remained concealed in the shadows, observing the unfolding situation.


    He sensed that the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s power was far greater than he had initially anticipated.


    Despite both he and Jeremy exerting their utmost efforts, they still found themselves unable to swiftly eliminate the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    With such a formidable adversary as the Mechanical Rampage Beast, reaching the lowest level of the Tower of Exile seemed nearly impossible for both him and Jeremy.


    Just as Ritchie began to worry about their course of action, he suddenly noticed that the two fragments of The Deluge of Data nearby appeared to be undergoing some changes.


    Although Ritchie had never witnessed the intact form of The Deluge of Data before its fracturing, he vividly recalled the chaotic nature of the fragments when he first encountered them.


    However, the fragments he observed now disyed a remarkable orderliness, both ordinary data and High-Dimensional Data were orbiting around the center of The Deluge of Data.


    After observing for a moment, Ritchie was struck by the realization that these two fragments resembled eyes.


    This thought sparked a bold hypothesis within him. He conjectured that the fragments of The Deluge of Data might have transformed into the eyes of the White Tower.


    Although the White Tower had yet to be born, it seemed to have already begun monitoring every move made by Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Upon realizing this, Ritchie swiftly utilized shadow jumping to arrive beside Jeremy.


    At that moment, Jeremy had slightly regained hisposure.


    Although his strength was not as formidable as it had been previously, he felt confident that he could continue to battle the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    "Something seems awry! The Deluge of Data we just witnessed is likely the eyes of the White Tower. I believe it is currently observing our every move."


    "If we do not swiftly eliminate the Mechanical Rampage Beast, the White Tower may very well enhance it using its High-Dimensional Data."


    Ritchie''s words darkened Jeremy''s expression even further.


    Jeremy nodded gravely.


    "I understand, your conjecture may indeed hold merit! Regardless, we must end this battle as quickly as possible! Prepare yourself forbat, as the Mechanical Rampage Beast is about to charge at us!"


    No sooner had Jeremy spoken than another thunderous crash echoed from not far away.


    The thick wall was obliterated by the Mechanical Rampage Beast, which had now assembled two additional mechanicalponents onto its body, making it even more imposing than before.


    Suddenly, two missileunchers extended from the shoulders of the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    In an instant, a multitude of missiles hurtled toward Jeremy and Ritchie.


    With no means to utilize the talent of The King of Time and Space, Jeremy was left with no choice but to rely solely on his stamina to escape.


    However, this course of action proved to be exceedingly taxing on Jeremy''s endurance.


    Ritchie recognized Jeremy''s predicament and swiftly pulled him into the shadows.


    Just as Jeremy was yanked into the shadow, a barrage of missiles exploded around the very shadows in which he and Ritchie had taken refuge.


    Before Jeremy and Ritchie could assess their surroundings, the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s ws obliterated the shadows they had been hiding in.


    In the face of such a sudden turn of events, Ritchie''s expression was one of utter shock.


    He could hardly fathom that the Mechanical Rampage Beast was capable of destroying the very shadows that had concealed them.


    Did that not imply he could no longer evade the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s assaults by hiding in the shadows?


    It was perilous for Ritchie to be lost in thought amidst the chaos of battle.


    Fortunately, the Mechanical Rampage Beast did not seem to lock onto Ritchie as its primary target.


    After demolishing the shadows where Ritchie and Jeremy had sought refuge, the Mechanical Rampage Beast unhesitatinglyunched an attack against Jeremy.


    At that moment, Jeremy was tirelessly resisting the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s onught with the Longsword of the Undying.


    Unbeknownst to all, the two fragments of The Deluge of Data had arrived at the floor of the Tower of Exile where Jeremy and the others were located.


    Just as Jeremy and Ritchie had surmised, the two fragments of The Deluge of Data were indeed the eyes of the White Tower.


    The Mechanical Rampage Beast was a creation of the White Tower''s maniption of High-Dimensional Data.


    The White Tower''s objective was to obstruct Jeremy and Ritchie''s actions.


    It was imperative for the White Tower to ensure its sessful emergence from the mists of history.

 Chapter 286 The Courage to Burn Ones Boats

    Although Jeremy had not seen the two fragments of The Deluge of Data, he was acutely aware that the battle he was currently engaged in was a fight to the death.


    The Mechanical Rampage Beast had already assembled two mechanicalponents, and he could not afford to let the enemy prolong the conflict any further.


    If the Mechanical Rampage Beast were to assemble four mechanicalponents, Jeremy would stand no chance of defeating it.


    Upon realizing the gravity of the situation, Jeremy immediately unleashed all of his trump cards.


    First, he hurled the powerful scrolls he had prepared in advance.


    These scrolls had been provided by Liam from the Special Circumstances Handling Bureau.


    The two scrolls Jeremy cast could effectively disrupt the movements of monsters in the apocalypse game.


    Although Jeremy was currently situated within the historical mists of the Tower of Exile, the monsters here also possessed characteristics akin to those found in the apocalypse game.


    The moment the scrolls were deployed, the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s speed of movement noticeably decreased.


    Seizing this opportunity, Jeremy sessfully created distance between himself and the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    He swiftly dashed back to Ritchie''s side.


    "What are you still doing here, dawdling? Hurry up and fight alongside me! Do you intend to let me face such a formidable Mechanical Rampage Beast all by myself?!"


    At Jeremy''s urging, Ritchie finally snapped back to reality.


    With a hint of apology in his tone, Ritchie replied,


    "I sincerely apologize, I was taken aback by what just transpired. I will quickly regain myposure and join the battle."


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment but did not borate further.


    He was acutely aware that they were currently engulfed in the throes ofbat.


    Thus, they simply could not afford to waste precious time on excessive conversation.


    Just as Jeremy and Ritchie had finished readjusting theirbat readiness, the Mechanical Rampage Beast reappeared before them.


    At this moment, the Mechanical Rampage Beast had assembled its third mechanicalponent.


    Upon witnessing this, Jeremy''s expression darkened even further.


    "Regardless of how you may perceive the situation, I believe this battle is a fight to the death for us. We must summon the courage to burn our boats!"


    Stay connected through m-v l|e''-NovelBin


    When Jeremy uttered these words, his tone was resolutely firm. Although Ritchie had spent a considerable amount of time with Jeremy, this was the first asion he had ever heard such a statement from him.


    Ritchie nodded gravely in acknowledgment.


    "Rest assured, I am fully aware that this battle is crucial for us! I will undoubtedly exert all my power to assist you!"


    No sooner had he finished speaking than the Mechanical Rampage Beast charged toward Jeremy and Ritchie with astonishing speed.


    Jeremy had no intention of evading, instead, he gripped the Longsword of the Undying tightly in both hands and fixed his gaze on the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    It seemed that Jeremy was resolved to confront the Mechanical Rampage Beast head-on using his own strength.


    This course of action left Ritchie utterly astonished.


    He believed that engaging in directbat with the Mechanical Rampage Beast was a fool''s errand, one that could not possibly end in victory.


    However, Ritchie had no time to persuade Jeremy otherwise, he could only retreat into the nearby shadows.


    In that moment, he activated his shadow maniption skill to restrain the movements of the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    The Mechanical Rampage Beast''s movements were indeed affected to some extent.


    Its speed had diminishedpared to before.


    Yet, the Mechanical Rampage Beast still bore down with an overwhelming force, as Jeremy concentrated all his strength to collide the Longsword of the Undying against the beast''s formidable ws.


    This time, the Mechanical Rampage Beast did not sustain significant damage.


    It merely took a few hesitant steps backward.


    In stark contrast, Jeremy was sent flying by the impact with the Longsword of the Undying in hand.


    He careened through several walls before he finally managed toe to a halt.


    Following this direct confrontation, Jeremy hade to the realization that no matter how much strength he concentrated, he could not hope to defeat the Mechanical Rampage Beast in a head-on battle.


    Thus, he resolved to employ a more cunning strategy.


    The Mechanical Rampage Beast slowly advanced toward Jeremy''s position.


    Although it had emerged victorious in their recent sh, it too had experienced some degree of consequence.


    With the acquisition of a vast amount of High-Dimensional Data, the Mechanical Rampage Beast had developed a level of intelligence that was impressively formidable.


    He understood that Jeremy could not be so easily eliminated.


    Thus, the Mechanical Rampage Beast also intended to adopt a more cautious course of action.


    As the Mechanical Rampage Beast advanced, Jeremy suddenly spotted two fragments of The Deluge of Data not far away.


    Upon seeing the fragments, Jeremy was struck by a sudden and audacious idea, one that could lead him to the brink of death and then back to life.


    With great effort, Jeremy struggled to his feet and, amid the astonished gazes of the Mechanical Rampage Beast and Ritchie, charged toward the fragments of The Deluge of Data.


    "The Mechanical Rampage Beast possesses such immense power because it has acquired countless High-Dimensional Data. Therefore, if I can obtain High-Dimensional Data myself, I too can wield formidable strength!"


    Jeremy''s objective was refreshingly straightforward: he aimed to absorb the High-Dimensional Data within The Deluge of Data into his own body.


    Though this course of action would undoubtedly impose tremendous consequences on Jeremy himself, he could no longer afford to dwell on the risks.


    The Mechanical Rampage Beast was on the verge of assembling its fourth machine, and its current state had already reached a level that rendered Jeremy and Ritchie nearly incapable of oveing it.


    The Mechanical Rampage Beast quickly realized Jeremy''s intentions.


    In an instant, it entered a frenzied state, rapidly closing the distance to Jeremy while simultaneously unleashing its Total Bombardment skill.


    A multitude of missiles and shells wereunched into the air.


    The space surrounding Jeremy was subjected to an unimaginable onught.


    However, none of these attacks could deter Jeremy from his course of action.


    As the smoke from the missiles and shells began to dissipate, Jeremy found himself beside one of the fragments of The Deluge of Data.


    With determination, Jeremy grasped the Longsword of the Undying and swung it forcefully toward the fragment of The Deluge of Data.


    At that moment, Jeremy''s expression mirrored that of someone striking at the eye of the White Tower.


    Although the fragment of The Deluge of Data attempted to escape under the control of the White Tower,


    Jeremy utilized the Mechanical Puppet Technique at a crucial juncture. Even though the level of his Mechanical Puppet Technique was not particrly high, the objective was simply to create a sufficient distraction for the White Tower.


    At the instant the fragment of The Deluge of Data shattered, a vast amount of High-Dimensional Data surged forth, diffusing into the surrounding area.


    Jeremy withdrew a data storage device from his pocket.


    All of the High-Dimensional Data surged toward the data storage device in an instant.


    Simultaneously, Jeremy gathered the High-Dimensional Data from the storage device into his own body.


    As the High-Dimensional Data coalesced, a torrent of anomalous data flooded Jeremy''s mind.


    This influx of irregr data severely impacted Jeremy''s consciousness.


    Nevertheless, Jeremy managed to maintain control over his situation through sheer willpower.


    At that moment, the Mechanical Rampage Beast finally approached Jeremy.


    With its crimson eyes fixated on him, the Mechanical Rampage Beast extended its lethal appendage, intent on dispatching Jeremy with a single strike.


    Faced with the impending attack of the Mechanical Rampage Beast, Jeremy made no effort to defend himself.


    Instead, he smiled and opened his arms wide.


    "Since you are so eager to kill me, I shall grant you an opportunity!"


    Under Jeremy''s influence, the High-Dimensional Data he possessed collided directly with the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    A vast amount of High-Dimensional Data intertwined Jeremy''s consciousness with that of the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    In that moment, Jeremy gained insight into all of the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s thoughts, and the Mechanical Rampage Beast, in turn, perceived all of Jeremy''s intentions.


    Both Jeremy and the Mechanical Rampage Beast instantlyprehended each other''s strategies.


    Consequently, they both swiftly adopted countermeasures.


    The Mechanical Rampage Beast abruptly shattered its own ws, hoping to sever the connection to Jeremy''s High-Dimensional Data in this manner.


    In stark contrast, Jeremy took a different approach, violently swinging the Longsword of the Undying towards himself.


    Jeremy immediately felt a surge of excruciating pain, and the Mechanical Rampage Beast, linked to him, experienced that same intense agony.


    In that fleeting moment, Jeremy finally had the opportunity to eradicate the Mechanical Rampage Beast once and for all.


    He pressed the data storage device against the head of the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    Then, he raised the Longsword of the Undying and aimed it at the data storage device.


    As the Longsword of the Undying shattered the data storage device, Jeremy directed the remaining High-Dimensional Data within it to invade the Mechanical Rampage Beast''sputational core.


    Under the relentless assault of excruciating pain and a torrent of High-Dimensional Data, theputational core of the Mechanical Rampage Beast ultimately copsed.


    Seizing this opportunity, Jeremypletely obliterated the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    When Ritchie arrived at the battlefield, he could only see the remnants of the Mechanical Rampage Beast scattered across the ground in countless fragments.


    On the other side, Jeremyy pale and breathless, gasping for air.


    Ritchie hurried to Jeremy''s side, eximing, "Are you alright? I have some healing potions with me! You need to consume them immediately!"


    Ritchie could tell that Jeremy was extremely weak, but he was unaware of the severity of Jeremy''s injuries.


    Despite his ashenplexion, Jeremy responded in a firm tone,


    "I have already taken some healing potions, I will be fine! You need to quickly destroy the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s data corepletely! We cannot allow it to resurrect again! If it revives, I won''t be able to defeat it a second time!"

 Chapter 287 Secrets Within the High-Dimensional Data

    Ritchie, of course, waspletely obedient to Jeremy''smands.


    Since Jeremy had asserted the necessity of utterly destroying the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s data core, Ritchie showed no hesitation whatsoever.


    Ritchie effortlessly obliterated the data core of the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    As the data core was dismantled, High-Dimensional Data began to emanate from within it.


    Although Jeremy had yet to fully recover, he struggled to extract a data storage device from his pocket.


    Even though he had already destroyed one storage device, several others remained in his possession.


    Before entering the Tower of Exile, Jeremy had been aware that their current adversary was closely linked to the White Tower, which is why he had deliberately brought multiple data storage devices.


    Upon witnessing theplete destruction of the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s data core, Jeremy finally let out a sigh of relief. He managed to sit up with great effort and smiled at Ritchie, saying,


    "Not only have we sessfully triumphed over a formidable foe, but I have also gathered a wealth of intelligence from the High-Dimensional Data."


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Ritchie quickly approached him.


    "What kind of intelligence have you gathered? Do you know what our next course of action should be?"


    Jeremy nodded affirmatively.


    "During the process of absorbing High-Dimensional Data, I witnessed the emergence of the White Tower. I have finallye to understand why it harbors such profound fear of us."


    Jeremy''s statement sparked immense curiosity within Ritchie.


    He leaned in closer to Jeremy.


    "Make sure to keep your voice down, I worry that the White Tower might overhear any mention of its weaknesses. It could very well adapt immediately to mitigate those vulnerabilities."


    Ritchie remained as cautious as ever.


    After hearing Ritchie''s concern, Jeremy chuckled lightly.


    "No matter how it attempts to adjust, it cannot erase its weaknesses. Before its formation isplete, it is, in fact, quite susceptible to being destroyed by a substantial influx of High-Dimensional Data.


    We simply need to gather enough High-Dimensional Data, and once we encounter the embryo of the White Tower, we can proceed to obliterate it directly.


    Once this series of actions is executed, the true White Tower within the Tower of Exile will also suffer a significant blow. This will enable our efforts to achieve sess with rtive ease."


    After listening to Jeremy''s words, Ritchie finally let out a sigh of relief.


    "In that case, let''s take action swiftly! I have a nagging feeling that the longer we dy, the greater the dangers we will encounter."


    As Ritchie spoke, he scanned the surroundings intently.


    Although they had triumphed over the Mechanical Rampage Beast and Jeremy hadpletely obliterated the fragments of The Deluge of Data,


    Ritchie still sensed the presence of other enemies lurking nearby.


    Jeremy did not contest Ritchie''s concerns.


    He merely spoke weakly, "I certainly wish to act quickly, but my injuries have not yet fully healed. I hope to rest a while longer.


    You can keep an eye on our surroundings while I recuperate. If any enemies appear, use your strength to defeat them. I will not be able to assist you for a short while."


    What Jeremy had just stated was indeed the truth.


    Though he had sessfully destroyed the Mechanical Rampage Beast through his courage and cunning, he had sustained serious injuries in the process.


    The overwhelming influx of High-Dimensional Data had also caused some alterations in Jeremy''s consciousness.


    Ritchie nodded in response.


    "Rest assured. While I may not be able to defeat all foes, I can certainly buy us some time. I will wait until you are fully recovered."


    With that deration, Ritchie began to vigntly observe the surroundings.


    Jeremy closed his eyes, summoning the strength within his body to restore his condition.


    In truth, Jeremy had not disclosed all of the intelligence he possessed to Ritchie.


    The method Jeremy spoke of to defeat the White Tower was indeed valid, but it was a highly simplified version.


    The intelligence Jeremy had gleaned from the High-Dimensional Data was extensive.


    In addition to some mundane information, he had uncovered a crucial secret.


    That is to say, High-Dimensional Data was not actually created by the White Tower. All of the High-Dimensional Data had emerged from ordinary data, elevated by the powers held by the Fool.


    This revtion implied that the High-Dimensional Data manipted by the White Tower could not wield its full potential.


    The true entity capable of unleashing the full potential of High-Dimensional Data is the Fool.


    In addition to this secret, the hints provided by the Eye of Omniscience greatly troubled Jeremy.


    The Eye of Omniscience indicated that when High-Dimensional Data umtes to a certain extent, it can interfere with time and space.


    This implies that the White Tower could potentially utilize a vast amount of High-Dimensional Data to counteract Jeremy''s innate talent, the King of Time and Space.


    Such a scenario could ce Jeremy in a precarious situation during critical battles.


    Jeremy''s desire to rest was not only to recover his own condition but also to devise a strategy to confront the White Tower''s overwhelming High-Dimensional Data during this time.


    While Jeremy was deep in thought, Ritchie remained vignt, continuously observing the surroundings.


    Before long, he discovered that the previously encountered shadows with independent consciousness still lingered around them.


    These shadows, as Jeremy had mentioned, did not appear to have any intentions ofunching an attack.


    Ritchie felt a slight unease regarding the presence of these shadows.


    Seizing an opportunity, he directly addressed the shadows, "Why do you choose to remain near Jeremy and me? Do you intend tounch an attack on us, or are you looking to convey something?"


    In response to Ritchie''s inquiry, the multitude of shadows remained silent.


    Moreover, they seemed to take a step back.


    "What does this mean? Jeremy and I have never attacked you. Furthermore, it appears you do not wish to assail us, so why not engage in a dialogue?"


    Throughout this endeavor, Ritchie had learned a great deal from Jeremy.


    Had it been before, he would have undoubtedly attacked the shadows without hesitation.


    To Ritchie, these sentient shadows were clearly monsters.


    When confronting monsters, Ritchie felt it was imperative to show no mercy.


    However, during his coboration with Jeremy, Ritchie had suddenly realized that Jeremy was quite willing to cooperate with certain monsters.


    Indeed, Jeremy had derived considerable benefits from these coborations.


    Thus, Ritchie hoped to leverage a simr approach to glean additional information.


    After Ritchie had inquired twice, atst, one of the shadows drifted closer to him.


    "We indeed have much to share with you. However, you may not necessarily believe any of our words."


    Upon hearing this, a faint smile finally appeared on Ritchie''s face.


    "If you have something to say, then please speak it outright. We will evaluate the truthfulness of your ims. We will certainly not dismiss everything you say without consideration."


    Ritchie''s tone was exceedingly gentle when he expressed these words.


    He did not wish for the shadows to feel as though he was attempting to deceive them.


    The shadows gathered closely together, seemingly engaged in discussion.


    After deliberating for a while, one of the shadows drifted toward Ritchie.


    "You cannot proceed downward like you did beneath the Tower of Exile any longer. You are drawing ever closer to the embryo of the malevolent deity. Furthermore, you cannot reach the area where the embryo resides through such means."


    One shadow uttered a statement that left Ritchie utterly astonished.


    With a tone tinged with hesitation, Ritchie inquired,


    "This contradicts the information we received from the Cyclops. The Cyclops informed us that the White Tower is located at the very bottom of the Tower of Exile. If we wish to reach the lowest level of the Tower of Exile, we can only continue descending."


    "The Cyclops''s information is urate, the White Tower is indeed situated at the lowest level of the Tower of Exile. However, what I am saying is that you will not be able to reach the bottom of the Tower of Exile by simply descending further.


    The White Tower has established a series of spatial traps in the lowest fewyers of the Tower of Exile. The moment you enter areas with these spatial traps, you will be utterly lost.


    Even if you and yourpanions possess the ability to manipte space, you will find it impossible to sessfully navigate towards the area where the White Tower is located due to the overwhelming interference from the High-Dimensional Data."


    The shadow engaging with Ritchie provided a straightforward exnation.


    After absorbing this information, Ritchie found himself at a loss for how to respond decisively.


    He felt that the shadows'' assertions certainly held some merit.


    However, he believed it was imperative to share this intelligence with Jeremy.


    Ritchie was convinced that only Jeremy could urately discern the veracity of this information.


    "I am unable to determine the truthfulness of what you have said. Therefore, I will call mypanion over as quickly as possible, mypanion will discuss this matter with you in detail."


    After speaking these words, Ritchie swiftly returned to his original position.


    The shadows remained clustered in their previous spot, unwilling to disperse, for they genuinely wished to coborate with Ritchie and Jeremy.


    The White Tower was also an adversary to the shadows.

 Chapter 288 An Unexpected Ally

    Ritchie swiftly returned to Jeremy''s side.


    He recounted every detail of his conversation with the shadows to Jeremy without omitting anything.


    After hearing this, Jeremy''s expression disyed a hint of hesitation.


    "What do you think? Do you believe what the shadows are saying is true? They seem quite eager to coborate with us. Should we consider entering into an alliance with them?"


    While Ritchie had not reached a conclusive decision.


    Jeremy could discern that Ritchie was indeed very much inclined to work with the shadows.


    Ritchie''s inclination stemmed, in part, from the fact that he was the first to discover the shadows.


    If the shadows could provide assistance, it would signify that Ritchie had made a substantial contribution.


    Moreover, Ritchie possessed the innate ability to manipte shadows, which meant he had no reservations about coborating with them.


    Though Jeremy also recognized the valuable intelligence the shadows offered,


    he found himself unable to make a definitive judgment.


    "I currently cannot ascertain the truthfulness of the shadows'' ims. Therefore, I hope you can take me to speak with them in greater detail."


    Jeremy''s response fell well within Ritchie''s expectations.


    Ritchie nodded in agreement.


    "Then let us set off promptly! I believe the shadows will remain in their original location!"


    Ritchie and Jeremy quickly made their way to the area where the shadows were gathered.


    Upon their arrival, Jeremy smiled at the shadows and addressed them.


    "I am now aware of everything you mentioned earlier. In fact, I have two questions that I need you to rify for me.


    The first question is, what is your purpose in providing us with such an abundance of information? The second question is, who exactly are you, and why are you trapped here?"


    The two inquiries posed by Jeremy left Ritchie somewhat taken aback.


    Ritchie found Jeremy''s second question particrly peculiar, as the shadows had never indicated that they were indeed trapped here.


    How could Jeremy possibly deduce that the shadows were confined in this ce? Ritchie was utterly perplexed.


    Although Ritchie had numerous questions swirling in his mind, he refrained from speaking up in the current situation.


    Given that Jeremy was engaged in a discussion with the shadows, Ritchie thought it best to remain silent.


    The shadows quickly provided their answer.


    "The reason we are willing to assist you is simply because we also fervently wish to eliminate the emerging evil god.


    The White Tower has stripped us of our souls and memories, it was only after losing our souls and memories that we transformed into what we are now.


    When we still possessed our souls and memories, we looked much like you. In truth, we were also human beings, not mere shadows that have to hide away."


    The shadows'' revtion left Jeremy and Ritchie utterly astonished.


    "You were once human? Then why are you here? To my knowledge, only the cyclopes constructed the Tower of Exile!"


    Jeremy immediately expressed his skepticism.


    Based on all the information and memories he had encountered previously, he believed that only cyclopes had built the Tower of Exile. He had never seen any indication that humans were involved in its construction.


    Thus, it was only natural for Jeremy to conclude that these shadows were lying.


    In response to Jeremy''s skepticism, the shadows did not appear overly anxious.


    "Your doubts are indeed somewhat justified. All information rted to us has been taken away. Therefore, it is impossible for you to know that among those who constructed the Tower of Exile, there were also ordinary humans like us.


    Moreover, we cannot truly be considered ordinary humans. Each of us shadows possesses immense power. Our powers, along with our souls and memories, were taken from us.


    All the power we once held has been transformed into High-Dimensional Data, which is constantly being consumed by the White Tower. If we cannot stop the White Tower, we will lose all chances of reiming our rightful souls and memories."


    The shadows'' exnation failed to convince Ritchie.


    However, Ritchie did not voice his opinion, he was waiting for Jeremy''s response.


    Initially, Jeremy also found it difficult to ept the shadows'' exnation, but after hearing their final description, he began to suspect that it was not the White Tower that had stripped these shadows of their memories and souls, but rather the most powerful entity involved in the apocalypse game, known as Fool.


    Jeremy recalled that not long ago, the World had mentioned to him that Fool''s purpose was to continuously deprive humans of their souls in order to augment its own power.


    This implied that Fool possessed a formidable ability to strip souls away.


    During the construction of the Tower of Exile, it was indeed possible that Fool could have entirely taken the souls and memories of some of the humans involved in the building process.


    Considering this possibility, Jeremy posed a direct question to the shadows.


    "Are you absolutely certain that it was the emerging evil god who took your souls? Do you really believe that the power the White Tower possessed at the time could have entirely stripped you of your memories and souls?"


    Jeremy''s rhetorical question not only prompted the shadows to engage in deep contemtion.


    It also caused Ritchie to fall into a state of reflection.


    The shadows and Ritchie reacted almost simultaneously. They both came to understand why Jeremy had posed those two questions.


    "Are you implying that it was not the evil gods who stripped us of our memories and souls? Should we not seek revenge against the White Tower instead?"


    One of the shadows inquired of Jeremy.


    Jeremy shook his head. "I am certainly not attempting to dissuade you from seeking vengeance against the White Tower. In fact, I believe you should indeed take action against it. Even if it is not the White Tower that deprived you of your souls and memories, it has consumed them regardless.


    What I mean to convey is that your true enemy is far more formidable."


    After delivering this statement, Jeremy fell silent for a moment.


    He organized his thoughts and proceeded to articte his n.


    "I have actuallye to believe in your identity. Therefore, during the uing course of action, I am willing to coborate with you. I will first outline my n. Discover hidden stories at m,v l''e-NovelBin


    If you perceive any ws in my strategy, please feel free to point them out at any time. If you believe there are moments when you can provide assistance, do not hesitate to interrupt me."


    Jeremy then borated on his n in its entirety.


    His strategy was not significantly different from what it had been before.


    He simply hoped to utilize the power of High-Dimensional Data topletely annihte the White Tower.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s n, the shadows felt that it was nearly impossible to achieve.


    "Firstly, you cannot reach the area where the evil god resides merely by descending continuously. You must follow our guidance to ess a specific floor of the Tower of Exile.


    Secondly, the White Tower is not so easily destroyed by High-Dimensional Data. You must employ special High-Dimensional Data, and throughout this process, you will also require external assistance.


    This is because the White Tower will continuously summon various intelligent machines to thwart your actions. It is simply impossible for the two of you to eliminate all of these Intelligent Machines on your own."


    "Even if your strength is exceptionally formidable and you are capable of destroying all the Intelligent Machines, you would still waste a considerable amount of time."


    After outlining the shorings of Jeremy''s n, the shadows watched as Jeremy smiled and posed a question.


    "Given the circumstances, you must be able to offer us some advice. Are you in a position to help us address the ws in our n?"


    The question Jeremy put forth essentially served as an invitation to ally with the shadows.


    If the shadows were willing to assist Jeremy, it would signify their inclusion in his alliance. Although they were an unexpected ally, Jeremy believed the shadows could provide substantial support.


    Without hesitation, the shadows chose to join Jeremy''s n.


    "We will guide you and yourpanions to a special floor, where you can utilize your temporal and spatial talents to open a portal.


    We will use our own abilities to expand the portal, allowing us to enter the region where the White Tower resides. During this process, we will employ our powers to shield you from the White Tower''s perception.


    Once everything is in ce, we can gain ess to the area where the White Tower is located. At that point, we will take responsibility for intercepting the Intelligent Machines summoned by the White Tower, while your task will be to destroy the yet-to-be-born White Tower!"


    The shadows'' n was indeed highly organized.


    After hearing it, both Ritchie and Jeremy found the entire scheme to be remarkably feasible.


    "Let us proceed ording to this n, however, before we begin, I must take some time to rest. My condition has not yet fully recovered."


    Jeremy genuinely felt that he was not yet in optimal form.


    Nevertheless, the shadows believed that dying any further was not an option.


    "Your condition is indeed not ideal, but we can swiftly restore it. We can transfer our powers to you!"


    The shadows gathered together and bestowed their strength upon Jeremy.


    In an instant, Jeremy''s condition returned to its peak.


    "I am back to my best state! We can immediatelymence our operation as nned! Now, guide us to the special floor!"

 Chapter 289 Preparing to Confront the Unborn Deity

    Having made all necessary preparations, Jeremy, Ritchie, and the shadows promptly sprang into action.


    The shadows coalesced, forming a portal before them.


    Behind this portal appeared a myriad of distorted and peculiar realms.


    Possessing the talent of The King of Time and Space, Jeremy was acutely aware that the space beyond the portal was extraordinarily unusual.


    Jeremy hesitated slightly, although he trusted the shadows as his allies.


    He was reluctant to expose Ritchie to potential danger.


    With a warm smile, Jeremy addressed them directly.


    "Is it truly possible for us to all pass through this portal together?"


    "Of course not, this portal can only amodate one person at a time. Thus, we hope to allow yourpanion to go through first."the shadows replied in unison.


    Upon hearing this, Ritchie''s expression became somewhat peculiar.


    "Why do you want me to go through first? Is it because you believe my strength is the greatest? Or do you think my skills and talents are better suited for exploring the space on the other side of the portal?"


    "Neither! We believe your strength is the weakest, so we would like you to go first to scout ahead. If there are traps set by the White Tower in the space beyond, you can help us assess the situation."The shadows answered with remarkable candor.


    Upon hearing this, Ritchie could only manage an awkward smile.


    "You are not wrong, indeed, my strength is the weakest. Therefore, it is eptable for me to test the traps."


    Having said this, Ritchie prepared to step through the portal.


    However, Jeremy directly grabbed Ritchie by the arm.


    "I believe it is exceedingly dangerous to send Ritchie to explore the space on the other side. It would be far better for me to go first. You can follow after I have passed through the portal."


    Since Jeremy had expressed his thoughts, the shadows did not voice any objections.


    They understood that the sess of this mission hinged on Jeremy''s capabilities.


    Once they received the shadows'' consent, Jeremy stepped boldly into the portal.


    The moment he entered the portal, Jeremy felt as if he were suspended in a state of ovepping dimensions.


    It seemed that no matter which direction he moved in, he would enter a peculiar and bizarre space.


    After hesitating for a moment, Jeremy resolutely advanced toward the end of the portal.


    Before long, Jeremy found himself on a level within the Tower of Exile.


    In this unfamiliar floor, Jeremy discovered that it was filled with a multitude of mirrors.


    The instant he beheld the numerous mirrors, Jeremy recalled the Mirror Maze instance.


    "Could it be that the power of the Mirror Maze instance is somehow linked to the White Tower? Or is it possible that the creators of the apocalypse game can share the powers they possess?"


    Jeremy felt a twinge of confusion.


    Yet, there was no one present to provide answers to his questions.


    He proceeded to examine each mirror with utmost caution.


    After observing for a while, Jeremy heard Ritchie''s voice calling from behind.


    "How is it going? Have you discovered any traps in this space?"


    Turning around, Jeremy was indeed greeted by the sight of Ritchie apanied by arge number of shadows surrounding him.


    "I haven''t found any traps here. All I''ve noticed is the abundance of mirrors. Do you think these mirrors are traps?"


    Before Ritchie could respond, the shadows chimed in unison.


    "These mirrors are traps, yet they are not traps. If we wish to reach the area where the malevolent deity resides, we must pass through these mirrors. However, the sequence in which we traverse the mirrors must be exceedingly precise.


    If we make a mistake in the order, we will be transported to different regions. Therefore, we seek your assistance."


    The shadows immediately turned their attention to Jeremy.


    While they were unaware of Jeremy''s talent as The King of Time and Space, they sensed his remarkable sensitivity to spatial changes.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment.


    "I am more than willing to offer you my assistance. However, what exactly is your n? Are you suggesting that we pass through the mirrors one by one, allowing me to observe the spatial changes that ur as you do so?


    If that is the case, wouldn''t we be wasting an enormous amount of time? If we squander so much time, it will be impossible for us to destroy the White Tower before its emergence."


    Jeremy genuinely believed that such an approach was a considerable waste of time.


    However, the shadows had a different perspective.


    They considered that while this method might not be the fastest, it was certainly not an extravagant expenditure of time.


    "We are numerous. Therefore, we can have the shadows pass through each mirror simultaneously. As long as your perception of space is keen, we will be able to swiftly ascertain whether the space behind the mirrors is indeed the correct one.


    Moreover, you need not worry that our assistance in the final battle will diminish. Once a single shadow reaches the ultimate battlefield, all shadows can arrive simultaneously.


    In essence, we are all the same shadow. Our fates are intertwined, allowing us to disregard the barriers between spaces and rapidly converge."


    The shadows'' response astonished Jeremy.


    Yet after careful consideration, he acknowledged that their reasoning was indeed sound.


    With a smile, Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "Very well then, let us proceed ording to your n. However, I must caution you that my sensitivity to spatial perception is not particrly acute. Therefore, during our actions, there may be some potential for errors."


    "We must elerate our pace, so that we can swiftly locate the path leading to the area where the malevolent deity resides."


    With thebined efforts of Jeremy and the shadows.


    They soon discovered the correct route that led to the domain of the White Tower.


    "Gentlemen, I trust that you are all adequately prepared. If there is nothing you wish to express, I will proceed directly into the passage! Once I step into the passage, the final confrontation willmence immediately!


    Do you have anyst words or important points to raise? If so, speak now!"


    Before venturing toward the area of the White Tower, Jeremy took a moment to remind everyone once more.


    In Jeremy''s view, the impending battle left no room for extended discussions. Therefore, this was their final opportunity to converse.


    Ritchie shook his head.


    He had nothing to say, believing that his sole responsibility was to follow Jeremy''smands during the forting battle.


    The shadows, however, had a few words they wished to convey.


    Thus, they appointed a representative to articte their thoughtsprehensively.


    "During the course of the battle, it is highly likely that you two will encounter some illusions. I implore you to remain calm when faced with these apparitions. For these illusions pose no tangible threat to you.


    They merely serve to disrupt your mental state. As long as you can withstand the psychological interference, I believe you can secure victory in this confrontation.


    Lastly, we wish to emphasize that this battle pertains not only to the future of us all but also to the fate of those giants."


    "Although we are not overly familiar with the giants, we have received their assistance in the past. I believe you too wish to save the giants, do you not? So let us strive together!"


    After hearing the words of the shadows, both Jeremy and Ritchie nodded emphatically.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy stepped into the mirror.


    Ritchie and the shadows followed Jeremy into the mirror as well.


    Almost simultaneously, in the deepest recesses of the Tower of Exile,


    The White Tower, surrounded by a plethora of High-Dimensional Data, suddenly opened one of its eyes.


    Although the White Tower had not yet trulye into existence, and its current power was not exceedingly formidable, it could still perceive everything that transpired within the Tower of Exile.


    It had already realized that Jeremy and hispanions were swiftly approaching its domain.


    "It seems that Jeremy is indeed my greatest adversary! I must seize this opportunity to eliminate him once and for all!"


    Your next journey awaits at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    The White Tower muttered fiercely to itself.


    As it spoke, torrents of High-Dimensional Data coalesced around it, forming monstrous entities.


    All of these creatures were Intelligent Machines, each of which was at least level 50.


    The fact that the summoned monsters were only level 50 indicated that the White Tower''s current power was not particrly strong.


    In the true Tower of Exile, the White Tower would be capable of summoning monsters exceeding level 70¡ªthese creatures could be referred to as angels.


    However, within the mists of history, neither the angels of the Fool nor the monsters summoned by the yet-to-be-born White Tower could reach level 70.


    This was precisely why Jeremy had maintained a strong belief in the possibility of significant sess during their endeavors.


    Nevertheless, even so, Jeremy and hispanions would undoubtedly face immense dangers when confronting the White Tower directly.


    Even in its nascent state within the mists of history, the White Tower possessed formidable divine powers. In critical moments, it could even summon genuine support for itself.

 Chapter 290 The Endpoint of Historical Fog

    With a series of spatial fluctuations, Jeremy and Ritchie finally arrived at the most central area of the Tower of Exile, aided by the shadows.


    "No matter what you encounter, you must strike immediately! Everything we see here has been summoned by the White Tower tobat our enemies!"


    As soon as Jeremy reached the core of the Tower of Exile, he delivered this warning to Ritchie.


    Ritchie nodded heavily.


    In truth, he had already prepared himself for battle long before. Moreover, as they traversed the mirror space to enter the core area of the Tower of Exile, Ritchie had known that a fierce struggle awaited them.


    No sooner had Jeremy finished speaking than a colossal Intelligent Machine descended right before Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy charged forward with the Longsword of the Undying, aiming directly at the massive Intelligent Machine.


    At that moment, Jeremy, bolstered by the shadows, had fully regained his peak condition.


    He felt absolutely confident that he could utterly destroy the enormous Intelligent Machine before him.


    As the Intelligent Machine appeared, it instantly locked onto Jeremy as its target.


    However, before it could unleash its own attack skills, Jeremy swiftly severed the Intelligent Machine''s head with the Longsword of the Undying.


    The Intelligent Machine was annihted almost the instant it materialized.


    Ritchie stood there, dumbfounded, witnessing this incredible disy.


    He could hardly believe that Jeremy possessed such overwhelming power.


    "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and move forward with me! The shadows cannot reach this ce for the time being. We must eliminate as many of the enemies we encounter as possible before they arrive."


    Jeremy''s words jolted Ritchie into action.


    Ritchie quickly donned the Ravager''s Gloves and then followed closely behind Jeremy as they advanced deeper into the core area of the Tower of Exile.


    Along the way, the two encountered several more Intelligent Machines.


    However, these Intelligent Machines were unable to halt their progress.


    After approximately fifteen minutes of pushing forward, Ritchie and Jeremy finally arrived before a massive door.


    The door was engraved with a multitude of esoteric symbols, some of these symbols represented the Fool, while the vast majority signified the White Tower.


    Upon seeing the esoteric symbols on the great door, Jeremy immediately made a judgment.


    "Behind this door must lie the area where the yet-to-be-born White Tower resides! We must charge in quickly! We must eliminate it before ites into existence!"


    As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, he activated the talent of The King of Time and Space.


    With a swift use of the Portal ability, Jeremy teleported to the door before him, and without hesitation, he swung the Longsword of the Undying at the door.


    At the moment the Longsword of the Undying made contact with the door, it suddenly emitted a brilliant white sh.


    Meanwhile, a vast amount of High-Dimensional Data surged forth from within the door.


    This High-Dimensional Data rapidly coalesced into several manifestations of The Deluge of Data.


    Ritchie''s expression turned one of sheer panic as he confronted the sudden emergence of The Deluge of Data.


    He vividly recalled the grueling battle they had faced thest time they encountered The Deluge of Data.


    Although Jeremy also remembered the events of the past, he felt that since they had already arrived here, any hesitation was uneptable.


    "Do not concern yourselves with The Deluge of Data! We shall charge directly into the door! Our objective is to prevent the birth of the White Tower! We cannot afford to waste time on irrelevant distractions!"


    After delivering this statement, Jeremy stepped boldly into the interior of the door.


    Ritchie immediately reacted.


    He swiftly followed Jeremy''s lead by utilizing a shadow leap to keep pace.


    The two of them entered the door almost simultaneously.


    The instant they crossed the threshold, both Jeremy and Ritchie experienced a powerful psychic disturbance.


    In unison, they heard the voice of the White Tower.


    "I must admit, I have somewhat underestimated you, you have indeed managed to reach the endpoint of the historical fog! However, your adventure ends here! I will demonstrate to you the true power of a deity!


    Even within the historical fog, I am a genuine deity. I shall unveil extraordinary divine might! No matter how much preparation you have undertaken, you will be incapable of inflicting any harm upon me!"


    The voice of the White Tower quickly faded away.


    However, it was reced by a multitude of grotesque monsters formed from High-Dimensional Data.


    This time, the High-Dimensional Data did not manifest mechanical monsters but instead gave rise to one distorted creature after another.


    This signified that the White Tower had abandoned its preferred method of defeating Jeremy and Ritchie.


    He was determined to employ the method mostmonly utilized by the Fool to defeat Jeremy and Ritchie.


    In the face of these suddenly appearing distorted monsters, Jeremy and Ritchie were naturally not in the least bit panicked.


    Jeremy immediately gripped the Longsword of the Undying andunched an attack against the nearest distorted creature.


    Meanwhile, Ritchie slipped into the shadows, recalling the task Jeremy had assigned to him before their missionmenced.


    Ritchie understood that he did not need to provide Jeremy with excessive assistance in the midst of the battle.


    The most crucial task for Ritchie was to swiftly locate the precise position of the yet-to-be-born White Tower.


    Although they had now reached the endpoint of the historical fog and arrived at the core area of the Tower of Exile within it.


    The White Tower was still capable of concealing its location through its divine powers.


    While Jeremy fought the distorted monsters, Ritchie anxiously surveyed his surroundings.


    Despite Ritchie''s acute sensitivity to shadows, he still failed to detect the possible location of the White Tower.


    After a few minutes had passed, Jeremy''s voice rang out.


    "Have you not found it yet? The enemies around us are bing increasingly formidable! If we cannot locate it quickly, I may very well be killed by these foes!"


    As Jeremy spoke these words, his tone carried a hint of urgency.


    Jeremy did not wish to ce excessive pressure on Ritchie.


    However, Jeremy''s current situation was indeed exceedingly dire.


    Although Ritchie had not yet pinpointed the exact location of the White Tower, that did not imply the White Tower was incapable of using its own power to create difficulties for Jeremy.


    The White Tower continuously manipted the High-Dimensional Data to augment the strength of the monsters surrounding Jeremy.


    As time psed, the power of the distorted monsters encircling Jeremy grew increasingly formidable. Jeremy found himself unable to cope with the onught of so many powerful adversaries.


    "I have not yet discovered the location of the White Tower! Please wait a moment longer, I will do my utmost to locate it!"


    Although Ritchie spoke these words with confidence.


    In reality, he was feeling quite anxious himself.


    He sensed that he was utterly incapable of finding the whereabouts of the White Tower.


    Regardless of the immense pressure Ritchie faced, he ultimately withstood it and concentrated all of his mental faculties.


    In this situation, Ritchie quickly discerned that something was amiss in their surroundings.


    The shadows in the area they upied appeared to be affected by some external force, resulting in a certain degree of distortion.


    Taking advantage of the distorted angles of these shadows, Ritchie swiftly identified the source of the power behind the twisted shadows.


    When Ritchie focused all his attention on the source of the distorted shadows, he directly beheld a luminous sphere emanating High-Dimensional Data.


    "I''ve found it! It''s located approximately fifteen meters to your northeast!"


    Ritchie immediately confirmed that the glowing sphere radiating High-Dimensional Data was indeed the White Tower attempting to be born.


    Ritchie felt no doubt about the uracy of his assessment.


    Jeremy also had no reason to question Ritchie''s judgment.


    Upon hearing Ritchie''s promation, Jeremy promptly utilized the talents of The King of Time and Space to burst forth from the relentless assault of the distorted monsters.


    He directly grasped the Longsword of the Undying and struck fiercely at the location Ritchie had indicated.


    The Longsword of the Undying vibrated violently, and the luminous sphere emitting High-Dimensional Data suddenly released an unbearable wail.


    "How dare you attack a true deity! I will cast you into the depths of an unending abyss!"


    The yet-to-be-born White Tower let out a cry of anguish.


    It had been thoroughly enraged and was determined to wield all of its strength to eliminate Jeremy and Ritchie.


    As for the threat posed by the White Tower, Jeremy was utterly unconcerned.


    "I am already your enemy, if you truly possessed the power to annihte me, you would have acted long ago! There was no need to wait until now!


    What you are saying is merely bluster! You simplyck the formidable power required to vanquish me! So let me be the one to eradicate you!"


    Jeremy concentrated all of his strength.


    With the enhancement provided by The King of Time and Space, Jeremy charged toward the White Tower with overwhelming force.


    At that moment, Jeremy harnessed a vast reservoir of divine power.


    Even a deity could be harmed by such potent divine energy.


    The unborn White Tower could not possibly withstand the assault of such immense divine force.


    Jeremy and Ritchie both felt that their endeavor had already seeded. They believed they could easily destroy the White Tower within the historical fog.


    However, an unexpected turn of events suddenly unfolded before them!

 Chapter 291 The Results Achieved Through Collective Efforts

    Just as Jeremy was on the verge of obliterating the yet-to-be-born White Tower, a sudden and violent spatial fluctuation erupted in the area upied by Jeremy and Ritchie.


    The entire historical fog was shaken by such intense spatial disturbances.


    Everything within the historical fog became distorted.


    A tremendous force was demolishing the historical fog, permeating into the region where Jeremy and Ritchie were located.


    Upon noticing the anomalous changes in the surrounding area, Jeremy immediately retreated to a safer position.


    No sooner had Jeremy vacated the vicinity of the nascent White Tower than an overwhelming surge of High-Dimensional Data manifested within that very space.


    The High-Dimensional Data converged, forming an extraordinarily terrifying phenomenon known as The Deluge of Data.


    At the moment of The Deluge of Data''s emergence, a chilling eye materialized amidst the chaotic data.


    This icy eye fixed its unwavering gaze upon Jeremy''s direction.


    "You must pay the price for everything you have done! I will ensure your utter destruction!"


    Upon hearing these words, both Jeremy and Ritchie experienced an intense throbbing pain in their heads.


    Simultaneously, blood began to seep from their ears.


    The one who uttered these words was undoubtedly the true White Tower.


    The White Tower pierced through the historical fog with its formidable power, exerting its influence upon its past self.


    Faced with this sudden and unforeseen circumstance, Jeremy swiftly recalibrated his strategy.


    He resolved to lead Ritchie in a tactical retreat.


    "We can no longer hope to defeat him directly here! We must first withdraw to a safer location!"


    Jeremy''s deration left Ritchie profoundly astonished.


    "Why? We have only just managed to arrive here, how can we possibly retreat so easily? I believe we should continue to fight here! The shadows should be able to provide us with assistance very soon!"


    Ritchie''s argument held a certain degree of validity.


    However, Jeremy felt that their situation was exceedingly perilous, so he forcibly dragged Ritchie away.


    In the very instant that Jeremy yanked Ritchie out through the doorway, a colossal surge of High-Dimensional Data obliterated everything within.


    Even the twisted monstrosities summoned by the White Tower were annihted by the High-Dimensional Data.


    The true White Tower''s creation of The Deluge of Data melded with the nascent White Tower within the historical fog.


    In that fleeting moment, the White Tower within the historical fog was born in the truest sense.


    "I have finally seeded! All of you shall bepletely erased from this world!"


    The voice that resonated this time belonged to the White Tower within the historical fog.


    With the advent of the White Tower, the Tower of Exile within the historical fog experienced violent tremors.


    No matter which direction Jeremy and Ritchie attempted to escape towards, evading their pursuers had be impossible.


    The White Tower materialized directly before Jeremy and Ritchie.


    A massive influx of High-Dimensional Data ensnared both individuals directly.


    Jeremy was tormented by the High-Dimensional Data to the brink of losing his consciousness.


    At this critical moment, a multitude of shadows suddenly materialized around the White Tower.


    Although these shadows possessed rtively modest strength, their sheer numbers were overwhelming.


    Moreover, the High-Dimensional Data was incapable of directly exterminating these shadows.


    Under the relentless assault of the shadows, the High-Dimensional Data wielded by the White Tower began to dissipate rapidly.


    This resulted in the White Tower being unable to maintain its previously formidable power.


    Seizing this opportunity, Jeremy readied himself for battle.


    Armed with the Longsword of the Undying, heunched another attack against the White Tower.


    This time, he had chosen his moment of assault with remarkable precision, and he had identified a weakness in the White Tower hidden within the historical fog.


    Yet, despite his efforts, his attack ultimately proved unsessful.


    For even the White Tower within the historical fog possessed an unusually potent defensive capability.


    "It appears this is the extent of your grand scheme! I retract my previousmendations, it seems you have utterly failed to grasp the gravity of the situation."


    In the face of the onught from the shadows and Jeremy, the White Tower disyed no signs of panic whatsoever.


    In his perspective, all of this was entirely to be expected.


    Moreover, he believed that he could effortlessly resolve the situation.


    The White Tower concentrated all of the High-Dimensional Data upon itself, and then, one by one, bookshelves materialized out of thin air.


    These bookshelves stacked together to form a towering structure that reached toward the heavens.


    Among these shelves, countless indifferent eyes fixated intently on Jeremy and Ritchie.


    The White Tower finally revealed its true form.


    In that very moment, almost infinite High-Dimensional Data erupted in all directions, scattering outward.


    The shadows were nearly obliterated in an instant by the High-Dimensional Data.


    Although Jeremy had prepared himself to withstand the onught, he was still profoundly affected.


    He felt as though his consciousness was on the verge of being transformed into something mechanical.


    Ritchie''s situation, standing beside Jeremy, was even more dire, despite hiding among the shadows, he could not evade the assault of the High-Dimensional Data.


    The High-Dimensional Data transformed the shadows into projectors, and within these shadows, Ritchie naturally became a character within the projection.


    Suddenly, Ritchie realized that he was utterly incapable of taking any action.


    Under the overwhelming onught of the High-Dimensional Data, Jeremy and his allies found themselves virtually immobilized.


    "I previously warned you all never to oppose me! Even if you have once managed to defeat a nner of the apocalypse game by sheer luck, you cannot replicate your previous tactics against me."


    The voice of the White Tower resonated once more.


    This time, the tone wasced with nothing but sarcasm.


    He believed he had already secured victory, feeling no need to worry about any threat that Jeremy might pose.


    However, the White Tower was, in truth, a little too premature in its celebration.


    Though Jeremy was experiencing the intense effects of the High-Dimensional Data, he still had a trump card left unyed.


    He retrieved the anomalous map he had brought with him, and the moment it was unveiled, the High-Dimensional Data was absorbed by the anomalous map.


    The White Tower suddenly sensed a power that it recognized all too well.


    Before he had the chance to react, Jeremy approached him, wielding the Longsword of the Undying.


    "You have been rather careless! Do you genuinely believe that my n is riddled with such numerous ws? Your sessful emergence was, in fact, a crucial element of my strategy!


    If you cannot sessfully regenerate, I will be unable to weaken you to the fullest extent within the historical fog! Once I manage to weaken you there, I will find my opportunity to defeat you in the real Tower of Exile."


    Atst, Jeremy revealed the true nature of his n.


    His audacity in doing so stemmed from the conviction that his scheme had reached fruition.


    He hurled the anomalous map directly onto the White Tower.


    One by one, the bookshelves that constituted the White Tower''s true form swiftly vanished from sight.


    The power possessed by the White Tower began to visibly wane at an rming rate.


    Simultaneously, the shadowsunched their assault on the White Tower.


    Although the shadows'' attacks could not inflict significant damage, they sessfully stripped away a portion of the High-Dimensional Data held by the White Tower.


    Deprived of sufficient High-Dimensional Data, the White Tower found itself incapable of withstanding Jeremy''s onught.


    The tide of battle began to turn increasingly in Jeremy''s favor.


    The White Tower suddenly realized that it could no longer triumph over Jeremy.


    In that instant, it resolved to make a strategic retreat.


    "Your n indeed exceeded my expectations! However, that does not imply you will ultimately seed!"


    Upon uttering this statement, the White Tower transformed itself into a manifestation of High-Dimensional Data.


    Yet, during the process of this transformation, the White Tower encountered an unexpectedplication.


    It suddenly discovered that its High-Dimensional Data was being tugged by the shadows.


    The White Tower turned towards the corner, where it spotted Ritchie hiding within the shadows.


    "You didn''t see thising, did you? I can still pose a considerable threat to you! Who was it that underestimated me earlier? Let me demonstrate just how powerful I truly am!"


    Ritchie had previously held back his full strength.


    However, upon the sess of Jeremy''s n, he finally decided to unleash his entire might.


    For now was the decisive moment.


    Under the relentless assault from all sides, the power of the White Tower was plummeting rapidly.


    Ultimately, the High-Dimensional Data that constituted the White Towerpletely dissipated.


    Thus, the White Tower, ensnared within the historical fog, was sessfully vanquished by Jeremy and hispanions!


    At the very moment of the White Tower''s demise, the Tower of Exile within the historical fog experienced violent tremors.


    The shadows, in unison, urged Jeremy and Ritchie to take action.


    "Hurry and leave! Once the White Tower is destroyed, the historical fog willpletely copse!


    You have traversed all the historical fog, you can now proceed to the Tower of Exile to confront the true White Tower!


    We hope that you will ultimately seed, for only then can the curse that has been imposed upon us be utterly obliterated!"


    At the shadows'' insistence, Jeremy and Ritchie swiftly advanced towards the direction illuminated by the white light.


    Both of them understood that reaching the area bathed in white light signified their departure from the historical fog.


    As they hurried forward, the historical fog behind them continued to crumble relentlessly.

 Chapter 292 The Real Tower of Exile

    As Jeremy and Ritchie continued to advance, their field of vision gradually expanded.


    A dark area, sprinkled with glimmers of light, slowly came into view before them.


    Jeremy began to sense an unusually powerful force ahead, so he slowed his pace and ultimately stopped before stepping into the dark area.


    "What''s wrong? Shouldn''t we keep moving forward? If we do, we should be able to find the Tower of Exile soon."


    Ritchie said with a slightly puzzled tone, looking at Jeremy from behind.


    Jeremy did not respond to Ritchie''s inquiry, instead, he turned his head to gaze at the direction behind the two of them.


    The historical mist that had enveloped their past hadpletely disintegrated.


    All the scenes had transformed into a series of shattered images, which rapidly vanished alongside the erosion of High-Dimensional Data.


    Before long, the area behind the two was entirely cloaked in darkness.


    "We have arrived at the Tower of Exile! The area we are in right now is the real location of the Tower of Exile!"


    Jeremy took a deep breath and spoke these words with a slightly worried tone.


    Ritchie looked around in surprise.


    "What did you say? This area is the real location of the Tower of Exile? Why haven''t I seen any tower-like structures? Shouldn''t the Tower of Exile be, well, a tower?"


    Ritchie''s conjecture, undoubtedly, held a measure of validity.


    Jeremy was at a loss for how to articte his thoughts, after a moment of hesitation, he began to speak slowly.


    "Based on the name ''Tower of Exile,'' it seems like it should be a tall tower. However, we have encounteredpletely different situations before.


    Perhaps the Tower of Exile is simply the name given to the dark area we are in now. Even if our assumption is wrong, we cannot move forward recklessly.


    Don''t forget that in the final stages of the historical mist, we entered the interior of the Tower of Exile within the mist. Even in the historical mist, the space inside the Tower of Exile was still very chaotic.


    If we proceed without proper preparation, we will quickly get lost. Getting lost in the real Tower of Exile is extremely dangerous."


    Jeremy''s words ultimately convinced Ritchie.


    Ritchie also agreed that they should proceed with caution.


    "What should we do now? Should we just stay here and observe our surroundings? Or should we move towards the direction of those lights in the darkness?"


    Although Ritchie agreed with Jeremy''s judgment, he felt that they couldn''t just stand still and do nothing.


    Jeremy nodded.


    "Let us proceed towards the direction where those beams of light are present. In any case, those illuminations should be able to provide us with some clues."


    Ultimately, Jeremy concurred with Ritchie''s perspective.


    The two of them headed towards the nearest source of light.


    After advancing for a short while, they came upon a wall, and the light they had seen earlier turned out to be a wall-mounted sconce.


    They circled the sconce and observed it for a moment.


    They could sense that the me burning within the sconce had seemingly existed for a long time. Furthermore, there appeared to be some strange powers inside the sconce that they had never encountered before.


    "Should we destroy the sconce? Through itsmpshade, we can''t really assess the condition of the burning me. What if the power sustaining the mees from the White Tower or the Fool?


    We could use that power to infer the current situation of the White Tower or the Fool. We might even be able to sessfully pinpoint the exact location of the White Tower."


    Ritchie shared his thoughts.


    While observing the sconce, Ritchie attempted to manipte shadows to enter the sconce and influence the me inside.


    However, his efforts ultimately failed.


    The shadows he controlled were blocked by the sconce''smpshade.


    Jeremy nodded gravely.


    Earlier, Jeremy had also tried to use his talent as the King of Time and Space to directly extract the me from the sconce.


    But to his shock, his ability as the King of Time and Space couldn''t even create a small portal inside the sconce.


    This indicated that thempshade was extremely solid and might even possess a special sealing array.


    "Step back a few paces! I''m going to smash thempshade!"


    After preparing himself, Jeremy instructed Ritchie to move to a safe position.


    Once Ritchie had retreated, Jeremy gripped the Longsword of the Undying and struck fiercely at the sconce.


    The moment the Longsword of the Undying made contact with the sconce, it vibrated violently and broke in half.


    Jeremy stared in shock at the two pieces of the Longsword of the Undying.


    "How is this possible? Is the defense of the sconce stronger than the defenses of the White Tower in the Historical Mist? I concentrated all my power, so why couldn''t I shatter thempshade?"


    Jeremy was indeed very shocked.


    In his expectations, he thought that even if he couldn''t use the Longsword of the Undying to directly break thempshade, it shouldn''t have any issues.


    He never imagined that not only could the Longsword of the Undying not shatter thempshade, but it would also break into two pieces.


    "What''s going on?" Ritchie quickly came to Jeremy''s side and asked with a slightly anxious tone. Explore more stories with m,v l''e-NovelBin


    Jeremy didn''t answer Ritchie''s question, he just kept his eyes fixed on thempshade.


    There wasn''t a single crack on thempshade, not even a scratch was visible.


    Moreover, the me inside the sconce remainedpletely unaffected, although it was not burning very vigorously, its shape was still quite stable.


    "It seems we need to think of another way! Relying on brute force to break thempshade is impossible."


    As Ritchie stared at the broken Longsword of the Undying, Jeremy spoke slowly.


    "We can''t waste any more time here! Let''s check out other sources of light! If all these lights are mes from the sconces, we may need to look for different clues."


    Jeremy quickly stowed away the two pieces of the Longsword of the Undying, then led Ritchie to where the other lights were located.


    The two of them swiftly examined all the nearby sources of light.


    The final result matched Jeremy''s expectations: all the surrounding lights were indeed mes from the sconces.


    No matter what methods they tried, they couldn''t directly shatter thempshades.


    "This situation feels off! If we keep wasting time, the White Tower will definitely be able to pinpoint our location. If it finds us, survival will be nearly impossible. Our current strength is just too weak."


    The expression on Jeremy''s face showed great urgency.


    Although they hadn''t encountered any danger yet, Jeremy knew that failing to find any clues meant they were already in significant danger.


    At that moment, a heavy thudding sound suddenly reached Jeremy and Ritchie''s ears.


    The two instinctively hid in the shadows.


    Not long after, a cyclops, shackled in chains, slowly walked past them not far away.


    This cyclops was also holding a sconces that emitted a faint glow.


    "We need to follow him closely! Maybe we can gather some clues from him!"


    Jeremy lowered his voice and said to Ritchie.


    Ritchie nodded, and then he began to leap through the shadows with Jeremy.


    Although Jeremy had the talent of The King of Time and Space and could traverse between different areas, using that ability would cause temporal fluctuations.


    If the cyclops detected those fluctuations, there was a strong possibility that Jeremy and Ritchie would be discovered.


    However, leaping through the shadows posed no such risk.


    The area they were in was very dark, even though there were some sources of light, the vast majority of the space remainedpletely unlit.


    After a while of following the cyclops, Ritchie and Jeremy noticed that the cyclops had reached a wall.


    The cyclops mmed the sconces against the wall, and then the sconces merged with the wall.


    "So all the sconces we''ve seen came about this way! The cyclops must be a minion of the White Tower, right? Should we continue to follow him?"


    Ritchie discerned some intriguing clues, and he promptly articted his thoughts to Jeremy, seeking his perspective.


    Jeremy remained silent, merely offering a nod in response.


    Thus, the two continued to observe the cyclops''s actions in hushed anticipation.


    After forcefully embedding the sconces into the wall, the cyclops dragged his shackles as he slowly advanced into the depths of darkness.


    Naturally, Jeremy and Ritchie hurried to keep pace with him.


    After trailing the cyclops for approximately fifteen minutes, they suddenly noticed a tranquil river flowing directly ahead of them.


    The cyclops showed no signs of slowing down despite the presence of the river. He gradually stepped into the water, ultimately beingpletely enveloped by it.


    Witnessing this spectacle, Jeremy and Ritchie paused at the riverbank.


    Both were engaged in contemtion, pondering whether to plunge into the river just as the cyclops had done.


    Jeremy and Ritchie stared at the quietly flowing river for several minutes, deep in thought.


    Jeremy was the first to break the silence.

 Chapter 293 An Unexpected Ally

    Jeremy and Ritchie stared at the quietly flowing river for several minutes, deep in thought.


    Jeremy was the first to break the silence.


    "I believe that entering this river directly poses a significant risk. However, aside from that course of action, we find ourselves with no other viable options. Here, we have been unable to uncover any clues."


    Ritchie silently nodded in agreement.


    Of course, Ritchie was well aware that stepping into this river would entail considerable danger.


    Just as Jeremy had articted, they were unable to find any leads in this ce. The only thing they had discovered was that the cyclops had smashed wall sconces into one wall after another.


    As for why the cyclops had chosen to do this? What meaning did the mes burning within those sconces hold? They had no idea whatsoever!


    "Then let us move forward without dy! Just as you stated, the longer we hesitate, the greater the dangers we will face!" Ritchie sighed and said to Jeremy.


    With that, Jeremy stepped towards the river. Just then, a voice suddenly emerged from behind Jeremy and Ritchie.


    "If you wish to avoid death, you would be wise not to step directly into the dark river."


    Upon hearing this voice, Jeremy and Ritchie disyed entirely different reactions.


    Jeremy was initially taken aback, but a smile quickly spread across his face. He recognized that the voice belonged to the entity known as the "World."


    The appearance of the "World" here indicated that he should not encounter any significant danger.


    In contrast, Ritchie''s expression was marked by surprise, tinged with a hint of fear.


    He sensed that the voice resonating in this ce was likely detrimental to both himself and Jeremy.


    Consequently, Ritchie immediately prepared himself for a confrontation.


    Before Ritchie even had a chance to turn and look in the direction from which the voice emanated, he heard Jeremy speaking.


    "So it''s you! What brings you here?"


    Jeremy directly inquired of the "World."


    After the initial thrill of recognition, Jeremy swiftly realized that something seemed amiss.


    Prior to executing this n, Jeremy had specifically consulted with the ss change goddess Janna and the "World."


    He had sought their opinions regarding the overall strategy he intended to pursue.


    At that time, the "World" had not uttered anything particrly significant.


    At the very least, it implied that the "World" had not yet formted any ns involving the Tower of Exile.


    Realizing this, Jeremy immediately assumed a defensive stance.


    The "World" gradually materialized within Jeremy and Ritchie''s line of sight.


    He nced at Jeremy, who was wearing a smile, and remarked, "Maintaining vignce is indeed crucial for you. Therefore, I will not hold it against you."


    The "World" had discerned Jeremy''s thoughts.


    "I was previously unaware that I would manifest here. While you were executing your mission, I was still preupied with trouble concerning the Fool. During the course of my endeavors, I was once again defeated by the Fool.


    After being bested, I found myself transported to the Tower of Exile. In fact, any deity defeated by the ''Fool'' is destined to be cast into the Tower of Exile.


    This is not my first visit here, however, each time I return, the environment undergoes certain changes. Hence, before your actionsmenced, I refrained from sharing too much intelligence regarding the Tower of Exile.


    Now, I can disclose this information to you.


    The area in which you find yourselves is indeed the Tower of Exile, but it constitutes merely the periphery of it. The flickering lights you observed within the sconces are, in fact, the residual powers of deities who have been utterly vanquished.


    Even if the ''Fool'' is able to siphon away the powers of the deities he defeats, their divine essence cannot be entirely extinguished. The ''Fool'' can only seal this divine essence within the sconces.


    Some of the mes within the sconces have gradually extinguished, which signifies that those deities can no longer be resurrected.


    If we wish to rescue the deities defeated by the Fool.


    We must shatter the ss covers of the sconces and release the mes contained within. However, this is an almost impossible task, as the ss covers are entirely interconnected with the main structure of the Tower of Exile.


    "In order to destroy the sconces, one must first obliterate the main structure of the Tower of Exile."


    The "World" spoke rapidly, delivering a wealth of information all at once.


    The insights he provided were indeed immensely helpful to both Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Jeremy nodded, affirming that the entity before him was indeed the true "World."


    "What should we do next? Did you not just say that if we step into the dark river, we will meet a grave fate?"


    "That is correct! Any creature that enters the dark river will be a Puppet of the White Tower. In truth, the dark river isposed of the soul-depriving powers possessed by the ''Fool'' and the High-Dimensional Data belonging to the White Tower.


    Once you step into the dark river, you will be detected by both the White Tower and the ''Fool'' simultaneously. If you were to do such a thing, I would be utterly unable to rescue you. I would choose to flee without hesitation."


    The words spoken by the "World" left both Jeremy and Ritchie feeling profoundly disheartened.


    Although Ritchie was not particrly familiar with the being before him, he chose to trust this individual, given Jeremy''s confidence in him.


    Ritchie directly addressed the "World" with a question.


    "So what should we do next? After all the effort we put into reaching the Tower of Exile, are we really going to abandon this mission? Moreover, Jeremy is carrying that special map with him.


    If we cannot resolve the issues arising from the special map, we cannot afford to abandon this operation lightly."


    The "World" nodded in acknowledgment.


    He was indeed well aware of Jeremy''s ns.


    His appearance before the two was intended to offer them aid.


    "I understand the objective of your mission. I also believe that your endeavor has a significant chance of sess. Thus, I have decided to assist you."


    As soon as he finished speaking, arge door radiating a blue glow materialized before Jeremy and Ritchie.


    "Once you pass through this door, you will enter the true lower levels of the Tower of Exile. There, you will encounter some deities whose self-awareness has not been entirely extinguished.


    These deities may be able to provide you with some assistance. However, do not ce yourplete trust in them, for some deities defeated by the ''Fool'' are actually evil gods.


    Certain deities will undoubtedly attempt to deceive you. You must discern the truth in their words. During your mission, you will also have the opportunity to seize their powers.


    Once you have acquired sufficient strength, you can then proceed to the upper levels of the Tower of Exile. Only then will you be qualified to truly challenge the White Tower."


    After delivering this message, the "World" turned to leave.


    Jeremy quickly called out to him.


    "Where are you going now? We encountered you here unexpectedly, don''t you want to join us in this endeavor?"


    The "World" replied calmly,


    "I certainly have my own matters to attend to. Although our paths crossed here, your mission is not rted to me. I merely offered you a bit of assistance.


    Even without my help, you should be able to find a way to reach the lower levels of the Tower of Exile. After all, Jeremy can utilize the King of Time and Space''s talents to escape the moment he steps into the dark river."


    "Even if you are briefly observed by the White Tower upon entering the dark river, you can still escape its control through constant teleportation.


    Although the overall difficulty of your mission may increase due to mistakes, I have great confidence in you. After I have provided you with assistance, your mission will certainly not fail."


    After saying this, the "World" quickly vanished from sight.


    Jeremy felt quite helpless.


    "It seems he really does not want to provide us with any more help! Let''s not waste any more time, we should hurry and step into the portal!"


    As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, he moved toward the door radiating blue light, with Ritchie following closely behind, his expression slightly hesitant.


    Just as Jeremy was about to enter the portal, Ritchie asked him,


    "Do you really believe what he said? Why do I feel like there are both truths and lies in his words? If he is deceiving us, then following his advice might lead us right into a trap!"


    Ritchie''s words made Jeremy pause for a moment.


    However, Jeremy quickly adjusted his mood.


    "Your caution is indeedmendable! But I have spent a long time with the ''World.'' Although hees off as very cold, he would never abandon someone in need.


    His immediate departure indicates that he believes we have the ability toplete the entire task on our own. You don''t need to overthink things, just move forward with me."


    After saying this, Jeremy pulled Ritchie into the portal as well.


    The two of them then passed through the portal that radiated blue light.


    After a burst of intense shing, they suddenly found themselves in a dpidated small town. Just a short distance away, they saw a warrior lying on the ground, his body covered in wounds.

 Chapter 294 The Wounded God of War

    Jeremy, Ritchie, and the injured warrior discovered each other''s presence almost simultaneously. Both sides quickly readied themselves for battle.


    After a brief standoff, they realized that neither side intended to make the first move. Consequently, they agreed to engage in a limited form of interaction.


    Jeremy took a closer look at the injured warrior. The warrior was leaning against a partially copsed wall. Although his armor appeared rtively intact, deep wounds were visible on his face.


    As Jeremy assessed the warrior, the injured man was also trying to gather information about Jeremy and Ritchie.


    "Who are you? Why are you here? We mean no harm! We don''t intend to attack you!" the wounded warrior eximed.


    Jeremy replied directly, "I''m not here to deceive you. I have no ties to the so-called ''supervisors'' you speak of. I don''t even know who they are. We came here to achieve our own objectives. Our goal is to find the White Tower within the Tower of Exile. If possible, we even hope topletely eradicate the White Tower!"


    Of course, Jeremy''s statement was not entirely truthful. While this mission was indeed aimed at the White Tower, Jeremy was well aware of his own capabilities. He believed that he and Ritchie alone were not strong enough to defeat the White Tower in battle. His true aim was to rify the unknown circumstances surrounding the anomaly in the map he carried within the Tower of Exile.


    Upon hearing the first half of Jeremy''s speech, the expression on the injured warrior''s face remained unchanged. He continued to regard Jeremy with a wary gaze.


    However, when the injured warrior heard Jeremy mention the Tower of Exile and the White Tower, his expression softened somewhat.


    "Is what you''re saying true? How can you prove your words?" the wounded warrior asked Jeremy again. Although he remained cautious, his tone had mellowed significantly from before.


    Jeremy smiled and replied, "I honestly don''t know how to prove that we aren''t your enemies! But I do know that I can quickly demonstrate that the White Tower is the real enemy!"


    After saying this, Jeremy pulled a data storage device from his pocket. This device contained High-Dimensional Data that Jeremy had obtained from the White Tower within the historical mist. The existence of this High-Dimensional Data proved that Jeremy had engaged in intense battles with the White Tower.


    Under normal circumstances, the White Tower would never give away its High-Dimensional Data to anyone, as it was crucial to their existence.


    Upon seeing the High-Dimensional Data in the storage device, the injured warrior finally began to believe Jeremy''s words.


    "It seems you truly aren''t a pawn of the supervisors! Then I don''t need to be so wary of you! But you mustn''t go any further; if you do, you will be discovered by the supervisors''ckeys. The entire town ispletely under their control! I''ve been hiding here for a while, and I fear our location will soon be unsafe."


    After fully trusting Jeremy, the wounded warrior shared his situation with him. He also urged Jeremy to leave quickly, not wanting anyone else to fall into danger. He felt powerless to protect others and could only offer a warning. The power of the supervisors was overwhelming, and he had nearly exhausted his own strength; he no longer hoped to defeat them.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "I can''t leave the town! I just arrived here from the dark region, and I need to keep moving! Perhaps only by heading to the center of the town can I find more clues. That''s the only way I can discover how to defeat the White Tower. If you don''t n to join us, then you can stay here. Regardless, we will aplish our goal."


    Jeremy spoke with unwavering determination. After hearing Jeremy''s words, the injured warrior smiled.


    His smile conveyed aplex mix of emotions. It wasced with sarcasm, sorrow, and disappointment. He felt that no one could defeat the supervisors anymore; another fool had juste to meet his end,pletely unaware of the gravity of the situation. He could barely hold on much longer and didn''t want anyone else to die in front of him.


    "Why are you mocking me? Do you think my efforts will surely fail?" Jeremy retorted directly at the injured warrior.


    The wounded warrior nodded. "Of course, you will fail! Because you have no idea just how powerful the supervisors are!"


    After saying this, the injured warrior recounted his previous experiences in detail.


    As Jeremy and Ritchie listened to the warrior''s story, their hearts grew heavy. It turned out that the wounded warrior before them was not as simple as he appeared; he was actually a god of war from another world. In his world, he embodied courage and brutality, two traits that could y significant roles in warfare.


    The god of war did not know when he was born; he only knew that he had protected his world for a very long time after his creation. Until one day, a deity born from chaos suddenly appeared in his realm. This chaotic deity stripped away all the powers the god of war possessed. Moreover, this deity from the chaos also seized the warrior''s soul.


    From the warrior''s description, Jeremy and Ritchie quickly deduced that the chaotic deity he spoke of was none other than Fool. Only Fool had the overwhelming power to strip away the strength and soul of a deity from another world.


    After the god of war''s powers and soul were taken, the residual divinity was banished to the Tower of Exile. Although he had lost the vast majority of his strength, as a god of war, he still possessed extensivebat experience. In facing the enemies within the Tower of Exile, the god of war managed to escape their control.


    Despite the constant pursuit of the supervisors, represented by the White Tower, he ultimately evaded capture. However, during his escape, the god of war sustained severe injuries. Not long ago, he had fled to this ce and hidden himself on the outskirts of the town.


    Experience more tales on m v|l e''-NovelBin


    "Do you understand now? As a deity, I couldn''t even defeat the supervisors within the Tower of Exile. How could you possibly defeat them? For your own good, you should leave here quickly! I don''t know how to escape the town, but since you managed to get in, you must have a way to get out, right?"


    The injured god of war''s voice grew weaker as he spoke. It was clear that he could not hold on much longer.


    "You advise us to leave, but do you not n to escape yourself? If we had a way to flee, would youe with us?" Jeremy asked directly.


    A faint smile struggled to appear on the pale face of the injured god of war. He knew he was beyond saving and that he could not defeat the supervisors; the failures in battle had worn him down to the bone.


    "I''m tired! I don''t have the strength to keep running! I can only stay here and wait for my inevitable death! I think I''ve epted reality."


    The god of war''s response moved both Ritchie and Jeremy slightly. However, Jeremy quickly replied, "You won''t find your final death here. Once your power fades, the divinity that remains within you will turn into a burning me. That me will be trapped in antern and sent into the endless darkness."


    As Jeremy spoke, Ritchie finally managed to connect all the pieces of information he had gathered earlier. The injured god of war believed he had sessfully escaped, but in reality, all his actions were unwittingly following the nsid out by the White Tower and Fool.


    Any deity cast into the Tower of Exile would attempt to escape by any means possible. In the process, they would inevitably draw closer to the tower''s lowest depths. No matter how powerful a deity was, by the time they reached the bottom of the Tower of Exile, they would have exhausted nearly all of their strength. Ultimately, they would lose their self-awareness there.


    A deity without self-awareness and thest remnants of their power would turn into a burning me. At that point, the cyclops controlled by the White Tower could carry these mes to the graves of deities at the edge of the Dark River.


    Jeremy ryed the information he had uncovered to the injured god of war. Upon understanding, the expression on the warrior''s face grew even more deste.


    "They''re just too powerful. No matter how hard we try, we can''t unravel their schemes. You don''t need to stay here with me; you should hurry toplete your mission. Let me wait for my end alone."


    The injured god of war''s words frustrated Jeremy.


    "Don''t you want to escape the fate of death? If you join us, you can still regain the power you once had!" Jeremy said confidently to the wounded warrior.

 Chapter 295 The Terminal Town

    Jeremy''s resolute tone not only shocked the injured god of war but also surprised Ritchie, who stood beside him. The two of them instinctively turned their gazes toward Jeremy.


    "Do you really think that we can defeat a powerful enemy by working together? Don''t you realize that the entire Tower of Exile is under the strict surveince of the supervisors? They could discover us at any moment!" The injured god of war''s voice grew increasingly weak as he spoke.


    Jeremy shook his head. "Of course I know that the supervisors in the Tower of Exile could find us quickly. But that''s not an excuse for us to give up hope! We can be stronger before they locate us. From your earlier description, it''s quite clear that as you approach the bottom of the Tower of Exile, your power diminishes faster and faster.


    Have you considered that this might be because the lower levels of the Tower of Exile can absorb your strength? If you go against the current and move toward the upper levels of the Tower of Exile, you might be able to regain your power!"


    What Jeremy said was merely a guess, and even he did not fully believe in its validity.


    Upon hearing this, the expression on the injured god of war''s face shifted rapidly. It seemed that Jeremy''s words had convinced him. "Are you saying that as long as we can reach the center of the town, I can regain the strength I had when I first entered this level?"


    In response to the inquiry, Jeremy did not provide a definitive answer. He simply said, "You can only know the final result once you start moving. If you wait here for your inevitable end, then you will never know whether the guess is right or wrong!"


    Jeremy''s words finally rekindled some fighting spirit in the injured god of war. Slowly, he stood up. "Even though my strength has almost dissipated, I will still fight for myself! I would rather fall in the midst of battle! And with your help, I might still seed! Let''s hope we can grow stronger before they find us."


    Having sessfully persuaded the injured god of war, Jeremy and Ritchie began to move toward the center of the town together.


    At the same time, at the very center of the town, two powerful Intelligent Machines were discussing their next course of action. The Mechanical Rampage Beast, designed forbat, was visibly agitated because it had failed toplete the task assigned by the White Tower.


    Next to the Mechanical Rampage Beast, the reconnaissance mechanical sentinel remained calm and collected.


    "How long are you going to take to find the fleeing warrior? Our master wants us to capture him as soon as possible! Our pace has already disappointed him greatly!" The Mechanical Rampage Beast roared angrily at the nearby mechanical sentinel.


    The mechanical sentinel replied in its characteristic cold electronic voice, "There''s no need to be so impatient. I''ll be able to find him shortly. And in Terminal Town, no one can escape. Anyone whoes here will be destroyed by the town''s own power. Before long, the fleeing warrior will likely die in some corner of the town.


    All we need to do is find his corpse; there''s no need for anybat at all!" Continue reading stories on m|v-l''-NovelBin


    The sentinel''s words only fueled the anger of the Mechanical Rampage Beast further. If nobat was necessary, then what value did the Mechanical Rampage Beast have? It smashed the table in front of it with its ws, hoping to exert some pressure on the mechanical sentinel.


    However, the mechanical sentinel was utterly indifferent. It continued to use High-Dimensional Data to manipte one reconnaissance robot after another, searching all over Terminal Town.


    After about half an hour of searching, the mechanical sentinel still hadn''t discovered any leads. "It seems he''s indeed hiding very well! I haven''t found him in the town at all! If you want to find him quickly, you''d better set out yourself," the sentinel said coldly to the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    With crimson eyes ring at the mechanical sentinel, the Mechanical Rampage Beast charged out of the center of the town, taking itsbat robots with it.


    Not long after the Mechanical Rampage Beast left, the mechanical sentinel suddenly realized it had lost contact with one of its reconnaissance robots.


    "The reconnaissance robot hase under enemy attack! Quickly scan the area! If any anomalies are detected, summon thebat robots immediately!" The sentinel''s reaction was swift. The moment it detected the unusual situation, it ryed this information to the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    Naturally, the Mechanical Rampage Beast rushed to thest known location of the reconnaissance robot before it lost contact.


    The reason for the loss ofmunication between the reconnaissance robot and the mechanical sentinel was quite simple. The reconnaissance robot had been destroyed by Jeremy, who had already discovered the whereabouts of Jeremy, Ritchie, and the injured god of war.


    After destroying the reconnaissance robot, Jeremy turned directly to the other two. "We need to get out of here quickly! Our whereabouts have been discovered by the enemy, and it won''t be long before arge number of mechanical monsters surround us!"


    Both Ritchie and the injured god of warpletely agreed with Jeremy''s assessment. Thus, the three of them moved at the fastest pace toward the center of the town.


    They had barely left the area they were in when the Mechanical Rampage Beast, apanied by severalbat robots, arrived at their previous location. The Mechanical Rampage Beast carefully observed everything around it and finally detected traces of the injured god of war.


    "The fleeing warrior was just here! He left not long ago; you must search the area immediately!" The Mechanical Rampage Beastmanded thebat robots it had brought along.


    Thebat robots quickly dispersed in different directions to search. They meticulously scoured for any clues, leaving no stone unturned.


    Meanwhile, the mechanical sentinel provided the Mechanical Rampage Beast with crucial intelligence once again. "I have located the fleeing individual; he is apanied by two others. The situation has exceeded our expectations. We need to inform our master about what''s happening here."


    Although the mechanical sentinel was eager to ry the unexpected developments to the White Tower, it needed the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s approval first, as the Rampage Beast was the primary leader in this operation.


    The Mechanical Rampage Beast tly refused. "These matters should not burden our master directly! It''s better for us to eliminate the fleeing warrior and the two others first. After that, we can report everything to our master!"


    The Mechanical Rampage Beast''s reasoning was, in fact, more prudent. While the White Tower excelled at manipting High-Dimensional Data and possessed great intelligence, its temper was notoriously poor. The White Tower often erupted in anger over trivial matters, which was something the mechanical monsters, despitecking human emotions, were keenly aware of.


    They had excellent memories and were certainly unwilling to provoke their master over minor issues, fearing his wrath.


    The mechanical sentinel ultimately conceded. "You''re right; we shouldn''t disturb our master over these trivial matters. I will keep a close watch on the movements of the three of them. Just follow my guidance and quickly find them."


    Under the guidance of the mechanical sentinel, the Mechanical Rampage Beast swiftly moved toward the direction where Jeremy and the others were located.


    Jeremy naturally sensed the presence of the Mechanical Rampage Beast. At this point, he, Ritchie, and the injured god of war were very close to the center of the town. Jeremy decided it was time to use the gift of The King of Time and Space.


    "Get ready! I''m about to open a Portal! This Portal will take us directly to the central building of the town! If I''m right, there are surely important subordinates of the White Tower inside that building."


    As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, a Portal materialized in front of the three of them. Without any hesitation, Jeremy, Ritchie, and the injured god of war stepped through the Portal.


    They found themselves inside the central building of Terminal Town, where the mechanical sentinel stood, dumbfounded at the sudden appearance of the three individuals. Before the mechanical sentinel could react, Jeremy swiftly pulled an axe from his pocket and cleaved the sentinel''s head in two.


    The mechanical sentinel never had a chance to inform the Mechanical Rampage Beast of what had urred. The Rampage Beast continued to believe that Jeremy and hispanions were still about half a kilometer away from the central building.


    After eliminating the mechanical sentinel, Jeremy decided to quickly gather all the High-Dimensional Data it possessed. He aimed to use this data to uncover what information the enemy had.


    "We need to stay here for a while; this is the only way I can gather more useful intelligence. While I''m collecting data, you two must ensure my safety," Jeremy said quickly to Ritchie and the injured god of war.


    Ritchie nodded heavily in agreement. Although the injured god of war hesitated for a moment, he ultimately decided to follow Jeremy''s orders. The reason he chose toply was that he sensed his strength was beginning to return. This meant that everything Jeremy had told him was true¡ªthere was a real possibility he could be stronger before they were found.


    The injured god of warpletely trusted Jeremy now. After all, he was his only hope and the only way to regain his powers. At least until he confronted the White Tower, he would continue to cooperate with Jeremy.


    He hoped everything would go smoothly until then. It all depended on Jeremy, the injured god of war thought to himself.

 Chapter 296 The Method to Climb the Tower of Exile

    The injured God of War nodded toward Jeremy.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll do everything I can to hold off the enemies! If I can''t hold them back, I''ll let you know in advance!"


    After saying this, the injured God of War left the room and began guarding the surroundings against potential threats.


    At that moment, Jeremy started using the High-Dimensional Data to ess all the memories stored within the mechanical sentry.


    He discovered that the mechanical sentry actually originated from the upper levels of the Tower of Exile.


    When the mechanical sentry was created, it had briefly encountered the [White Tower].


    From there, the mechanical sentry had acquired an immense amount of High-Dimensional Data, along with the authority to control lower-level mechanical monsters.


    Within the mechanical sentry''s memories, Jeremy also saw other deities being pursued.


    These deities had suffered fates simr to that of the injured God of War.


    After being defeated by [Fool], they were exiled into the Tower of Exile.


    In their panic, these deities fled downward through the lower levels of the Tower, losing their power as they ran.


    After reading all the mechanical sentry''s memories, Jeremy''s expression grew even more puzzled.


    He had only seen how the mechanical sentry had descended from the top of the Tower of Exile to its lowest level.


    But the method to ascend the Tower still eluded him.


    As Jeremy furrowed his brows in thought, the injured God of War''s voice came from outside the door.


    "The enemy has arrived! I''m not sure I can hold them off, so you''d better hurry!"


    Hearing this, Jeremy quickly looked toward the door.


    Sure enough, just as the injured God of War had warned, a [Mechanical Rampage Beast], along with several mechanical monsters, had arrived at the outer perimeter of the central building in the town.


    The moment the Mechanical Rampage Beastid eyes on the injured God of War, it roared with fury.


    Immediately, the beast charged at the injured God of War with incredible speed.


    Under normal circumstances, the Mechanical Rampage Beast could easily obliterate the injured God of War.


    However, since the mechanical sentry had already been destroyed by Jeremy, the power that it had siphoned from the injured God of War returned to its original source.


    This meant that the injured God of War was now capable of holding his own against the [Mechanical Rampage Beast].


    With his shield, the injured God of War blocked the beast''s sharp ws, all the while searching for an opportunity to counterattack with the weapon in his hand.


    Jeremy had no intention of assisting the injured God of War, as he believed there were far more important matters he needed to attend to.


    Jeremy felt that the memories he had extracted from the mechanical sentry were iplete.


    He needed to calm himself down. Only in a state ofplete tranquility could he uncover the crucial information buried deep within the mechanical sentry''s memory.


    Sitting down, Jeremy closed his eyes.


    In meditation, he continuously invoked his High-Dimensional Data.


    When Jeremy''s High-Dimensional Data intertwined with the remnants of the mechanical sentry''s High-Dimensional Data, he finally detected an anomaly hidden within.


    Quickly seizing upon this anomaly, Jeremy began to rapidly read through the abnormal data.


    At the same time, [Ritchie] joined the battle against the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    Having previously fought the Mechanical Rampage Beast alongside Jeremy within the [Tower of Exile] shrouded in the mist of history, Ritchie had some knowledge of the beast''s weaknesses.


    His timely intervention allowed him and the injured God of War to sessfully suppress the beast.


    Yet, even with both of their powersbined, they couldn''tpletely destroy the Mechanical Rampage Beast.


    Furious at the sudden appearance of another enemy, the Mechanical Rampage Beast roared in anger.


    "You damned organic creatures! How dare you defy my great master! Today, I''ll show you just how powerful the strength bestowed upon me truly is!"


    The Mechanical Rampage Beast bellowed at both the injured God of War and Ritchie before lifting its head to gaze upward.


    In unison, both the injured God of War and Ritchie looked skyward as well.


    In the sky, aplex magic array suddenly appeared. At its center stood a towering structureposed of countlessyered bookshelves.


    The array, born from the void, quickly transformed into a tangible form.


    As soon as the magic array fully materialized, a surge of High-Dimensional Data erupted from within it.


    This torrent of data flowed directly into the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s body.


    In an instant, the beast''s size expanded more than tenfold, growing to a towering height that rivaled a mountain.


    At the same time, all of the weapons embedded in the Mechanical Rampage Beast were significantly enhanced.


    The injured God of War and Ritchie instinctively took a step back, their confidence wavering.


    They could both sense that the now-empowered Mechanical Rampage Beast had be far more formidable than before.


    "It''s a bit toote to be afraid now! No matter what you do, I will annihte you swiftly!"


    The voice of the Mechanical Rampage Beast boomed from high above, its tone carrying far more menace than before.


    Neither Ritchie nor the injured God of War had any intention of engaging in directbat.


    Both knew that fighting head-on would be a hopeless endeavor.


    In unspoken agreement, they chose to flee, heading toward the central building of the terminal town, where Jeremy was still deep in meditation.


    Though Jeremy could sense the escting intensity of the battle outside, he remained undistracted.


    He quickly uncovered the key information within the abnormal data¡ªthe method to climb the [Tower of Exile].


    To ascend the Tower, one must continually regain the power they once possessed.


    The fastest way to reim this lost power was by eliminating every mechanical monster encountered along the way.


    The High-Dimensional Data within the mechanical sentry was, in fact, created by the [White Tower] using the power stolen from the injured God of War.


    None of the High-Dimensional Data was conjured out of thin air.


    All of it was forged from the power of defeated deities.


    Jeremy finally understood why [Fool] had entrusted the White Tower to guard the Tower of Exile.


    Although Fool was capable of defeating other deities and stripping away most of their power and souls, Fool could not fully harness their divinity.


    In such a situation, Fool had no choice but to send these defeated deities¡ªstill containing remnants of their divine essence¡ªinto the Tower of Exile.


    The White Tower could then convert the residual divinity and power of these defeated deities into High-Dimensional Data.


    In this way, [Fool] and [the White Tower] could efficiently harvest the power of other deities to the fullest extent.


    Upon realizing the full picture, Jeremy couldn''t help but let out a sigh.


    "The designers of the apocalypse game are truly devious! They''ve devised a method to continually strengthen themselves through the exploitation of others'' power! It seems I''ll need to be even more cautious in my future battles with them."


    No sooner had Jeremy finished speaking than Ritchie''s shadow suddenly burst into the room.


    "Stop standing there and run! The [Mechanical Rampage Beast] has just received a massive boost from the High-Dimensional Data! There''s no way we can defeat him head-on anymore. Our only option is to flee!"


    Even though there was still some distance between Ritchie, the injured God of War, and the building where Jeremy was located, Ritchie was able to transmit all this information through his shadow.


    Jeremy, however, just smiled and shook his head.


    "We can''t run. If we run now, it would mean we''ve already surrendered! If we want to ascend the [Tower of Exile], we must face these mechanical monsters head-on and fight."


    With those words, Jeremy grabbed the calction core of the destroyed mechanical sentry and stepped outside.


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    He now stood in front of the central building in the heart of the terminal town, ready to face whaty ahead.


    Although Jeremy was shocked by the sheer size of the [Mechanical Rampage Beast], he did not show any signs of retreat.


    The Mechanical Rampage Beast caught sight of Jeremy, and more importantly, it noticed the mechanical sentry''s calction core in Jeremy''s hand.


    In that instant, the beast understood everything, and it immediately shifted its focus to Jeremy.


    "You killed mypanion! You''re even more despicable than those other two! I''ll kill you first!"


    The Mechanical Rampage Beastunched a direct attack on Jeremy, but Jeremy had no intention of taking the hit head-on.


    Without hesitation, he activated the ability of []The King of Time and Space], summoning a portal before him.


    Jeremy stepped through the portal, reappearing behind the Mechanical Rampage Beast in an instant.


    By now, Jeremy knew exactly how to defeat the beast in the quickest way possible. He only needed to inject a sufficient amount of High-Dimensional Data into the beast''s calction core.


    As Jeremy funneled the data into the core, the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s movements abruptly slowed to a crawl.


    "What is happening?! What have you done to me?!"


    Though the Mechanical Rampage Beast didn''t fully understand what was happening, it could sense that its condition was rapidly deteriorating.


    Before the beast could react, the influx of High-Dimensional Datapletely overwhelmed and destroyed its calction core.


    In that instant, the colossal body of the Mechanical Rampage Beast copsed entirely, its massive form disintegrating as countless mechanical parts exploded outward in every direction.


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 297 The Limitations of the Rules Themselves

    At the very moment the [Mechanical Rampage Beast] was destroyed, a massive amount of [High-Dimensional Data] surged out from its calction core.


    This data quickly dispersed, seeking out other nearby mechanical monsters.


    Jeremy acted swiftly, pulling out a data storage device and collecting as much of the High-Dimensional Data as possible.


    Meanwhile, Ritchie and the injured God of War didn''t just stand by.


    As soon as the Mechanical Rampage Beast was destroyed, theyunched an attack on the remaining mechanical monsters that had apanied it.


    Working together, the two of them swiftly wiped out the rest of the mechanical monsters.


    After the fight, Jeremy quickly regrouped with Ritchie and the injured God of War.


    "How did you manage to defeat the Mechanical Rampage Beast? I couldn''t understand it at all," the injured God of War asked in an urgent tone when he saw Jeremy.


    Jeremy smiled and replied,


    "I simply used High-Dimensional Data to destroy its calction core. If you were able to manipte High-Dimensional Data, you could do the same."


    The injured God of War''s expression shifted slightly to one of disappointment upon hearing this.


    He knew he had no ability to control High-Dimensional Data.


    "How are you feeling now? Have you noticed any of your strength returning?" Jeremy asked the injured God of War directly.


    Nodding, the injured God of War responded,


    "Yes, some of my strength has returned. Part of the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s power has been absorbed into mine."


    The injured God of War didn''t hide his condition from Jeremy.


    He understood that if he wanted any chance of escaping, he needed to cooperate perfectly with Jeremy, which meant beingpletely honest.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Indeed, some of the Mechanical Rampage Beast''s power has merged with yours, but the majority of your strength has already been converted into High-Dimensional Data."


    After saying this, Jeremy went on to exin the rtionship between High-Dimensional Data and the power of deities to Ritchie and the injured God of War.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s exnation, both Ritchie and the injured God of War were filled with a sense of awe.


    Ritchie couldn''t help but ask,


    "Are you saying that if we gain the power of [the White Tower], we could also convert the strength of the apocalypse game''s creators into High-Dimensional Data?"


    Jeremy nodded in confirmation.


    "It''s possible, but I believe achieving that goal will be extremely difficult. Even [the White Tower] is constrained by the rules themselves," Jeremy exined.


    "Have you noticed that [the White Tower] hasn''t directly attacked us? It must already know where we are, yet it can only send mechanical monsters to target us.


    That''s because the rules of the [Tower of Exile] dictate that descending from the upper levels leads to a gradual loss of power.


    If [the White Tower] were toe directly to the lower levels, it would rapidly lose its strength."


    Jeremy''s words stirred excitement in both Ritchie and the injured God of War.


    If [the White Tower] couldn''t personally confront them, there was less reason to fear.


    "But don''t get too excited just yet," Jeremy warned. "I suspect [the White Tower] will send even more of its minions against us.


    It might try to overwhelm us with sheer numbers. So, before we continue our ascent of the [Tower of Exile], we need to be fully prepared."


    After speaking, Jeremy pulled out the abnormal map.


    At that moment, the map no longer emitted strange powers; it seemed to be suppressed within the [Tower of Exile].


    "While I was thinking, I carefully studied the state of the map. I discovered that the map can also collect High-Dimensional Data.


    However, after gathering the data, certain special markings appear on the map. I don''t yet know what these markings signify, but I believe we might be able to use this map to our advantage."


    Both Ritchie and the injured God of War turned their gaze toward the abnormal map simultaneously.


    Sure enough, as they examined the map, they saw the special markings Jeremy had mentioned. Some were red five-pointed stars, while others were pale purple triangles. These symbols seemed to represent particr locations.


    One red five-pointed star was especially close to their current position. If they could ascend to the next level of the [Tower of Exile], they would be able to reach that location.


    "Should we move forward immediately? We can''t afford to waste too much time here. The more time we lose, the more chances [the White Tower] has to react," the injured God of War said, his voice filled with excitement. Now that he had a glimmer of hope for escape, he was desperate to seize it. He didn''t want his newfound hope to be shattered again.


    Jeremy nodded.


    "You''re right! But before we proceed, I need to use the High-Dimensional Data to enhance your powers!"


    With that, Jeremy brought out the data storage device. As soon as it was activated, High-Dimensional Data began to flow into the injured God of War and Ritchie.


    The injuries on the God of War''s body healed at a visible rate, while Ritchie felt his shadow maniption abilities growing stronger by the second.


    "How do you feel? Have you noticed any improvement in your strength?" Jeremy asked.


    The injured God of War eagerly nodded.


    "You were right! My power has increased significantly! I''m ready to engage in a fierce battle now!" His tone was filled with excitement, as he couldn''t even recall thest time he had felt this strong.


    Ritchie, while also pleased, wasn''t as enthusiastic as the God of War.


    In Ritchie''s mind, as long as he stayed close to Jeremy, his power would continue to grow.


    "My abilities have improved as well. I think I can now control the shadows of the mechanical monsters," Ritchie said with a calm confidence.


    "And I can also interfere with the enemies by creating shadows for them," Ritchie added.


    Hearing their responses, Jeremy nodded with satisfaction.


    "In that case, let''s keep moving! It won''t be long before we confront [the White Tower] and make him pay for everything he''s done!"


    Having reached an agreement, the three of them proceeded at full speed toward the upper levels of the [Tower of Exile].


    As they advanced, far above in the highest level of the tower, [the White Tower] was raging at his subordinates.


    "Are you allpletely useless? Why didn''t you stop Jeremy during the events in the historical mist?!"


    Standing before [the White Tower] were three distinctly different mechanical monsters.


    None of them dared speak a word in response to his anger, knowing full well that anything they said would only fuel [the White Tower''s] wrath further.


    Seeing the silence, [the White Tower] chose not to continue his outburst.


    "Since you failed to stop Jeremy before, I expect you to prevent him from advancing any further this time. Under no circumstances can you allow him to reach the top of the [Tower of Exile].


    If he gets here, we will all face punishment from [Fool]. And you all know well enough that [Fool] isn''t someone to be reasoned with. He despises ipetent subordinates the most."


    With those words, [the White Tower] dismissed the three mechanical monsters.


    Though he was still seething with rage, [the White Tower] had no other choice but to rely on these minions to halt Jeremy''s progress.


    Before him stood a massive mirror, and within it, swirling patterns of High-Dimensional Data formed a highly intricate design. Thisplex pattern was a divine painting that [the White Tower] was tasked with weaving.


    [Fool] needed this painting to gain greater divine power.


    If [the White Tower] failed toplete it within the given time, [Fool] would undoubtedly impose even harsher punishments upon him. Continue your adventure with m|v-l''e -NovelBin


    Letting out a heavy sigh, [the White Tower] turned his focus back to the divine painting, knowing full well that his fate rested on itspletion.


    Though [the White Tower] was one of the designers of the [apocalypse game], his authority paled inparison to [Fool''s]. After all, his very creation had been orchestrated by [Fool].


    Once his subordinates left, they were in poor spirits.


    Initially, they had believed that the [historical mist] would sessfully trap Jeremy, but to their shock, not only had Jeremy escaped, he had also uncovered the secrets of the [High-Dimensional Data] within the [Tower of Exile].


    "What should we do next? Should we work together to eliminate Jeremy?" one of the mechanical monsters asked the other two.


    The other two mechanical monsters did not offer a definite answer.


    They still believed that their own strength would be enough to defeat Jeremy. Although Jeremy''s abilities had exceeded their expectations, they considered his sess merely a result of their failure to take him seriously.


    In their minds, once they trulymitted to countering Jeremy, there was no way he would be able to make any further progress.

 Chapter 298 Soul Prison

    Although the subordinates of the White Tower were all eager to eliminate Jeremy and hispanions as quickly as possible, each of them had different motives.


    Every one of them wanted to im the greatest glory for themselves, making cooperation among thempletely impossible.


    The three primary lieutenants of the White Tower had all formted their own secret ns, and they directed their respective forces to act ording to these personal agendas.


    As a result, Jeremy and his group didn''t have to worry too much, at least in the short term.


    The White Tower itselfcked the resources to focus on Jeremy, and the subordinates who did have the energy to go after him were incapable of working together.


    This gave Jeremy enough time to continue exploring the Tower of Exile undisturbed.


    At the very least, he could proceed through a few more floors of the Tower without any immediate threats.


    After Jeremy, Ritchie, and the injured War God obliterated all enemies on the lowest level of the Tower of Exile, they pressed forward to the upper levels.


    They passed through an illusory gate made of High-Dimensional Data, entering the second-tost floor of the Tower.


    The moment they stepped into this new level, the injured War God felt a significant portion of his strength return.


    "Most of my power must have been lost here!" the injured War God said bluntly to Jeremy and Ritchie.


    "I suspect that this ce is extremely dangerous. In the next steps we take, we must be incredibly cautious."


    He could tell from the shifts in his power that this area posed a great danger.


    Jeremy and Ritchie both nodded seriously.


    Although neither of them experienced any changes in their abilities, they each sensed something unique about the area through their own powers.


    Jeremy''s King of Time and Space talent allowed him to perceive the incrediblyplex temporal and spatial structures of their current location.


    What they saw was only the surface. Deeper within this area, there could very well be more intricate spaces or even a mirror world.


    Meanwhile, Ritchie, with his keen sensitivity to shadows, noticed that the distribution of shadows in this area was highly unusual.


    Although the structure of this area was incrediblyplex, the arrangement of the shadows was surprisingly neat and orderly. This indicated that some mysterious force within this area was affecting the existence of the shadows.


    The three of them pressed on, enduring the pressure as they slowly advanced through the second-tost floor of the Tower of Exile.


    Not long after, they encountered a shadow, glowing with a dim, bluish hue.


    This bluish shadow was evidently the soul of someone who had lost part of their memory.


    "Who are you? Why are you here?! No one is allowed to pass through this ce. You should leave immediately!" The bluish shadow spoke directly to the three of them upon seeing them.


    "We mean no harm. We''vee here simply to retrieve something that belongs to us. And who might you be? Why are you guarding this ce?"


    Jeremy asked, his expression calm.


    Of course, what Jeremy said was a lie, but he didn''t believe that telling the truth would gain the shadow''s trust.


    "Are you trying to reim your soul? Don''t be ridiculous! Once a soul is trapped in the prison, there''s no way out."


    The bluish shadow replied in a sorrowful tone.


    Though Jeremy gathered some information from the shadow''s words, it wasn''t enough. He decided to continue probing.


    "Is there nothing here besides souls? This prison you mentioned¡ªdoes it refer to the area we are in now?"


    Jeremy''s two questions brought a puzzled look to the shadow''s face.


    "You really don''t know where you are? This is the Soul Prison! Only souls cursed by the great deity are imprisoned here! There''s nothing else besides souls!"


    The bluish shadow responded bluntly.


    Upon hearing this, the injured War God quickly signaled Jeremy with his eyes.


    Jeremy took a few steps back, and the injured War God lowered his voice to speak to him.


    "I remember now! It was after I came here that I lost part of my soul! And the part I lost contains most of my divine power! If I can reim it, I''ll regain my godly strength!"


    "As long as you can help me reim my soul, I''ll be able to assist you in swiftly reaching the top of the Tower of Exile! The White Tower is definitely waiting there at the top!"


    The injured War God spoke in a low voice, but there was a noticeable excitement in his tone.


    Jeremy nodded.


    "Don''t rush for now. I still want to gather more information from the other side,"


    Jeremy said, calming the War God down.


    He could sense the War God''s anxiety, but he didn''t want to miss any valuable intel.


    While the injured War God was trustworthy, he was, after all, a former defeated adversary of the White Tower.


    If Jeremy blindly followed the War God''s suggestions, there was a good chance that this mission could end in failure.


    After briefly whispering with the War God, Jeremy once again approached the bluish shadow.


    "It''s true, this is the Soul Prison. I''ve confirmed that with mypanion. However, you still haven''t answered the most important question: Who are you, and why are you here?"


    The bluish shadow sighed deeply.


    "I wish I knew the answer to the first question. I''ve forgotten who I am. All I know is that I''m bound to stay here. My purpose is to prevent anyone from entering the Soul Prison!"


    The shadow''s response didn''t surprise Jeremy.


    He nodded and then asked, "What if we are determined to enter the Soul Prison? Will you attack us?"


    The bluish shadow let out a coldugh.


    "If that''s truly what you intend, then no, I won''t attack you. Because anyone who enters the Soul Prison can never escape."


    At this point, the shadow''s gaze shifted toward the injured War God.


    "I remember you! Not long ago, you were here in the Soul Prison! Though a part of you managed to escape, your soul is forever trapped within the prison!"


    The bluish shadow had recognized the injured War God all along.


    The reason he didn''t speak to the bluish shadow was that he believed it would be pointless.


    The injured War God had lost his soul, which meant that he was now apletely different person.


    Upon hearing the shadow''s words, Jeremy and Ritchie both turned their gaze toward the injured War God.


    Aplex expression appeared on the War God''s face.


    "I just remembered that my soul is trapped in the Soul Prison! I wasn''t lying to you!"


    To the War God, sess depended on cooperating with Jeremy and the others, so he had no desire for them to think he had been deceiving them all along.


    Jeremy nodded.


    "I believe you, and I think mypanions trust you as well. Now that we''ve gathered enough information, let''s move forward."


    Jeremy said this with a smile as he turned to the bluish shadow.


    "Even though you didn''t offer much help, at least you told us the name of the area we''re about to enter. If we manage to pass through the Soul Prison, I might be able to recover the memories you''ve lost. When that timees, I''ll return them to you."


    Jeremy''s words left the bluish shadow stunned.


    Throughout his existence, the shadow had encountered many people. Some were arrogant, others cunning, and some were outright violent.


    But no matter their personalities, they all treated the shadow the same way: none cared about what the bluish shadow truly thought.


    They merely used him as a tool.


    Jeremy, however, was the first person to offer to help recover the shadow''s lost memories.


    The bluish shadow felt a mixture of emotions.


    After thinking for a moment, he seemed about to say something to Jeremy.


    But just as he was preparing to speak, Jeremy, Ritchie, and the injured War God had already moved on, leaving him behind.


    "I hope that your endeavor this time will seed! But that''s just a hope¡ªbecause no one has ever defeated the Warden personally appointed by the Master in the Soul Prison.


    You will all be trapped by the Warden! Your souls will be stripped away by the Warden! Even if you''re good people, it''s impossible for you to seed."


    The bluish shadow muttered to himself.This was the first time someone had ever cared about his thoughts, and he felt a bit at a loss because of it. Perhaps as a way to repay that concern, he spoke these words.


    What he had intended to warn Jeremy about was precisely this¡ªinformation about the Warden.


    But in truth, it wouldn''t make much difference whether Jeremy knew it or not. The bluish shadow didn''t know much about the Warden either.


    All he knew was that the Warden''s power was immense, and in battle, the Warden had the ability to trap any enemy''s soul.

 Chapter 299 The Soul of the Goddess of Life

    After Jeremy and hispanions had advanced for about fifteen minutes in the Tower of Exile, they finally came upon arge door radiating a faint blue light.


    Jeremy, Ritchie, and the injured War God knew very well that beyond this doory the Soul Prison.


    "Are you all ready for battle? Once we enter the Soul Prison, we will definitely face attacks from the guards inside. While we don''t know exactly what kinds of enemies await us within, I believe they won''t be weak. After all, the Soul Prison should be an important area for the White Tower."


    Before stepping into the Soul Prison, Jeremy reminded hispanions.


    Both Ritchie and the injured War God nodded firmly. They were fully prepared for the battle ahead.


    Only after confirming hispanions'' readiness did Jeremy push open the door in front of him.


    The moment the door creaked open, a hissing sound from countless souls filled their ears.


    The injured War God''s face contorted in pain.


    "What''s wrong? Can you still fight?" Jeremy asked, his toneced with concern.


    The War God shook his head. "I''m fine! It''s just that I heard the wailing of my own soul, which caused a splitting headache. But I''ve adjusted now, and I can fight alongside you."


    Despite his words, Jeremy and Ritchie still felt uneasy. There was a hint of worry in their expressions.


    Jeremy turned directly to the War God and said, "I think you''re still not in the best shape. During the uing battles, try not to push yourself too hard. If you start feeling worse, tell me immediately. I can''t promise yourplete safety, but Ritchie and I will do everything in our power to help you. Don''t hide how you''re feeling."


    Jeremy''s words moved the War God deeply.


    "Don''t worry! I know my condition well. If I truly get to the point where I can''t go on, I will let you know ahead of time."


    After ensuring the War God was fit to continue, Jeremy and the others pressed deeper into the Soul Prison.


    The Soul Prison, at first nce, appeared to be just an ordinary prison. However, each cell inside was extraordinarilyrge, and deep, bottomless trenches separated the cells from one another.


    When Jeremy and Ritchie peered into the depths of these trenches, they could only make out some kind of ck liquid flowing within. As for what this ck liquid was, neither of them could tell.


    "Can you sense where your soul is? If we can find it quickly, your condition might stabilize," Jeremy asked the injured War God directly.


    Jeremy felt that aimlessly searching through the Soul Prison would be extremely dangerous. As time passed, the likelihood of encountering dangerous enemies was steadily increasing.


    The injured War God shook his head.


    "Although I can sense the presence of my soul, it''s locked away. I can''t pinpoint its exact location in such a short time."


    The War God''s response didn''t surprise Jeremy.


    Though slightly disappointed, Jeremy''s determination wasn''t dampened. He remained resolute as they continued their journey.


    After a short time, the three came upon a cell blocking the path ahead. Inside, Jeremy saw a figure that he recognized all too well¡ª the figure of the Goddess of Life, whom he had once encountered in the Mists of History.


    Seeing the Goddess of Life filled Jeremy with excitement. He quickly ran to the edge of the cell.


    "Do you remember me? In the Mists of History, we once met!" Jeremy shouted toward the imprisoned Goddess of Life.


    The Goddess of Life appeared incredibly weak, but upon hearing Jeremy''s voice, she slowly opened her eyes.


    When she saw Jeremy, a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips.


    "Of course I remember you! In the Mists of History, you and yourpanions offered me and my followers great aid. Without your help driving away the Fool''s angel, I wouldn''t have been able to regain my consciousness," she said softly.


    The Goddess of Life''s words offered some additional information.


    Jeremy quickly asked her more questions.


    "Did I truly injure the Fool''s angel? Wasn''t the Fool''s angel in the Mists of History just a projection?" Jeremy asked, doubtcing his voice.


    "The Fool''s angel in the Mists of History was indeed just a projection," the Goddess of Life replied softly, "but the power of the Fool can transcend the Mists. This means that any weakening of the Fool''s angel within the Mists will also weaken the Fool''s actual power. The angel''s main task was to suppress my self-awareness. Thanks to your help, I was able to regain some of it.


    However, I still don''t have enough strength to break the seal on this cell."


    After saying this, the Goddess of Life shifted her gaze toward the injured War God.


    "It seems you were unsessful as well. I warned you before, abandoning your soul in a bid to escape would never work."


    Her words drew the attention of everyone, all eyes now on the injured War God. He furrowed his brow and asked the Goddess of Life, "Did I know you before? I don''t remember ever having such a conversation with you."


    The Goddess of Life sighed gently. "You don''t remember because your soul is trapped in the deepest part of the Soul Prison. The Warden likely stripped you of your memories. You won''t be able to recover them until the Warden is defeated."


    What the Goddess of Life said didn''t contradict the War God''s own memory. He simply couldn''t recall the events she was referring to.


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy quickly pressed the Goddess of Life further, eager for more information.


    "Is the Warden in the Soul Prison a powerful being? Where can we find him? It seems like only by defeating him can we pass through this prison."


    Jeremy wasn''t particrly interested in the details of the conversation between the Goddess of Life and the injured War God. His main concern was finding a way forward as quickly as possible. If he wanted to reach the top of the Tower of Exile and find the White Tower, he needed to escape the Soul Prison soon.


    The Goddess of Life nodded.


    "The Warden is indeed a powerful entity, but he is trapped in the deepest part of the Soul Prison. You will need to traverse the entire prison to reach him, and only by defeating him can you continue forward. Finding him is actually quite simple¡ªjust follow the path next to my cell, and it will lead you there. However, I must warn you, before you face the Warden, you will encounter his subordinates.


    They are no weaklings either, so you must be prepared for a tough fight."


    To Jeremy, the Goddess of Life''s warning didn''t seem too concerning. After all, he had already faced a series of difficult battles before even arriving at the real Tower of Exile.


    "Don''t worry about it. In battle, we fear no one. It''s not just the Warden''s subordinates¡ªif the Warden himself shows up, we''ll defeat him too," Jeremy said with unwavering confidence.


    The Goddess of Life smiled approvingly and nodded.


    "That''s all the information I can give you. Speaking with you has drained thest of my strength. I''m about to fall into a deep sleep. Only when you defeat the Warden will I be able to regain some awareness. I hope your journey is sessful, for only then will I have a chance to be revived."


    With those final words, the Goddess of Life slipped back into slumber.


    Jeremy nced at Ritchie and the injured War God.


    "The Goddess of Life has given us all the information we need! Now it''s up to us to handle the rest. Let''s move forward¡ªour showdown with the Warden is about to begin."


    With those words, Jeremy quickly led the way down the path the Goddess of Life had pointed out. Ritchie and the injured War God followed closely behind, both filled with determination.


    Ritchie''s thoughts aligned with Jeremy''s. He knew that only by defeating the Warden could they ensure the sess of their mission.


    As for the injured War God, his motivations were more straightforward. If he wanted to reim his soul, he had to defeat the Warden. Additionally, once the Warden was vanquished, he hoped to recover some of his lost memories¡ªimportant memories that could reveal what had truly happened to him.


    "I truly need those missing memories right now," the injured War God thought to himself. "There might be a way to defeat the Warden hidden among them."


    The War God had lost far too many fragments of his past, and some of those memories held great significance. He was determined to regain them at all costs.


    The trio moved at a brisk pace, and before long, they encountered the Warden''s subordinates. However, these creatures proved to be quite weak. Jeremy and hispanions easily dispatched them without much effort.


    At the same time, the Warden finally became aware of Jeremy and the others'' presence.

 Chapter 300 Soul Warden

    In the deepest part of the Soul Prison, at the junction of countless chains, a massive cyclops was using its solitary eye to watch over everything within the prison.


    This cyclops was none other than the supreme being of the Soul Prison, the [Soul Warden].


    The Soul Warden''s duty was straightforward: to ensure that every soul in the Soul Prison remained firmly locked within its designated cell.


    Under no circumstances could a soul escape its cell, nor could any outsider break into any of the cells.


    The appearance of Jeremy and his group posed a significant threat to the Soul Warden.


    However, the Soul Warden couldn''t immediately take direct action against Jeremy. This was because, for the Soul Warden, there were some exceptionally powerful souls under his control within the Soul Prison.


    If he left his post recklessly, those powerful souls might break free from their confinements.


    In the end, the Soul Warden decided to send his minions to stop Jeremy and his group from advancing.


    He summoned all the creatures responsible for guarding the outer areas of the Soul Prison.


    "You no longer need to guard those insignificant outer cells. Your task is simple: quickly stop the intruders from advancing! You must not let them reach the core of the Soul Prison!"


    Following the Soul Warden''s orders, numerous creatures swiftly moved toward Jeremy and hispanions.


    At this moment, Jeremy and his group had already reached the middle section of the Soul Prison.


    In front of themy a seemingly bottomless chasm, brimming with an immense power.


    Peering into the depths of the rift, Jeremy and the others could seerge amounts of [High-Dimensional Data] at the bottom.


    Apart from the High-Dimensional Data, there were also vague human-like figures within the chasm.


    "Those figures could very well be the souls that werepletely destroyed. If I had died in Terminal Town, I might have be one of those shadowy figures deep in the rift," the wounded war god said with a hint of mncholy.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "That''s entirely possible. To avoid such a fate, we must move forward quickly! I just spotted a bridge not far from here. Perhaps we can use it to cross this enormous chasm!"


    Jeremy had already spotted the bridge in the distance.


    However, crossing that bridge was going to be incredibly difficult.


    Only those who had gathered enough [High-Dimensional Data] could make it across the bridge.


    Moreover, during the process of crossing, they had to use specific [High-Dimensional Data] to unlock the seal ced upon the bridge.


    Naturally, Jeremy and hispanions werepletely unaware of these conditions.


    It wasn''t until they reached the edge of the bridge that they realized just howplex the procedure to cross would be.


    Ritchie and the wounded war god examined the bridge for a moment, then turned their gaze toward Jeremy.


    Both of them believed that only Jeremy could manipte the [High-Dimensional Data] to break the seal on the bridge.


    Jeremy closed his eyes and extended his [Divine Consciousness]. With its aid, he sessfully located a mark beneath the bridge.


    The mark seemed familiar to Jeremy, something he had encountered before.


    Using the [High-Dimensional Data] he controlled, Jeremy replicated the pattern of the mark.


    When he guided the [High-Dimensional Data] to the surface of the bridge, the bridge suddenly began to tremble.


    Momentster, the seal on the bridge opened.


    "As expected of Jeremy! You managed to break the seal on the bridge so effortlessly! It looks like we''ll soon reach the deepest part of the [Soul Prison]! Finally, I have a chance to reim my soul!"


    The wounded war god was visibly excited upon witnessing this scene.


    Standing beside him, Ritchie was equally overjoyed.


    But before they could celebrate for long, they noticed arge number of monsters rushing toward them from the other side of the bridge.


    "Prepare for battle! We cannot afford to be pushed back by these monsters! If we leave the bridge, the seal will regenerate, and I may not be able to break it as quickly again.


    No matter what, we cannot take even a single step back!"


    Jeremy, too, had noticed the rapidly approaching monsters.


    He immediately shared his thoughts with Ritchie and the wounded war god.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, the two swiftly took their positions on the bridge.


    The three of them joined forces to fight the advancing horde of monsters on the bridge.


    The monsters rushing toward them each had the ability to directly attack their souls.


    Thus, as Jeremy and hispanions faced these creatures'' assaults, they had to endure excruciating pain on a spiritual level.


    After a prolonged and grueling battle, they finally managed to defeat the majority of the monsters.


    At the same time, Jeremy noticed something concerning¡ªthe bridge they were on was undergoing some unfavorable changes.


    The seal on the bridge was beginning to reappear.


    This meant that if they didn''t cross the bridge soon, they could very well end up trapped by the seal, stuck on the bridge indefinitely.


    Realizing the urgency, Jeremy immediately turned to Ritchie and the wounded war god and said,


    "Stop wasting time! Now that there are fewer monsters, we need to cross the bridge immediately! If we dy any longer, we could end up stuck here forever!"


    With that, Jeremy activated his [King of Time and Space] ability, opening a [Portal] in front of him.


    He quickly led Ritchie and the wounded war god through the portal.


    Though Jeremy could create portals, in the [Soul Prison], the portals couldn''t reach too far.


    If the portal was too far from Jeremy, it would cease to function.


    So, when the three passed through the portal, they only ended up on the other side of the chasm.


    They weren''t very far from the bridge they had just crossed.


    As soon as they made it across, a loud crash echoed from behind them.


    The entire bridge copsed in an instant, its fragments plunging into the abyss below.


    Seeing this, Jeremy sighed and said with resignation,


    "There''s no turning back now. We have no choice but to press forward. Even if there are massive traps ahead, we''ll just have to face them head-on."


    With that, Jeremy led Ritchie and the wounded war god deeper into the [Soul Prison].


    As they crossed the now-copsed bridge, they officially entered the core of the [Soul Prison], where they could sense the presence of several immensely powerful souls.


    And these immensely powerful souls already had some potential to escape from their prisons.


    These souls were more than willing to cooperate with Jeremy and hispanions.


    However, Jeremy wasn''t necessarily inclined to coborate with them.


    Among these powerful souls, there were some that were deeply malevolent.


    When [Fool] devoured the powers of other deities, he didn''t just select the good ones; he consumed the powers of every deity he encountered.


    The souls of those evil deities were far more terrifying, which is why [the White Tower] had imprisoned these malevolent deities in the deepest parts of the [Soul Prison].


    Jeremy and hispanions'' entrance into the core of the [Soul Prison] greatly enraged the [Soul Warden].


    In the end, the [Soul Warden] decided to take a risky course of action.


    It unshackled the numerous chains that were binding it.


    As the chains fell away, the [Soul Warden''s] connection to several cells in the core of the [Soul Prison] was severed.


    "You had better not try anything while I''m gone! If I catch even the slightest hint of it, all of you will face dire consequences!"


    The [Soul Warden] issued this threat to the powerful souls locked within the cells of the core region before departing.


    The [Soul Warden] knew all too well that these powerful souls would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to attempt an escape during his absence.


    But aside from issuing threats, there was little else he could do to prevent it.


    He couldn''t afford to let Jeremy and his group continue advancing any further into the [Soul Prison].


    After delivering his warning, the [Soul Warden] transformed into a brilliant blue light and vanished swiftly.


    As soon as the [Soul Warden] left, a series of loud noises echoed from the cells in the core region of the [Soul Prison].


    It was clear that the souls within were already trying to break free from their confinements.


    In no time, the [Soul Warden] appeared before Jeremy and hispanions, taking on its most powerful form to block their path.


    "You should never havee here! Leave at once! If you refuse to go, I will annihte youpletely. Your souls don''t even deserve a ce in the [Soul Prison].


    I will cast your souls into the depths of the chasm! There, your souls will endure eternal torment! I believe you''ve already witnessed the souls in the depths of the chasm suffering such eternal agony, haven''t you?


    You won''t survive that torment!"


    Faced with the sudden appearance of the [Soul Warden], Jeremy and his group didn''t waste any words.


    They knew without a doubt that the [Soul Warden] was aplete enemy.


    Against such an adversary, there was no room for hesitation.


    Without a second thought, theyunched their attack!

 Chapter 301 The Power of a Mighty Soul

    Before the [Soul Warden] could finish its speech, the wounded war god had already charged forward with his weapon aimed directly at the [Soul Warden].


    The war god had regained a portion of his strength, and he believed he could use his weapon tond a significant blow on the [Soul Warden].


    In an instant, the wounded war god closed the distance and swung his weapon at the [Soul Warden''s] foot.


    His attack found its mark, and the [Soul Warden] let out a howl of pain.


    However, before the war god could even smile, he was ovee with immense pain at the soul level.


    He could feel the [Soul Warden] attempting to rip his soul from his body.


    "You insolent fool! How dare you strike me?! Even though most of your soul has already been stripped away, I can still tear what remains of it from your body!"


    The remnants of the war god''s soul were slowly being drawn out of his body.


    Ritchie and Jeremy, witnessing this, were understandably rmed.


    They couldn''t just stand idly by; at the same moment, they both resolved to attack the [Soul Warden].


    Ritchie manipted the surrounding shadows, sending them to assault the [Soul Warden], while Jeremy used his [King of Time and Space] ability to create a portal.


    After stepping through the portal, Jeremy emerged behind the [Soul Warden].


    Jeremy then produced his [Dark Core].


    Though the dark powers of the [Dark Core] had long dissipated, in the fog of history, the [Dark Core] had once severely wounded [Fool''s Angel].


    Some of [Fool''s Angel''s] power had been absorbed into the [Dark Core], and thus, the power now contained within it was identical to that of [Fool] himself.


    Jeremy decided to use his [King of Time and Space] ability to activate the power of [Fool] within the [Dark Core].


    By doing so, he hoped to strip the [Soul Warden] of its soul, as [Fool''s Angel] had once demonstrated the ability to tear souls from their bodies in the fog of history.


    Jeremy believed that [Fool''s] true powery in this ability to seize souls.


    As the [Dark Core] was activated, numerous ethereal, translucent ck threads shot out toward the [Soul Warden].


    These threads severely restricted the [Soul Warden''s] movements, forcing it into a defensive position.


    The [Soul Warden''s] movement speed rapidly slowed down.


    It seemed that his soul was being affected by the power within the [Dark Core].


    Forced to abandon his previous actions, the [Soul Warden] had no choice but to redirect his focus toward Jeremy and Ritchie, as they posed a far greater threat than the wounded war god.


    The war god, seizing the opportunity, managed to pull away from his confrontation with the [Soul Warden].


    He retreated to a safer distance, using the time to recover and stabilize himself.


    "You think you can defeat me this way? Do you really believe that stealing a fraction of the great [Fool''s] power will be enough to subdue me?"


    The [Soul Warden] sneered.


    "[Fool] is indeed a mighty force, but the power you''ve acquired is insignificant! I, too, can wield the power of [Fool]."


    As the [Soul Warden] spoke, he began using the same power that [Fool] had once possessed.


    The ethereal ck threads emitted by the [Dark Core] were swiftly severed.


    Witnessing this, Jeremy immediately took action.


    He had no intention of continuing the fight with the [Soul Warden].


    He decided it was time to press on deeper into the [Soul Prison] with Ritchie and the war god while the [Soul Warden''s] movements were still slowed.


    "Don''t waste any more time on him! We''ve already slowed him down. If he can''t catch up to us, we should just keep moving deeper into the [Soul Prison]!"


    Jeremy, having said this, activated his [King of Time and Space] ability to summon another [Portal].


    The moment the portal appeared, Jeremy didn''t wait for Ritchie or the war god¡ªhe stepped through immediately.


    This action enraged the [Soul Warden].


    He concentrated all of his immense soul power, attempting to use it to trap Jeremy within his reach.


    The powerful soul energy even warped the space-time around them.


    As a result, Jeremy''s portal failed to transport him to the depths of the [Soul Prison] as intended.


    Instead, the portal only moved him a short distance away from the [Soul Warden]¡ªjust far enough to create some distance, but not enough to guarantee his safety.


    Jeremy was visibly shocked by the portal''s failure.


    He looked toward the [Soul Warden] with an expression of disbelief.


    The [Soul Warden], in turn, red back at Jeremy, his eyes filled with fury.


    "You are far too reckless! I will never let you leave here alive! Not only will I destroy your souls, but I will also obliterate every ounce of power you possess!"


    The [Soul Warden] roared, and with his bellow, countless monsters appeared around Jeremy and hispanions. These creatures had no physical form; they were entirely manifestations of soul energy.


    Seeing the sudden appearance of these monsters, Jeremy turned his gaze toward Ritchie.


    "What are you standing around for?! Use your shadow maniption abilities to slow these monsters down!"


    Snapped out of his stupor by Jeremy''s urgency, Ritchie immediately activated his shadow control ability, managing to slow down the movements of the monsters summoned by the [Soul Warden].


    The wounded war god, seeing this, wasted no time and began attacking the monsters around him.


    Despite not receiving direct orders from Jeremy, the war god''s extensivebat experience allowed him to make the best tactical decisions on his own.


    With thebined efforts of Jeremy, Ritchie, and the wounded war god, they swiftly eliminated the monsters the [Soul Warden] had summoned.


    At the same time, the [Soul Warden] finally managed to shake off the effects of the [Dark Core].


    Now, the [Soul Warden] transformed into a colossal, ethereal projection, sorge that his form seemed to stretch beyond the confines of the [Soul Prison] itself.


    With immense soul power, the [Soul Warden''s] massive form lunged toward Jeremy in a direct assault.


    During the previous battle, the [Soul Warden] had identified Jeremy as the strongest of the three.


    He knew that only by defeating Jeremy could he ensure his victory.


    Faced with the [Soul Warden''s] full-force attack, Jeremy was overwhelmed.


    However, no matter how difficult the situation became, Jeremy refused to back down.


    He had to block the [Soul Warden''s] attack; only by doing so could he ensure any chance of sess in their mission.


    Though Ritchie and the wounded war god couldn''t directly aid Jeremy in repelling the attack, they could still use their abilities to disrupt the [Soul Warden''s] movements.


    Any interference would reduce the pressure on Jeremy, giving him a better chance to withstand the onught.


    As the battle raged between the [Soul Warden] and Jeremy''s group, several cells in the deepest part of the [Soul Prison] began to exhibit signs of instability.


    Under the relentless assault of the powerful souls, the seals on the prison cells were finally broken.


    At least two powerful souls managed to escape their confinement.


    Instead of choosing to fight the [Soul Warden], these escaped souls swiftly made their way toward the upper levels of the [Tower of Exile].


    These powerful souls had a deeper understanding of the [Tower of Exile] than Jeremy and hispanions.


    They knew well that to reim their full strength, they needed to head to the upper levels of the [Tower of Exile].


    At the moment the seals were breached, the [Soul Warden] became aware of the escape.


    He was both furious and anxious, roaring at Jeremy and hispanions,


    "You have no idea the disaster you''ve unleashed! The powerful and evil souls imprisoned in the depths of the [Soul Prison] have broken free!


    Those malevolent souls will threaten us all! Aren''t you afraid of being devoured by the [Soul Devourers]?"


    In response to the [Soul Warden''s] warning, Jeremy replied coldly,


    "From my perspective, those who escaped aren''t necessarily evil. So far, they haven''t posed any threat to us.


    The real evil here is you and your minions. We had no intention of bing your enemies, but you kept sending your creatures to attack us.


    No matter what you say, we won''t believe you. Our goal is simple: we''re here to destroy you once and for all!"


    In Jeremy''s mind, the escape of the powerful souls from the [Soul Prison] was a wee event.


    These powerful souls would inevitably be enemies of the monsters within the [Tower of Exile].


    The creatures of the [Tower of Exile] would be forced to confront these souls first, giving Jeremy and hispanions the perfect opportunity to advance quickly to the upper levels.


    Jeremy even considered the possibility of releasing all the souls trapped in the [Soul Prison].


    This would only further destabilize the situation within the [Tower of Exile].


    In such chaos, even [The White Tower] and its minions wouldn''t be able to focus their efforts on targeting Jeremy and his group. Find exclusive stories on m_v l|e-NovelBin


    Determined to fight the [Soul Warden] to the end, Jeremy and hispanions engaged the warden with full force, ensuring that the [Soul Warden] wouldn''t be able to break free from their assault anytime soon.

 Chapter 302 Chaotic Situation, Seizing the Opportunity

    As one powerful soul after another broke through the final barrier of the Soul Prison and ascended to the upper levels of the Tower of Exile, the pressure on the Soul Warden increased immensely.


    Eventually, the Soul Warden could no longer endure.


    He roared furiously in Jeremy''s direction, "I''ll remember you all! After I deal with the escaped souls of the evil gods, I''lle back and destroy everyst one of you!"


    No sooner had the words left his mouth than the Soul Warden transformed into a blue streak and dashed towards the entrance of the upper levels of the Tower of Exile.


    Jeremy, of course, wasn''t going to let the Soul Warden seed that easily.


    Utilizing the innate powers of the King of Time and Space, Jeremy conjured a barrier made of intricate spatial dimensions.


    The Soul Warden mmed into the barrier.


    "What are you doing?! Are you really going to cooperate with the souls of those evil gods?!" The Soul Warden was baffled by Jeremy''s actions.


    From the Soul Warden''s perspective, since he wasn''t actively targeting Jeremy, Jeremy should have been relieved. Why was Jeremy now standing in his way? This was something the Soul Warden simply couldn''t understand.


    Jeremy smiled and replied, "Of course I''m going to stop you! But that doesn''t mean I''m teaming up with those powerful souls! I just want them to reach the upper levels of the Tower of Exile. That way, they can disrupt the White Tower''s ns against me!"


    With that, Jeremy summoned a portal and swiftly leaped into it, vanishing in an instant.


    The Soul Warden had no idea where Jeremy had teleported to, but his instinct told him Jeremy had gone to the upper levels of the Tower of Exile.


    "This barrier won''t hold me for long! I''ll tear it down and catch up to you! Then I''ll rip your soul from your body and lock it away in the deepest depths of the Soul Prison!"


    At that moment, the Soul Warden could no longer afford to pay attention to the injured God of War or Ritchie, who were both trying to interfere with him.


    Focusing all his strength and drawing upon a vast amount of soul energy, he obliterated the barrier ofplex spatial dimensions.


    He then flew rapidly toward the passage from the Soul Prison to the upper levels of the Tower of Exile.


    By now, the most powerful souls in the core cells of the Soul Prison had already escaped.


    These powerful souls would be difficult to track down, so it would be impossible for the Soul Warden to return to the Soul Prison anytime soon.


    The Soul Warden''s departure plunged the Soul Prison into chaos.


    The subordinates of the Soul Warden werepletely unable to handle the chaotic situation, so they all fled to the safest ces they could find for themselves.


    This directly led to some of the more capable souls in the Soul Prison trying to break free from their cell restrictions.


    Amidst the turmoil, the injured God of War quickly made a decision.


    "I must find my soul! Only by retrieving my soul can my strength be restored quickly!" the injured God of War dered, revealing his n to Ritchie.


    Ritchie hesitated slightly.


    He didn''t know where Jeremy had gone, but his thoughts were simr to the Soul Warden''s. He also believed that Jeremy had most likely ascended to the upper levels of the Tower of Exile.


    Under normal circumstances, Ritchie would have to follow Jeremy''s lead.


    Thus, Ritchie wanted the injured God of War to apany him to the upper levels of the Tower of Exile.


    However, Ritchie also understood that for the injured God of War, reiming his soul was the top priority.


    After a brief moment of hesitation, Ritchie ultimately decided to offer his assistance to the injured God of War.


    "You''re right, recovering your soul is the most important thing! I''ll cooperate with you. I believe your soul is most likely being held near the core of the Soul Prison," Ritchie shared his judgment.


    The injured God of War nodded, "You''re absolutely right! Let''s head to the core area of the Soul Prison and investigate! Even if we don''t find it there, we can always question the other souls imprisoned here."


    With that, Ritchie and the injured God of War swiftly took action.


    Since all of the White Tower''s subordinates within the Soul Prison had already fled, their movements within the prison faced no obstacles.


    The two quickly reached the vicinity of the core area of the Soul Prison.


    There, they encountered many imprisoned deity souls. Some of these deity souls were on the verge ofplete dissipation, while others remained rtively intact.


    Some of the souls were desperately trying to break the seals of their cells, while others hadpletely given up.


    When these souls saw Ritchie and the injured God of War, they all hoped to gain their help.


    "Hurry and break the seals on our cells! If you free us, we can help you gain immense power!"


    "Help me first! I can make your wishese true! Before I was imprisoned here, I was the God of Wishes!"


    "Don''t listen to him! He''s deceiving you! I''m the one who truly wants to help you! If you free me from this cell, I will give you the chance to change history! I can grant you the ability to travel through time and space!"


    Faced with the desperate pleas of these deity souls imprisoned within the cells, neither Ritchie nor the injured God of War made any decisions.


    They didn''t believe a single word these deity souls were saying.


    After searching through the core area of the prison for a while, they finally found the injured God of War''s soul, locked inside one of the cells.


    At this point, the injured God of War''s soul had be almostpletely translucent, a sign that it was on the verge of vanishing altogether.


    The moment the injured God of War saw his soul, he rushed to the edge of the cell.


    "Can you hear me? Are you my soul? If you''re my soul, we can merge right now!"


    As the injured God of War spoke these words, the translucent soul inside the cell lifted its head.


    Their eyes met, and then, without warning, the injured God of War''s soul passed through the cell''s seal.


    Finally, the injured God of War reimed his soul, and with it, his power began to rapidly return.


    Ritchie, standing beside the injured God of War, instinctively took a step back.


    He could feel it¡ªthe power of the injured God of War had grown beyond anything he could have imagined.


    As his strength returned, the injured God of War''s body also began to growrger.


    After a few minutes, his form stopped expanding.


    The injured God of War finally opened his eyes, taking a deep breath.


    "I''m back to my true self atst! All my memories have returned! I will have my revenge on the Fool and the White Tower!"


    The injured God of War''s voice was filled with anger as he said this.


    After speaking, he turned his gaze toward Ritchie.


    "Thank you so much for your help, and the help of yourpanion! Without your assistance, I never could have reimed my soul! So from now on, I will continue to fight alongside you!"


    At this point, the God of War could no longer be called the "injured" God of War. After retrieving his soul, all of his wounds hadpletely healed. His outlook had also be much more positive than before.


    "Now that you''ve regained your soul, we should head to the upper levels of the Tower of Exile immediately. Whether it''s finding Jeremy or seeking revenge on the Fool and the White Tower, we need to make our way to the top," Ritchie said with a smile.


    The God of War nodded in agreement.


    "You''re right! Let''s move quickly then!"


    Without warning, the God of War reached out and grabbed Ritchie by the arm.


    Ritchie''s expression shifted dramatically¡ªhe didn''t understand why the God of War was doing this.


    But before Ritchie could voice his confusion, the God of Warunched forward at lightning speed, dragging Ritchie along with him.


    In less than a minute, they reached the far end of the Soul Prison.


    "This is much faster! If I had let you follow me on foot, it would''ve taken at least fifteen minutes to get here. Time is of the essence for us, and we can''t afford to waste even a second," the God of War exined once they arrived at the prison''s exit.


    Ritchie, still looking pale, nodded reluctantly.


    Though Ritchie agreed with the God of War''s reasoning, his expression was one of difort. The rapid movement had made him feel queasy, as though he had been seasick.


    The God of War hadn''t warned him about the sudden speed, so Ritchie hadn''t braced himself for the ride. Being whisked along at such velocity had left him feeling nauseous, much like motion sickness.


    After taking a moment to recover, Ritchie spoke up.


    "We can proceed to the upper levels of the Tower of Exile now, right? I''ve regained myposure, so there''s no need to wait any longer."


    The God of War assessed Ritchie''s condition. Once satisfied that he was fully recovered, he led Ritchie through the massive doors at the end of the Soul Prison.


    Together, they entered the middle levels of the Tower of Exile, where even stronger enemies awaited them. But neither of them had any intention of backing down.

 Chapter 303 The Method to Save the Goddess of Life

    After the God of War and Ritchie left the Soul Prison, the souls within it gradually calmed down.


    They were no longer as agitated as before, for they understood that the most powerful beings had already departed. No matter how hard they tried, they would never be able to break free from their cell seals.


    The subordinates of the Soul Warden, now feeling safe, finally dared to emerge from their hiding spots.


    With all the stronger entities gone, these creatures, loyal to the Soul Warden, resumed their aimless wandering through the Soul Prison.


    But just then, Jeremy appeared behind a few of the Soul Warden''s minions.


    "Did you really think I would leave so easily? There''s someone far more important in the Soul Prison who still needs my help! And since you''vee out, I might as well take care of you too."


    As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, he swiftly eliminated the Soul Warden''s subordinates.


    Against these rtively weak creatures, Jeremy didn''t even need to unleash his true power.


    All he had to do was use his innate ability as the King of Time and Space to create a series of temporal and spatial rifts, effortlessly wiping out the monsters.


    After disposing of most of the Soul Warden''s minions, Jeremy quickly made his way to the outermost part of the Soul Prison.


    There, he stood before the imprable cell of the [Goddess of Life].


    At this moment, the Goddess of Life was slowly awakening from her long slumber.


    The chaotic disturbances within the Soul Prison had helped her regain some of her strength.


    Seeing Jeremy again, the Goddess of Life smiled.


    "It seems your mission has been sessful. Why have you returned to me? Shouldn''t you be advancing to the upper levels of the Tower of Exile? If I''m not mistaken, yourpanions have already gone ahead," she said softly.


    Jeremy nodded.


    "You''re right, mypanions have already moved towards the upper levels of the Tower of Exile. But I felt that I had toe back to save you! In the fog of history, without your help, I would have died long ago.


    I''m not someone who forgets his debts, and no matter what, I have to find a way to rescue you before leaving the Soul Prison. If the other powerful souls can escape, surely your soul can as well."


    Jeremy made no attempt to hide his intentions.


    His recent actions were solely aimed at ensuring all the powerful beings left the Soul Prison. Only after they had vacated the prison could his n seed.


    The [Goddess of Life] gazed at Jeremy with gentle eyes.


    "I knew I wasn''t wrong about you! You are indeed someone who repays kindness. However, I must remind you, saving me will take a great deal of time. Even if you do manage to free me, I won''t be able to offer much help in the uing battles. Most of my power has been stolen by the Fool. Even if my soul escapes this prison, I will only regain a fraction of my divine strength.


    In the final confrontation, there''s no way I can defeat the Fool."


    Jeremy smiled in response to the Goddess of Life''s warning.


    "I''m not saving you because I expect your helpter. I''m saving you to repay a debt of gratitude. So, don''t worry about anything else. Just tell me how I can rescue you!"


    Seeing Jeremy''s firm resolve, the Goddess of Life had no reason to withhold the information any longer.


    "Although my cell is outside the Soul Prison, you need two keys to unlock it. One key is located in the deepest part of the Soul Prison, guarded by a powerful monster. However, I believe with your current strength, you should be able to defeat it easily. The second key is in the core area of the Soul Prison. At the farthest end of the prison, you''ll find a red key.


    Once you obtain that red key, you''ll be able to open any cell within the Soul Prison."


    Jeremy nodded and immediately set off.


    He first ventured to the deepest part of the Soul Prison, where he indeed encountered a formidable monster. However, the monster''s strength had already been significantly weakened.


    During the earlier chaos in the prison, this powerful creature had attempted to stop the souls of the evil gods from escaping. But clearly, it had failed in its mission.


    Moreover, during the battle, the monster had been severely wounded by the souls of the evil gods.


    Jeremy easily dispatched the creature without breaking a sweat.


    After defeating the monster, Jeremy found the first key on its body.


    He then opened a portal and quickly made his way to the core area of the Soul Prison.


    At the far end of the prison, he found the red key that the Goddess of Life had mentioned.


    When Jeremy grasped the red key in his hand, he suddenly felt an immense surge of soul power. It seemed that the red key had the ability to seal away powerful souls using this very soul energy.


    Jeremy carefully examined the red key.


    However, he didn''t find anything unusual about it beyond the powerful energy it radiated.


    Ultimately, Jeremy decided to return to the cell where the [Goddess of Life] was imprisoned, bringing both keys with him.


    Jeremy used the two keys to unlock the Goddess of Life''s cell.


    The moment the cell opened, the Goddess of Life''s power surged dramatically.


    All around the cell, withered nts suddenly sprang back to life, rapidly growing and flourishing as they absorbed the life energy now emanating from her.


    Seeing this, Jeremy finally allowed a small smile to spread across his face.


    "You''re finally free! Now, I can continue on my journey. With your current power, you should be able to ensure your own safety!"


    As Jeremy said this, he prepared to move forward.


    He felt an urgent need to catch up with the God of War and Ritchie, who were navigating the middle levels of the Tower of Exile without him¡ªa highly risky situation.


    While Jeremy trusted the strength of the God of War, he remained uneasy about Ritchie''s ability to handle himself in such dangerous territory.


    "Wait!" the Goddess of Life called out. "Though I can''t offer you much direct help in the battles ahead, I want to give you something to show my gratitude."


    The Goddess of Life slowly approached Jeremy, cing a glowing green gemstone into his hand.


    "As long as you carry this gemstone, it will constantly grant you life force. Even if you''re wounded, your injuries will gradually heal. If you ever find yourself gravely injured, just shatter the gemstone. When broken, the life force inside willpletely heal you," the Goddess of Life exined.


    Jeremy nodded firmly, understanding the gemstone''s power. He then summoned a portal and stepped through, teleporting to the middle levels of the Tower of Exile.


    After Jeremy''s departure, the Goddess of Life sighed.


    She knew that Jeremy''s path ahead was filled with immense danger. Even though he was a capable individual, she couldn''t help but doubt whether he would seed in achieving his goals in theing trials.


    However, after the [Goddess of Life] sighed, she realized she should do something to help Jeremy.


    "At the very least, I need to ensure that no enemies remain within the Soul Prison."


    Determined, the Goddess of Life decided to cleanse the Soul Prison of all its enemies.


    Not only that, but she also nned to transform the Soul Prison into a fortress.


    Now free from any restrictions, the Goddess of Life unleashed her powerful life force, causing countless nts to grow and spread throughout the entire Soul Prison.


    All of the cells in the Soul Prison were quickly enveloped in vegetation.


    As for the remaining subordinates of the Soul Warden, they were swiftly eliminated by the nts summoned by the Goddess of Life.


    She then used the remnants of the Soul Warden''s minions to create nt creatures, one after another.


    These creatures would serve as her temporary subordinates.


    Once everything was in ce, the Goddess of Life concealed herself in an inconspicuous location within the Soul Prison.


    From there, she could control everything within the prison. Even if the Soul Warden returned, she could now stand her ground and face him directly with the defenses she had set up.


    Jeremy, however, waspletely unaware of everything that had transpired within the Soul Prison.


    When Jeremy arrived at the middle levels of the [Tower of Exile], he found the environment to be vastly different from what he had anticipated.


    The middle levels were wide open, with a massive staircase spiraling upward from the lowest level all the way into the sky.


    "The top of the staircase must lead to the uppermost level of the Tower of Exile! But I suspect climbing that staircase will be incredibly difficult. There must be countless traps along the way," Jeremy quickly surmised.


    After observing the sky-bound staircase for a moment, Jeremy extended his [Divine Consciousness], searching for hispanions. Your next chapter is on mvl


    He didn''t immediately see any trace of the God of War or Ritchie.


    Jeremy assumed they wouldn''t have attempted to climb the staircase so easily, so they were likely hiding somewhere nearby.


    Before long, Jeremy detected Ritchie''s presence.


    But Ritchie didn''t appear to be in good condition.


    Even though Jeremy couldn''t directly see him, he could sense that Ritchie was in some kind of trouble¡ªhe was currently controlling arge number of shadows in battle.

 Chapter 304 The Massive Mechanical Army

    Upon noticing Ritchie''s abnormal condition, Jeremy moved toward him as quickly as possible.


    It wasn''t long before Jeremy realized that there seemed to be a vast number of mechanical monsters surrounding him. And these strange creatures were all at least level 40.


    Although Jeremy himself was above level 50, he knew that when faced with such arge number of level 40 mechanical monsters, he needed to be extremely cautious.


    This was because even a level 40 mechanical monster possessed a significant amount of High-Dimensional Data, and when such data was gathered inrge quantities, it could form a terrifying enemy.


    "What on earth is going on? Why are there so many mechanical monsters gathered here? Could it be that the powerful soul of the evil god, which escaped from the soul prison, is trapped here?" Jeremy muttered to himself, deeply puzzled.


    In Jeremy''s mind, only when dealing with the souls of exceptionally strong evil gods would there be a need to amass so many mechanical monsters in one ce.


    Despite his spections, Jeremy refrained from acting rashly.


    He cautiously approached the direction where the mechanical monsters were congregating. From this position, he could observe the situation more clearly while avoiding detection by the mechanical monsters.


    From his vantage point, Jeremy saw countless mechanical monstersunching attacks on a towering spire. Inside the spire, an endless number of spells were being cast.


    "Could it be that Ritchie and the God of War are trapped inside the spire? If that''s the case, then they''re likely imprisoned with other powerful souls as well," Jeremy thought, his mind racing as he took in the scene.


    After assessing the situation, Jeremy made a swift decision. He immediately activated his "King of Time and Space" ability, creating a shimmering portal in front of him.


    Jeremy passed through the portal, arriving directly inside the spire.


    His actions were extremely risky, but if he wanted to understand the situation as quickly as possible, he knew he had to take on great risks.


    The moment Jeremy stepped out of the portal, he felt the overwhelming force of a powerful soul assaulting him.


    Before he could react, an unknown force pulled him to the side.


    Once Jeremy regained his senses, he realized that it was the God of War who had dragged him to safety. The powerful soul he had sensed earlier wasing from another powerful entity within the spire.


    "What the hell is going on? Why are you trapped here?" Jeremy asked the God of War and Ritchie, now that he had a better grasp of the situation.


    In Jeremy''s mind, even though the God of War was known for being reckless, Ritchie should have been more careful. At the very least, Ritchie should have ensured that he wouldn''t get stuck in this spire-shaped structure.


    The God of War remained silent, his expression heavy with concern.


    Ritchie, on the other hand, looked a bit embarrassed as he exined, "After we left the soul prison, we tracked the footsteps of other powerful souls and headed toward the upper levels of the Tower of Exile. Initially, we didn''t encounter any mechanical monsters.


    But when we reached the area around this spire, the other powerful souls suddenly stopped. To ensure our own safety, we stopped as well.


    Not long after, a massive number of mechanical monsters surrounded us. We had no way to break through the encirclement because there were simply too many of them. Find more to read at mvl


    Also, staying inside the spire offers some protection from these powerful souls. At least for now, we share amon enemy with them."


    Ritchie''s exnation finally made everything clear to Jeremy.


    Jeremy let out a sigh. "The enemy of my enemy is sometimes my friend, but that doesn''t necessarily mean they''re always on our side. However, we don''t have much choice right now. The only thing we can do is help those powerful souls fend off the surrounding mechanical monsters.


    Honestly, I don''t even think we should call them mechanical monsters. They''re more like part of a massive mechanical army.


    We need to get out of here immediately! More mechanical monsters will gather as time goes on. If we don''t escape soon, we''ll never get out."


    Jeremy''s words resonated with both Ritchie and the God of War. They knew Jeremy could lead them to safety, especially since they were aware of his "King of Time and Space" ability.


    Jeremy scanned the surroundings onest time to ensure no one could attack them. Satisfied, he activated his "King of Time and Space" talent.


    A slightly shimmering portal appeared in the space between Jeremy, Ritchie, and the God of War.


    The moment the portal appeared, Ritchie instinctively moved to step through it, but the God of War quickly grabbed him by the arm.


    "Something feels off. Do you really think this portal is going to transport us to a safe ce?" the God of War asked, eyeing the portal warily before turning his gaze to Jeremy.


    Jeremy didn''t immediately respond. In truth, he wasn''t sure of the answer himself.


    Both Jeremy and the God of War had noticed something peculiar about the portal. Under normal circumstances, the portals Jeremy summoned were supposed to be extremely stable, ensuring safe passage to their destination. However, the one standing before them now was anything but stable.


    An unstable portal could easily transport anyone who entered it to an unknown and potentially dangerous location. And in the Tower of Exile, an unknown location usually spelled extreme peril.


    Upon seeing the concern on both Jeremy and the God of War''s faces, Ritchie started to piece things together as well.


    With a hint of worry in his voice, he turned to Jeremy. "If the portal isn''t reliable, what should we do next? Are we just going to stay here? You said earlier that staying here would only make things more dangerous."


    Jeremy, feeling a bit agitated, ran through his options. In his mind, things weren''t supposed to turn out this badly. After a few moments of contemtion, Jeremy spoke up.


    "With my power alone, I can''t stabilize the portal. So, we might need to coborate with the other powerful souls inside this spire."


    Without waiting for a response, Jeremy moved toward one of the powerful souls nearby. The powerful soul noticed Jeremy''s presence but didn''t pay much attention to him, continuing its relentless assault on the mechanical monsters surrounding the spire.


    "I believe we need to leave here as quickly as possible! Staying any longer will only make things worse. I can generate a portal, but I can''t maintain its stability on my own. If you''re willing to cooperate, we can stabilize the portal together and escape this dangerous area."


    Jeremy proposed his n directly, hoping to appeal to the soul''s sense of urgency.


    However, the powerful soulpletely ignored him, too focused on fighting the mechanical monsters.


    Frustrated but not defeated, Jeremy turned to seek assistance from the other powerful souls in the spire.


    However, much to Jeremy''s surprise, the other powerful souls also chose not to cooperate with him. It seemed that, in their minds, staying within the spire was the safest option.


    Jeremy returned to Ritchie and the God of War, empty-handed.


    Ritchie''s mood had darkened considerably by this point. He couldn''t shake the feeling that it was his rash actions that had brought them into this dire situation.


    "If only I had thought things through more carefully while we were still in the soul prison, we might not be in this huge mess now," Ritchie said, his voice heavy with regret.


    The God of War shook his head. "You can''t me yourself for this! I supported your n, too. If your actions led us into this crisis, then part of the responsibility falls on me as well."


    "That''s enough! Now is not the time for the two of you to argue over who''s to me!" Jeremy cut them off, his tone sharp.


    In Jeremy''s view, there was no point in debating responsibility at this critical moment. Instead, their focus should be on finding a way out of the situation.


    Just as Jeremy finished speaking, a loud crash echoed from the base of the spire. All three of them could feel the structure begin to tilt at a noticeable angle.


    "It looks like things have gone from bad to worse! This spire is about to be destroyed by the mechanical monsters! We can''t afford to hesitate any longer!


    As dangerous as it might be to pass through an unstable portal, I believe staying here is far more dangerous! You two, follow me through the portal!"


    With that, Jeremy activated his "King of Time and Space" ability once again. Though he put all his strength into it this time, the portal he generated was still dangerously unstable.


    The God of War nced at the flickering portal but quickly made up his mind. Without hesitation, he was the first to step through.


    Seeing the God of War go, Ritchie followed closely behind, stepping into the portal as well.


    As both of them passed through, the portal became even more unstable. Just as it was about to copse, Jeremy made his move and leapt through.


    The moment Jeremy crossed the portal, the spire they had just been in copsed behind them, with a torrent of mechanical monsters surging into the rubble.

 Chapter 305 The Hanged Mans Warning

    Apanied by a sharp, pounding headache, Jeremy felt a surge of information flood into his mind. Although passing through the portal had taken only a brief moment, the overwhelming flow of data made Jeremy feel as though he had experienced a far longer passage of time.


    When he emerged from the portal, his mind was in a fog, his thoughts scattered.


    "What''s wrong? You don''t look well. Did something happen to your body?" the God of War and Ritchie asked in unison, concern etched on their faces.


    Jeremy shook his head, still trying to regain hisposure. Though he hadn''t fully recovered, he knew he had to appear calm in front of hispanions.


    "My body is fine. It''s probably just the instability of the portal causing me some headaches. But I''m feeling better now. We should assess our surroundings. We need to figure out where we are as quickly as possible."


    Jeremy''s words snapped both Ritchie and the God of War back to the pressing matter at hand. They needed to identify their current location immediately.


    The environment around them was strange, unlike anything they had encountered before. While they could still sense a presence of High-Dimensional Data, it seemed to be cloaked in a thick mist, a fog that was unlike the familiar historical mists they had encountered in the Tower of Exile.


    After surveying the area, Jeremy began to suspect that they were no longer inside the Tower of Exile.


    "Could it be that we''ve been forced out of the Tower of Exile? Did the [White Tower] use this method to expel us?" Jeremy murmured, disbelief evident in his tone.


    Both Ritchie and the God of War exchanged shocked looks upon hearing Jeremy''s suggestion.


    "That can''t be true, can it? If we''ve been kicked out of the Tower of Exile, then our entire n haspletely failed! And how is it that the God of War is still with us? Shouldn''t he have returned to his own ne by now?" Ritchie immediately pointed out the ws in Jeremy''s theory.


    The God of War nodded in agreement, his expression still serious.


    "You''re right, Ritchie. If we had been kicked out of the Tower of Exile, I would''ve returned to my own world. There''s no way I''d still be here with you," the God of War stated firmly.


    Just as the words left his mouth, all three of them felt an intense energy fluctuation from ahead.


    Amidst the violent waves of energy, a ck, upside-down figure appeared in the distance, not far from where they stood.


    The moment Jeremy saw the figure, he immediately recognized it. Standing before them was another nner of the apocalypse game and a deity of immense power: [The Hanged Man]!


    Jeremy quickly steeled himself for battle, calling out to Ritchie and the God of War, "Prepare yourselves for a fight! Our enemy has shown up! That upside-down shadow is who we''re up against!"


    Ritchie and the God of War reacted instantly. Both took a step back, weapons drawn, with the God of War already slipping into a focusedbat stance.


    Despite their immediate readiness, [The Hanged Man] didn''t seem intent on attacking. His massive, shadowy figure remained concealed within the dark fog.


    Jeremy could feel [The Hanged Man]''s gaze fixed on him, but there was no sense of hostility. It was as if the deity wasn''t interested in wiping them out just yet.


    After a tense standoff, Jeremy took a bold step forward and shouted, "What''s your purpose in being here? Did you interfere with the portal I created? Are you trying to trap us here?"


    As soon as Jeremy asked his questions, [The Hanged Man]''s shadow shifted slightly. A cold, emotionless, and massive eye appeared within the fog, fixing its gaze on Jeremy and hispanions.


    The eye observed them intently, as if weighing their every move.


    After what felt like an eternity, a deep, ancient, and terrifying voice echoed from the eye. "You guessed correctly. I interfered with your portal. I''ve sent you all into the abyss."


    [The Hanged Man]''s words stunned the trio.


    Jeremy''s face betrayed a hint of fear as he hurriedly nced down at his feet, suddenly realizing the gravity of their situation.


    As Jeremy nced down, he realized that beneath his feet there wasn''t solid ground, but a shifting mass of ck liquid. This could only mean one thing¡ªthey were indeed in the abyss.


    At the same moment, Ritchie and the God of War also realized where they had ended up. Panic set in quickly.


    Ritchie tried to manipte the shadows around him, attempting to free himself from the abyss''s grip. But his efforts were in vain¡ªshadows in the abyss were immobile.


    The God of War''s breathing grew erratic. In his own world, he had heard tales of the abyss. He knew that entering the abyss meant almost certain doom, with escape being nearly impossible. His instinct was to flee immediately.


    "You don''t need to struggle. Without my permission, none of you can leave the abyss. And rest assured, I harbor no hostility towards you. I brought you here merely to give you a warning," [The Hanged Man] said, his voice chillingly calm.


    Jeremy, Ritchie, and the God of War were all perplexed by this statement.


    "Why would you warn us?" Jeremy asked bluntly. "Shouldn''t you be working with [The White Tower] to destroy the three of us?"


    [The Hanged Man] let out a sharp, mockingugh.


    "[The White Tower] isn''t worthy of my cooperation! Guarding the Tower of Exile is his responsibility, not mine. So, even if you were to destroy the Tower of Exile, it has nothing to do with me," [The Hanged Man] replied, his disdain for [The White Tower] evident.


    This revtion gave Jeremy a new understanding of the dynamics between the nners of the apocalypse game. It seemed that [The Hanged Man] looked down on [The White Tower], seeing him as insignificant.


    Sensing an opportunity, Jeremy decided to press for more information.


    "In that case, you should send us back to the Tower of Exile!"


    "Don''t be so impatient," [The Hanged Man] replied coolly. "I''ll send you back once I''ve given you my warning. Besides, I believe my interference has already done you a favor. Without me, you would have fallen right into [The White Tower]''s trap. Did you really think he couldn''t block your portal?"


    There was a certain logic in [The Hanged Man]''s words, and Jeremy nodded slowly in agreement, realizing the depth of the situation.


    "I certainly owe you my thanks. Now, would you kindly tell us your warning?" Jeremy asked.


    [The Hanged Man]''s massive shadow suddenly loomed closer, his cold, emotionless eye transforming into a spectral blue glow that merged back into his shadowy figure.


    "The warning is simple: do not, under any circumstances, interfere with [The Fool]''s ns. You are no match for the great [Fool]. If you meddle in his designs, you will all face a fate worse than death. And when that timees, I will also be your enemy."


    After delivering his ominous message, [The Hanged Man] vanished as quickly as he had appeared.


    In an instant, Jeremy, Ritchie, and the God of War were transported back to the Tower of Exile. This time, they found themselves in a rtively safe zone, with no mechanical monsters or powerful evil souls in sight.


    As they regained their bearings, both Ritchie and the God of War were visibly confused.


    Ritchie was the first to speak, his toneced with disbelief. "That warning from [The Hanged Man] seemspletely unnecessary. Does he honestly think that one sentence is going to stop us from opposing [The Fool]? Is he really that naive?"


    Before Jeremy could respond, the God of War interjected, his voice calm and thoughtful. "I don''t think he''s naive at all. The reason you see it that way is because you didn''t grasp his true meaning."


    Ritchie scoffed and replied with a hint of sarcasm, "Oh? And what do you think his ''true meaning'' is? Are you suggesting he''s actually encouraging us to go against [The Fool]? As one of the nners of the apocalypse game, would he really do that?"


    Before the God of War could respond, Jeremy nodded, his expression serious.


    "I think that might actually be what he meant," Jeremy said, his words leaving Ritchie stunned, though the God of War seemed far less surprised.


    "Think about it," Jeremy continued. "The power within the Tower of Exile is only essible to [The Fool] and [The White Tower]. This means that the other nners of the apocalypse game have no way of tapping into that power. Do you really think they''d be content to miss out on such an opportunity for greater strength? I highly doubt it.


    So, the other nners would likely be more than happy to see us destroy the Tower of Exile."


    Jeremy''s reasoning left Ritchie even more shocked. However, after a moment of reflection, Ritchie began to see the logic in his argument.


    The cooperation between the apocalypse game nners wasn''t as tight-knit as it might seem. There was fiercepetition among them. It wasn''t so far-fetched to imagine that [The Hanged Man] would be happy to see the Tower of Exile fall, especially if it meant [The Fool] and [The White Tower] would lose their exclusive hold on its power.


    The idea that [The Hanged Man] might be using them as pawns to achieve this goal no longer seemed so unreasonable.

 Chapter 306 Mechanical Tutor

    In the middleyer of the Tower of Exile, the spire-like building where Jeremy and the others had previously been was nowpletely destroyed. Surrounding the area were countless mechanical monsters, encircling the souls of several powerful evil gods.


    Even though the protection of the spire was gone, the powerful evil gods'' souls were not willing to give up so easily. They believed they still had sufficient strength to fight. In fact, their assessment wasn''t entirely wrong.


    While the number of mechanical monsters was overwhelming, individually, each one was rtively weak. Even though these mechanical monsters were besieging the evil gods'' souls, they couldn''t quickly eliminate them. Thus, on the ruins of the spire, the powerful evil gods fended off wave after wave of mechanical monster attacks, relying on the sheer strength of their souls.


    After about half an hour, a portal made entirely of High-Dimensional Data suddenly appeared not far from the battlefield. From the portal stepped a slender young woman, dressed in a pink dress. She nced at the battlefield with a hint of annoyance and muttered to herself.


    "I can''t believe these little ones still haven''t managed to take out those damned evil god souls! Looks like I''ll have to handle this myself!"


    As soon as she finished speaking, the young woman transformed into a massive Deluge of Data,posed entirely of High-Dimensional Data. This powerful Deluge of Data rapidly surged toward the ruins of the spire.


    The arrival of the Deluge of Data,posed of High-Dimensional Data, caught everyone''s attention on the battlefield. The mechanical monsters simultaneously halted their attacks. They began to split off portions of their own High-Dimensional Data, all of which merged into the Deluge of Data.


    Ultimately, the formidable Deluge of Data obliterated one of the evil god''s souls, while the remaining souls used the opportunity to escape. With that, the battle around the spire came to an end.


    The Deluge of Data,posed of High-Dimensional Data, once again reverted to the form of the young woman. She smiled as she looked at the surrounding mechanical monsters and said, "The enemies here have been dealt with! Go and search for enemy traces elsewhere!"


    With hermand, most of the mechanical monsters quickly scattered to continue their search elsewhere.


    A few of the stronger mechanical monsters remained around the young woman. Among them, a Mechanical Rampage Beast bowed its head humbly and asked, "Master Tutor, have youe here personally because the great deity is angry with us for our slow progress?"


    The young woman, addressed as the tutor, walked over to the Mechanical Rampage Beast that had just spoken. She tapped it on the head.


    "Since you already know the answer, why bother asking such a redundant question?" she replied, her tone lighthearted. However, her next words were far colder and more severe.


    "What exactly are you doing? Why did you let the intruders escape? Do you not realize that those damned intruders are our greatest enemy? The White Tower is furious at your ipetence! I came here to help you track down the intruders. They are carrying a map that is of great importance to the deity.


    We must recover that map as soon as possible."


    The young woman''s words ced immense pressure on the surrounding mechanical monsters.


    "As a Mechanical Tutor, I will oversee all of your actions. As soon as you locate the intruders, I will immediatelye to your aid. Even if you cannot defeat them, I will ensure their destruction." The Mechanical Tutor, maintaining the form of the young woman, spoke in a more soothing tone to the mechanical monsters.


    Upon receiving these clear orders, the mechanical monsters dispersed. Among them were several Mechanical Rampage Beasts. While the Mechanical Rampage Beasts were incredibly fast, their ability to scout was rathercking. There were also mechanical sentinels, who possessed excellent scouting abilities but were very weak inbat when encountering enemies.


    Thus, thebination of Mechanical Rampage Beasts and mechanical sentinels was the ideal team for searching for intruders in the Tower of Exile. The Mechanical Tutor was well aware of this, which is why she specifically paired the Mechanical Rampage Beasts with the mechanical sentinels for their search efforts.


    As the Mechanical Rampage Beasts and sentinels moved into action, the Mechanical Tutor decided to head toward the ruins of the spire.


    She carefully searched through the rubble for a while before finding a stone stained with a trace of blood. The Mechanical Tutor brought the stone up close to her face, studying it intently.


    It didn''t take her long to deduce that the blood on the stone belonged to one of the intruders.


    "So, you''re just a mere human! A regr human, daring to intrude into the Tower of Exile¡ªhow utterly foolish! I''ll make sure you pay the price!" she snarled, crushing the stone in her hand.


    The Mechanical Tutor was not directly under themand of the White Tower. In fact, she was a subordinate of one of the three key assistants of the White Tower. Her original orders were only to find the intruders. However, the Mechanical Tutor feltpelled to do more than justplete her mission; she wanted to exceed expectations.


    She deliberately altered her mission objectives. In her mind, it wasn''t enough to merely locate the intruders¡ªshe had to eliminate them all. By doing so, both she and her master would surely win the favor of the White Tower.


    After acquiring DNA information from the blood, the Mechanical Tutor encoded the DNA into the High-Dimensional Data. She then disseminated this data widely.


    "I''ll find you soon enough! You intruders, prepare to meet your end!" she muttered to herself darkly, ring at the distant horizon.


    Meanwhile, in the middleyer of the Tower of Exile, about several kilometers away from the spire''s ruins, a ck portal suddenly materialized out of thin air. Jeremy, Ritchie, and the Warlord stepped out of the ck portal one after the other.


    Ritchie''s face showed a hint of confusion. After surveying their surroundings, he quietly asked Jeremy, "Should we really trust The Hanged Man? Didn''t you tell us before that no apocalypse game designer is ever to be trusted?"


    Jeremy nodded helplessly. "Yeah, I did say that. But our current situation is vastly different from before. Plus, we haven''t encountered immediate danger since entering the Tower of Exile. That means the information he provided is probably legit. If The Hanged Man really wanted to target us, he could''ve done so easily.


    The fact that he hasn''t means he likely has other motives."


    The Warlord nodded in agreement and continued from where Jeremy had left off.


    "I don''t think we need to overthink it right now. Since we''ve returned to the Tower of Exile, we should focus on moving towards the top of the tower. Whether The Hanged Man''s words are true or not, at least he''s given us some help. We don''t have to face waves of mechanical monsters anymore."


    Both Jeremy and Ritchie agreed with the Warlord''s sentiment. Without the threat of countless mechanical monsters, it only made sense to push forward quickly. And so, the three of them advanced swiftly through the middleyer of the Tower of Exile, making their way towards the upper levels.


    As they moved, Ritchie began to hear a faint voice, as though someone was calling his name. A dull headache suddenly crept up on him. Jeremy and the Warlord quickly noticed something was wrong with Ritchie.


    "What''s going on? You don''t look good at all. Could it be that The Hanged Man has really affected you negatively?" Jeremy asked, his concern evident.


    Ritchie responded with a slightly helpless tone, "I''m not sure what''s happening. I just feel like something is trying to force information into my brain."


    Ritchie''s words put both Jeremy and the Warlord on high alert. They were familiar enough with High-Dimensional Data to recognize that what Ritchie described sounded just like the effect of it infiltrating someone''s mind.


    "We may have already been marked by the enemy! We need to find a more strategic location. Fighting the enemy here would be foolish," the Warlord quickly assessed, scanning their surroundings before speaking to Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Jeremy nodded. "You''re right! Let''s head over to that hill nearby. From there, we can avoid getting surrounded, and even if there are a lot of enemies, we''ll have a smaller area to defend."


    With that, Jeremy and the Warlord swiftly guided Ritchie towards the nearby hill. Just as they reached the top, a massive surge of High-Dimensional Data appeared right where Ritchie had been standing moments before. The data rapidly formed into the shape of a young woman in a pink dress¡ªit was none other than the Mechanical Tutor, who had been relentlessly tracking Jeremy and hispanions.


    "So, this is where you rats have been hiding! Finding you wasn''t that hard after all," she sneered, her voice dripping with malice.

 Chapter 307 The Arrogant High-Tier Mechanical Monsters

    The moment the Mechanical Tutor appeared, it locked onto Jeremy and his group''s location.


    The Mechanical Tutor once again transformed into The Deluge of Data, a mass of High-Dimensional Data, and rushed toward Jeremy and the others with incredible speed.


    Jeremy and the War God were quick to sense the presence of the Mechanical Tutor. As a result, their movements became much faster than before. Before the Mechanical Tutor could catch up to them, they sessfully took cover at the base of the mountain.


    "Ritchie is your responsibility! I''ll handle the mechanical monsters chasing us!" Jeremy said quickly to the War God. "Even though this mechanical monster isposed of The Deluge of Data, I still have the power to defeat it."


    With that, Jeremy took out his data storage device, deciding to use the High-Dimensional Data within it to face the Mechanical Tutor head-on.


    After preparing everything, Jeremy activated his special skill, [The Mechanical Puppet Technique]. Under its control, the High-Dimensional Data from the storage device surged forward, directly colliding with the Deluge of Data that was the Mechanical Tutor.


    The sh of two powerful masses of High-Dimensional Data caused violent spatial distortions in the surrounding area.


    Eventually, the Mechanical Tutor abandoned the idea of destroying Jeremy and his group in its Deluge of Data form. It reverted to its humanoid shape and stared at Jeremy with an arrogant gaze.


    "So, you''re the strongest of these intruders. But do you really think you can defeat me? Even if you can manipte High-Dimensional Data, what does it matter? All High-Dimensional Data was created by the great [White Tower]. Do you think you can use its power to defeat it? Stop struggling and surrender to me."


    Jeremy responded with a coldugh. "Aren''t you being a bit too arrogant? You didn''t even win thest round. So what makes you think you have the right to demand my surrender?


    Besides, I don''t believe that all High-Dimensional Data was created by the White Tower. I even think that this so-called ''great deity'' of yours is nothing more than a mass of High-Dimensional Data."


    Jeremy''s words infuriated the Mechanical Tutor, who roared in rage, "I will not allow you to insult the great deity!"


    As the Mechanical Tutor roared, its body rapidly expanded, bing evenrger than before. In a swift transformation, it turned into a colossal robot.


    Seeing the massive robot form of the Mechanical Tutor, Jeremy smiled and said, "I''ve been waiting for you to reveal your true form! Only when you show your real form can I have the chance to destroy youpletely. You arrogant high-tier mechanical monsters have no idea about human strategy."


    After speaking, Jeremy immediately used the powers of [The King of Time and Space] to distort the space around him. He did this to slow down the movements of his opponent. Though Jeremy believed he could protect himself during the battle, he also had to consider the safety of Ritchie and the War God, especially given Ritchie''s dire condition.


    The Mechanical Tutor extended its mechanical arms, unleashing a barrage of High-Dimensional Data and a variety of cannons. As expected of a high-tier mechanical monster, the Mechanical Tutor''s attack power was vastly superior to other mechanical monsters.


    Facing these assaults, Jeremy had to remain cautious. Using his abilities as the [King of Time and Space], he dodged and maneuvered, skillfully evading the relentless attacks. In doing so, he gradually closed the distance between himself and the Mechanical Tutor.


    Once Jeremy was close enough, he summoned a portal, with its exit appearing directly behind the Mechanical Tutor. He nned to replicate the strategy he''d used to defeat the Mechanical Rampage Beast and the mechanical sentinels. Jeremy believed that if he could get behind the Mechanical Tutor, he could use his mastery over High-Dimensional Data topletely disable the devices on its back.


    The Mechanical Tutor appeared oblivious to Jeremy''s n. It continued to attack Jeremy with all its might, making no effort to prevent him from teleporting to its rear.


    As soon as Jeremy arrived behind the Mechanical Tutor, it simply redirected its attacks toward its own back.


    "It seems you''re even more foolish than those low-tier mechanical monsters," Jeremy taunted. "You''ve shown no flexibility in battle whatsoever. If you think this crude tactic will stop me, then prepare yourself for your ultimate destruction."


    With that, Jeremy forcefully mmed the data storage device into the back of the Mechanical Tutor.


    In that instant, Jeremy guided the High-Dimensional Data from the data storage device into the body of the Mechanical Tutor. His n was topletely destroy the Mechanical Tutor by overwhelming its systems with the data.


    However, what happened next was entirely unexpected. The Mechanical Tutor quickly absorbed the massive amount of High-Dimensional Data, and its body showed no signs of damage. Every part of the Mechanical Tutor remained fully intact.


    Jeremy stared at the Mechanical Tutor with a look of confusion.


    "I''ll admit, I am indeed quite arrogant," the Mechanical Tutor''s voice echoed. "But do you really think you''re any less arrogant? You thought you could defeat me by using the same old method?


    Do you think my level is too low, or that my skills can''t counter your attacks?"


    At that moment, Jeremy finally remembered to use his [Eye of Omniscience] ability to analyze the Mechanical Tutor. When he saw the detailed information, he realized the truth¡ªdefeating the Mechanical Tutor would not be easy.


    [Name: Mechanical Tutor]


    [Level: 61]


    [Type: Special mechanical monster, lower-tier boss level, possesses initial divinity, guardian of the Tower of Exile]


    [Skills: 1. Data Conversion, 2. Mechanical Regeneration, 3. Mechanical Creation, 4. Spatial Barrier]


    [Skill Descriptions:]


    [1. Data Conversion:] The Mechanical Tutor can transform between physical form and data form at will. Additionally, it can convert other mechanical entities into High-Dimensional Data.


    [2. Mechanical Regeneration:] The Mechanical Tutor can rapidly repair itsponents. It can also restore other mechanical monsters to full functionality.


    [3. Mechanical Creation:] The Mechanical Tutor has the ability tobine various mechanical parts to create new mechanical monsters. It can even convert other life forms into mechanical monsters.


    [4. Spatial Barrier:] With an enormous amount of High-Dimensional Data at its disposal, the Mechanical Tutor can manipte space, creating barriers to prevent enemies from escaping.


    [Special Trait:] The Mechanical Tutor can create mechanical clones. Until all of its clones are destroyed, the Mechanical Tutor cannot be defeated.


    [Hint:] The Mechanical Tutor is more vulnerable in its High-Dimensional Data form.


    Upon reading this information, Jeremy quickly changed his strategy. He retreated to the base of the mountain, knowing that the battle ahead would require a much more calcted approach.


    "What''s the situation? Has Ritchie''s body recovered? Can he move with us quickly?" Jeremy asked, concerned about their safety. Staying here any longer felt far too dangerous, and he wanted Ritchie to be able to move with him and the War God as soon as possible.


    The War God shook his head.


    "I don''t think Ritchie''s condition has improved. In fact, with the Mechanical Tutor''s appearance, it''s gotten even worse. We''ll need to defeat the Mechanical Tutor first."


    Hearing this, Jeremy''s face filled with worry.


    "I want to defeat the Mechanical Tutor too, but it''s going to be really difficult. She''s much higher level than me, and she has far more powerful divine abilities."


    The War God stood up in response.


    "In that case, leave the next battle to me. While I haven''t fully regained my strength, I believe I can defeat the Mechanical Tutor. At the very least, I can hold her off for a while."


    With those words, the War God charged forward. Without any hesitation. He wasn''t interested in fighting the Deluge of Data form of the Mechanical Tutor, as his strengthy in directbat. Facing the giant robot form of the Mechanical Tutor was exactly the kind of fight he preferred.


    Seeing the War God suddenly rushing at her, the Mechanical Tutor was visibly confused.


    "Aren''t you the soul imprisoned in the Soul Prison? Why are you fighting alongside these two intruders? Did you help them break into the Tower of Exile?"


    The War God''s appearance had clearly thrown the Mechanical Tutor''s judgment off bnce. But the War God had no intention of answering her questions. Instead, he roared in anger, "Enough talk! Since you''re ackey of the White Tower, I will destroy youpletely! No matter how powerful you think you are, you cannot defeat me! For I am the deity of war!"


    As he spoke, the War God dashed toward the Mechanical Tutor at an incredible speed, aiming to catch her off guard. If the Mechanical Tutor wasn''t quick enough to defend herself, the War God might be able to deal a devastating blow. This would make the rest of the fight¡ªand their escape¡ªfar easier for Jeremy and the others.

 Chapter 308 Trapping the Enemy, Pressing Forward

    In a desperate assault, the God of War unleashed an astonishing burst of power. In almost an instant, he was upon the Mechanical Tutor, brandishing his weapon with the intent to deal a divine blow. However, unexpectedly, the Mechanical Tutor generated a shield right in front of herself.


    A massive amount of High-Dimensional Data absorbed the divine attack, and in turn, reflected the force back at the God of War. The bacsh sent the God of War flying through the air. If not for the mountain behind him breaking his fall, he might have been thrown even farther.


    "Is this all you''ve got? Seems your previous defeat wasn''t just a fluke. Even without the intervention of the great [Fool], you''d still be unfit to retain your divine seat," the Mechanical Tutor sneered, her tone dripping with disdain.


    Furious, the God of War rose from the ground. "The battle is just beginning! Don''t think you can defeat me so easily!"


    With those words, the God of War gathered all his strength, erging his figure to five times his previous size. Seeing this, the Mechanical Tutor responded in kind. She expanded, making the mechanicalponents that formed her body even more colossal. The Mechanical Tutor''s robotic form now towered even higher than before.


    The two giants shed in a direct confrontation, not far from where Jeremy and Ritchie were situated.


    As the Mechanical Tutor and the God of War battled, Jeremy was using his skills and tools to help Ritchie recover from the negative effects.


    "Can you hear me? If you can hear me, take this item from my hand," Jeremy instructed, pulling a tool from his pocket that was capable of blocking mental contamination.


    He hoped Ritchie would grip the item, as it should help alleviate his headache. Following Jeremy''s guidance, Ritchie, though still dazed, took hold of the tool. The moment he grasped it, the intense pain in his head quickly subsided.


    "I feel much better now! What''s the situation? Are we still in serious danger?" Ritchie asked, no longer suffering from the agonizing headache. He even had the energy to focus on their current predicament.


    In response to Ritchie''s question, Jeremy spoke with a hint of worry.


    "Our situation is terrible right now! The Mechanical Tutor''s strength far exceeds my expectations. Even if the God of War and I work together, we might not be able to defeat her."


    While Jeremy was saying this, Ritchie nced over at the battlefield not far away. After watching for a moment, he concluded that the God of War was on the verge of defeat.


    "So, what should we do now? Should we step in and help the God of War? Maybe if the two of us act, we can assist him in driving the Mechanical Tutor back." Ritchie wasn''t ready to give up just yet.


    But Jeremy shook his head and said, "Even if we manage to push the Mechanical Tutor back temporarily, we still won''t be able to escape her pursuit. I think we need to find another way to get out of this situation."


    No sooner had Jeremy finished speaking than the God of War was defeated in his battle against the Mechanical Tutor. His strength was almostpletely drained. Using thest of his power, the God of War quickly retreated to Jeremy and Ritchie''s side.


    "The Mechanical Tutor is far too powerful. I can''t defeat her. Why don''t we use your talent, *The King of Time and Space,* to open a portal and escape quickly?" the God of War said urgently to Jeremy.


    Jeremy didn''t respond immediately. He simply stared at the rapidly approaching Mechanical Tutor.


    "What are you hesitating for? If you want to face the Mechanical Tutor head-on, then just tell us. We''ll fight her alongside you. If you''re not nning to engage in a final battle with her, then you should open a portal quickly and get us out of here!"


    Ritchie was bing anxious, watching Jeremy in a daze. He felt Jeremy was being too rxed at this critical moment.


    Despite Ritchie''s urgency, Jeremy remained silent. He kept his eyes fixed on the approaching Mechanical Tutor.


    In this moment, Jeremy noticed something he hadn''t seen before about the Mechanical Tutor. She was currently in her robotic form, equipped with numerous weapons, but at the same time, her ability to manipte High-Dimensional Data had weakened.


    Jeremy could sense that the amount of High-Dimensional Data surrounding the Mechanical Tutor had significantly diminished. This meant that perhaps he could use this opportunity to catch the Mechanical Tutor off guard.


    Silently, Jeremy devised his n of action. His apparent daze was nothing more than a ruse, intended to confuse the opponent. He wanted the Mechanical Tutor to believe that he was already intimidated by her overwhelming power.


    Jeremy''s strategy worked. As the Mechanical Tutor advanced, she felt confident in her victory. She even began to mock Jeremy and hispanions. Experience tales with mvl


    "I really don''t understand where you found the courage to enter the Tower of Exile. Your strength isughably weak. To me, you''re nothing more than cannon fodder. It seems that even the outer defenses of the Tower of Exile were far too lenient. Perhaps we should consider strengthening them."


    The Mechanical Tutor felt so assured of her victory that she no longer worried about fighting Jeremy and the others. In fact, she had already started thinking about how to bolster the Tower of Exile''s defenses.


    However, just as the Mechanical Tutor closed in to within 100 meters of Jeremy and his group, Jeremy suddenly activated his *King of Time and Space* ability. A portal materialized in front of him, and at the same time, he warped the space around the Mechanical Tutor.


    Because the space around her was distorted, the Mechanical Tutor''s movements became much slower than before. Startled by the unexpected turn of events, the Mechanical Tutor looked around in disbelief, quickly assessing the situation.


    Her reaction was swift¡ªshe immediately began to manipte the High-Dimensional Data to neutralize the spatial distortion. However, since her control over High-Dimensional Data was weakened in her robotic form, it took her longer than usual to reverse the distortion.


    Seizing the opportunity while the Mechanical Tutor was preupied with restoring the warped space, Jeremy dashed through the portal and appeared right next to her. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the Dark Core.


    Although Jeremy didn''t fully understand the connection between dark powers and High-Dimensional Data, he had a hunch that the Dark Core could be used to restrain the Mechanical Tutor.


    With everyone watching, Jeremy hurled the Dark Core directly at the Mechanical Tutor. As if drawn by the Mechanical Tutor''s energy, the Dark Core flew straight into the crevices of her massive mechanical body.


    The moment the Dark Core made contact with the Mechanical Tutor''s mechanical body, a surge of dark powers flooded into her system. Although the Mechanical Tutor desperately tried to suppress the spread of the dark powers, Jeremy interfered with her efforts. Using his *King of Time and Space* ability, Jeremy continued to distort the space around the Mechanical Tutor.


    As the spatial distortion intensified, even the High-Dimensional Data couldn''t prate the warped space. In this way, Jeremy sessfully sealed the Mechanical Tutor and her control over the High-Dimensional Data within the distortion.


    Jeremy quickly returned to Ritchie and the God of War.


    "I''ve trapped the Mechanical Tutor! There''s no need to waste any more time fighting her. Let''s head to the upper levels of the Tower of Exile right away," Jeremy dered.


    Both the God of War and Ritchie were stunned by Jeremy''s statement. Ritchie immediately asked, "Shouldn''t we take this chance to defeat the Mechanical Tutor? If we don''t deal with her now, she''ll surelye after us."


    Hearing this, Jeremy sighed.


    "I want to defeat the Mechanical Tutor too! But with our current strength, it''s impossible! Just trapping her has already taken everything we''ve got. We need to keep moving forward! If we cause greater damage to the Tower of Exile, the power that Mechanical Tutor and her backers from [the White Tower] rely on will weaken. Once that happens, we can destroy all of our enemies."


    After saying this, Jeremy opened a portal leading to the upper levels of the Tower of Exile. Though it was a dangerous move, Jeremy had no other choice. There was no longer time to ascend the tower slowly by using the stairs. He had to reach the upper levels of the Tower of Exile as quickly as possible.


    The God of War immediately supported Jeremy''s decision.


    "I agree with Jeremy. Staying here to fight the Mechanical Tutor is a waste of time and does us no good. Our true enemy is [the White Tower]. Before we confront [the White Tower], we need to conserve our strength."


    With the God of War''s persuasion, Ritchie quickly agreed to Jeremy''s n. The three of them passed through the portal, rapidly heading to the upper levels of the Tower of Exile.


    Shortly after they disappeared through the portal, the Mechanical Tutor managed to undo the spatial distortion surrounding her.

 Chapter 309 The Growing Fury of the White Tower

    After freeing herself from the spatial distortion, the Mechanical Tutor carefully assessed her surroundings. She was seething with rage. She felt she had missed a perfect opportunity.


    "I should never have been so careless. If I hadn''t let my guard down, I could have wiped out those damn intruders," the Mechanical Tutor fumed, her anger palpable.


    Once she finished speaking, her gaze shifted to the Dark Core lying nearby. Using hermand over High-Dimensional Data, she neutralized all the dark powers within the Dark Core. Now, it waspletely powerless. However, the Mechanical Tutor couldn''t shake the feeling that the Dark Core was an important item.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, she decided to take the Dark Core with her as she returned to the upper levels of the Tower of Exile. Jeremy and hispanions had undoubtedly made their way there, and perhaps carrying the Dark Core might aid her in tracking them down.


    The Mechanical Tutor, using High-Dimensional Data, swiftly ascended to the upper levels of the Tower of Exile. She did not have the authority to directly meet with [the White Tower]. Instead, she had to report to her superior first.


    The Mechanical Tutor''s immediate superior was the Empress of Machines, who oversaw all the mechanical monsters. The Empress resided in the Mechanical Pce, located in the upper levels of the Tower of Exile. If the Mechanical Tutor wanted to meet with [the White Tower], she would first need to pass through the Mechanical Pce.


    Upon arriving at the Mechanical Pce, the Mechanical Tutor was taken aback by the sight of the mechanical monsters within. All of them seemed to be in a state of panic. The Mechanical Tutor stopped one of the service robots in its tracks.


    "Why is everyone so frantic? Is Her Majesty the Empress angry? What has happened?" she demanded.


    The service robot did not provide an answer. It merely shook its head before hurrying away. The unusual behavior of these service robots puzzled the Mechanical Tutor, but there was little she could do. Having alreadye this far, she knew she needed to press on and meet the Empress.


    When the Mechanical Tutor finally stood before the Empress of Machines, the reason for the panic among the mechanical beings became clear.


    "The intruders were not eliminated! All of our efforts have failed! The intruders have even infiltrated the upper levels of the Tower of Exile! The great deity is furious!"


    When the Mechanical Empress saw the Mechanical Tutor, she spoke bluntly. It wasn''t just the Mechanical Tutor, sent by the Mechanical Empress, who had gone to the middle levels of the Tower of Exile to eliminate Jeremy and hispanions. Two other rivals of the Empress had also dispatched their own subordinates to the middle levels.


    However, all of them had failed. Jeremy and his group not only evaded the Mechanical Tutor''s attacks but also sessfully avoided the other mechanical monsters. Now, [the White Tower] was even more furious than before, viewing its subordinates as nothing more than utter failures.


    Just a short time ago, [the White Tower] had issued a clear directive to all its subordinates: Jeremy and his group must be swiftly eliminated. Under no circumstances could they be allowed to approach [the White Tower]''s location.


    "Your Majesty Empress, since the great deity has given such explicit orders, shouldn''t we simply follow them? Why are you so worried now? If the intruders have already reached the upper levels of the Tower of Exile, doesn''t that present us with a perfect opportunity to wipe them out?


    It seems to me that eliminating them in the upper levels is far better than ying cat and mouse with them in the middle and lower levels," the Mechanical Tutor stated, expressing her honest thoughts.


    The Mechanical Empress shook her head.


    "Under normal circumstances, you''d be right. But just moments ago, I tried using my control over High-Dimensional Data to locate the intruders'' general whereabouts. However, my High-Dimensional Data couldn''t detect any trace of them. This means we''ll have to keep ying hide-and-seek with them in the upper levels."


    The Empress''s words left the Mechanical Tutor stunned. She hadn''t expected that even the Empress, whom she greatly admired, couldn''t use her High-Dimensional Data to find Jeremy and his group. This could only mean that their movements were highly concealed.


    "Your Majesty, what do you suggest we do next?" the Mechanical Tutor asked.


    "Your next task is quite simple: find the intruders as quickly as possible. I know you once detected the DNA of one of them. Use that as your lead to track them down!" the Mechanical Empress ordered.


    With her mission clearly defined, the Mechanical Tutor swiftly left the Mechanical Pce, ready to hunt down the intruders.


    Not long after the Mechanical Tutor left, a mechanical monster, leaning on a cane and covered with numerous outdated mechanical devices, emerged from the shadows. Experience tales at mvl


    "Do you believe everything she said? Do you think she has concealed any information?" the Mechanical Empress asked directly, turning to the mechanical monster that had stepped out.


    "I believe the Mechanical Tutor has done her best. Her power is indeed limited, and she didn''t seem to be at a disadvantage during the battle," the monster replied.


    Hearing this, the Mechanical Empress sighed with frustration.


    "My subordinate may not have been overpowered in the fight, but that doesn''t help us eliminate the intruders. I can''t afford for my rivals to be the ones to capture them first. You promised me that before I locate the intruders, none of mypetitors would. Does that promise still stand?"


    "Of course, it does! I can guarantee that your rivals won''t find the intruders. In fact, it''s likely that even the great deity himself won''t be able to pinpoint their exact location immediately," the mechanical monster reassured.


    With this clear assurance, the Mechanical Empress finally rxed.


    "Good! Even if I can''t locate the intruders myself, I won''t allow my rivals to find them either. No matter what, the great deity will eventually destroy them."


    The Mechanical Empress''s mindset was simple. She didn''t care if her own subordinates seeded; what mattered to her was that her rivals didn''t seed either. As long as herpetitors failed to capture the intruders, it wasn''t a problem in her eyes.


    The Empress wasn''t concerned about gaining victory¡ªher only concern was preventing her rivals from getting too much credit. As long as her rivals didn''t umte more aplishments, she had nothing to worry about. After all, the Empress and herpetitors were merely vying for arger share of the High-Dimensional Data that [the White Tower] allocated to them.


    They didn''t need any other source of power.


    This, in fact, was the very reason [the White Tower] was so enraged. The deity had sensed the ulterior motives of his subordinates, but there was little he could do about it. For now, [the White Tower] had to remain at the top of the Tower of Exile, maintaining the seal that kept the tower secure.


    [The White Tower], after all, was only one of the weaker members involved in the nning of the *Apocalypse Game*, and it could not disobey themands given by [Fool]. While the subordinates of [The White Tower] were taking action, Jeremy and his group continued their rapid ascent in the upper levels of the Tower of Exile.


    Jeremy had boldly opened a portal leading directly to the upperyers of the Tower of Exile. This risky move granted them a significant advantage. They now found themselves in a highly concealed area of the upper levels, where they could take a hidden path leading directly to the top of the Tower of Exile.


    Moreover, Jeremy had, with the God of War''s assistance, sessfully concealed their presence.


    "It seems your strategy was indeed the right one. We''ve been here for some time, and we haven''t encountered any mechanical monsters. This proves that they have no way of tracking our movements," the God of War said with a smile, clearly pleased with the current situation.


    The God of War was quite satisfied with how things were unfolding. He believed that as long as they reached the top of the Tower of Exile, he would have a chance to exact his revenge on [The White Tower].


    Even Ritchie, though not as optimistic as the God of War, allowed himself a small smile. He felt that the situation was indeed much better than before.


    However, of the three, only Jeremy remained cautious. With a hint of concern, he spoke up.


    "It''s not time to celebrate just yet! Although the mechanical monsters haven''t found us, that''s only temporary. There are many mechanical monsters in the upper levels of the Tower of Exile. It''s only a matter of time before they track us down. We need to get as close to the top of the tower as possible before they discover us.


    I suspect that when we confront [The White Tower], the mechanical monsters won''t be able to interfere."


    Jeremy was already preparing for the final battle in the Tower of Exile. His words served as a reminder to both the God of War and Ritchie. Although their progress had been smooth so far, ultimate victory was far from guaranteed.


    After all, their true opponent was one of the architects of the *Apocalypse Game*. Even if [The White Tower] was rtively weak, it would still not be an easy foe to defeat.


    Moreover, they were well aware that [The White Tower] was merely a caretaker of the Tower of Exile. The true owner of the tower was none other than [Fool]. In the final battle, there was a real possibility that [Fool] might descend directly.

 Chapter 310 The Tunnel Leading to the Top

    Both the God of War and Ritchie strongly agreed with Jeremy''s judgment.


    Thus, under Jeremy''s guidance, they began their direct ascent to the top of the Tower of Exile. Although those affected by the pandemic could temporarily evade the detection of the mechanical monsters, Jeremy knew that the closer they got to the top of the Tower of Exile, the higher the likelihood of being discovered by these mechanical creatures would be.


    To prepare for this, Jeremy not only readied himself for battle but also used his talent as The King of Time and Space to shield the spatial fluctuations around him. This would help dy the moment when they would be detected by the mechanical monsters.


    The group followed a narrow path that led toward the top of the Tower of Exile. Before long, they arrived at arge, tightly closed door. The door was adorned with symbols resembling circuits. From these symbols, Jeremy could tell that the door contained a vast amount of High-Dimensional Data. This indicated that they were very close to the top of the Tower of Exile.


    Reaching this point assured them they were on the right path.


    The God of War stepped forward and approached the door. He raised his weapon and lightly tapped on the door to test it. A hollow, ethereal echo sounded from behind the door.


    "It seems there''s nothing on the other side. Maybe we should just forcefully destroy this door," the God of War suggested, stepping back as he prepared to use his weapon to break through the door.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "I think that''s far too risky. If we destroy the door by force, the High-Dimensional Data within will rapidly disperse. The mechanical monsters are extremely sensitive to the spread of High-Dimensional Data. Therefore, we must avoid attracting their attention as much as possible. Let''s search the area ¡ª we might find a clue nearby that can help us open the door."


    Without hesitation, Ritchie, standing beside Jeremy, acted on his suggestion. He manipted the surrounding shadows, searching quickly for any clues around the door. Before long, he discovered a lever that appeared to be a controller.


    "Hey,e check this out! I think this might be the door''s control mechanism."


    After Ritchie discovered what appeared to be a control mechanism, he quickly shared the news with Jeremy and the God of War. Jeremy and the God of War, who were searching for clues nearby, promptly rushed to Ritchie''s side.


    When Jeremyid eyes on the massive lever, his expression shifted slightly. Both the God of War and Ritchie noticed the change in Jeremy''s face.


    With a hint of confusion, the God of War asked, "Did you think of something? Why do I see such a worried look on your face? Is this lever not the door''s controller? Even if that''s the case, you shouldn''t look so concerned. After all, we''ve already faced many crises. As long as we work together, we can handle any unexpected situations."


    The God of War still had immense confidence. He believed that while Jeremy and Ritchie might not possess the raw strength to be called deities, their intellect was undeniably remarkable¡ªespecially Jeremy.


    The God of War often thought to himself that if he had Jeremy''s intelligence, he wouldn''t have lost the battle against [Fool].


    Jeremy shook his head. "I am worried, but not because of the current situation. The lever Ritchie found *is* indeed the one that controls the door. But I''ve seen this control lever somewhere else before."


    Jeremy proceeded to describe, in detail, a past instance he had experienced. During that encounter, Jeremy faced terrifying enemies whose powers closely resembled those of Fool''s angels.


    "So, you''re saying that if we move forward, we''ll be stepping directly into [Fool]''s territory?" The God of War seemed to understand Jeremy''s implication but still sought confirmation.


    Jeremy nodded. "I think we might have been wrong in our earlier assumptions. The upper levels of the Tower of Exile might not be solely upied by [the White Tower]. I believe it''s even possible that [Fool] is already at the top of the Tower."


    Jeremy''s words shocked both the God of War and Ritchie. Although they had prepared themselves to face [Fool] after defeating [the White Tower], encountering [Fool] during the battle was entirely different from facing [Fool] right from the start. The implications were immense.


    "Are you really sure? Could it be that you''re overthinking this? I don''t believe [Fool] would care that much about the Tower of Exile," Ritchie asked, his voice trembling slightly.


    In Ritchie''s mind, Jeremy''s theory made some sense, but he didn''t want to believe it. If he epted Jeremy''s words, he wouldpletely lose confidence in this mission.


    Faced with Ritchie''s doubt, Jeremy didn''t respond immediately. He remained silent for a moment, then finally spoke to both Ritchie and the God of War.


    "I''m simply sharing my theory with you. No matter what kind of enemy we face at the top of the Tower of Exile, we must move forward without hesitation. If you''re ready, then join me in activating this controller. Beyond this door should be the tunnel that leads directly to the top of the Tower."


    Jeremy spoke these words with a determined tone, looking at both of them.


    Without hesitation, the God of War stepped up beside Jeremy.


    "My goal for this mission is clear: to seek revenge on both [Fool] and [the White Tower]. Them being at the top of the Tower of Exile is exactly what I hope for. If they''re not there, *then* I''d be disappointed. I have no reason to hesitate, and no reason to worry," the God of War stated firmly.


    After hearing the God of War''s deration, Jeremy shifted his gaze to Ritchie.


    Ritchie sighed, taking a few steps toward Jeremy. Your next chapter awaits on mvl


    "I still have some concerns, but now that we''vee this far, there''s no reason to retreat. I''ll move forward with you! One way or another, we''ll seed on this mission!" Ritchie finally affirmed.


    With a clear response from both of them, Jeremy, the God of War, and Ritchie pressed the door''s control lever together.


    The moment the lever was activated, the door emitted a loud, echoing noise. Immediately, a surge of High-Dimensional Data poured out from behind the door, and at the same time, the door slowly began to open.


    "The mechanical monsters will detect us any moment now! We need to move quickly¡ªonce we reach the top of the Tower of Exile, the mechanical monsters will no longer pose a threat to us!"


    With that, Jeremy darted into the tunnel at full speed.


    The God of War and Ritchie quickly followed behind Jeremy. They fully trusted his judgment. As long as they could reach the top of the Tower of Exile, their only concern would be facing the strongest enemy of this mission. The rest of the mechanical monsters had no ess to the uppermost levels of the Tower.


    The moment Jeremy''s group entered the tunnel, every mechanical monster within the Tower of Exile locked onto their location. The Mechanical Empress, leading the charge with the Mechanical Tutor at her side, moved toward Jeremy''s group at top speed. Yet, the Mechanical Empress knew she was already a bit toote.


    "We can''t stop Jeremy and the others from reaching the top of the Tower of Exile! Our next task is to provide as much support as we can in the battle to assist the great deity," she dered.


    The Mechanical Tutor, however, felt a flicker of concern. "Your Majesty, do you really think the great deity requires our help? The power of the deity far exceeds anything we can imagine. Even the strength we possess was gifted by him."


    The Mechanical Tutor couldn''t shake the feeling that the power of [the White Tower] was vastly superior to theirs. In such a scenario, what assistance could they possibly offer in the impending battle at the Tower''s summit?


    "I understand your doubts," the Mechanical Empress replied. "While the great deity is indeed powerful, he is preupied with matters far more significant. It''s possible he could be tied up by these more important concerns."


    No sooner had she finished speaking than a violent surge of High-Dimensional Data rippled through the air. At the same time, both the Mechanical Empress and the Mechanical Tutor heard the enraged voice of [the White Tower] deep within their minds.


    At this moment, [the White Tower]''s emotions had gone beyond mere anger¡ªhe was teetering on the edge of madness.


    "What are you fools doing?! You''re all worthless! I gave you power, but you haven''t used it to stop the intruders! Once I''ve dealt with these wretched invaders, I will make sure you are punished severely!"


    The fury in [the White Tower]''s voice was unmistakable, and the pressure weighed heavily on the Mechanical Empress and the Mechanical Tutor. Despite the overwhelming tension, they couldn''t afford to slow their pace.


    After all, despite everything, they still hoped to offer some assistance to [the White Tower].


    Aside from the Mechanical Empress and the Mechanical Tutor, other powerful subordinates under the directmand of [the White Tower] were also rushing toward the uppermost levels of the Tower of Exile.


    Though it was now impossible to prevent Jeremy and his team from reaching the summit, they were determined to do whatever they could to make up for their failure.

 Chapter 311 The Map Containing a Thousand Worlds

    Inside the tunnel leading to the top of the Tower of Exile, Jeremy and hispanions could feel the intense fluctuations of High-Dimensional Data.


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    "It seems we''ve thoroughly enraged [the White Tower]! His fury has spread through the High-Dimensional Data, reaching every corner of the Tower of Exile. There must be a swarm of mechanical monsters behind us. We can''t afford to slow down; in fact, we need to pick up the pace," Jeremy urged.


    Under hismand, Ritchie and the God of War gritted their teeth and pushed themselves to keep up with Jeremy''s increasing speed.


    After about fifteen minutes of sprinting through the tunnel, the group finally reached its end. There, they were met with anotherrge door. However, unlike the previous door, this one had no visible controller, which meant it couldn''t be opened from inside the tunnel.


    This time, Jeremy didn''t hesitate. Gathering all of his strength, he prepared to forcefully break through the door using his own power.


    Ritchie and the God of War were both slightly surprised by Jeremy''s decision. But after the initial shock, the God of War quickly agreed with his approach.


    "He should''ve done this from the start! If he hadn''t hesitated earlier, we''d be in a much better situation by now," the God of War muttered as he increased his speed, rushing to Jeremy''s side.


    Once there, the God of War made the decision to help Jeremy. Together, they focused their strength on smashing through the door at the end of the tunnel.


    At the same time, the powerful subordinates of [the White Tower], who had finally caught up, arrived at the lower end of the tunnel. Upon witnessing Jeremy and the God of War''s actions, their faces filled with shock.


    "How dare they?! Don''t they know the consequences of doing this?!" Mechanical Tutor eximed in disbelief.


    The Mechanical Empress, however, remained calm. She had already understood why Jeremy and the God of War were acting this way.


    "They n to rely on their own strength to force open the door at the end of the tunnel. Though this might severely injure them, it''s the fastest way through. It seems they have no intention of wasting time with us," she said with a cool, calcted tone.


    No sooner had the words left her mouth than a thunderous noise echoed from the end of the tunnel.


    Suddenly, a wave of High-Dimensional Data surged toward the Mechanical Empress and the Mechanical Tutor. Alongside them were several other powerful mechanical monsters at this end of the tunnel. However, just like the Empress, none of them dared to approach any further.


    They all understood the immense risks of getting closer. Moreover, without explicit orders from [the White Tower], none of them had the authority to enter the uppermost level of the Tower of Exile. So, they stood and watched helplessly as Jeremy and hispanions crossed into the top level of the Tower.


    "The great deity is going to be furious! In the end, we failed to make up for our mistakes. We didn''t stop the intruders in the tunnel," Mechanical Tutor muttered with a tone filled with fear. She was deeply frightened, convinced that [the White Tower] would severely punish them for this failure.


    The Mechanical Empress, however, simply smiled at this remark.


    "[The White Tower] is a great deity¡ªhe would never ce his hopes of defeating the enemy on us alone. I believe the intruders will be destroyed soon enough. All we need to do now is wait for the final oue," she said, her voice calm and unshaken.


    The other mechanical monsters shared simr thoughts. While they had failed to prevent Jeremy and his team from reaching the top, they had truly given their best effort. The only reason the intruders seeded was because of their overwhelming strength. If [the White Tower] were to punish them after this, there would be little they could do to avoid it.


    With the mechanical monsters no longer in pursuit, Jeremy and hispanions could slightly slow their pace. After all, Jeremy needed to conserve some of his energy¡ªhe still had to face and defeat the powerful mastermind behind the apocalypse game.


    After passing through the door at the end of the tunnel, Jeremy and his group found themselves in a truly bizarre space. It was as if they were standing on the surface of a without an atmosphere. When they looked up, they could see a sky filled with countless shimmering stars.


    Directly above them hung a massive sun, radiating endless light and heat. Yet, the rest of the sky was a strange mix of darkness and stars, creating an eerie contrast.


    "Where exactly is this? Have we really reached the top of the Tower of Exile?" Ritchie asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he surveyed the surroundings.


    Jeremy nodded. "I believe this is the very top of the Tower of Exile! Because from here, we can directly ess other worlds. What you''re seeing in the sky is, in fact, a view that contains countless worlds."


    Jeremy''s exnation filled both Ritchie and the God of War with excitement. They had never witnessed anything like this before. Even though the God of War had been defeated by [Fool] and had once escaped from the top of the Tower of Exile, he had no memory of this ce¡ªthose memories hadn''t yet resurfaced.


    As Ritchie and the God of War gazed upward at the brilliant stars in the sky, an angry voice echoed around them.


    "How dare you set foot in the deity''s domain! Today, I will make you fools pay for your arrogance! Do you really think my power is on par with [the Sun]? Do you think I can be defeated as easily as he was? That''s impossible. I will not repeat [the Sun]''s mistakes, and my power far surpasses anything you can imagine."


    Jeremy and the others immediately recognized the voice¡ªit was unmistakably [the White Tower]. Instantly, the three of them braced themselves for the inevitable confrontation.


    At that moment, an almost infinite amount of High-Dimensional Data surged forth from the stars in the sky. The data gathered together, coalescing into a cold, emotionless eye, as though it were observing the entire universe with indifference. This colossal eye was the true form of [the White Tower].


    As [the White Tower] manifested before them, Jeremy felt the temperature inside his pocket rising rapidly. rmed, he quickly checked the items in his pocket and found that the special map was burning intensely.


    In that instant, a realization hit him. Jeremy was certain that the special map and [the White Tower] were deeply connected. Without a moment''s hesitation, he pulled out the special map.


    The second the map was exposed, it unfurled at lightning speed.


    A massive amount of High-Dimensional Data was absorbed into the special map. Then, all the regions of the map lit up, revealing its true nature¡ªthis was no ordinary map, but rather the Map of All Things and Stars, a map that recorded countless worlds. This revtion, transmitted in the form of High-Dimensional Data, flooded the minds of everyone present on the upper level of the Tower of Exile.


    Both the God of War and Ritchie were utterly shocked by the discovery. They had never imagined that the map Jeremy had been carrying all along was the legendary Map of All Things and Stars.


    [The White Tower], of course, instantly focused on the map as well. Seizing the moment while Jeremy and the others were momentarily stunned, [the White Tower]unched a direct attack on Jeremy.


    The overwhelming surge of High-Dimensional Data nearly took on a physical form, flooding the entire upper level of the Tower of Exile. Jeremy could feel the space around him rapidlypressing. Everything was happening so quickly that he had no time to react. Even if he wanted to activate his talent as *The King of Time and Space*, it was already toote.


    In a sh, the Map of All Things and Stars flew out of Jeremy''s hands. [The White Tower] immediately absorbed the map, converting it into High-Dimensional Data, merging it with the vast amounts of data already under his control.


    "You truly possessed the Map of All Things and Stars. Although your intrusion has enraged me, for bringing me this map, I will grant you a quicker death," [the White Tower]''s voice echoed in Jeremy''s mind.


    At that moment, Jeremy was utterly powerless. He felt as though his soul was beingpletely ripped apart. The vast amount of High-Dimensional Data seemed to destroy every neuron in his brain, leaving him unable to respond or resist.


    Although Ritchie and the God of War weren''t directly attacked, their situation was far from ideal.


    Ritchie, having avoided a direct assault, still managed to retreat into the shadows. However, hiding in the shadows offered him no real protection. In fact, it only made it easier for the High-Dimensional Data embedded in the shadows to infiltrate and attack him.


    The God of War''s condition was even worse than Ritchie''s. Not only had he failed to recover his lost memories, but the few memories he had retained were now being stripped away by the overwhelming force of High-Dimensional Data.


    [The White Tower] swiftly gained the upper hand. Without resorting to anyplex strategies, his immense power alone was enough to crush Jeremy and hispanions with ease.


    Satisfied with how things were progressing, [The White Tower] prepared to eliminate Jeremy once and for all. But just as he was about to deliver the final blow, he sensed the presence of someone behind him¡ªa being whose power was nearly equal to his own.

 Chapter 312 The Treasure Activated in Battle

    As [the White Tower] sensed the powerful presence suddenly appearing behind him, Jeremy felt it too.


    Jeremy immediately turned to look in the direction behind [the White Tower], and a familiar figure appeared within his line of sight. That familiar figure was [the World].


    At that moment, [the World] held a long sword radiating multicolored light, smiling as he gazed in Jeremy and the others'' direction. Seizing the moment while [the White Tower] hadn''t reacted yet, [the World] dashed toward him with the sword shining brilliantly in hand.


    Though [the White Tower] was astonished by [the World]''s sudden appearance, he still swiftly responded.


    In an instant, [the White Tower] transformed into an enormous mass of High-Dimensional Data.


    Just as [the World] was about to charge through, the High-Dimensional Data hid itself within the surrounding space.


    [The World] didn''t change his course despite [the White Tower]''s actions.


    He continued charging forward, and the sword in his hand, still radiating multicolored light, now shone with an intensely brilliant white glow.


    Wherever the white light touched, all the traps and spellsid by [the White Tower] were obliterated.


    Finally, Jeremy, the War God, and Ritchie managed to escape from their previous dire situation.


    Realizing this, Jeremy immediately rushed to [the World]''s side.


    In a tone filled with confusion, he questioned,


    "Why are you here? Didn''t you tell me you had already left the Tower of Exile?"


    Jeremy felt as if he had been deceived all along.


    Even though [the World] had saved him, Jeremy didn''t feel much gratitude in his heart.


    To Jeremy, it seemed possible that [the World] had been using him all along. He wanted [the World] to quickly exin everything clearly.


    [The World], however, didn''t directly answer Jeremy''s question.


    Instead, he took out the map of all things and stars and held it in his hand.


    At this moment, the map of all things and stars was constantly radiating light, and Jeremy could see the stars marked on the map appearing to be in constant motion.


    "So, everything you''ve done was just for this map? If that''s the case, you could have taken it before I even entered the Tower of Exile. I never really cared much about it," Jeremy said, his voice tinged with frustration.


    As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, [the World] turned around, smiling warmly at him.


    "I didn''t mean to deceive you," [the World] began, still smiling. "And it''s not just about getting this map. If I had taken the map before, it would''ve been useless to me.


    The map of all things and stars is currently in the process of being activated. Only after absorbing enough High-Dimensional Data from the top of the Tower of Exile can the map be fully activated.


    Once that happens, I''ll be able to use themap of all things and starsto aplish my goals. But I assure you, my goals pose no threat to you.


    My only aim is to use the map of all things and stars to take down the nners of the apocalypse game, led by [Fool]."


    [The World] gave a brief exnation of his n.


    After listening, Jeremy, Ritchie, and the War God each had different expressions on their faces.


    Jeremy still looked at [the World] with extreme caution, his eyes full of suspicion. He couldn''t shake the feeling that [the World] was far moreplex than he could understand. Everything about him seemed like a puzzle.


    Ritchie''s expression, on the other hand, was a mix of confusion and curiosity. Though he had seen [the World] before, he had never considered him to be someone of great importance.


    But now, Ritchie realized that [the World] possessed powers far beyond what he could have imagined.


    The War God remained calm, listening quietly to the conversation. He had the least amount of information, so he wasn''t about to jump to any conclusions.


    Just as Jeremy was about to ask more questions, [the World]''s smile suddenly faded. He lifted his head and gazed up at the stars in the sky, his voice tinged with mncholy.


    "It seems our enemy won''t give up so easily. Once we defeat [the White Tower], I''ll exin everything in detail."


    With that, [the World] swiftly raised his multicolored sword andunched an attack toward a nearby area.


    [The World]''s actions left Jeremy and the others utterly confused.


    They hadn''t noticed any enemies in the area.


    However, it didn''t take long for [The World]''s sword to collide with apletely transparent shield.


    At the moment of impact, a vast amount of High-Dimensional Data rapidly manifested.


    [The White Tower] appeared before [The World] in the form of The Deluge of Data.


    "Did you really think your n would seed so easily? Don''t be so naive! You may have deceived me, but I''ve figured out what you''re truly after by now.


    I won''t let you leave withthe map of all things and stars ! I''ll make sure you and all yourrades die right here in the Tower of Exile!"


    [The White Tower] bellowed in rage at [The World], fury distorting his voice.


    To [The White Tower], the situation had grown far more critical than before. He believed his response had been wless, and the only reason things had taken such a dire turn was because [The World] and Jeremy''s group had been too cunning.


    As the two immensely powerful beings shed, Jeremy and the others didn''t simply stand by and watch.


    After a moment of deep thought, Jeremy finally decided to offer [The World] some assistance.


    "Even though he deceived us, I think under the current circumstances, we have no choice but to help him! If [The White Tower] wins this battle, there''s no way he''ll spare us!"


    With those words, Jeremy activated his talent, The King of Time and Space, opening a portal.


    He quickly leaped into the portal, emerging in a position far from the battleground, choosing a safer vantage point from which to use his abilities to support [The World].


    The War God and Ritchie fully agreed with Jeremy''s n.


    They, too, jumped into the portal and used their unique methods to offer [The World] some assistance.


    The battle between [The World] and [The White Tower] raged on, with no clear victor emerging anytime soon.


    Meanwhile, chaos erupted across the topmostyer of the Tower of Exile.


    An immense swirl of High-Dimensional Data encircled the tower''s peak, adding to the tumult of the ongoing conflict.


    All of the High-Dimensional Data was absorbed by the map of all things and stars.


    As more and more High-Dimensional Data was pulled in, the map of all things and stars became increasingly active.


    Once [The World] saw that the map''s activity had reached its peak, he tossed themap of all things and starsinto the sky.


    Under everyone''s gaze, themap of all things and starsexpanded rapidly.


    Eventually, it fully activated, transforming into something that seemed capable of epassing all things.


    The entire Tower of Exile was now covered under the influence of the map of all things and stars .


    When Jeremy, the War God, and Ritchie saw this, their faces showed pure astonishment.


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    They had never imagined that the map they had been carrying could wield such immense power.


    [The White Tower], on the other hand, reacted with a mixture of shock and desperation.


    He knew the map of all things and stars had been fully activated.


    He had to seize it quickly¡ªif [The World] sessfully wielded the map, the entire Tower of Exile might be sealed away by its power.


    The map of all things and stars not only had the ability to record different worlds, but it also possessed incredibly powerful sealing capabilities.


    The map of all things and stars had the ability to seal worlds, even those not particrly powerful. While the Tower of Exile wasn''t exactly weak, it was an artificial creation, designed out of thin air by the nners of the apocalypse game.


    Since this world wasn''t naturally formed, its overall stability was questionable. The map of all things and stars had the capacity topletely seal off the Tower of Exile.


    [The World] had no intention of prolonging the fight.


    He transformed into a streak of white light and shot toward the sky, aiming for the map of all things and stars, which continued to expand above.


    Upon seeing this, [The White Tower] morphed into an almost infinite stream of High-Dimensional Data.


    "I won''t let you seed! There''s no way you''ll fully control themap of all things and starsin front of me!"


    Both surged toward the ever-expanding map of all things and stars, moving at nearly the same speed.


    Although [The World] was fast, he couldn''t quite match the velocity of the High-Dimensional Data.


    The flood of data that [The White Tower] had be was on the verge of overtaking [The World].


    But at that very moment, [The White Tower] suddenly felt a massive disturbance in the space around him. His speed began to slow noticeably.


    He nced back toward the topyer of the Tower of Exile.


    As expected, it was Jeremy who was causing the interference.


    "How dare you interfere with my actions? You''ll pay for this!" [The White Tower] roared, filled with fury. But despite his anger, he knew he couldn''t afford to lose focus.


    No matter how frustrated he was, he had to ignore the threat posed by Jeremy and the others for now.


    [The White Tower] continued chasing after [The World] with all his speed, determined not to let him gain full control over the map.

 Chapter 313 A Perilous Moment Facing Fool

    Although Jeremy used hisKing of Time and Spacetalent to slow down [The White Tower]''s flight,


    [The White Tower] still managed to catch up with [The World] by taking full advantage of the properties of High-Dimensional Data.


    Both of them reached the map of all things and stars at almost the exact same moment.


    As soon as they touched the map of all things and stars, the map emitted an extraordinarily dazzling light.


    At the same time, intense spatial disturbances rippled through the map.


    This powerful spatial ripple spread directly to the Tower of Exile, causing violent tremors to cascade downward from its topmostyer.


    Jeremy, the War God, and Ritchie, who were on the top floor of the Tower of Exile, were hit hard by the shockwaves.


    Jeremy felt as if his body and soul were being torn apart, though his King of Time and Space talent allowed him to reduce the intensity of the space-time distortions around him.


    Despite this, Jeremy was unable to fully evade the severe consequences of the spatial fluctuations.


    Next to him, Ritchie let out a piercing scream of pain.


    He didn''t even have time to slip into the shadows, and even if he had, there was no escaping the powerful spatial ripple this time.


    The War God, standing nearby, lost consciousnesspletely.


    Already weakened from the previous battle, the War God couldn''t withstand the space-time shockwave this time.


    Moreover, unlike Jeremy and Ritchie, the War God didn''t have any special talents to defend against the space-time ripple. His only recourse was to rely on his raw physical strength to endure it, and this time, it wasn''t enough.


    The uppermostyer of the Tower of Exile wasn''t even the epicenter of the spatial ripple.


    As the ripple passed through the topyer, it sted through the tunnel leading to the highest level of the Tower.


    Hiding in that tunnel, awaiting the battle''s oue, were the Mechanical Empress and the Mechanical Tutor, both of whom were violently thrown aside by the shockwave.


    The mechanical monsters near them were also heavily damaged to varying degrees.


    The spatial ripple continued to surge downward through the Tower of Exile, severely impacting every singleyer.


    Each level of the tower felt the devastating force of the ripple, leaving destruction in its wake as it pressed ever deeper into the structure.


    Within the soul prison of the Tower of Exile, the Goddess of Life also felt the violent spatial ripple.


    However, theGoddess of Lifewasn''t heavily affected.


    This was because her location was near the base of the Tower, and, prior to this, she had built strong defenses around her.


    "It seems your n is making tremendous progress! For the battle at the top of the Tower to be this intense... you must seed!"


    TheGoddess of Lifeunderstood well that themotion likely meant Jeremy and his allies had made significant headway in their efforts.


    Thus, she offered a prayer for the sess of Jeremy''s n, knowing full well that her own strength wouldn''t be enough to assist him in such an intense battle.


    She had no intention of heading to the uppermost levels of the Tower of Exile.


    The intense spatial ripple didn''tst long.


    When it finally subsided, there were very few mechanical monsters left capable of fighting within the Tower of Exile.


    The Mechanical Empress and the Mechanical Tutor had both been thrown down to the mid-levels of the Tower.


    The Mechanical Tutor crawled out from beneath a pile of rubble, her expression panicked as she looked toward the Mechanical Empress and asked,


    "What on earth happened? Why was the spatial ripple so strong? Could it be that the great deity was defeated by the intruders?"


    Her reaction was exaggerated because she assumed the spatial ripple had been caused by Jeremy.


    In the previous battles, the Mechanical Tutor had learned that Jeremy possessed the talent of The King of Time and Space.


    She instinctively believed Jeremy''s strength had grown too powerful.


    The Mechanical Empress, too, wore a grim expression.


    Though she didn''t know exactly what was happening at the top of the Tower, she was fully aware of the current state of the Tower of Exile.


    After enduring such a powerful spatial disturbance, the Tower''s structure had be extremely unstable.


    If the battle continued, the entire Tower of Exile might very well be destroyed.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, the Mechanical Empress turned to the Mechanical Tutor and said,


    "Perhaps we should head to the base of the Tower. The Tower of Exile may bepletely destroyed if the battle drags on."


    TheMechanical Tutor''sexpression shifted to one of shock upon hearing this suggestion.


    "Is the situation really this dire? Surely the great [Fool] will intervene and help us, right?"


    TheMechanical Tutorcouldn''t believe that the Tower of Exile, which was of great importance to [Fool], would be left to crumble.


    To her, it seemed certain that [Fool] wouldn''t sit idly by and allow the destruction of the Tower of Exile.


    The Mechanical Empress shook her head.


    "I can''t say for sure if [Fool] will act. The great deity is beyond ourprehension. All we can do now is ensure our own safety."


    With the Mechanical Empress making it clear, the Mechanical Tutor wasted no more time.


    The two quickly made their way to the base of the Tower of Exile.


    Meanwhile, on the uppermost level of the Tower, Jeremy took a long time to recover.


    Even after regaining his senses, he still felt a hazy disorientation.


    Instinctively, he looked up at the sky, but all he could see were the brilliant stars and the vague figures of two entities locked in battle.


    "How is the battle going? Can [The World] really win?"


    Jeremy didn''t feel very confident.


    He was deeply concerned that [The World] might not emerge victorious. If that happened, he, Ritchie, and the War God would undoubtedly face certain doom.


    After a few more moments, Jeremy''s senses sharpened, and he could see the battle more clearly.


    He noticed that [The World] seemed to be gaining the upper hand.


    This sight brought him a small sense of relief.


    "My strength has mostly returned. I can''t just stand here and do nothing. I need to find some way to help [The World]."


    With that thought, Jeremy decided to search the top of the Tower of Exile for any valuable artifacts.


    If he could find something useful, taking those treasures out of the Tower could significantly increase their strength.


    But just as Jeremy was about to begin his search, a sudden, overwhelming sense of danger washed over him.


    The brilliant stars in the sky began to rapidly dim, and the two figures locked inbat drew apart from each other.


    One by one, ck spheres began appearing in the sky.


    These spheres connected, eventually forming a massive void at the very center of the sky.


    Instinctively, everyone''s gaze was drawn to this enormous ck void.


    Though Jeremy couldn''t see anything within it, he had a deep, unsettling feeling that the void contained an immense and dangerous power.


    As Jeremy was still grappling with his confusion, an eye suddenly opened within the ck void.


    Then more eyes began to open, one after another.


    A voice that pierced through time and space echoed in Jeremy''s mind.


    "Your souls will soon be mine."


    Jeremy understood the words perfectly, but the tone and voice were something he couldn''t quite grasp.


    It seemed as though the voice was hidden behindyers of thick fog, both elusive and iprehensible.


    There was only one thing Jeremy knew for sure¡ªhis soul was about to be taken.


    The moment the voice finished speaking, Jeremy felt his soul being torn apart. Experience new stories on §Þ??


    He watched, crystal clear, as part of his soul was ripped away and drawn toward the massive void in the sky.


    Though he knew he had to act, he found himself utterly powerless to move.


    His body and mind seemedpletely paralyzed, and oddly enough, Jeremy didn''t feel like something was wrong.


    It was as if his consciousness had been entirely separated from his body.


    He watched everything unfolding from a third-person perspective, as though the destruction of his soul no longer concerned him.


    Jeremy stared nkly as his soul drifted toward the void. He didn''t even notice what was happening to Ritchie and the War God.


    At that very moment, a map covered in brilliant stars flew toward the massive void.


    It was none other than the map of all things and stars.


    The map of all things and stars expanded rapidly, temporarily covering the ck void.


    The moment the void was obscured, Jeremy''s consciousness snapped back into his body.


    He gasped for breath, inhaling deeply several times.


    Immediately, Jeremy activated his King of Time and Space talent, reiming the part of his soul that had been torn away.


    At the same time, he realized that his strange state moments ago was caused by [Fool].


    The massive ck void in the sky was the projection of [Fool] before their arrival.


    Jeremy''s heart raced with panic.


    He hadn''t expected that merely a fragment of [Fool]''s projected power would render himpletely helpless.


    Had themap of all things and starsnot blocked the giant void summoned by [Fool]''s projection, Jeremy''s soul would have been stolen away entirely.


    Now fully aware again, Jeremy quickly nced toward Ritchie and the War God.


    He needed to assess their condition and figure out their next steps together.

 Chapter 314 Unexpected Encounter During the Escape

    When Jeremy nced in the direction of War God and Ritchie, he realized that their condition was much worse than his.


    Ritchie had copsed directly on the ground, his vacant eyes staring at the spot where the massive void had just been in the sky. It was evident that Ritchie had suffered a severe mental shock.


    Since Ritchie''s level was not high enough and hecked sufficient divinity, he couldn''t withstand such a powerful mental impact and immediately lost consciousness.


    Not far from Ritchie, the War God was barely able to stay conscious, but it was clear that he was in extreme pain.


    Jeremy quickly ran over to them.


    "The situation is dire! I know neither of you is in great shape, but we can''t waste any time. We must hurry to the lower levels of the Tower of Exile," Jeremy said while using items from his pocket to help Ritchie and the War God recover.


    The War God recovered rtively quickly.


    It wasn''t long before he regained his senses and was able to speak with Jeremy. At that moment, the War God looked terrified.


    Although he had previously encountered "The Fool," the power disyed this time was far beyond what he had experienced before.


    "Could it be that ''The Fool'' has grown stronger than before? When I met him before, he wasn''t this powerful," the War God said in a terrified tone.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "I have no idea! But that''s not important right now. What matters is that we get out of here as quickly as possible!"


    With that, Jeremy forcibly dragged Ritchie and began moving toward the lower levels of the Tower of Exile. The War God didn''t hesitate and followed closely behind Jeremy.


    The three of them moved quickly toward the lower levels of the Tower of Exile.


    Along the way, they encountered numerous wrecked mechanical monsters. This meant that there probably wouldn''t be too many obstacles left for them in the Tower of Exile.


    Their pace was swift, and in less than half an hour, they reached the middle section of the Tower of Exile.


    However, upon arrival, Jeremy noticed that all the passages leading from the middle section to the lower section had been sealed off.


    "This must be the work of those mechanical monsters! They''re definitely trying to trap us here!" the War God shouted angrily.


    Jeremy, though equally anxious, knew he had to stay calm.


    In his mind, getting angry was pointless. Even if he and the War God cursed the mechanical monsters that had sealed the passage, the passage wasn''t going to open just because of that.


    After thinking for a moment, Jeremy decided to use his King of Time and Space ability to contact the Goddess of Life, who was currently in the Soul Prison.


    "I remember we saw arge rift in the Soul Prison. Maybe I canbine that rift with my King of Time and Space ability to open a portal outside of the Soul Prison. If my guess is correct, the n should work, and the Goddess of Life inside the Soul Prison can help us," Jeremy exined.


    The War God''s face showed a hint of confusion upon hearing this.


    He had never met the Goddess of Life before, and Jeremy had never mentioned that he had already rescued her. But given the situation, the War God knew he had no other options. He could only hope Jeremy''s n would seed.


    Jeremy quickly established contact with the Goddess of Life.


    Outside the Soul Prison, the Goddess of Life had prepared herself in a fortified area. At that moment, she was in the middle of a fierce battle with the Mechanical Empress and the Mechanical Tutor.


    The Empress and the Tutor, leading the surviving mechanical monsters, had recently arrived at the Soul Prison. They had initially thought they could quickly pass through the Soul Prison and reach the lowest levels of the Tower of Exile. From there, they would decide their next course of action.


    However, they hadn''t anticipated encountering a powerful foe inside the Soul Prison.


    Though the Goddess of Life''sbat abilities weren''t exceptionally strong, she used her divine powers to generate vast amounts of nt life within the prison. These nts intertwined to form an almost imprable barrier.


    Despite the Mechanical Empress and the Mechanical Tutorunching all-out attacks, it would still take them a long time to break through the barrier.


    TheGoddess of Lifedidn''t feel too much pressure from the enemies'' attacks. So, when she sensed Jeremy''s message, she responded immediately.


    "It seems your n has had some sess, otherwise you wouldn''t be in the mood to contact me," the Goddess of Life said with a smile to Jeremy.


    Hearing her words, Jeremy finally let out a sigh of relief.


    "My n did indeed seed to some extent, but we''re currently trapped in the middle section of the Tower of Exile. If we want to reach you in the Soul Prison, I''ll need your help. You know very well that the Tower of Exile has be extremely dangerous. We must leave it as soon as possible.


    Once we reunite, I''ll take you out of the Tower of Exile!" Jeremy quickly exined his thoughts and their current situation.


    The Goddess of Life responded without hesitation.


    "I understand. What do you need me to do?"


    "I need you to construct a portal near the rift inside the Soul Prison. Though your power lies in life, I believe that with your control over it, creating a portal might be possible. Leave the rest to me," Jeremy instructed.


    Receiving clear guidance, the Goddess of Life immediately took action. She deftly bypassed the area where the Mechanical Tutor and the Mechanical Empress were located and swiftly made her way to the rift within the Soul Prison.


    Using her immense power over life, the Goddess of Life manipted various nts, weaving them together to form a portal. Though the portal didn''t directly connect to Jeremy''s location, it still offered significant help.


    Sensing the presence of the portal, Jeremy activated his King of Time and Space ability. Before them, a portal emitting a soft green glow gradually appeared.


    Jeremy turned to the War God and said, "We need to get through the portal quickly! The middle section of the Tower of Exile is likely to copse any moment now."


    As Jeremy spoke, both he and the War God heard a series of copsing structures from above, signaling that the Tower of Exile''s breakdown was elerating.


    Without any hesitation, the War God followed Jeremy through the portal.


    In that instant, Jeremy, Ritchie, and the War God found themselves transported into the Soul Prison. Stay updated with §Þ??


    "Your friend seems to need my help. I''ll bring him back to consciousness quickly," said theGoddess of Lifeas she reached out her hand and gently touched Ritchie.


    The moment the Goddess of Life touched him, Ritchie took a deep breath and suddenly jolted awake.


    "What''s going on?! Are we dead or alive?!" Ritchie shouted as soon as he regained consciousness, directing his question to both Jeremy and the War God.


    Jeremy, feeling a bit exasperated, responded, "Rx, you''re not dead yet! We''ve made it into the Soul Prison. Now we need to head quickly to the lowest level of the Tower of Exile, where we originally entered."


    Jeremy then exined his n. No one objected, and the Goddess of Life shared what she knew about the current situation.


    "You mean theMechanical EmpressandMechanical Tutorare inside the Soul Prison? And they''re attacking the defense line you set up earlier?" Jeremy asked, slightly surprised by what theGoddess of Lifehad just revealed.


    The Goddess of Life nodded. "Yes, that''s right. But I doubt they will seed. I have full confidence in the defense line I''ve built."


    The information provided by the Goddess of Life made Jeremy realize he needed to adjust his n. While escaping quickly was still the top priority, he couldn''t pass up the opportunity to weaken bothThe White TowerandThe Fool .


    After thinking it over for a moment, Jeremy slowly addressed the group in front of him.


    "I''vee up with a new n. We might be able to use this situation to weaken our enemies and even force them to help us escape from here."


    As Jeremy said this, the others looked at him with a hint of confusion. But their confusion wasn''t due to doubt¡ªthey simply couldn''t yet grasp what his n was. After all, none of them questioned Jeremy anymore.


    After everything they had been through together, their trust in him was solid. Jeremy''s intelligence and strategic thinking had proven to be on a level they had never witnessed before.


    While Jeremy worked out the details of his new n, the Mechanical Empress and Mechanical Tutor halted their actions. They realized that their previous efforts had been in vain. Trapped within the Soul Prison, they had made no progress in breaking through the nt-based barrier that blocked their path.


    Meanwhile, the copse of the Tower of Exile was elerating.

 Chapter 315 Taking Deception to the Limit

    "Your Majesty, Empress, what should we do now? If we can''t break through this nt barrier, we won''t be able to leave the Tower of Exile. And it''s on the verge of total copse," theMechanical Tutorsaid, her mood worsening by the second.


    She had never imagined that the Tower of Exile would faceplete copse just because of Jeremy and his group''s invasion.


    In response to theMechanical Tutor''squestion, theMechanical Empressslowly shook her head.


    "I don''t know what to do next either. Our power is not enough to break through this barrier. So perhaps we should return to the area where we came from."


    TheMechanical Empress''s words shocked the other mechanical monsters. None of them wanted to go back to the previous area.


    TheMechanical Tutordirectly objected to the Empress''s suggestion.


    "Couldn''t we release all the souls trapped here in the Soul Prison? It seems like they''d be willing to help us."


    As the Mechanical Tutor spoke, the Mechanical Empress nced at the powerful souls locked within the prison cells. Though the souls appeared calm now, the Mechanical Empress knew that once they were released, they would immediately turn on them. After all, these souls had been captured and imprisoned by them.


    "Doing that would only make our situation worse. Instead, you should focus on how to make yourself more powerful in the uing battle," the Mechanical Empress replied sternly.


    This remark only deepened theMechanical Tutor''sdespair. She believed she had already pushed her abilities to the limit, and no matter what, she couldn''t be any stronger for the next fight.


    Just as the Mechanical Tutor was about to say something else, both she and the Mechanical Empress suddenly sensed the presence of Jeremy and his group not far behind them.


    Both theMechanical Empressand theMechanical Tutorquickly prepared for battle, but they didn''t immediatelyunch an attack. They knew that in their current situation, avoiding conflict was wiser than provoking it.


    As soon as they saw Jeremy and the others, they called out in their direction, cautious but not aggressive.


    "Don''te any closer! If you keep approaching, don''t me us for being hostile! You are our enemies, and we''ll attack you without hesitation," theMechanical Empressthreatened.


    In the face of her warning, Jeremy merely smiled calmly and replied, "Do you really think you have the time for a fight right now? The Tower of Exile is on the verge of copse. If we don''t get out before it crumbles, we''ll all be destroyed along with it."


    Jeremy''s words made theMechanical Empressand theMechanical Tutorbreathe a little easier. Their biggest fear was that Jeremy might be oblivious to the reality of the situation, which could lead him to insist on fighting them.


    Although theMechanical Empressconsidered herself strong, she also knew that engaging in battle with Jeremy wouldn''t lead to a quick victory.


    "So, what''s your n? Are you suggesting you''ll take us out of theTower of Exilewith you?" theMechanical Empressasked slowly.


    Jeremy nodded.


    "You''re absolutely right. I intend to take you with us, because I know that if I don''t, you''ll try to stop us from escaping." His tone was genuine as he spoke.


    The Mechanical Empress and the Mechanical Tutor both looked shocked.


    "Don''t try to deceive us! We won''t be fooled so easily! We are enemies¡ªwhy would you help us escape?" theMechanical Tutorburst out angrily before theMechanical Empresshad a chance to respond.


    She felt as though Jeremy was toying with them.


    Jeremy remained calm. "Mypanions and I may be strong, but even we can''t escape theTower of Exileon our own. And from what I can tell, neither can you and yourrades. So, wouldn''t working together be the most logical course of action? Or do you prefer we stay here, locked in a stalemate, until we all perish?"


    Jeremy''s question made theMechanical Empressand theMechanical Tutorhesitate. His assessment mirrored their own.


    After a brief moment of silence, the Mechanical Empress stepped forward.


    "If you want to cooperate with us, what are the terms of this cooperation? What kind of actions do you think we should take together?" the Mechanical Empress asked, her tone still slightly cold.


    Despite her frosty demeanor, Jeremy knew he had sessfully deceived her. He had no intention of sincerely cooperating with the mechanical monsters. His n was to carry out his deception to the end, using his cunning to manipte the mechanical monsters into doing exactly what he wanted.


    "My n is quite simple," Jeremy began, "All we need to do is work together to destroy the barrier in front of us. Once the barrier is down, we can proceed to the lowest level of the Tower of Exile. There, we canbine our strengths to form a shield. With this shield in ce, we''ll be protected when the Tower copses, allowing us to survive."


    Jeremy''s n was not overlyplicated, but it was difficult to pull off. For it to seed, everyone needed to cooperate closely, which was no easy feat.


    After hearing Jeremy''s proposal, theMechanical Empressslowly shook her head. Discover stories at §Þ??


    "Your n could work, but I don''t trust you or yourpanions. If you want me to use my power and cooperate with you, you need to show more sincerity," she said.


    "And what kind of sincerity are you looking for?" Jeremy asked, a sly glint in his eyes.


    The look in Jeremy''s eyes made the Mechanical Empress uneasy. She had a strong suspicion that Jeremy was lying, but she couldn''t find any evidence to prove it.


    "Perhaps you should send one of yourpanions over to us. If we have a hostage, I''ll be able to trust your sincerity," theMechanical Empressproposed, after thinking for a moment, convinced that Jeremy would never agree to such a condition.


    To her surprise, Jeremy agreed immediately.


    "No problem! I''ll send one of mypanions to you. But after that, you must follow my n," Jeremy said, turning his gaze to Ritchie.


    Without hesitation, Ritchie walked calmly over to the Mechanical Empress, standing by her side.


    Watching Ritchie and Jeremy''s actions, the Mechanical Empress grew even more suspicious.


    "What''s wrong? Do you think my sincerity isn''t enough? I''ve done what you asked¡ªshouldn''t you now show some sincerity in return? Or do you think you can''t cooperate with me?" Jeremy''s tone had turned slightly stern as he spoke.


    In his view, he had already made a gesture of goodwill, so it was only right for the other side to reciprocate.


    After thinking for a moment, theMechanical Empressturned to theMechanical Tutorand said, "Since they''ve shown sincerity, I must do the same. You will go over to their side and stay with them until our cooperation isplete."


    TheMechanical Tutor ''s face showed a flicker of hesitation after receiving the Empress''s order. She was reluctant to move closer to Jeremy. Being near him felt dangerous, and she feared what risks that might entail.


    TheMechanical Tutor''shesitation drew the attention of everyone around. Under the mounting pressure from the Mechanical Empress, she had no choice but to slowly walk toward Jeremy''s group.


    With the exchange of hostagesplete, the cooperation could finally proceed smoothly.


    "It looks like we''re ready to cooperate atst. Now, lead us to the barrier that''s blocking your way," theMechanical Empresssaid. "When I arrived at the Soul Prison, I sensed the presence of the barrier. And frankly, I doubt you have the strength to break through it on your own. Only with our help will you have the power to shatter it."


    Jeremy nodded as he briskly walked ahead.


    Although the Mechanical Empress and the other mechanical monsters still harbored some doubts, they realized that given the circumstances, cooperation with Jeremy was their best option. They followed him, albeit with lingering wariness.


    The group quickly arrived at the nt-based barrier. Jeremy turned to the Mechanical Empress.


    "Let''s start now. I don''t think you should hold back your strength, because if you do, none of us will be able to escape. And I won''t be holding back either!" Jeremy dered.


    The Mechanical Empress stepped beside Jeremy, fully agreeing with his statement. Both of the most powerful individuals unleashed their full strength without hesitation.


    As theyunched their attacks, the Goddess of Life withdrew the energy that had been sustaining the barrier. Before everyone''s eyes, the nt barrier rapidly crumbled. Seeing this, the group couldn''t help but smile. The copse of the barrier signified their chance to finally escape the Tower of Exile.


    However, neither the Mechanical Empress nor Jeremy rxed. They both immediately sensed a strange disturbance in the surrounding space as soon as the barrier fell. It was clear to them that the master of theTower of Exilewasn''t going to let them leave so easily.


    Moreover, the World had not yet defeated the Fool or The White Tower in the battle that continued elsewhere.

 Chapter 316 Selfish Thoughts Prevail

    Although Jeremy and the Mechanical Empress did not immediately grasp the entire situation, their response strategies werepletely aligned.


    Almost instantaneously, both Jeremy and the Mechanical Empress sprinted towards the copsing barrier at full speed. Behind them, the others were quick to follow suit.


    Even though the rest of the group might not have sensed the strange spatial fluctuations around them, they could tell from Jeremy and the Mechanical Empress''s behavior that something was amiss.


    The group soon passed through the crumbling barrier, reaching the outermost edge of the Soul Prison. Once they passed through the gate ahead, they would return to the town near the terminal¡ªthe very bottom level of the Tower of Exile.


    However, just as they were about to cross the gate, the Mechanical Empress suddenly heard a voice, distant and resounding from the infinite heights.


    "Stop wasting time! You must prevent Jeremy and the others from advancing! No one must leave the Tower of Exile!"


    The voice was all too familiar to the Mechanical Empress. She knew it was the voice of The White Tower.


    Despite receiving themand, the Mechanical Empress did not make an immediate decision. She was well aware that remaining in the Tower of Exile would expose her to grave danger.


    The Mechanical Empress no longer believed that the masterminds behind the Apocalypse Game could secure an absolute victory in this divine war. This realization made her prioritize her own safety above all else.


    After a brief moment of consideration, the Mechanical Empress turned to Jeremy and spoke directly.


    "The gate ahead seems to have been sealed by some kind of power. Since you possess the gift of the King of Time and Space, you should open a portal for us."


    Her tone carried a hint of urgency as she spoke. The subtle shift in her voice did not escape Jeremy''s notice. He remainedposed, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.


    "Very well, I''ll open the portal right away. But once it''s open, others must go through first. You and I should be thest ones to leave. Only then can we ensure our continued cooperation."


    The Mechanical Empress did not object to Jeremy''s condition. She knew that the two of them were the strongest in the group, and leaving together was their best chance for survival.


    If the two of them crossed the portal first, the others would likely be left behind in the Soul Prison of the Tower of Exile.


    After Jeremy opened the portal, one by one, the others passed through. Besides Jeremy and the Mechanical Empress, thest person to cross the portal was the disguised Goddess of Life.


    The Goddess of Life nced back at Jeremy, her eyes filled with a questioning look. She was, in fact, hoping tounch an attack on the Mechanical Empress right then and there. The Goddess of Life believed that if she and Jeremy worked together perfectly, the Mechanical Empress would stand no chance of surviving.


    However, Jeremy met the Goddess of Life''s gaze with a nk expression. He felt that it was not yet the right moment to act. Additionally, he thought their current situation was quite dire, and it would be unwise to start a fight with an ally under such circumstances.


    After the Goddess of Life had passed through the portal, Jeremy spoke in a calm tone.


    "Why didn''t you attack me outright? I heard the voice of The White Tower. He must have clearly ordered you to attack me."


    The Mechanical Empress didn''t show any sign of surprise at Jeremy''s words. She simply responded in a neutral tone.


    "The situation right now is murky, and I have to consider my own interests. Even if I didn''t care about myself, I still need to think about my subordinates. If I attacked you, we''d both be trapped in the Tower of Exile. The Tower of Exile is on the verge of total copse. While both of us are strong, I don''t think we''re powerful enough to guarantee our safety in the midst of that copse."


    The Mechanical Empress''s answer was sincere. Her selfish thoughts had taken precedence. After all, the Mechanical Empress was a highly powerful mechanical monster with self-awareness. This meant that in the face of such a dangerous situation, she couldn''t help but hesitate.


    Jeremy epted the Mechanical Empress''s exnation.


    "In that case, let''s go through the portal quickly. If we waste too much time, even if we don''t die from the copse of the Tower of Exile, the ones who already passed through the portal are bound to turn on each other."


    With that, Jeremy stepped through the portal.


    The Mechanical Empress took onest nce at the copsing Tower of Exile behind her.


    She was still slightly concerned.


    Although the Mechanical Empress believed that The White Tower might not emerge victorious in this divine war, she also thought that it wouldn''t bepletely destroyed. This meant that The White Tower could very well hold her ountable afterward.


    Stay tuned to §Þ??


    However, the Mechanical Empress didn''t have the luxury of overthinking things now. In the end, she gritted her teeth and stepped through the portal.


    As the Mechanical Empress crossed through the portal, the copse of the Tower of Exile destroyed all the cells in the Soul Prison. Countless powerful souls broke free from their confinement.


    These souls attempted to escape through Jeremy''s portal, but their n ultimately failed. Jeremy quickly closed the portal, leaving all the powerful souls trapped inside the Tower of Exile.


    When the Mechanical Empress emerged from the portal, she saw that everyone had gathered in front of the central building in the terminal town, waiting for her.


    "Now that everyone''s here, let''s keep moving. The copse of the Tower of Exile will soon spread to this ce," Jeremy said calmly upon seeing the Mechanical Empress.


    With that, the group moved toward the outermost area of the terminal town. They all knew that in this outer region, there was an old, rundown train station that led to the shadow zone.


    Once they boarded the train, it would take them to the final area of the Tower of Exile.


    The group made their way smoothly to the dpidated train station outside the terminal town. They didn''t have to wait long before an old, shabby train arrived at the station.


    The Mechanical Empress hesitated for a moment. She couldn''t shake the feeling that things were progressing too smoothly. She suspected that there was some hidden conspiracy surrounding her. Instinctively, she nced in Jeremy''s direction.


    At that moment, Jeremy had already boarded the rundown train with hispanions and the Mechanical Tutor.


    "Are you nning to stay behind? If so, we''ll leave without you," Jeremy urged, his tone indifferent.


    Left with no other choice, the Mechanical Empress, along with her subordinates, boarded the rickety train.


    The old train rattled to life and began its journey.


    After a rtively short journey, the dpidated train finally arrived at the edge of the Tower of Exile, at the end of the Mist of History. Before themy a graveyard, shrouded in silence and darkness, where the remnants of deity souls were buried.


    The surroundings were identical to thest time Jeremy had been there. There was no difference at all.


    Jeremy and the others quickly disembarked from the train. Almost immediately, they heard the sound of chains dragging along the ground from a distance.


    "You don''t need to worry. Those sounds are justing from the cyclops enved by the master. They pose no real threat to us," the Mechanical Empress exined briefly.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment.


    "So, how do we proceed? Are we supposed to enter the Mist of History?" Jeremy asked the Mechanical Empress, raising the most crucial question.


    The reason Jeremy had chosen to cooperate with the Mechanical Empress was precisely because he didn''t know how to pass through the Mist of History and escape.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s question, the Mechanical Empress finally allowed a smile to appear on her face.


    "Now I understand why you wanted to team up with me. You don''t even know how to leave the Tower of Exile, do you?"


    Jeremy nodded again.


    "You''re right. That''s why we need your help. Are you nning to abandon our cooperation now?"


    At that moment, Jeremy was ready for battle. If the Mechanical Empress showed any unwillingness to continue their alliance, he would not hesitate to attack her.


    But the Mechanical Empress shook her head.


    "Of course, I intend to continue working with you. The journey ahead is still fraught with danger. If we want to leave the Tower of Exile, we must head to the Dark River ahead. Every one of us will have to enter the river."


    The Mechanical Empress''s words caused both Jeremy and Ritchie to furrow their brows.


    Jeremy and Ritchie had obtained some information about the Dark River when they first started this mission, and that knowledge didn''t sit well with them.


    ording to the information they had obtained, anyone who entered the Dark River would be forever bound to it.


    Jeremy calmly asked the Mechanical Empress, "Are you certain this will work? Why does my intelligence suggest that if we step into the Dark River, we''ll be trapped there forever?"


    A smug smile crept across the face of the Mechanical Empress.


    "I''m not wrong, and neither is the information you received. Any living being that enters the Dark River will indeed be bound to it for eternity. But the key difference is," she said, her smile widening, "neither I nor my subordinates are living beings. We''re simply mechanical monsters."


    Atst, the Mechanical Empress revealed the critical information she had been holding back.

 Chapter 317 A Battle Is Unavoidable

    Seeing the smug expression on the Mechanical Empress''s face, Jeremy spoke in his usual calm tone, "Do you really think I''ll let you leave so easily? Do you honestly believe that, given our inability to escape, I would allow you to step into the Dark River without a fight?"


    Though Jeremy''s voice remained steady, everyone could sense that he was on the verge of erupting. He had already prepared himself for battle. In his mind, he was confident that he could eliminate the Mechanical Tutor at any moment. Once that was done, he could focus all his strength on defeating the Mechanical Empress.


    The Mechanical Empress took a step back, her face stillposed. "You can attack me right now if you want, but I don''t think you''ll win. Here, I can harness the power of the deity soul remnants."


    No sooner had she spoken than the Mechanical Empress extended her left hand. The flickering mes from the wall sconces gathered rapidly into the palm of her hand. These mes were the remnants of deity souls, and in mere moments, they were converted into High-Dimensional Data.


    With the aid of this powerful High-Dimensional Data, the Mechanical Empress quickly transformed into a massive mechanical monster, towering like a mountain.


    "What a shame. I thought we could continue working together. It seems, though, that a battle is unavoidable," she said, her tone still coldly confident.


    Upon seeing this transformation, Jeremy immediately used his King of Time and Space ability to seal the Mechanical Tutor. Without missing a beat, he charged straight toward the Mechanical Empress.


    At the same moment that Jeremyunched his attack, Ritchie and the War God sprang into action. Ritchie manipted the surrounding shadows, sending them to assault the Mechanical Empress''s subordinates. Meanwhile, the War God brandished his weapon, directing it at the nearest mechanical monster.


    In the distance, near the edge of the Dark River, the cyclops moved slowly and silently, seemingly oblivious to the fierce battle unfolding nearby.


    Though both Jeremy and the Mechanical Empress had immense confidence in theirbat abilities, neither was able tond a decisive blow on the other. Their sh was far from over.


    The battle between Jeremy and the Mechanical Empress reached a stalemate. Neither of them could overpower the other, and the same could be said for the War God and Ritchie, who were unable to quickly defeat all of the Mechanical Empress''s subordinates. As a result, the fight along the edge of the Dark River showed no signs of ending anytime soon.


    However, the copse of the Tower of Exile continued unabated. While Jeremy and the others were locked inbat, the core structure of the Tower of Exile hadpletely crumbled. Even the Mist of History that surrounded the Tower was rapidly dissipating.


    Soon, Jeremy and the Mechanical Empress noticed several powerful figures battling in the sky above. Although The Fool had not personally descended, its projection was still causing significant trouble for The World. Despite The World having control over the activated Map of All Things and Stars, its power was severely limited.


    Taking advantage of this, The White Tower wielded the High-Dimensional Data it controlled, transforming it into a formidable weapon. Faced with thebined assault of these two Apocalypse Game masterminds, The World was inevitably slipping toward defeat.


    Seeing this, Jeremy couldn''t help but feel disappointed. What he didn''t expect, however, was that the Mechanical Empress was even more disheartened than he was.


    As soon as the Mechanical Empress saw her allies struggling, she decided it was time to negotiate with Jeremy.


    "I think we can''t continue fighting like this! If you cooperate with me, I can lead you and your team out of here!" she called out mid-battle, proposing her terms.


    Her words left everyone stunned.


    Jeremy hesitated slightly before asking, "Why would you do that? Your master clearly has the upper hand in the battle. You could just wait for them to eliminate my allies. Or¡­ could it be that you fear your master as well?"


    Jeremy quickly pieced together the most likely exnation.


    The expression on the Mechanical Empress''s face soured. She was forced to admit that Jeremy''s guess was urate.


    "You''re right," she said bitterly. "I do fear my master. I haven''t followed his orders, and once he ims victory, he''ll certainly punish me."


    With the truth out in the open, Jeremy decided there was no point in wasting more time. He nodded and replied,


    "If you''re willing to help us leave, then naturally, we''re open to negotiating peace," Jeremy replied cautiously. "But how can we trust that you won''t use this opportunity to betray us? After all, not long ago, youunched a sudden attack against us."


    Jeremy remained on guard. In his mind, even if The World fell in battle, there was still a chance for him to seize control of the Map of All Things and Stars. Before the battle, Jeremy had taken specific precautions, ensuring a close connection between himself and the map. If no one else had fully imed its power, Jeremy could potentially summon it directly into his possession at the right moment.


    The Mechanical Empress responded bluntly, "I can''t offer any guarantees! My n is inherently risky. I need you all to disguise yourselves as machines¡ªonly then can we safely cross the Dark River."


    The Mechanical Empress truly believed that this was the most viable n, but Jeremy saw it as nothing short of suicidal.


    "You''re still trying to deceive me! Disguising ourselves as machines is not a valid solution. Do you really think the Dark River can be fooled so easily? It will strip all our souls away!" Jeremy tly rejected the Mechanical Empress''s proposal.


    Seeing that her n had been dismissed, the Mechanical Empress realized there was no point in further discussion. After all, it was the only n she had that might work. Since Jeremy refused it, she had no choice but to fight to the end.


    "Since you think my n won''t seed, I have nothing more to say. I''ll have to eliminate you all and make my escape!" she dered, her voice cold and resolute.


    With that, the Mechanical Empress transformed into The Deluge of Data, a torrent of High-Dimensional Data rushing toward Jeremy at breakneck speed. This time, she wasn''t holding anything back. The Mechanical Empress knew that the battle had reached its most critical moment. If she didn''t win here and now, it would mean herplete annihtion.


    Facing the Mechanical Empress''s full-force assault, Jeremy also unleashed the entirety of his power. Though the Longsword of the Undying had been shattered, Jeremy believed he could still use its fragments to strengthen his own abilities.


    At the same time, Jeremy continuously used his King of Time and Space ability to create one trap after another for the Mechanical Empress. Though their battle was intense, it was clear that the fight between them would not determine the ultimate oue.


    Despite the fiercebat between Jeremy and the Mechanical Empress, their strength paled inparison to that of The World and The Fool. The final oue hinged entirely on the battle between these two powerful entities, and their fight was far from reaching a quick conclusion.


    The Fool, through its projection, summoned wave after wave of powerful monsters. Although these creatures couldn''t defeat The World outright, they forced The World to divide its focus in order to deal with them. This gave The White Tower the perfect opportunity tounch surprise attacks during the battle.


    Despite his best efforts to adapt and evade, The World found his strength rapidly diminishing. While his responses were impable, he was gradually being worn down. Realizing he couldn''t possibly defeat both Apocalypse Game masterminds at once, The World made a swift decision to escape.


    "It seems you''ve been preparing for this fight all along. In that case, I won''t waste any more time with you. I have no intention of engaging in a decisive battle on a battlefield you''ve alreadyid out!"


    With this, The World made his move to flee, knowing that staying any longer would only lead to his inevitable defeat.


    The World shouted loudly in the direction of the two Apocalypse Game masterminds. Then, in a sh of white light, he quickly flew toward Jeremy''s position. At the same time, the Map of All Things and Stars rapidly shrank, turning into what appeared to be an ordinary map.


    Of course, The Fool and The White Tower weren''t about to let their opponent escape so easily. Both of them immediately pursued him at their fastest speed.


    The three most powerful entities were now hurtling toward Jeremy and the Mechanical Empress, bringing an immense wave of pressure. Jeremy could feel the weight of their presence and was forced to activate his King of Time and Space ability. His n was to open a portal and escape from this dangerous zone as quickly as possible.


    However, to his shock, he found that his King of Time and Space powers were being suppressed. He couldn''t open a portal, and worse, he wasn''t even able to use his teleportation abilities in the midst of the battle.


    The Mechanical Empress wasn''t faring much better. Though she hadn''t been directly attacked, the sight of The White Tower rapidly approaching filled her with terror. Her face showed signs of pure fear.


    "Is my mastering to destroy me? What should I do now? Should I attempt to cross the threshold and escape?"


    A flood of questions swirled in the Mechanical Empress''s mind. She knew the situation was incredibly perilous, but despite her fear, she hesitated and couldn''t make a decision in time.


    Just as the Mechanical Empress thought she had figured out her next move, she suddenly realized she could no longer move at all.


    She had been locked in cepletely immobilized by The White Tower!

 Chapter 318 The Last Hope of Escape

    The Last Hope of Escape


    The Mechanical Empress realized that the High-Dimensional Data within her body was rapidly dissipating.


    But she had no way to stop it.


    Suddenly, the Mechanical Empress felt herself in an incredibly desperate situation.


    Frantically, she scanned her surroundings, hoping to find someone who could help her.


    However, it was clear that there was no one who could offer her aid.


    All the other mechanical monsters had long been controlled by the powerful High-Dimensional Data emanating from the White Tower.


    Even the Mechanical Tutor, who had been following Jeremy and the others, had be a puppet under the direct control of the White Tower.


    Jeremy and hispanions were in an even worse predicament than the Mechanical Empress.


    When Jeremy saw the "World" transform into a beam of white light speeding toward him, he immediately realized just how dire the situation had be.


    He spoke bluntly to Ritchie and the God of War, who were beside him.


    "We need to flee toward the Mist of History as fast as possible! We can''t let the two apocalypse game nners behind us catch up! If they do, we''re done for!"


    With that, Jeremy sprinted toward the Mist of History as quickly as he could.


    The God of War and Ritchie naturally followed closely behind him.


    Theypletely agreed with Jeremy''s judgment.


    The God of War had previously been stripped of his soul and power by the Fool, so he had no desire to relive that horrific experience.


    Ritchie hadn''t gone through what the God of War had, but after everything they''d been through, he had gained a deep understanding of the power controlled by the Fool and the White Tower.


    He certainly didn''t want to fall into the hands of such formidable enemies.


    Although Jeremy and hispanions were fleeing at their fastest speed, they still couldn''t outrun the Fool and the White Tower.


    The Deluge of Data, formed by the High-Dimensional Data from the White Tower, surged ahead of them in an instant.


    Behind them, the shadowy projection of the Fool,posed of pure darkness, closed in.


    The White Tower and the Fool had sessfully encircled Jeremy and hispanions. At the same moment, the World finally reached Jeremy''s side.


    The World handed Jeremy the activated map of all things and stars without hesitation. The moment Jeremy grasped the map, he could feel its immense power radiating through him.


    Jeremy looked at the World with a puzzled expression. He couldn''tprehend why the World would entrust him with such a powerful artifact, nor did he understand how the map could be used.


    "Don''t hesitate any longer! Activate your King of Time and Space ability now! Whether we escape or not depends entirely on your actions!" the World said calmly but with urgency in his tone.


    In that instant, Jeremy realized what the World''s n was. The World intended tobine the immense power contained in the map of all things and stars with Jeremy''s King of Time and Space talent. By doing so, they could open a portal¡ªeither one that led back to the real world or one that connected to ss change goddess Janna''s realm.


    Whether they returned to the real world or reached the ss change space, it would mean their escape was a sess.


    At first, Jeremy hesitated. He had already witnessed the power of the map of all things and stars, but he didn''t believe his current level could handle such overwhelming energy.


    "Do you really think I can open a portal with the King of Time and Space? Isn''t that overestimating my strength? I haven''t even reached level 60 yet!" Jeremy voiced his doubts.


    Even though he was well aware that they were surrounded by the powerful nners of the apocalypse game, he still hadn''t fullymitted to following the World''s n. Jeremy wanted to ensure that the World would at least help protect him after he opened the portal.


    The World, with a grave expression, responded, "This is ourst hope for escape! If you can''t open a portal to get us out of here, all our souls and powers will be stripped away."


    Although the Fool doesn''t hold much resentment against you, the White Tower is eager to tear your soul into pieces. Do you really want to fall into the White Tower''s grasp?"


    "The situation is extremely dire right now. Stop wasting time and open a portal immediately. I will ensure your safety once you do," the World said, his voice firm.


    After saying this, the World pointed directly at the map of all things and stars. In an instant, the power within the map surged forth. An almost infinite amount of energy flowed into Jeremy''s body.


    At this moment, Jeremy had no choice but to act. If he didn''t activate his King of Time and Space talent, his body would be utterly destroyed by the overwhelming force. With no other options, Jeremy gritted his teeth and activated his King of Time and Space ability.


    As soon as he did, he felt countless phantom doors appear before his eyes,yered on top of one another, forming a tunnel leading to an unknown destination.


    "Calm your mind! Quickly construct an image of the real world or the ss change space in your head! Only then will you be able to create a stable portal!" the World''s voice echoed in Jeremy''s ears.


    Despite the immense power coursing through him, Jeremy fought to maintain control. In his mind, he first tried to picture the real world¡ªthe most familiar ce to him¡ªhis home. He concentrated on his living room, constructing the scene he knew so well.


    However, it was clear that his attempt wasn''t sessful. While the image of his living room appeared at the deepest point of theyered phantom doors, he was unable to form a portal there.


    Almost at the same time, Jeremy felt the overwhelming force of the High-Dimensional Data pressing down on him. He also sensed something even more terrifying¡ªhis soul was being pulled forcibly from his body.


    The moment he felt these two sensations, Jeremy realized that the White Tower and the Fool had already begun their attack on them.


    Although the World would undoubtedly do everything in his power to hold them off, Jeremy knew the World couldn''t buy them much time.


    Finally, Jeremy made up his mind and began constructing the image of the ss change space in his mind. As he focused on that space, deep within the ss change realm, the ss change goddess Janna suddenly sensed an unusual spatial disturbance.


    She murmured to herself, "What''s going on? Is Jeremying here again? But this time, the spatial fluctuations are very different from the ones before when Jeremy arrived."


    Curious and uncertain, the ss change goddess Janna began using her own power to investigate the surrounding spatial energy.


    Janna''s actions inadvertently assisted Jeremy. Her power sessfully anchored the ss change space scene that Jeremy was constructing in his mind.


    At that very moment, a bright blue light flickered before the ss change goddess. When the light finally faded, a phantom-like portal materialized within the ss change space.


    Jeremy had seeded in forming the portal.


    As soon as the portal waspleted, the World unleashed all of his remaining power to protect them.


    An invisible barrier enveloped the World, Jeremy, and the others, temporarily shielding them from the White Tower and the Fool''s assault. The moment the barrier waspleted, the World immediately ushered Jeremy and the rest through the portal.


    As the barrier shattered, Jeremy could no longer maintain the portal. Ultimately, the World''s barrier and Jeremy''s portal copsed simultaneously. But by that time, they had already passed through, arriving in the ss change space where the ss change goddess Janna resided.


    Their sudden appearance took Janna by surprise.


    "What''s going on? Why are all of you here together? And who are these two?" Janna asked, her voice filled with confusion.


    It wasn''t just Jeremy and the World who stood before her. Ritchie, the God of War, and the Goddess of Life had also appeared in front of her. Seeing all these unfamiliar faces, Janna furrowed her brow.


    She couldn''t immediately determine if the others were allies or enemies, aside from Jeremy and the World. So, instinctively, she prepared herself for battle.


    "They''re all allies!" the World said as he struggled to stand. "We''ve just escaped from the Tower of Exile."


    Though the World had suffered the same powerful attacks as the others, he was the strongest among them and had previously been able to face the apocalypse game nners head-on. So, while the others were still unconscious, the World was able to regain enoughposure to speak with Janna.


    His words finally allowed the ss change goddess to rx a little.


    "That''s a relief. But it looks like you''re all in rough shape. It seems like you''ll need to rest here for a while," Janna remarked, observing their exhausted and battered states.

 Chapter 319 A Reluctant, Temporary Decision

    After regaining full consciousness, the World recounted everything that had happened in the Tower of Exile to the ss change goddess Janna. When she finished listening, a look of utter shock and disbelief spread across her face.


    "You actually went through with such a reckless n?" Janna asked incredulously. "Didn''t you tell me before that you wouldn''t act so recklessly? You even said that your next move would be made with me at your side. Have you been lying to me this whole time? Am I really your ally? How can I trust you after this?


    If you keep acting this way, how can we ever expect our n to seed?"


    Janna was furious, and her anger was entirely justified. The World''s actions this time had been exceedingly rash. What''s more, he hadn''t made any thorough preparations before embarking on this mission, which was precisely why he had been unable to withstand the attacks of the two apocalypse game nners in the final confrontation.


    At the top of the Tower of Exile, the World hadn''t even encountered the real Fool¡ªonly a projection of him. But even so, the World hade dangerously close to being destroyed.


    The World let out a deep sigh.


    "You''re right. My actions were reckless, and for that, I owe you an apology. I won''t act like that again."


    His apology was swift and straightforward. Hearing this, ss change goddess Janna''s anger began to subside.


    "Still, despite everything, your actions did yield positive results. At least we now have the map of all things and stars in our possession," Janna remarked, ncing at the map in the World''s hand.


    A faint smile finally crept onto the World''s face.


    "Yes, that''s right. This whole mission was about obtaining the map. Now that we have it, we can start using it to travel to other nes and gradually weaken the Fool''s power."


    "This way, we can avoid the dangerous situation of facing the Fool when he''s at his strongest," the World said.


    The n that both the World and ss change goddess Janna had always followed was to gradually weaken the Fool''s power. They never believed they could defeat the most powerful apocalypse game nner in a single strike.


    After discussing for a while, Janna shifted her gaze to the still-unconscious group.


    "What should we do about them? We can fully trust Jeremy, and since Ritchie is Jeremy''s friend, we can probably trust him too. But the God of War and the Goddess of Life, who came with Jeremy, are different. We can''t trust them outright.


    "Even though they''re enemies of the apocalypse game nners, they are deities in their own right, with their own agendas. Can we really rely on them? If they go to the real world, what''s stopping them from turning people''s souls into their own power?"


    Janna was deeply cautious of other deities, always wary of their intentions.


    The World nodded silently, acknowledging her concerns. After thinking for a moment, he decided to voice his temporary solution.


    "I don''t think we can let the God of War and the Goddess of Life enter the real world. No matter how we look at it, they''re too powerful, and sending them there would pose a significant threat to Jeremy. We need to keep them here. The ss change space holds immense power, and it should be enough to suppress both of them."


    Janna quickly countered, her voice filled with urgency.


    "We can''t leave them here! What about me? And what happens when more apocalypse game yerse here for their ss changes? If they remain in the ss change space, they''ll be a major threat to everything we n to do. I think we should send them back to the ne they came from.


    "Even though that ne was destroyed by the Fool, their divine power should allow them to revive at least some of their fallen followers."


    Janna''s concerns were valid. If the God of War and the Goddess of Life remained in the ss change space, it could jeopardize future ns, especially with more yers expected to arrive. Sending them back to their former realm, even if ravaged by the Fool, seemed like a safer alternative.


    "We just need to leave two portals in their realm. That way, if we face danger in the future, we can stillmunicate with them through the portals. And, if necessary, we can call on them to assist us in battle."


    ss change goddess Janna''s n seemed more thorough. However, she overlooked one critical detail: the Fool had extensive control over the realm where the God of War and the Goddess of Life once resided. If they were sent back to that realm, the Fool would quickly track their location, essentially delivering them right into his hands.


    The World voiced his concerns, and Janna had no choice but to admit that her n was unworkable. After a brief discussion, both fell into silence, feeling the weight of the difficult situation pressing down on them.


    Just as they were deep in thought, they suddenly heard Jeremy''s voice.


    "Why are you overthinking this? If you''re really that worried, why not just send the God of War and the Goddess of Life into one of the apocalypse game instances? That would solve the problem, wouldn''t it?"


    Jeremy had just gotten to his feet, having regained consciousness some time ago. He had been listening to their conversation but chose not to interrupt until he realized they were both stuck. Only then did he offer his suggestion.


    Jeremy''s proposal made Janna and the World''s eyes light up. By sending the God of War and the Goddess of Life into an apocalypse game instance, they could effectively limit their influence on the real world. At the same time, the power of the instance could act as a form of containment, preventing the deities from fully unleashing their powers.


    Moreover, it was likely that the God of War and the Goddess of Life wouldn''t refuse. They would recognize that even having the chance to exist within an instance was a stroke of luck for them, given the circumstances.


    However, this solution wasn''t without risks. The greatest danger was that the God of War and the Goddess of Life might eventually break free from the instance''s limitations. If they managed to do that, they could use their divine powers in the real world, which could lead to even greater chaos and instability.


    "I know you''re both worried that they might enter the real world, but I think your concern is pointless. The real world is already in chaos, and a bit more won''t make much of a difference. Besides, I believe I can handle any further disorder that might arise," Jeremy said confidently.


    Since Jeremy expressed such certainty, the World and ss change goddess Janna didn''t object. They understood that this was merely a temporary solution born out of necessity, but it was one they had to execute with determination.


    Afterward, the World awakened the others and shared the decision with them. While the God of War and the Goddess of Life seemed slightly resigned, they also knew it was the best course of action.


    "This works for me," the God of War said, agreeing immediately. "I still need to fight. I haven''t destroyed the enemy I hate the most yet." His voice was filled with anger, his desire to obliterate the Fool crystal clear. The God of War was willing to do anything and cooperate with anyone to achieve that goal.


    The Goddess of Life, on the other hand, responded more gently, "I''ll do my best to assist you within the instance. After all, I too am a mortal enemy of the apocalypse game nners, and I also want to see them all destroyed."


    With both deities in agreement, the World used his power to send them into the instance.


    "I can''t say exactly which instance they''ve been sent to, but I can tell you that the instance isn''t far from your city. You might encounter them while exploring it," the World exined.


    Jeremy nodded. "I think your n is perfectly fine. If there''s nothing else, mypanions and I should be leaving soon. We need to inform others about what happened in the Tower of Exile, and we''re all exhausted. We''d like to head back and get some rest."


    Since Jeremy had spoken so decisively, the World and ss change goddess Janna had no objections. They immediately sent Jeremy and Ritchie back to the real world.


    Once back in the real world, both Jeremy and Ritchie were utterly exhausted. Looking around, Ritchie quickly realized they had returned to Jeremy''s home. He turned to Jeremy and said, "I''m too tired. I''ll rest here at your ce for a while. After I wake up, I''ll head back to my own home."


    With that, Ritchie copsed onto the couch and fell asleep almost instantly.


    Jeremy didn''t mind. Stumbling into his bedroom, he barely made it to his bed before copsing onto it, quickly sumbing to his own fatigue.

 Chapter 320 New Changes in the Real World

    New Changes in the Real World


    Jeremy was awakened by a persistent knocking on the door after an indeterminate amount of sleep. He struggled to get up from the bed and nced at his phone on the nightstand.


    "It''s already noon? How many days have I slept?" he murmured to himself.


    The time disyed on Jeremy''s phone showed that it had been a full four days since he started the Tower of Exile mission. He was sure he hadn''t spent that long inside the Tower of Exile.


    The most usible exnation was that, after returning to the real world, he had slept for several days straight.


    Jeremy gathered his thoughts and quickly left his room as the knocking continued, urging him to hurry. Ritchie was still sprawled out on the sofa in the living room, snoring loudly.


    Without waking Ritchie, Jeremy went straight to the door and opened it.


    The moment the door swung open, Liam''s figure appeared before him.


    "Looks like you''re doing alright. I heard from my subordinates that you both made it homest night. To let you get some rest, I purposely came to see you at noon today," Liam said with a smile.


    Liam seemed quite at ease, as he believed that since Jeremy and Ritchie had returned safely, it likely meant that the task he had assigned to Jeremy waspleted.


    "We only got backst night?" Jeremy muttered to himself, frowning.


    "Yes! You really did get homest night. Why, is something off?" Liam asked, looking slightly puzzled.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "Nothing''s wrong. Since you''re here, don''t just stand outside. Come in and have a seat."


    Jeremy ushered Liam into the house.


    As soon as Liam entered the living room, he noticed Ritchie still sound asleep.


    "Let''s not disturb him; it seems like he still needs a lot of rest. We''ll just let him sleep here. If there''s something you want to discuss with me, go ahead," Jeremy said, pouring coffee for both of them.


    Liam took the coffee Jeremy handed him and sipped it.


    "I came here to confirm if you managed toplete the task I gave you."


    Jeremy nodded, then shook his head. His reaction left Liam visibly puzzled.


    "So, did you or didn''t you?" Liam pressed, seeking a clear answer.


    "I believe Ipleted the task you assigned me, but I doubt you''ll agree with my assessment," Jeremy replied, taking a sip of coffee and looking Liam earnestly in the eye.


    "Hmm?" Liam didn''t respond verbally; he simply waited for Jeremy to exin what had actually happened.


    Jeremy set down his coffee cup. "The anomaly involving the special map you gave me has beenpletely resolved. However, the map is no longer in my possession¡ªit was taken by a powerful deity that appeared inside the Tower of Exile.


    But there''s no need to worry; the map will no longer pose any threat to us. In fact, I''ve uncovered the map''s secret. It actually records the various worlds that one of the nners of the Apocalypse Game, known as ''The Fool,'' once visited. By using the map, a person can easily ess any of the worlds it depicts."


    After a moment''s thought, Jeremy shared this information in the most fitting tone he could muster. He felt he had already given Liam enough details. There was no way he would reveal the full truth about the worlds to anyone else.


    Despite having coborated with Liam several times, Jeremy still couldn''t bring himself to fully trust him.


    Liam remained silent for a while after hearing Jeremy''s ount. He finally understood why Jeremy had given such an ambiguous response at the outset. Although the map''s anomaly had been resolved, the map itself could not be recovered and returned to Liam.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, a faint smile appeared on Liam''s face. "It''s not a big deal. I''d say you''ve indeedpleted the task I assigned you. As long as the map no longer poses a threat to us, your mission is consideredplete.


    Judging by your condition and yourpanion''s, it seems you''re both doing fine, so I suppose there''s no need for any special treatment, is there?"


    Jeremy quickly shook his head in response.


    "We don''t need any special treatment. In fact, I feel like I can jump right into the fight," Jeremy said. "There must have been some changes in the real world over the past few days, right?"


    Jeremy was, of course, very concerned about what was happening in the real world. After all, his n to level up clearly involved continuously clearing out instances in the real world. He needed to understand the current situation there.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s question, a hint of confusion shed across Liam''s face. "Yes, there have been some new developments. The strength of the instances and the monsters within the apocalypse game has increased once again. The overall difficulty level of the instances has risen to at least level 55."


    "With your current level, you should be able to handle instances around level 55. But the gap between your level and the others'' is still too big. So, during the uing instance-clearing operations, we probably won''t be able to offer you much support."


    That was all the information Liam had to share. After listening, Jeremy nodded with a smile. "I''ve already reached level 57, just three levels away from 60. I hope to reach level 60 in the next two weeks. That way, I can easily manage instances around level 55. You really don''t need to help me, but you still have toe with me."


    "Relying on me alone to clear instances just isn''t enough time-wise. I need you all to level up faster. Once your levels have improved across the board, you''ll be able to handle other instances on your own."


    Jeremy''s words were earnest, and Liam couldn''t help but sigh lightly. "You''re right, but I still think you should take a few days to rest. During this time, you can talk things over with your friends. The information I have is far fromplete. Once you''ve gathered all the intel, then make your decision. But no matter what, if you ever need my help, I''ll be there for you."


    With that, Liam stood up.


    Since he had already gotten enough information from Jeremy, Liam knew he had to hurry back to the Special Situation Bureau. After all, there were still plenty of decisions waiting for him to make there.


    Seeing that Liam was already standing up to leave, Jeremy naturally chose to walk him out. As they reached the doorway, Liam turned back to Jeremy and said, "Oh, I almost forgot. I still need to provide you with a reward. In the next few days, if you have some free time, you can head over to the Special Situation Bureau."


    "I''ll make sure you and yourpanions get ess to our weaponry. You can pick out any weapons you want to use from the Bureau''s arsenal. Consider them a reward for your efforts."


    Jeremy was thrilled when he heard this. "I could definitely use a good weapon right now. I''lle by in two days to make my selection. If the Special Situation Bureau has some really rare weapons, you''d better hide them quickly while you still can."


    Jeremy''s words made Liam burst outughing.


    With that, the two of them said their goodbyes. After seeing Liam off, Jeremy returned to the living room.


    At this moment, Ritchie was still snoring away. Jeremy was already feeling a bit speechless.


    He gave Ritchie a light kick and said, "Stop sleeping already! If it weren''t for your snoring, I''d have thought you''d slept yourself to death. You''ve been out for 20 hours!"


    Under Jeremy''s urging, Ritchie finally woke up, albeit reluctantly. "Are we in danger again? Aren''t we still at your ce? If we''re here, then we''re safe, right? Just let me sleep a bit longer!"


    Ritchie nced at Jeremy, then scanned his surroundings. Seeing no sign of any threats, he promptly went back to sleep.


    Watching this, Jeremy waspletely at a loss for how to deal with him. "Fine, sleep if you must! But you''d better be up by 3:00 PM! We need to meet up with our teammates to discuss the next steps."


    In the end, Jeremy didn''t force Ritchie to stay awake. He figured he''d use the next couple of hours to tidy up his ce. Although he had straightened up before heading out on the Tower of Exile mission, he and Ritchie had managed to turn the furniture upside down again when they returned the night before.


    "Looks like I shouldn''t set my safe spot to my own home after finishing a mission next time," Jeremy grumbled while rearranging the furniture. "It''s such a pain to have to fix up the ce after every mission."


    Meanwhile, Jeremy''s teammates had already caught wind of his sessful mission, and they were on their way over to his ce!


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 321 The Situation of the Companions

    Meanwhile, Jeremy''s teammates had already caught wind of his sessful mission, and they were on their way over to his ce!


    At 2:30 p.m., Jeremy had pretty much finished tidying up the furniture in his home. In the living room, Ritchie was still sound asleep, snoring away. Just then, there was another knock at Jeremy''s door. This time, the person knocking was Bonnie.


    After hearing that Jeremy and the others had returned safely, Bonnie had left her own home as quickly as possible and headed straight for Jeremy''s ce. When Jeremy opened the door and saw Bonnie, they both broke into smiles.


    "As expected, you''re the one who cares about me the most. Aside from Liam, you''re the first to arrive," Jeremy said to Bonnie with a grin.


    Bonnie nodded in response. "I heard the news from Liam. General Howard is probably aware too, but he won''te by directly. He''s worried about disturbing you."


    As Bonnie spoke, she walked into Jeremy''s house. It was only then that she noticed Ritchie still fast asleep on the couch.


    "Is he okay? Did the mission leave him with some kind of hypersomnia? If Liam wasn''t lying, you guys definitely rested right aftering backst night. So why is he still asleep? Is he nning to sleep for an entire day? Are you sure there''s nothing wrong with him?"


    Jeremy nced back at Ritchie, catching a glimpse of him from the corner of his eye. "Don''t worry, he''s fine. In half an hour, I''m going to wake him up whether he likes it or not. Besides, I think Emma and ire will be here around then too. Once we''re all gathered, we can go over our next steps. After what happened at the Tower of Exile, I think our approach needs to change."


    Jeremy''s words made Bonnie feel a bit uneasy. She had a feeling that whatever Jeremy was about to say next would put a lot of pressure on her. But to her surprise, Jeremy didn''t say anything overwhelming.


    Instead, he just asked Bonnie to take a seat in the living room while he continued tidying up the furniture.


    Half an hourter, just as expected, ire and Emma arrived at Jeremy''s door. At that point, Jeremy promptly woke Ritchie up.


    Once everyone had arrived, Jeremy decided it was time to share his thoughts with the group. Although Ritchie had been woken up, he still needed to ssh some water on his face to fully wake himself up. While he was doing that, Emma and ire organized the food they had brought.


    "Why don''t we discuss things over lunch?" ire suggested with a smile. "I''m guessing none of you have eaten yet?"


    "We haven''t, actually. I haven''t eaten anything all day," Jeremy admitted, suddenly realizing just how hungry he was.


    Bonnie nodded slowly. "I didn''t have time to eat, either. Thank you so much for bringing the food."


    "No need to thank me. If you''re going to thank someone, it should be Emma. She''s the one who reminded me to bring lunch," ire said, drawing Jeremy and Bonnie''s attention to Emma.


    Emma''s demeanor had noticeably changed since thest time they saw her. It seemed like she had be much stronger, exuding a vitality that was significantly more intense than before.


    "Did youplete your first ss change already? I can sense that your life force is much more powerful than before," Jeremy asked Emma directly.


    Emma shook her head. "I didn''t do the ss change yet because you told me the timing wasn''t right. I just found a new piece of equipment while you were away on the mission."


    With that, she took out a gemstone radiating a green glow. The moment Jeremy and Bonnie saw the gem, they could feel the immense life energy it emitted.


    "It seems you really haven''t forgotten what I told you. You''ve handled everything exceptionally well," Jeremy said, genuinely impressed. He hadn''t expected Emma to obtain such a powerful item on her own.


    Bonnie also smiled and added, "You did a fantastic job. Even I wouldn''t be able to acquire such a strong weapon on my own."


    Emma blushed slightly at their praise, clearly a bit shy about the attention.


    Just then, Ritchie finally emerged from the bathroom.


    "I''m awake now. We can start discussing the next n of action," Ritchie said as he sat down next to the dining table, his eyes fixed on the food alreadyid out.


    Jeremy didn''tin about Ritchie''s approach. He knew that Ritchie had given it his all during the mission. Considering Ritchie''s level wasn''t particrly high, the fact that he had managed to stick with Jeremy until the end of the Tower of Exile mission was already a remarkable achievement.


    "Alright then, let''s eat and talk," Jeremy instructed.


    Everyone gathered around the table and began having lunch. After eating for a while, Jeremy turned to ire and Emma.


    "Do you think you''re ready for a ss change?" Jeremy asked. "I believe it''s time for you both to go through with it. Three days from now, you can perform the ss change ritual. I''ll be there to help you during the process."


    Naturally, ire and Emma didn''t hesitate to agree. They both wanted toplete the ss change as soon as possible to further enhance their strength.


    "We''re fully prepared. We''ll definitely be ready in three days," they responded in unison.


    Jeremy nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze to Bonnie.


    "What''s your current level? You must have leveled up a bit while I was away on the mission, right?"


    Bonnie nodded. "I''ve reached level 40. I feel much stronger than before, but I think my leveling speed is going to slow down now that I''m at level 40."


    There was a hint of discouragement in her tone. Bonnie was beginning to feel the gap between her level and Jeremy''s growing wider. It seemed like no matter what she did, she would never be able to catch up to Jeremy''s level.


    Jeremy spoke with a casual tone, "That''spletely normal. After reaching level 40, everyone''s leveling speed starts to slow down. And keep in mind that once you hit level 50, you''ll need to undergo an awakening."


    "The awakening ritual is extremely dangerous, which is why the phase between level 40 and 50 takes such a long time. The longer you take to prepare, the less risk you''ll face during the awakening ritual," Jeremy exined. He was quite satisfied with Bonnie''s progress.


    Among his fourpanions, ire and Emma were about to undergo their ss change, meaning they would soon be able to apany him on future missions. Although their levels weren''t high enough for directbat, they could still provide valuable support.


    Bonnie, having reached level 40, was just capable enough to follow Jeremy in level 55 instances. This meant that her leveling speed wouldn''t be too slow in the near future, as Jeremy nned to bring her along for missions.


    As for Ritchie, he didn''t need much exnation. He was already at level 43. The Tower of Exile had been a challenging ordeal, but the experience points Ritchie gained frompleting the mission were substantial.


    After understanding hispanions'' current status, Jeremy cleared his throat. "I''m satisfied with the speed at which you''re leveling up. So, the new n is to wrap up some less important tasks over the next three days. Then, three days from now, we''ll focus on protecting ire and Emma during their first ss change.


    Once they''vepleted the ss change, we can start clearing the instances around Moonlight City."


    Jeremy continued, "During the instance clearing, all of you will level up quickly. I want you to stay focused and work with me closely, because it won''t be long before we may face Kean''s threat again. Kean won''t give up on the idea of eliminating us."


    Jeremy''s n was thorough and took into ount all potential contingencies. Hispanions had no objections, and each of them began to think about how they could best contribute to the sess of the n.


    While Jeremy and hispanions discussed their uing strategy, in the heart of Moonlight City, General Howard and Liam were meeting. The two of them were going over the recent events, exchanging information on what had transpired.


    Among the recent events, the most prominent were undoubtedly Jeremy''s mission at the Tower of Exile and the chaos Kean stirred up in the capital.


    While Jeremy was upied with the Tower of Exile, Kean wasn''t idle. He coordinated with The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun to sessfully eliminate arge number of elite yers from the apocalypse game. This action directly resulted in a rapid decrease in the defensive strength around the capital, forcing the authorities to pull elite forces from other cities to reinforce it.


    As a consequence, the cities outside the capital were plunged into a state of crisis, struggling to cope with the sudden weakening of their defenses.

 Chapter 322 Rapid Collapse of Defensive Forces

    In a secluded residence on the outskirts of the capital, Kean was leisurely lying on a sofa with his eyes closed, enjoying a moment of rxation.


    Directly in front of Kean was a massive mirror, disying the situations inside several instances around the capital. Although these instances were not of particrly high levels, the monsters within them had undergone significant enhancements. Moreover, these creatures had gained powerful abilities directly under themand of "The Sun."


    yers participating in the apocalypse game who ventured into these instances were facing enormous difficulties, with even elite yers struggling to escape safely. In fact, these yers had been drafted from various regions by the higher-ups of the Federation.


    The elimination of these elite yers would directly cause the rapid copse of the defensive forces that the Federation''s leaders could personally control.


    "Our n is progressing far too smoothly. Could it be that the strength of you humans is really this fragile? Or are the higher-ups of the Federation holding some hidden cards in reserve?"


    The image in therge mirror before Kean suddenly shifted. The Son of the Sun appeared directly in the reflection, speaking the previous words.


    Kean slowly opened his eyes, smiling as he responded, "You''re overestimating them. The higher-ups in the Federation are fools. Their intelligence is not as high as you think. All they''re doing is sacrificing the lives of the apocalypse game yers they can control, without any real purpose.


    We just need to wait a bit longer, and those fools at the top will exhaust theirst resources. Once they''ve yed all their cards, we can wipe them out entirely!"


    Kean had in factpletely betrayed humanity. He was now coborating not only with The Son of the Sun but also with The Person in the Mirror. He even intended to assist them in eliminating the Federation''s leadership.


    In Kean''s mind, as long as he could bring down the Federation''s leaders, he would be able to seize all the valuable weapons and items they possessed.


    Moreover, Kean could gain a significant amount of experience during this process, allowing his level to rapidly increase. As long as Kean''s level surpassed Jeremy''s, he believed he could kill Jeremy in the final showdown.


    Although Kean spoke these words with great confidence, The Son of the Sun did not entirely trust him. There was still a hint of hesitation in The Son of the Sun''s demeanor.


    "Even if our n is progressing very well, we still have to remain vignt. I''ll lead The Person in the Mirror into other instances. We must ensure that all the instances are significantly more difficult than before."


    Hearing this, Kean slowly rose from the sofa. "If you want to take action, then go ahead. But I think your actions will be meaningless. What we need to focus on now is preserving our strength. Because once the defensive forces controlled by the Federation''s higher-upspletely copse, our greatest enemy will surely appear before us."


    The greatest enemy Kean referred to was, of course, Jeremy.


    The Son of the Sun''s expression became slightly uncertain after hearing Kean''s words. "Then why can''t we try to buy more time before Jeremy arrives? If we swiftly eliminate all the elite yers around the capital, Jeremy will have no one to assist him when hees for us. It would make our fight against him much easier."


    While The Son of the Sun was highly intelligent and possessed divine power, he was not human and thus not entirely familiar with the nuances of human conflict.


    Kean smiled as he responded, "Even if we quickly wipe out all the forces directly controlled by the Federation''s higher-ups around the capital, we still won''t have the upper hand in the uing battle with Jeremy. The truth is, Jeremy doesn''t need anyone else''s help. After all the previous battles, I''vee to understand his way of operating."


    Jeremy actually didn''t trust others; he only relied on a few close friends. However, those friends weren''t particrly powerful, so in the uing battles, we only need to consider the threat posed by Jeremy. Moreover, the faster you eliminate the apocalypse game yers around the capital, the sooner Jeremy wille looking for trouble."


    Kean had thought everything through. He believed that Jeremy would never just stand by and watch as all the forces controlled by the Federation''s higher-ups were wiped out. Therefore, once the defensive forces around the capital showed signs of an irreversible copse, Jeremy would surely rush to the area as quickly as possible.


    Even if Jeremy didn''t want to take action, the Federation''s leaders would pressure him to do so.


    So, Kean''s task was straightforward: he just needed to rest well and prepare for the final showdown.


    Kean''s words eventually persuaded The Son of the Sun. "If that''s the case, then let''s prepare ording to your n. How long do you think it will take for Jeremy to reach the capital?"


    "Given the current situation, I estimate that Jeremy will arrive in about a week. If the Federation''s higher-ups manage to find more reinforcements, his arrival might be dyed a bit longer," Kean replied, sharing his prediction.


    The Son of the Sun nodded. "Very well, then. I''ll prepare based on a week''s time."


    As soon as The Son of the Sun finished speaking, the scenes on therge mirror shifted back to the interior of the instances around the capital. Watching one elite yer after another get taken down by monsters, Kean''s face broke into a smug grin.


    "You fools actually think that cooperating with the Federation''s leaders will give you a chance to gain power! Your deaths are of your own making!" Kean had a deep disdain for these elite yers who were willing to fight for the Federation. In his view, they hadpletely misunderstood the situation.


    Almost simultaneously, the Federation''s higher-ups convened an emergency meeting in the core of the capital''s administrative district.


    During this emergency meeting, the Federation''s leaders unanimously agreed that they needed to secure more assistance. Consequently, they promptly urged the military headquarters and the intelligence agency to take action.


    The military headquarters decided to redeploy armed forces stationed in other cities across the Federation, while the intelligence agency would pull all its elite operatives to reinforce the area around the capital.


    Under these circumstances, the situation around the capital might improve somewhat, but it would only be a slight improvement and would not be enough topletely reverse the overall crisis.


    After the emergency meeting concluded, military headquarters issued the orders to the generals in each city. Upon receiving the new directives, General Howard immediately met with key figures in Moonlight City. Present at the meeting were Mayor Benjamin and Liam. As soon as the three of them gathered, General Howard spoke bluntly.


    "The situation in the capital is far worse than we anticipated. Even though Moonlight City has already sent some troops back to the capital, the security situation there hasn''t improved. Therefore, military headquarters ns to redeploy even more soldiers from Moonlight City back to the capital. You must prepare for this, as the security of Moonlight City will be left in your hands."


    Hearing these words, both Benjamin and Liam''s expressions turned grim. Liam felt that the military headquarters was overlooking their concerns.


    "I think sending these troops back to the capital will do nothing to help its defenses. These soldiers are simply not equipped to deal with the high-level monsters inside those difficult instances. Keeping the troops stationed in cities outside the capital would be far more reasonable.


    I just don''t understand why the military headquarters can''t see such a simple truth," Liam said, his frustration evident.


    General Howard sighed at Liam''s words. "Many people understand that reasoning, but the situation in the capital is extremely dire. The military headquarters has no other options. This is the only way to temporarily reassure the Federation''s higher-ups."


    Howard had a thorough understanding of the internal dynamics within the military headquarters.


    The military headquarters was under immense pressure from the Federation''s leaders, so it had no choice but to take some form of action, regardless of the circumstances. Hearing this, Liam could only respond with a resigned tone.


    "That''s the reality of the situation, but how can we possibly ensure Moonlight City''s safety with our current resources? The monsters in the instances surrounding Moonlight City have also be significantly stronger."


    Liam''s words left Howard and Benjamin in a moment of silent contemtion. After a while, Benjamin finally spoke, his voice slow and measured.


    "It seems we have no choice but to ce our hopes on Jeremy. At the very least, Jeremy is much stronger than before. As long as he can swiftly clear out the most dangerous instances, we can still secure Moonlight City''s safety."


    In the end, the three of them could only rely on Jeremy to safeguard Moonlight City. However, they all knew this was a highly risky strategy, as their cooperation with Jeremy was not particrly solid or dependable.

 Chapter 323 The Results of the Companions Class Change

    Jeremy wasn''t fully aware of what was happening in the capital, so he didn''t give it much thought. His priority at the moment was overseeing ire and Emma''s ss change ceremony. To ensure there would be no risks during the process, Jeremy made a special trip to the space where the Goddess of ss Change, Janna, resided.


    "I know why you''re here," Janna said as soon as Jeremy arrived. "I can promise you that the oue of yourpanions'' ss change will be very favorable. However, I cannot guarantee exactly what sses they will receive. Even though I am the Goddess of ss Change, I am still bound by certain rules and cannotpletely control the results of their ss change."


    Janna was well aware of the purpose of Jeremy''s visit, so she straightforwardlyid out the extent of the help she could offer.


    Jeremy nodded firmly. "Thank you for your assistance. As long as you can ensure that the sses they receive are strong enough, that''s all that matters. They won''t need to take on frontlinebat roles. Their primary responsibility will be to support us during battles, so you don''t need to focus too much on theirbat capabilities after the ss change."


    Jeremy didn''t want to trouble Janna too much, so he simply shared his general expectations with her.


    Janna nodded in understanding. "Got it. I''ll do my best to grant them sses in line with your wishes. But you should have yourpanions proceed with the ss change ceremony immediately. If they dy any longer, the sses they obtain won''t be as valuable."


    Hearing Janna''s words, Jeremy swiftly returned to the real world.


    "You should be ready by now, right? Since you''re prepared, let''s start the ss change right away!" Jeremy said directly to ire and Emma.


    Both ire and Emma were filled with anticipation.


    First up for the ss change ceremony was ire, who was the most well-prepared. Her ceremony was not particrlyplicated; she simply needed to use hypnosis topletely subdue a monster.


    To ensure ire''s sess, Jeremy had also called Bonnie and Ritchie to assist. Bonnie was skilled in frost spells, some of which had mind-controlling effects. So, if ire struggled to hypnotize the monster on her own, Bonnie could provide additional support.


    "Don''t worry, I''m confident that ire willplete the ss change sessfully. Besides, if I end up helping her, it will definitely diminish the effects of the ceremony," Bonnie said with a reassuring smile to Jeremy.


    Bonnie could tell that Jeremy was feeling a bit nervous and didn''t want him to be too anxious. In her opinion, the first ss change wasn''t all that dangerous, and Jeremy was putting himself under unnecessary pressure.


    Bonnie''s confidence stemmed from the fact that she didn''t fully understand the close bond between Jeremy, ire, and Emma. Jeremy was deeply concerned about ire and Emma''s safety. If it weren''t for the fact that they needed to level up to continue apanying him on his missions, Jeremy wouldn''t have insisted on them undergoing the ss change.


    As Jeremy and Bonnie spoke, ire continued using her mind control skills to hypnotize the transformed monster. Her ceremony went remarkably well, and it didn''t take long for her to sessfully subdue the creature in front of her.


    Shortly after, ire entered the ss change space. For a first-time ss change, the process typically took around ten minutes. During this time, Jeremy and the others were unable to provide any assistance to ire, leaving Jeremy to wait tensely in the real world.


    The ten minutes quickly passed, and ire reappeared before the group, a smile on her face. She turned to everyone and said,


    "I''vepleted the ss change, and I''ve got my new ss¡ªManiptor!" ire announced excitedly.


    The new ss ire had obtained was a significant enhancement of her natural abilities. The Maniptor ss was highly skilled in mind control, allowing ire to neutralize the mental interference from monsters during their missions with Jeremy. Moreover, at critical moments, ire could use the Maniptor''s skills to prevent monsters in battle from unleashing their full power.


    After briefly exining the details of the Maniptor ss, Jeremy and the others were thrilled. Jeremy walked up to ire, smiling warmly.


    "The Maniptor ss will be a huge asset to our entire team. I''m definitely taking you along for the uing adventures," he said.


    Hearing this, ire was overjoyed. She immediately hugged Jeremy. Witnessing this scene, both Emma and Bonnie felt a slight pang of jealousy. However, neither said anything because they knew that such behavior between ire and Jeremy waspletely natural.


    "Since you''vepleted the ss change, go ahead and get used to the new skills thate with your new ss. Now, it''s time for Emma to perform her ss change," Jeremy said, turning his gaze toward Emma.


    At this moment, Emma took a deep breath. Although she had spent a long time preparing for this ss change ceremony, she couldn''t shake the feeling that she wasn''t fully ready. She believed there was a real possibility that her ss change might fail.


    Noticing Emma''s unease, Jeremy spoke up reassuringly. "There''s no need to worry. Even if your ss change ceremony doesn''t go as nned, we''ll still be able to help youplete it. Besides, I think your abilities are already strong enough to ensure your sess."


    Encouraged by Jeremy''s words, Emma proceeded with her ss change ceremony. Her task was to revive a dying monster and then make the resurrected creature quickly perish again. Although the ceremony sounded simple, during the process, Emma could only use skills rted to life force.


    If she used skills rted to any other power, the effectiveness of the ceremony would be greatly reduced.


    Emma took out the green-glowing gemstone she had found earlier. With the help of its life energy, the dying monster quickly regained its health,pleting the first part of the ceremony without dy. However, in the second part of the ceremony, Emma encountered some difficulties.


    Despite her best efforts to use the skills she had mastered to kill the revived monster, it seemed that the creature was a bit too powerful. Jeremy''s expression grew increasingly tense as he watched, and he was even prepared to step in and help Emma take down the monster in front of her.


    But Bonnie grabbed Jeremy''s arm.


    "You have to stay calm! Even though Emma is facing some trouble in her ss change ceremony, we need to have enough faith in her. I believe Emma canplete the ss change on her own!" Bonnie''s words helped Jeremy regain hisposure, at least for the moment.


    After observing for a little while longer, Jeremy saw Emma finally seed inpleting the second part of the ceremony. The moment the ss change ceremony was fullypleted, Emma entered the ss change space.


    Ten minutester, Emma returned to the real world, smiling at the group.


    "I did it! Ipleted the ss change, and my new ss is Priest of Life! I can now draw life energy from monsters to heal all of you!" she announced excitedly.


    Hearing Emma''s words, smiles spread across everyone''s faces.


    Although the Priest of Life wasn''t a particrly powerful ss, it was a perfect fit for Emma. The role didn''t require her to be in the most dangerous positions during battle. Instead, as a Priest of Life, Emma could support her teammates from a safe distance by continuously manipting life energy to aid them.


    Moreover, the Priest of Life ss has a strong counter effect against undead monsters. The ss change results for both Emma and ire turned out to be excellent, and Jeremy couldn''t be happier.


    "With the two of youpleting your ss changes, our team''s overall strength has significantly increased. Take a day to stabilize your new powers, and tomorrow, we''ll venture into an instance for some real action!" Jeremy said to the group with a smile.


    Emma and ire nodded eagerly, both looking forward to the uing adventure in the instance. Meanwhile, Bonnie lowered her voice and asked Jeremy quietly, "So, what are your ns for tomorrow? Do you have something important to take care of?"


    "Of course, I do," Jeremy replied. "I need to take Ritchie to see Director Liam and collect the reward he promised us! Wepleted the Tower of Exile mission, so it''s only fair that we im what''s rightfully ours."


    Jeremy had high expectations for the reward he would receive. He was hoping for a powerful weapon, one that could make his uing adventures in the instances much smoother and more sessful.

 Chapter 324 Mortal Combat

    After ensuring that Emma and ire sessfullypleted their ss change and confirming that there were no abnormalities in their condition, Jeremy took Ritchie back to his own home.


    They were scheduled to head to the Special Circumstances Bureau the next day, so Jeremy wanted to share his thoughts about the Bureau with Ritchie, hoping it would help him select the most advantageous rewards.


    "The Director of the Special Circumstances Bureau, Liam¡ªyou should know him. What kind of impression do you have of him? Do you think he''s a particrly kind person?" Jeremy didn''t immediately express his own opinion but instead posed the question to Ritchie.


    Ritchie shook his head. "Of course, I know Liam, but I''ve only coborated with him once. That experience was anything but pleasant. He may act friendly when discussing ns with you, but when dealing with those who are weaker than him, he always maintains a very arrogant attitude. So, I don''t expect my rewards to be particrly generous this time.


    Besides, Liam seems to be someone who holds grudges. If I choose an especially valuable reward and he doesn''t want to give it to me, he''ll probably find ways to make trouble for me afterward."


    Ritchie''s assessment of Liam was fairly urate. Jeremy nodded in agreement after listening to his response.


    "I understand your concerns," Jeremy said. "However, I believe we absolutely need to secure a powerful reward from him this time. We exhausted all our equipment during the mission in the Tower of Exile. If we can''t obtain quality weapons from him, ourbat strength will be significantlypromised, which would negatively impact both our own safety and the security of Moonlight City.


    So, I don''t think Liam would deliberately offer us subpar weapons. Our task is simply to choose the one that suits us best from the options he provides.


    Therefore, don''t worry¡ªno matter what he says, just pick the weapon that you feel is most suitable for you."


    Jeremy''s reassurance finally put Ritchie at ease.


    "If that''s the case, then I don''t have much to worry about. But I do need to remind you of something: during ourst coboration with him, he expressed some distrust towards you behind your back. So, I still think you shouldn''t trust himpletely. At least in certain situations, Liam is very likely to betray you."


    Ritchie voiced his deepest concern about Liam.


    Jeremy smiled slightly after hearing this. "I understand, and thank you for the reminder. I haven''t fully trusted him, either! But we need his help for our next actions, so we should still try to cooperate with him as much as possible."


    Ritchie didn''t say much more in response to Jeremy''s words. He just nodded slightly, indicating his agreement.


    "Alright, we''ve had a busy day. We should get some rest early. Tomorrow morning, I''ll take you to the Special Circumstances Bureau."


    After discussing everything, Jeremy and Ritchie went to rest.


    Early the next morning, Jeremy took Ritchie to the Special Circumstances Bureau, located in the heart of Moonlight City. This time, the Bureau''s members were already familiar with Jeremy and Ritchie; some even greeted them proactively.


    When they arrived at the Director''s office, Liam was already there at the entrance, weing Jeremy and Ritchie.


    "I''ve prepared the weapons that I intend to provide for you. If you''re ready to choose now, I''ll take you there directly."


    Liam warmly invited Jeremy and Ritchie into his office.


    With a smile, Jeremy replied, "If there are no more pressing matters, I think we should hurry and choose the weapons. After all, once we pick them, we''ll still need some time to get used to them. The longer we dy, the greater the danger we and Moonlight City face. The monsters in the nearby instances have been restlessly stirring."


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Liam nodded firmly.


    "You''re right, but I do have something very important to tell you."


    At this point, Liam paused. He closed the door to his office before continuing.


    "There have been a series of unexpected incidents in Capital recently. You probably don''t know the details, but you''ve at least heard some rumors, right?"


    Jeremy nodded.


    "Yeah, I''ve heard about the unexpected situations in Capital. But what does that have to do with me? My abilities aren''t exactly strong enough to ensure Capital''s safety."


    "This situation may not directly involve you right now. But as Capital''s defenses continue to weaken rapidly, they''re going to pull defensive forces from other cities.


    And since you''re recognized as a genius by everyone, you''ll naturally be transferred to Capital to help defend it. So I have to warn you in advance; you need to be prepared for this."


    Liam''s words gave Jeremy a slight headache.


    In truth, Jeremy had no desire to head to Capital.


    The situation there was incrediblyplicated, and the Lannisters, who were his enemies, were also present in Capital. Moreover, Kean, who had once faced him in directbat, was always lurking around the outskirts of Capital.


    Jeremy''s expression became a bit grim.


    Seeing this, Liam realized he might have put too much pressure on Jeremy, so he quickly shifted the conversation.


    "But there''s no need to worry too much. I don''t think Capital''s defenses will copse that quickly. So for now, why don''t we head over to the armory and check out the weapons I''ve arranged for you?"


    With that, Liam led Jeremy and Ritchie to the Special Situations Bureau''s armory.


    When they opened the armory, an array of weapons was disyed before Jeremy and Ritchie.


    The two of them walked past the weapons on the front racks without hesitation.


    Those weapons were of a rtively low grade, and some weren''t suitable for either of them.


    "Take your time browsing. I''ll be here all day. After all,pleting the Tower of Exile mission was a great help to the Special Situations Bureau."


    Liam didn''t rush Jeremy and Ritchie.


    In fact, he believed that cooperating with Jeremy was the most important thing, so he needed to show plenty of goodwill.


    Since Liam had already said that, there was no need for Jeremy and Ritchie to rush.


    The two of them took their time in the Special Situations Bureau''s armory, practically examining every weapon avable.


    Eventually, Jeremy found a weapon that was a perfect match for him. It was called "Mortal Combat."


    The weapon''s level was only 52, which wasn''t particrly high.


    However, the skills and extra attributes of Mortal Combat were highlypatible with Jeremy''s abilities.


    The skill description for Mortal Combat was ratherplex.


    In essence, the weapon''s main ability was to create a special space where its owner and a selected opponent would be locked inbat until one of them perished.


    Until the opponent waspletely defeated, no one could exit this space of mortalbat.


    Whenbined with Jeremy''s talent, "The King of Time and Space," the Mortal Combat skill would allow him to create a unique battleground that gave him a significant advantage during the fight.


    Within this special space, Jeremy could continuallyunch attacks using Mortal Combat against his adversary.


    He could also use his talent, The King of Time and Space, to summon one Portal after another, enabling him to move freely within the special space.


    This allowed Jeremy to avoid being hit by any of the selected enemy''s skills while in the special space.


    He carefully examined Mortal Combat for a long time and ultimately decided to im it as his reward.


    As Jeremy settled on Mortal Combat, Ritchie also chose the reward he wanted.


    Ritchie''s choice was a ring that emitted a dark glow.


    "The Shadow Ring is perfect for my abilities! The ring can temporarily seal a shadow. When I want to unleash the shadow to attack an enemy, I can lift the seal.


    I can also use the ring to seal an enemy''s shadow, which would inflict extra damage on their soul!"


    Ritchie exined the effects of the Shadow Ring to Jeremy with an excited expression.


    Jeremy nodded.


    "As long as you''re satisfied! Now that we''ve chosen our rewards, let''s go tell Liam right away. I''m sure he''s getting a bit impatient."


    With that, Jeremy and Ritchie, carrying their selected weapons, approached Liam.


    Liam nced at the weapons they had chosen and smiled.


    "You two really are geniuses. The weapons you selected are indeed some of the most powerful in the Special Situations Bureau. But I won''t go back on my word¡ªthese weapons are your rewards forpleting the Tower of Exile mission!"


    Liam''s words made both Jeremy and Ritchie very pleased.


    Jeremy grinned and said, "If there''s nothing else, we''ll go get familiar with our new weapons."

 Chapter 325 The Adventure to Familiarize Themselves with the Weapons

    Liam didn''t stop Jeremy and Ritchie from leaving.


    He believed that the sooner they became familiar with their new weapons, the better it would be for everyone involved.


    Liam had received some very precise intelligence from General Howard.


    In one week, the military headquarters would be reassigning thest batch of elite forces under General Howard''smand, which would create significant vulnerabilities in Moonlight City''s defenses.


    Therefore, General Howard nned to use this final week to clear out all the high-threat instances around Moonlight City.


    He was currently drafting the corresponding action n.


    Once the n was finalized, both General Howard''s subordinates and the members of the Special Situations Bureau would be required to participate in the operation.


    Both General Howard and Liam hoped that Jeremy and his team would join the mission as well.


    Their help would be crucial for the n to seed smoothly.


    "You''d better get used to your new weapons within a day. Otherwise, your effectiveness in the uing operation will be quite limited."


    Liam sighed as he watched Jeremy and Ritchie''s figures disappear into the distance.


    Jeremy and Ritchie, unaware of these developments, knew one thing for sure: they couldn''t afford to waste any time.


    After getting a quick feel for their new weapons, the two of them headed straight for the nearest instance to their residence.


    This instance was located next to an abandoned subway station.


    Its difficulty level wasn''t high, only rated at level 50.


    For Jeremy and Ritchie, clearing a level 50 instance was a breeze.


    After all, Jeremy was nearly level 60, and Ritchie was also close to reaching level 50.


    "This instance isn''t particrly challenging. But since we''re still not entirely familiar with our new weapons, we need to stay cautious while clearing it.


    Our goal isn''t merely to eliminate the instance; we''re using this opportunity to get to know our new weapons better."


    "So I''m sure you understand the approach we need to take during this run," Jeremy reminded Ritchie before entering the instance.


    Ritchie nodded.


    "Don''t worry, I get it. In this instance, our main focus is on familiarizing ourselves with our new weapons. I won''t be using my shadow-hiding skills to avoid tough fights."


    Ritchie''s response put Jeremy a bit more at ease.


    With that, the two of them entered the instance.


    The overall difficulty of the instance was lower than they had expected.


    As a result, when they first stepped inside, they encountered no real challenges.


    Though still not entirely used to their new weapons, they managed to easily reach the midpoint of the instance.


    "It looks like we chose an instance that''s a bit too easy. We didn''t run into any formidable opponents on our way here," Ritchie remarked, a hint of disappointment in his tone.


    Jeremy, however, had a different perspective.


    "I don''t think we should let our guard down just yet. Sure, we didn''t face any powerful enemies in the first half, but this is still a level 50 instance.


    If the first half was this easy, it likely means there will be significantly tougher monsters in thetter half. The boss of this instance might be much stronger than what you''d normally expect for a level 50 boss."


    Jeremy''s words made Ritchie feel slightly uneasy.


    Still, Ritchie quickly replied,


    "I think you''re worrying too much! But, just in case, I''ll stay on high alert like you suggested."


    No sooner had Ritchie finished speaking than both of them sensed a powerful creature lurking ahead.


    Jeremy immediately charged forward with Mortal Combat,unching an attack at the monster.


    However, to his surprise, the attack did not seem to pose any real threat to the creature.


    The monster evaded Jeremy''s strike with an impressive agility.


    "This is the boss of the instance! The boss''s agility is extremely high! Be careful, Ritchie¡ªit''s very likely to target you as its main attack focus!"


    In that moment, Jeremy quickly assessed the situation, relying on his experience.


    Ritchie, hearing Jeremy''s warning, reacted immediately.


    He unleashed the shadow sealed within the Shadow Ring, directing it to attack the instance boss.


    However, to his shock, the boss seemed utterly unfazed by the shadow''s assault.


    Without hesitation, the instance boss charged straight at Ritchie.


    In a state of emergency, Ritchie had no choice but to retreat into the shadows.


    Yet, this decision only made matters worse.


    Right in front of Ritchie, the instance boss revealed its true form¡ªa humanoid creature with the head of an eagle, its body shrouded in darkness, ring at him with blood-red eyes.


    The boss tore through the shadow where Ritchie was hiding with its razor-sharp beak.


    Ritchie waspletely taken aback; he had never imagined that the boss in this instance could directly target and attack shadows.


    At that moment, his mind went nk. It seemed as though no matter what action he took, there was no way he could survive. He even began to give up on struggling.


    Just then, a sudden sh of golden light flickered before Ritchie''s eyes.


    The next instant, the instance boss vanished entirely.


    Ritchie was bewildered by what had just transpired.


    "Jeremy, was that you? Did you eliminate the instance boss?" he whispered, warily scanning his surroundings.


    But Jeremy didn''t respond¡ªhe was no longer anywhere near Ritchie.


    Ritchie had no way of finding Jeremy now, as Jeremy and the instance boss had entered a special space.


    The golden light Ritchie had seen was actually the effect of the Mortal Combat skill being activated.


    When Ritchie was attacked by the instance boss, Jeremy realized that Ritchie would not be able to fend off the boss on his own.


    To ensure Ritchie''s safety, Jeremy immediately activated the Mortal Combat skill.


    Both he and the instance boss were pulled into the special space created by Mortal Combat.


    The instance boss remained hidden inyers of shadow, but its powers were significantly weakened.


    In the special space, there weren''t many shadowy areas for it to exploit.


    Jeremy, however, was facing his own set of challenges.


    He had initially thought that in the special space of Mortal Combat, he would be able to use his "The King of Time and Space" talent to create multiple Portals.


    But once the special space was fully established, Jeremy realized that his chosen opponent could also prevent him from creating Portals.


    After his attempt to open a Portal failed, Jeremy spoke calmly,


    "So, you don''t intend to let me use my ''The King of Time and Space'' talent? Then I''ll show you that I can still take you down quickly without relying on it!"


    With that, Jeremy gripped Mortal Combat tightly and charged straight at the instance boss.


    In addition to its unique skill, Mortal Combat had exceptionally high base attributes. It granted Jeremy a significant boost to his attack power and stamina.


    This made Jeremy more than capable of holding his own in close-quartersbat.


    Under Jeremy''s relentless assault, the instance boss gradually began to lose ground.


    In a desperate move, the boss unleashed all theyers of shadow that cloaked its body, enveloping the entire space in darkness.


    As the shadows spread, a chilling wind blew out from them, causing Jeremy''s body temperature to drop rapidly and his movement speed to slow down as a result.


    With the shadows fully unveiled, the instance boss revealed its divine state.


    In truth, the boss possessed the power of "The Hanged Man," a force of shadow and corruption that allowed it to withstand Jeremy''s attacks in the special space of Mortal Combat.


    However, from Jeremy''s perspective, the situation had actually improved.


    Now that the boss''s true form was exposed and its abilities were known, Jeremy could devise a more targeted response.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy took out an item infused with the power of "The Sun."


    Although both "The Sun" and "The Hanged Man" were elements crafted by the designers of the Apocalypse Game, their powers were entirely opposite.


    Chapter Discover:


    The moment Jeremy brandished the Sun-infused item, theyers of shadow surrounding the instance boss disintegrated in an instant.


    The boss fell into a state of utter panic.


    No longer willing to engage Jeremy head-on, it frantically searched for a way to escape the special space. But in doing so, it only sealed its fate, plunging itself into an irreversible downfall.


    Focusing solely on fleeing, the instance boss failed to notice Jeremy''s attack.


    Jeremy, seizing the opportunity, swung Mortal Combat and sliced the boss in half at the waist. The instance boss perished right there, within the special space created by Mortal Combat.


    As the boss died, the entire instance began to copse.

 Chapter 326 Fully Mastering the New Weapon

    After the instance boss was defeated, the instance copsed almost instantly. However, the copse didn''t start from the deepest part of the instance; it began simultaneously in every section of the instance.


    Whether it was Jeremy, still in the special space created by Mortal Combat, or Ritchie, deep inside the instance, they both sensed the copse immediately.


    Ritchie wasn''t exactly sure what had happened, but he could guess that Jeremy must have somehow managed to defeat the instance boss. In this situation, Ritchie naturally chose to leave the instance without hesitation.


    Ritchie used his newly acquired ring, releasing the two shadows he had sealed earlier. Under Ritchie''s control, the two shadows rushed toward the instance''s exit at maximum speed. Ritchie grabbed hold of them and swiftly reached the exit.


    Just as Ritchie arrived at the exit, the instancepletely copsed.


    "What exactly happened? Where is Jeremy now? Could it be that the instance''s copse didn''t affect him at all?" Ritchie was very confused at this moment because Jeremy was nowhere to be seen at the entrance. He thought it was likely that Jeremy had found another way to leave before the instancepletely copsed.


    However, just as Ritchie finished speaking, Jeremy''s voice came from behind him.


    "I''m right behind you. Of course, the copse didn''t affect me. As soon as it started, I chose to leave quickly."


    At that moment, Jeremy was holding Mortal Combat, smiling as he looked at Ritchie.


    "What exactly happened? Why did you suddenly disappear during the fight with the instance boss? Did you seal the boss in your personal space?" Ritchie didn''t know the full details, but he had his own theories.


    Ritchie knew that Jeremy had the talent known as *The King of Time and Space*. Coupled with the *Mortal Combat* weapon Jeremy was now wielding, Ritchie could roughly figure out Jeremy''s strategy.


    Jeremy nodded in response.


    "When the instance boss attacked you, I realized that using ordinary methods wouldn''t be enough to ensure your safety. So, I activated *Mortal Combat''s* skill and trapped the boss inside a special space it created. Inside that space, I killed the instance boss, which is what triggered the copse of the entire instance."


    After hearing the details, Ritchie nodded.


    "It seems you''ve be quite familiar with *Mortal Combat*. In our uing missions, I''m sure you''ll be able to make the most out of this new weapon, right?" Chapter Enjoy:


    Jeremy smiled at Ritchie''s question.


    "Indeed, I''ve be very adept with *Mortal Combat*. In fact, I think this weapon suits me better than any I''ve used before. I don''t think we need to keep running low-difficulty instances anymore. We have to start seeking out some higher-level instances because both of us need to level up quickly. You''re only a couple of levels away from reaching level 50 and awakening.


    If you canplete your awakening soon, your strength will increase significantly, and our entire team will be much more powerful than it is now."


    Ritchie''s expression showed a hint of hesitation in response to Jeremy''s encouragement. He knew he was indeed nearing level 50, but he wasn''t eager to rush into awakening. To him, the awakening ritual was an extremely dangerous process, and during the ritual, there was no way for anyone else to help him. That meant he would have to face a very perilous instance alone.


    Ritchie didn''t feel confident that he could make it through such a dangerous awakening instance on his own.


    "I''ll do my best, but I don''t think I''ll be reaching level 50 as quickly as you expect," Ritchie replied, his tone carrying a touch of hesitation.


    Jeremy patted Ritchie''s shoulder.


    "You''ve got to have confidence in yourself! I believe your abilities are strong enough that you can handle any unexpected situations on your own. You don''t really need my help¡ªyou can definitely stand on your own."


    Jeremy''s words were meant to motivate Ritchie, but the encouragement didn''t seem to have the desired effect. Though Ritchie nodded in agreement, the look on his face still betrayed his inner struggle and hesitation.


    "Alright, I assume you''re familiar with your new weapon by now?" Jeremy continued. "In that case, let''s head back to my ce and get some rest. It''s gettingte. Tomorrow, we''ll start seeking out those higher-level instances. Tomorrow''s adventures will be even more important, so I hope you can stay focused."


    Jeremy had already mapped out the n for the next day. Ritchie did not voice any objections; although he wasn''t keen on undergoing the awakening ritual in the near future, he did agree that sticking with Jeremy was the best course of action. After all, only by staying at Jeremy''s side could Ritchie gain more experience.


    By dusk, the two returned to Jeremy''s home. As they reached the front door, Jeremy''s expression suddenly grew cautious. He lowered his voice and said to Ritchie,


    "There''s an unexpected guest inside my house! It seems someone might be lying in wait in the living room, ready to attack us at any moment. We need to figure out exactly what''s going on before we go in."


    Jeremy''s words left Ritchie stunned. He immediately used his skills, channeling the power of shadows to probe the situation inside Jeremy''s home.


    Just as Jeremy suspected, there was indeed a stranger inside his home. Faced with this situation, both Jeremy and Ritchie acted with utmost caution. The two of them entered the house through the side door, approaching the stranger''s location from different directions.


    When they were very close to the intruder, Jeremy kicked the door open and swiftly rushed in, positioning himself right in front of the stranger. At that moment, Jeremy was holding *Mortal Combat* in his hand, his eyes locked onto the unknown person with an intense gaze. The aura of killing intent emanating from Jeremy caused the stranger to freeze on the spot.


    Jeremy didn''t attack immediately, sensing that the stranger didn''t seem to possess any significant strength and might not havee here to cause trouble.


    "Who are you?! Why are you here?!" Jeremy demanded fiercely.


    At this point, Ritchie emerged from the other direction.


    "I''ve already checked the entire house. There''s no one else here besides him, so he definitely doesn''t have any aplices!"


    Hearing Ritchie''s report, Jeremy felt more at ease.


    "Answer my questions quickly! If you don''t, don''t me me for being ruthless! I can end you in an instant if I need to!"


    The stranger, after his initial shock, managed to regain someposure. In a trembling voice, he said,


    "I mean no harm to you. I came here only to deliver a message from the military headquarters. They want you to head to the capital the day after tomorrow!"


    As he spoke, the stranger reached into his pocket and pulled out a document. Jeremy took the document and examined it carefully. It did appear to be an order from the military headquarters, but Jeremy didn''t immediately trust it. In his view, such orders should be delivered by General Howard himself.


    Jeremy handed the document over to Ritchie.


    "How do I know this isn''t a forgery? And why hasn''t the general from Moonlight City informed me about this? Are you saying military orders from headquarters no longer need to go through the Moonlight City general?"


    The stranger''s face grew increasingly somber in response to Jeremy''s questions, a look of deep concern clouding his features.


    "Under normal circumstances, orders from military headquarters would indeed be ryed through the general of the city. However, General Howard has his own ns and has been consistently opposing the directives from headquarters. The generals at headquarters have run out of patience, which is why they sent me here to deliver this order to you personally.


    The decision is now yours¡ªwhether to follow themands from headquarters or to continue cooperating with General Howard."


    The stranger''s exnation finally seemed convincing enough for Jeremy to consider it usible. However, Jeremy did not let down his guard; he immediately directed his gaze toward Ritchie.


    "Call General Howard right now and tell him to get over here immediately. We can''t verify this stranger''s identity ourselves, but General Howard should be able to confirm if he''s legitimate or not."


    With Jeremy''s order, Ritchie promptly took action. The call connected almost instantly, and Ritchie briefly summarized the situation. On the other end of the line, General Howard didn''t waste any time with small talk or questions¡ªhe simply instructed Jeremy and Ritchie to wait for him.


    Around fifteen minutester, the unmistakable roar of helicopter engines echoed from outside the house, signaling the arrival of a military chopper. The helicopter, emzoned with military markings, hovered near Jeremy''s home.


    Even before it had fully touched down, General Howard leapt from the aircraft,nding with a sense of urgency and purpose that left no doubt about his state of mind¡ªhe was clearly agitated and on edge.

 Chapter 327 No Need to Show Them Courtesy

    Seeing General Howard arrive, Jeremy, Ritchie, and the stranger all breathed a sigh of relief. General Howard swiftly pushed open the door and stepped into the room, casting a nce at the three men inside. He then spoke in a slightly deep tone, "This man is indeed a special envoy from military headquarters, and the orders he brought are genuine.


    So, Jeremy, there''s no need for you to hold onto him any longer."


    Upon hearing Howard''s words, Jeremy immediately released the envoy. The special envoy''s face was somewhat pale, but after taking a few deep breaths, he finally managed to regain hisposure.


    "General Howard, it''s good to see you. I had intended to visit you first, but as you probably know, the generals at military headquarters are quite displeased with your recent actions. So, to avoid further aggravating them, I chose not to seek you out. I hope you can understand my decision," the envoy exined, trying to justify himself.


    In truth, there was no need for him to justify anything, as Howard had no intention of making things difficult for him. General Howard nodded. "You''re not wrong. So, it''s eptable that you didn''te to see me."


    Howard''s response was curt. Although he wasn''t ming the envoy, it didn''t mean he was going to be friendly, either. The envoy took the hint and realized it was time to take his leave.


    Turning to face Jeremy, he said, "I''ve delivered the orders from headquarters. Take a good look at them! I hope you''llply with the orders, but if you choose not to, there''s nothing I can do to force you."


    With that, the special envoy quickly exited the scene. After all, he had fulfilled his duty. Whether Jeremy and General Howard would reject the orderster was no longer his concern.


    Once the envoy had left, General Howard let out a sigh.


    "The current situation is indeed dire. The defenses in the capital are full of holes, which is why military headquarters is desperate to redirect the defensive forces from other cities," General Howard said, his tone grave. Jeremy and Ritchie listened patiently without offering any response.


    "What do you think?" Howard continued. "Are you really willing to go to the capital? The weapons and resources at headquarters are undoubtedly more valuable. If you manage to achieve significant aplishments there, the rewards you''ll receive will certainly be far greater than anything you could earn here in Moonlight City."


    Although Howard didn''t want Jeremy to leave, he understood that if Jeremy performed exceptionally well in the capital, the rewards would be far superior to what he could gain by staying. Jeremy, however, didn''t directly answer the question. Instead, he responded with a calm counter-question.


    "What are your thoughts? Do you want me to leave Moonlight City?"


    Howard stared intently at Jeremy, and Jeremy didn''t avert his gaze. Their eyes locked for a moment before Howard spoke frankly.


    "Of course, I don''t want you to leave. The reason is simple: I believe that ensuring the safety of Moonlight City should be our top priority. If you leave, our strength won''t be sufficient to guarantee the city''s security. But I can''t make the decision for you. If I did, I''d be acting out of selfishness. The decision is yours alone."


    Jeremy chuckled at Howard''s words. "My stance has always been the same: I won''t leave Moonlight City. It''s my home and the city I most want to protect. What happens in the capital has nothing to do with me. Even if military headquarters tries to force me to go, I won''tply. If they insist on pushing me, I won''t hesitate to turn against them.


    I believe my strength is more than sufficient."


    Jeremy''s response didn''te as a surprise to either Ritchie or General Howard, who nodded in agreement.


    "I respect your decision," Howard said, "but I must remind you that there will be consequences. Military headquarters won''t just forget about this easily. Some people there may feel that you''ve shown them disrespect. After this, they''ll undoubtedly try to set traps for you in various ways. Do you really think you can handle being targeted by the people from headquarters?"


    Jeremy snorted at Howard''s warning. "I don''t see any reason to give them any courtesy. No matter how powerful those at military headquarters are, can they be stronger than Kean? Or are the forces at headquarters more formidable than the Lannisters? Neither Kean nor the Lannisters could defeat me, and those at military headquarters who want to make me pay won''t seed either.


    Besides, as you said, the headquarters'' focus is entirely on the capital''s defenses right now. Until the capital is fully secured, they won''t have the time or resources toe after me. And once the defenses are solidified, my strength will have undoubtedly increased even further. I''m already powerful enough now, and with the anticipated boost, I''ll be nearly invincible.


    So, I''m not the least bit worried about being targeted by them."


    Jeremy''s words were resolute and full of confidence. Both Ritchie and Howard knew he had every reason to speak this way. Howard looked at Jeremy with admiration.


    "As expected from you! I always knew you were a true genius and a genuine powerhouse!" General Howard said, clearly impressed by Jeremy''s unwavering confidence.


    Jeremy, however, didn''t pay much attention to the praise. He was more concerned about the pressing matter at hand¡ªformting a n to ensure Moonlight City''s safety.


    "Since I''m staying in Moonlight City, we should quickly clear out all the dangerous instances around the city. Even though it hasn''t been long since Ipleted the Tower of Exile mission..."


    "But I''ve learned that there are many dangerous instances around Moonlight City, and their difficulty levels have increased significantly. Shouldn''t we prioritize clearing out the most threatening ones as soon as possible? A few of those instances are way too close to the city.


    If we can''t eliminate them, the monsters within will undoubtedlye out from time to time, putting the entire Moonlight City at risk¡ªjust like what''s happening in the capital."


    Hearing Jeremy''s words, Howard immediately stood up. He had already formted a n and intended to present it to Jeremy in two days. However, the unexpected arrival of the special envoy from headquarters gave Howard the opportunity to discuss his n with Jeremy ahead of schedule.


    "I''ve actually already put together a n," Howard said. "ording to my strategy, all avable forces in Moonlight City will be mobilized for the operation. As the strongest individual in the city, you''ll y the most crucial role. I''ll have my adjutant bring over the details of the n right away. If you find no issues with it, we can start the operation immediately!"


    General Howard then issued a directive to his adjutant, who quickly arrived near Jeremy''s house via helicopter. The n Howard had devised wasn''t particrlyplex, but it was certainly filled with danger.


    The primary focus of the n was to clear out the highest-level instance near the city, which was Level 58. Jeremy himself hadn''t yet reached Level 58, meaning even he couldn''t guarantee his own safety within the instance.


    "I understand that this instance is extremely challenging," General Howard began, his tone carrying a mix of concern and frustration. "But the instance is located far too close to the city. Until we clear it out, there''s no way to guarantee the safety of the urban area. Both Mayor Benjamin and Director Liam agree that this instance needs to be dealt with as a top priority.


    The problem is, we don''t have much information about it.


    I tried to send some of my men inside earlier to gather intel, but as soon as they entered, I lost all contact with them. I''m afraid it''s likely they didn''t make it out alive." At this point, Howard''s voice grew hesitant. Although he was convinced that an instance of such difficulty had to be cleared, its level of danger had exceeded his expectations.


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy spoke in a calm, measured tone. "If we''re going to take on an instance of this caliber, we need to gather sufficient information beforehand. That''s why I''ve decided that tomorrow, I''ll venture into the instance with my partner. This operation won''t be about clearing the instance; our goal is simply to collect more data and better understand what we''re up against."


    Howard appeared somewhat reassured by Jeremy''s response. "Are you sure it''s wise for just the two of you to go in together? There''s a chance you won''t have enough firepower to handle what''s inside. Do you want me to apany you?"


    Jeremy slowly shook his head at Howard''s offer, his expression firm. "No, that won''t be necessary. Having more people might increase the risks instead of reducing them. The two of us will be more than capable of navigating the instance without drawing too much attention. Besides, our mission is strictly reconnaissance at this point, not direct confrontation."

 Chapter 328 Acting Alone is Safe

    General Howard''s expression remained unchanged after hearing Jeremy''s response. It was as if he had already anticipated that Jeremy would say exactly that. In Howard''s impression, Jeremy had always been someone who preferred to act alone. And indeed, Jeremy possessed the ability to operate independently and achieve sess.


    "I feel that I can ensure my own safety better if I act alone. Whether it''s mypanions or any other helpers you intend to provide, they could potentially slow me down during the mission," Jeremy exined with a smile.


    General Howard nodded. "In that case, proceed ording to your own preferences and see how the next steps unfold. I have other matters to attend to, so my adjutant will brief you on the details of the high-difficulty instance we''re about to deal with."


    Having said that, General Howard''s expression showed a hint of fatigue. Under the watchful eyes of Jeremy and Ritchie, he walked out, boarded a helicopter, and flew towards the temporary military base located in the city center.


    General Howard''s adjutant had actually been waiting outside Jeremy''s house all along. After the general left, the adjutant knocked on Jeremy''s door.


    "The general asked me to give you these documents. Once you''ve reviewed them, feel free to ask me any questions you might have. I''ll be responsible for answering all your inquiries. If there''s something I can''t answer, it means there simply isn''t an answer."


    The adjutant had worked with Jeremy before, so he appeared quite rxed at the prospect of coborating again. Jeremy carefully reviewed the files handed to him. The documents clearly indicated the exact location of the instance Jeremy was supposed to go to.


    To Jeremy''s surprise, the specific location of the instance was right on First Avenue in the Moonlight City business district. This area was practically at the very center of Moonlight City, and surrounding this avenue were some of the city''s most critical buildings.


    The Moonlight City Hall was located less than 500 meters from First Avenue in the Moonlight City business district. Moreover, several other public facilities surrounded the avenue, all of which were crucial for the residents of Moonlight City.


    "When exactly did this instance appear? I don''t recall hearing anything about it before I was assigned to the Tower of Exile mission. Did it just suddenly emerge in the past few days?" Jeremy asked, his toneced with curiosity and a hint of doubt.


    General Howard''s adjutant nodded. "You''re absolutely correct. This instance appeared only three days ago. Since then, some exceptionally powerful creatures have been emerging from the instance, which has significantly deteriorated the situation in downtown Moonlight City. Mayor Benjamin has been urgently pressing the general and Director Liam to take swift action and eliminate this instance."


    Jeremy epted the exnation with a nod, his brow furrowing slightly as he continued to read through the remaining sections of the documents.


    ording to the files, the instance located on First Avenue in the Moonlight City business district had been named "The Lost Realm." The name was fitting, as every soldier or Special Situations Bureau operative who ventured inside ended up disoriented. No matter what tools they employed, none could find a clear path forward within The Lost Realm.


    The entire instance seemed to be a maze shrouded in a dense fog.


    Within the instance, some creatures appeared faintly, but they didn''t seem to exhibit any aggressive behavior towards those who entered. Although the majority of people who ventured into The Lost Realm never made it back, there were a few who managed to escape.


    The intelligence these survivors brought back was quite perplexing. Those who sessfully returned reported that the instance did not seem to harbor any particrly formidable monsters. They believed that the primary danger within The Lost Realmy in the inability to navigate through it, as if the ce itself resisted any effort to find one''s way.


    After finishing all the documents, Jeremy frowned in thought for a moment. "Is there a way I can meet with some of the people who previously entered the instance? The descriptions in these files seem rather peculiar. Hearing their ounts directly from them might provide insights that could better aid my mission."


    Faced with Jeremy''s request, General Howard''s adjutant hesitated for a moment. "If you truly insist on doing this, I''ll arrange a meeting with the people who sessfully returned from the instance right away."


    After saying this, the adjutant took out his phone. "Get those who made it back from the instance ready. Jeremy will be meeting with them shortly, and they need to provide a detailed ount of everything they witnessed inside."


    After issuing the instructions to his subordinates, the adjutant turned to Jeremy with a smile. "If you''re prepared, follow me. I''ll ensure you meet with them as soon as possible. Once you''ve spoken to them, you should proceed directly into the instance."


    Jeremy did not oppose the n; in fact, he agreed that the situation was indeed dire. It was imperative to deal with the dangerous instance in downtown Moonlight City as soon as possible.


    "Alright, let''s proceed ording to your n. But I need to have a quick word with mypanion first. It won''t take long," Jeremy said.


    The adjutant nodded in understanding before stepping out of the room, leaving Jeremy and Ritchie alone.


    Ritchie, appearing a bit hesitant, turned to Jeremy. "I can''t shake the feeling that something isn''t right. Are you sure you don''t want to reconsider? The difficulty of The Lost Realm might even surpass that of the Tower of Exile. Going in alone could be extremely dangerous."


    Ritchie had always been somewhat distrustful of General Howard and Liam, which made him urge Jeremy to proceed with caution.


    Jeremy chuckled at Ritchie''s concern. "You don''t need to worry about me. Just remember the few things I''ve told you," he replied.


    In Jeremy''s mind, Ritchie''s warnings were of little use. At this point, they had no other allies to coborate with except General Howard and Liam. There wasn''t any other viable option.


    "My uing mission could very well take several days. During this time, there''s no need for you to focus on further strengthening yourself. I want you to join up with ire and Emma. The three of you staying together will ensure each other''s safety. If you encounter any real danger, I need you to do everything in your power to protect ire and Emma.


    After all, you''re the strongest among the three of you, and I believe you''re more than capable of handling some less formidable threats."


    After hearing Jeremy''s words, Ritchie nodded solemnly. "Don''t worry! I''ll do everything I can to protect them. You can count on me¡ªI won''t give you any reason to be concerned!"


    Jeremy was pleased with Ritchie''s response, so without further dy, he turned and walked out of the room.


    Ritchie watched as Jeremy left, following General Howard''s adjutant. Once the helicopter flew out of sight, Ritchie swiftly gathered his equipment and set off. He immediately called ire and Emma, giving them a brief overview of the current situation.


    ire and Emma were also deeply worried about Jeremy''s mission. However, they understood that they couldn''t afford to hold him back now. As hispanions, they were determined to support Jeremy''s efforts, which reassured him that they wouldn''t face any major crisis while he was away.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy sat quietly in the helicopter, gazing down at the scene below. Since it was nighttime, darkness enveloped thendscape, with only a few scattered lights piercing through the gloom. These faint glimmers came from the few remaining survivors, but because this was a rural area, they were few and far between.


    As the helicopter approached the city, however, the scattered lights gradually grew into a continuous glow, marking the densely popted urban center.


    After about thirty minutes, the helicopter finallynded on the helipad at the temporary military base in downtown Moonlight City.


    "We''ve arrived. The people you want to see are waiting for you in that building just ahead. Let''s head over there as quickly as possible," said General Howard''s adjutant, swiftly leading Jeremy toward the group of individuals who had managed to escape from The Lost Realm instance.


    The moment Jeremyid eyes on them, he sensed something unusual. It was as if these people were caught in a state of temporal distortion. He couldn''t perceive the flow of time around them, as if they were trapped within a fixed time frame, frozen in a specific moment.


    Noticing the subtle change in Jeremy''s expression, the adjutant, ever observant, lowered his voice and asked, "What''s wrong? Have you noticed something unusual? Do you already have a lead?"


    Jeremy shook his head slowly in response. "I haven''t found any useful clues yet. Let me question them quickly."

 Chapter 329 The Lost Realm

    Jeremy chose not to disclose his observations, and naturally, General Howard''s adjutant did not press him for details. With a nod, the adjutant led Jeremy into an interrogation room. Jeremy and the adjutant took seats on one side, while on the other side sat three individuals who had sessfully escaped from The Lost Realm instance.


    The expressions on the faces of the three people were vacant and lifeless, as if they were unaware of the presence of Jeremy and the adjutant across from them.


    "I need to warn you," the adjutant began, "there''s a chance that they won''t respond to your questions. I''m not sure if they''re pretending not to hear, or if they truly can''t hear you. During our previous interrogations, they often fell into states of confusion. And if you ask questions that trigger certain memories, they might suddenly be agitated and go berserk."


    As Jeremy listened to the adjutant''s caution, he observed the three individuals before him closely. In addition to their nk expressions, he noticed that their life force seemed to be rapidly waning.


    Having once witnessed the true form of life energy from the Goddess of Life herself, Jeremy was particrly sensitive to changes in vitality, allowing him to perceive the rming decline in the life force of these three.


    Jeremy gave a slight nod. "I understand. But with you here, I don''t think I''m in any real danger. Besides, this interrogation room is located inside a military base. Even if they lose control, there''s no way they could breach the base''syered defenses. So, let''s not waste any more time."


    Since Jeremy had made up his mind, the adjutant didn''t dy further. He pressed a button on the interrogation room''s desk, and the transparent barrier separating Jeremy from the three escapees vanished.


    "You can start asking your questions now," the adjutant said quietly.


    Jeremy pondered for a moment before posing his first question. "Can any of you hear me?"


    The expressions on the three people''s faces remained vacant, but one of them briefly nced in Jeremy''s direction, indicating that at least one of them had registered what he said.


    Jeremy smiled and nodded. "It seems you can hear me, then. I''d like to ask you, when did you enter The Lost Realm?"


    The person who appeared able to hear Jeremy''s question showed a more bewildered expression. There was also a hint of pain mixed in with the confusion. After waiting a moment and receiving no answer, Jeremy decided to move on.


    "If you can''t recall when you entered The Lost Realm, then let me ask you this: what exactly did you see while you were there?"


    Upon hearing this question, the person''s expression finally softened a little. "I saw some transparent shadows in The Lost Realm. These shadows didn''t seem to notice my presence, nor did they attack me. After advancing for a while, Ipletely lost my sense of direction. Mypanions wanted to keep exploring the instance, but I was already terrified, so I decided to turn back.


    After turning back, I searched for the way out for what felt like a long time, and eventually, after who knows how long, I found the path leading to the exit."


    Though the person''s voice still had a strange tone to it, their answer was at least coherent and logically sound. Jeremy nodded with a smile after hearing the response. "I understand. Thank you very much for answering my question!"


    With that, Jeremy stood up. The look on General Howard''s adjutant''s face was one of deep confusion. "You''re not nning to ask any more questions? You''ve only just asked one! Do you think you understand The Lost Realm instance thoroughly enough from just that one question?"


    Jeremy met his gaze, still smiling, and replied with conviction, "Yes, that was the only question I needed to ask. I don''t have anything else I want to inquire about."


    Having said that, Jeremy walked straight out of the interrogation room. The adjutant, though surprised, had no choice but to quickly follow him out.


    "Are you absolutely sure you don''t need to ask any more questions? I don''t think that person gave us anything particrly useful. I know you''re strong, but you shouldn''t be overconfident. There are still enormous dangers ahead during the mission," General Howard''s adjutant insisted, trying to persuade Jeremy as they stood in an unnoticed corner outside the interrogation room.


    Jeremy nodded. "You''re right, but I was able to get a general sense of the situation from that one question."


    The adjutant''s expression grew even more puzzled. "You''ve already figured out the general situation? So, what do you think it is?"


    "The person who answered my question was clearly lying. In fact, I suspect he''s not even human. Though he still has the appearance of a human, his soul has likely already been reced by some kind of creature," Jeremy replied calmly.


    The look of shock on the adjutant''s face was unmistakable. "You can''t be serious!" he eximed, his voice filled with disbelief. He quickly took out his phone, but before he could make a call, Jeremy firmly ced his hand over the device.


    "What do you think you''re doing?" the adjutant asked, his tone turning harsh.


    "That''s exactly the question I should be asking you," Jeremy replied, a faint smile curling on his lips. "Were you nning on telling others about this?"


    "Of course! Keeping a monster inside the military base is far too dangerous. If we know it''s a creature in disguise, we should eliminate it immediately!" The adjutant was growing increasingly confused by Jeremy''s actions.


    Jeremy shook his head. "Leave it here. Just keep a close watch on it. Although it''s a monster, its strength is not particrly formidable. It''s likely here only to deceive us. I believe that anyone who ventures into The Lost Realm instance can''t possibly return unscathed.


    They''ll either bepletely lost in the instance or lose their soul entirely."


    "Moreover, I noticed signs of temporal stasis on all three of them. It''s possible that their true souls have been permanently trapped in a specific moment in time. There might be a creature within The Lost Realm instance capable of manipting time. Besides such a time-controlling entity, there could also be a monster with the power to manipte space.


    But you''re well aware that time and space abilities can be interchanged. So, I suspect the strongest boss in The Lost Realm must possess extremely powerful control over both time and space."


    As Jeremy spoke, his gaze hardened with determination. He was convinced that The Lost Realm instance had been specifically set up as a trap for him. Jeremy possessed the talent known as The King of Time and Space, and it was clear that the boss of The Lost Realm also had formidable temporal and spatial maniption abilities.


    Any misstep during his mission could result in him being forever trapped within the instance.


    After listening patiently to Jeremy''s exnation, General Howard''s adjutant asked, "Do you need more time to prepare? If not, I''ll arrange for you to be taken to the area surrounding the instance''s entrance right away."


    Hearing this, Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "Take me there immediately! But don''t forget what I told you earlier¡ªunder no circumstances should you alert anyone. Just let that creature stay quietly in the interrogation room." Jeremy gave the adjutant a final reminder.


    General Howard''s adjutant nodded. "Understood. I will act ording to your instructions. Before leaving, the general specifically ordered me not to make any independent decisions. All my actions must follow yourmands."


    The adjutant''s response took Jeremy by surprise. He hadn''t expected that General Howard would issue such an order to his adjutant. It was clear that the general ced a great deal of trust in Jeremy. For a moment, Jeremy didn''t know what to say.


    "What''s the matter? Did something elsee up? You seem a bit surprised," the adjutant asked, noticing the slight change in Jeremy''s expression.


    Jeremy shook his head. "It''s nothing. I''m not surprised at all. I just think it''s important to steady my emotionspletely before the mission begins. I want to ensure that my state of mind remains perfectly stable throughout the operation."


    He skillfully concealed his true thoughts, and the adjutant didn''t press the matter further. Without saying anything more, the adjutant led Jeremy swiftly toward the entrance to The Lost Realm instance.


    By now, the entrance had beenpletely sealed off. Without a special pass personally issued by General Howard, no one could enter the instance.

 Chapter 330 The White Towers Counterattack

    At the entrance to the Lost Realm instance,yer uponyer of barricades isted the instance''s entry from the surrounding areas. Even though Jeremy had been brought here by General Howard''s adjutant, he still did not have the clearance to approach the instance''s entrance directly.


    The adjutant showed the soldiers guarding the area the pass he carried. Only then did the soldiers open the gate leading to the entrance of the Lost Realm instance.


    "You''ve gone to such great lengths to seal off the instance entrance. It seems the Lost Realm instance really poses a significant threat to you," Jeremy remarked upon seeing the scene.


    The adjutant nodded in agreement. "You''re right. You can go in now, but I can''t apany you. I wouldn''t be able to ensure my own safety once inside. Although you won''t enter the instance directly after passing through this gate, the power emanating from the Lost Realm instance has already started to affect the surrounding area."


    Jeremy nodded. "Just wait here for my good news."


    With that, Jeremy strode through the gate, stepping into the area surrounding the Lost Realm instance entrance. The moment he entered, he could feel that the space in this area had a strange structure. Normally, space is only influenced by gravity, but here, the spatial structure was affected not only by gravity but also by the power spreading out from within the Lost Realm instance.


    Though the ground before Jeremy appeared t, he knew that as soon as he stepped into that space, the gravitational forces he felt would shift dramatically.


    "Maybe after this, I could use the King of Time and Space''s abilities to create a simr space. That way, I could trap otherwise difficult-to-handle monsters in a zone of distorted gravity," Jeremy muttered to himself.


    He then continued walking toward the entrance of the Lost Realm instance. The closer he got, the more frequent and intense the spatial anomalies became.


    As Jeremy was about to step into the instance entrance, he realized that he had no choice but to activate his King of Time and Space ability to ensure the space around him wouldn''t be too chaotic. The spatial distortions could very well tear Jeremy''s body apart if he wasn''t careful.


    Therefore, Jeremy had to activate his King of Time and Space ability to guarantee that he wouldn''t be gravely injured before entering the instance.


    "It seems my earlier assessment of the Lost Realm instance''s difficulty was somewhat off. It''s even more challenging than I initially thought," Jeremy muttered to himself.


    Even though Jeremy now understood that the Lost Realm instance was far more dangerous than he had anticipated, he had no other options. Havinge this far, he had no choice but to step into the instance.


    Taking a deep breath, Jeremy crossed into the instance. As he passed through the entrance, he suddenly sensed an overwhelming influx of High-Dimensional Data. These data streams converged, forming a voice that pierced through time and space:


    "I knew you woulde here! I''ve left a gift for you deep within the instance! I''m sure you''ll love it. It''s my way of getting revenge for the trouble you caused me in the Tower of Exile."


    This message shed through Jeremy''s mind.


    He knew exactly who was behind it¡ªone of the designers of the Apocalypse Game, the White Tower.


    It was clear now. Jeremy''s actions within the Tower of Exile had dealt a severe blow to the White Tower, and the creation of the Lost Realm instance was their way of retaliating.


    Strangely enough, this knowledge brought Jeremy some relief. At least now he knew that this entire instance had been generated in the real world by the White Tower to take revenge on him. Armed with this information, he could form a strategy to deal with it.


    At the very least, he no longer had to wonder if there were other forces from the Apocalypse Game''s designers involved in this instance.


    "If this instance was created by the White Tower''s power, then most of the energy within should stem from High-Dimensional Data. But why didn''t I sense the presence of High-Dimensional Data around the entrance? Could it be that High-Dimensional Data has evolved to disguise its own energy as something else?" Jeremy pondered this, slightly perplexed by the situation.


    However, Jeremy did not slow down his progress through the instance. Instead, he pulled the High-Dimensional Data storage device from his pocket. As long as he used this device wisely, he was confident he could handle any attack involving High-Dimensional Data. After all, during his mission in the Tower of Exile, Jeremy had faced the White Tower''s true form directly.


    As he ventured further into the Lost Realm instance, Jeremy soon realized that, like those who had entered before him, he had fallen into a state of disorientation. He had lost his sense of direction within the instance.


    Yet, Jeremy didn''t panic. He simply tightened his grip on his weapon, Mortal Combat, remaining alert for any monsters that might suddenly appear. At the same time, he activated his King of Time and Space ability, using it to carefully perceive the spatial shifts around him.


    It became clear to him that the space surrounding him had undergone significant and violent changes, but these distortions had been cleverly hidden. This was the primary reason he had lost his way.


    "Could the instance boss be directly influencing the uppermostyer of the instance? Is this boss''s power really that immense? The Lost Realm instance seems to be quite different from other instances," Jeremy thought to himself.


    He had experienced numerous instances before, and normally, an instance boss wouldn''t have much influence over the upper levels of the instance. Only a few specific instances had bosses powerful enough to impact the entire instance. Jeremy had encountered one such instance before¡ªthe instance of his awakening.


    Though the Lost Realm instance was clearly unique, Jeremy was certain it wasn''t as extraordinary as an awakening instance. Based on this reasoning, he quickly concluded that the spatial distortions around him were not caused by the instance boss.


    Gripping Mortal Combat tightly, Jeremy swung it in the direction beside him almost at random. As the sword sliced through the air, he suddenly sensed that the spatial structure in that direction had shifted.


    Jeremy immediately realized that a monster must have been hiding in that exact spot. His instincts were right.


    Jeremy immediately activated his King of Time and Space ability. A unique space was created, and he used this to trap the monster he had just detected. Inside this custom space, Jeremy could feel violent spatial fluctuations growing more intense by the second.


    As the fluctuations intensified, a semi-transparent monster covered in numerous tentacles gradually materialized within the space he had crafted.


    Atop the creature''s head, a metal fragment emitted a steady blue glow¡ªthis glow was High-Dimensional Data.


    Seeing this, Jeremy finally understood.


    "So, the White Tower is using this method to conceal the power of High-Dimensional Data. It seems he''spletely given up on mechanical monsters. He doesn''t even intend to use them against me anymore!" Jeremy remarked, a small smile forming on his lips.


    Normally, the White Tower would rely heavily on mechanical monsters. Only when the White Tower had be entirely disillusioned with them would he turn to biological creatures. And in order to control these organic monsters, the White Tower was forced to concentrate High-Dimensional Data in the metal fragments attached to them.


    Although this method was effective, it clearly came at a cost, as it likely weakened the overallbat power of the monsters.


    Focusing his mind, Jeremypressed the special space he had created, rapidly crushing the monster trapped inside. The creature was obliterated, but the metal fragment glowing with blue light atop its head remained intact.


    Dissolving the special space, Jeremy picked up the fragment and examined it closely.


    "It seems like a miniature version of a data storage device. But this small device can store far more High-Dimensional Data than the one I''m carrying."


    Jeremy smirked, realizing what this meant.


    "I''ll have to collect all these metal fragments. If I manage to clear the Lost Realm instance quickly, I might end up with arge number of these storage devices."


    After sessfully eliminating the first monster, Jeremy noticed that the spatial structure around him returned to normal. Only after confirming that no other monsters were nearby did he proceed deeper into the instance at full speed.


    Meanwhile, in the deepest part of the Lost Realm instance, a worm-like creature, its entire body covered in metal fragments emitting a blue glow, began to slowly awaken. It sensed the changes in the space around it, then lifted its head and gazed upward with ck eyes, directly toward the area where Jeremy was located.


    The boss of the Lost Realm instance had finally been activated. The moment the boss came to life, the spatial structure of the entire instance grew even more chaotic.


    Suddenly, Jeremy found himself inside a strangebyrinth. It seemed as though he could no longer progress forward in the instance, as the paths twisted and turned in an endless, confusing maze.


    "Looks like the real challenge has just begun," Jeremy thought, realizing that the activation of the instance boss had radically altered thendscape around him. He was no longer in a straightforward dungeon but in a space controlled by the boss itself.

 Chapter 331 Gathering Enough Information

    At this moment, Jeremy found himself trapped in the midyer of the Lost Realm instance. In this area, not only had the spatial structure be highlyplex, but even the time structure had turned chaotic. Jeremy realized that if he moved forward at random, he would likely end up back at a location he had already passed, which made it impossible for him to advance any further into the instance.


    "It seems my earlier actions have caused some unintended consequences. Perhaps I shouldn''t have killed that first monster," Jeremy thought, now feeling a tinge of regret.


    Had he known that eliminating the first monster would further disrupt the time-space structure, he certainly would have reconsidered his actions. But since what was done could not be undone, there was no point in dwelling on it.


    Jeremy took a moment to calmly assess his current situation. Then, he reactivated his King of Time and Space ability. This time, however, he didn''t create a separate space of his own; instead, he focused on reassembling the chaotic space around him.


    Though his King of Time and Space ability hadn''t reached a high enough level to repair the time structure, by simply restoring the spatial structure, Jeremy could begin to find some clues.


    After stabilizing the space, Jeremy continued down a long, straight corridor. Yet, it didn''t take long before he realized something was amiss¡ªno matter how far he walked, he would be randomly teleported to another point on the same corridor. After walking back and forth several times, Jeremy finally uncovered the nature of the time distortion.


    As long as he kept moving forward, he would eventually encounter a point in time from the past, which would result in him being transported back to the space corresponding to that past moment. The situation had be very clear now: Jeremy couldn''t continue advancing, as no matter how many times he tried, he would be sent back to where he had started.


    The Lost Realm instance boss had cleverly chosen to prevent Jeremy from reaching it at this time.


    "Maybe the instance boss isn''t confident in its own strength yet. Could it be trying to absorb more High-Dimensional Data? Or perhaps, when the White Tower created it, they didn''t endow it with overwhelming power?" Jeremy wondered.


    He began to suspect that the boss might not be fully developed, which is why it was using the environment to stall him.


    A series of questions swirled in Jeremy''s mind. For a brief moment, he felt unable to piece everything together clearly. However, he believed he had gathered enough clues, so he made the decision to return to the real world.


    As Jeremy turned to retrace his steps, he noticed that the time-space distortion behind him was intensifying rapidly. This meant he needed to move quickly, and it also indicated that the Lost Realm instance boss was trying to force him out.


    Sensing the urgency, Jeremy rushed back toward the instance''s entrance as fast as he could. Upon reaching the entrance, he nced back onest time at the interior of the instance. The spatial and temporal distortions near the entrance had grown increasingly chaotic, but the entrance itself appeared unaffected.


    "So, just the mere presence of the High-Dimensional Data seeping out of this instance was enough to make General Howard''s subordinates feel so threatened? Were his subordinates really that ipetent?" Jeremy muttered with a hint of irony before stepping out of the instance.


    The moment Jeremy left the instance, the Lost Realm instance boss closed its eyes once again. Just as Jeremy had suspected, the boss still needed to absorb more High-Dimensional Data before it would have the strength to confront him in battle.


    Although the White Tower wanted Jeremy to pay a hefty price as soon as possible, there was a limitation: as a designer of the Apocalypse Game, the White Tower couldn''t directly manifest in the real world. Even projecting a significant amount of power into the real world took considerable time and effort.


    Therefore, to ensure it could pose a threat to Jeremy quickly, the White Tower had opted to deploy a rtively weak instance boss. However, they had granted the boss an additional ability¡ªone that allowed the Lost Realm instance boss to absorb all the High-Dimensional Data present in the surrounding space. By doing this, the boss could continuously strengthen itself.


    Jeremy had actually spent less than half an hour inside the Lost Realm instance. When he reappeared in front of General Howard''s adjutant, the look on the adjutant''s face was one of surprise.


    "You came out so soon? Did you really gather enough intel?" the adjutant asked, clearly astonished.


    Jeremy nodded calmly.


    "Yes, I''ve gathered enough intel. The spatial distortions within the Lost Realm instance are indeed real. I didn''t lose my way, but that''s only because I possess the King of Time and Space ability. Moreover, the instance boss hasn''t fully awakened yet, but we need to act quickly. If the boss absorbs enough power and fully awakens, we might lose our chance to defeat it."


    Jeremy''s words made General Howard''s adjutant visibly tense. He nodded quickly in response.


    "I''ll make sure General Howard hears this immediately! He''ll meet with you right away, and we''ll formte a strategy."


    The adjutant reached for his phone, eager to ry the news to General Howard. But Jeremy shook his head and interrupted him.


    "No need to call him. Just take me to where he is now. I want you to bring me there as fast as possible, because the situation is urgent."


    Hearing this, the adjutant wasted no time. He ordered his men to deploy a helicopter. Shortly after, Jeremy and the adjutant were flown to the outskirts of the city, where theynded at a secret facility.


    Deep within the facility, General Howard was engaged in a heated argument with Liam. However, Jeremy''s arrival brought the discussion to a sudden halt.


    "General, Director Lin, Mr. Jeremy has already entered the Lost Realm instance. He says he''s gathered enough information inside, so we brought him here to share the intel directly with you both," the adjutant exined.


    But before he could finish, Jeremy pushed him aside.


    "I don''t need you to exin for me. Let me handle this from here," Jeremy said firmly.


    General Howard nced at his adjutant, signaling with his eyes for him to leave the room. Once the adjutant had exited, only Jeremy, General Howard, and Liam remained in the room.


    "Did you really gather enough intel?" Liam was the first to break the silence, his tone skeptical. "I acknowledge your strength, but I find it hard to believe that even you could quickly gather all the information from within the Lost Realm instance."


    General Howard let out a sarcasticugh upon hearing Liam''s words.


    "You''re just as distrustful as ever, Liam. You never have faith in anyone. Unlike you, I believe Jeremy has gathered enough intelligence," Howard replied, his tone firm.


    Liam shot Howard a cold nce, but Jeremy didn''t pay much attention to their bickering. Instead, he spoke steadily.


    "I didn''t gather *all* the intel. To be honest, unless we defeat the instance boss, it''s impossible to obtain every piece of information about the instance. But I do believe the intel I''ve gathered is more than sufficient. While the situation inside the instance is incrediblyplex, the forces causing the chaos are actually quite simple."


    Jeremy paused before continuing, "The power inside the instancees from High-Dimensional Data. Even though there are no mechanical monsters, the biological creatures are still controlled by High-Dimensional Data. That''s why, in the uing operation, you need to bring tools that can either collect or counter High-Dimensional Data."


    Both General Howard and Liam nodded after hearing this.


    "Don''t worry, we''ll make sure to bring the equipment you mentioned," Howard assured.


    "And I think we all need to take some time to prepare for the battle ahead," Jeremy added. "The Lost Realm instance is extremely difficult, and we can''t afford to rush into action without proper nning."


    "So, I believe the operation should be scheduled for a week from now," Jeremy stated firmly. "Only with a full week of preparation can I ensure that no unforeseenplications will arise during the mission."


    No sooner had Jeremy finished speaking than General Howard immediately objected.


    "That''s absolutely out of the question! A week is far too long! We must begin the operation within five days!"


    Jeremy''s expression shifted slightly, showing a hint of difort at Howard''s response.


    This time, Liam didn''t argue with General Howard. Instead, he supported his stance.


    "He''s right," Liam added. "We have to act within five days. If we wait a full week, the elite forces under General Howard''s directmand will already have been redeployed."


    Liam paused, then continued, "The military headquarters has issued very clear orders. In six days, General Howard''s elite units will be reassigned to the capital."

 Chapter 332: Chapter 322: Taking on Even Heavier Responsibilities

    After listening to Liam and General Howard''s exnations, Jeremy remained silent for a moment.


    During his silence, both Liam and General Howard also stayed quiet, knowing that the pressure Jeremy was facing at this moment was immense. There was little they could do to offer him much help right now.


    A few minutes passed before Jeremy hesitantly spoke.


    "If that''s the case, then we may need to take immediate action the day after tomorrow. General Howard, your elite subordinates will still need some time to prepare before they can arrive at the capital, right?"


    General Howard nodded at his words.


    "If that''s how it is, then it seems I must bear an even heavier responsibility. You should follow the method I''veid out and make the necessary preparations. You must bring all items and weapons capable of storing High-Dimensional Data.


    Two days from now, we''ll meet at the entrance of the Lost Realm instance. At that time, I''ll tell you about the n that I believe will guarantee sess."


    After finishing his sentence, Jeremy turned and left without hesitation.


    Seeing this, General Howard''s adjutant felt a bit confused and instinctively wanted to stop Jeremy from leaving. However, General Howard quickly stopped him.


    "Let him go. If he''s made a promise, I believe he''ll fulfill it."


    General Howard had great trust in Jeremy.


    Liam sighed after hearing this.


    "There''s nothing we can do now except trust him. In the end, it''s because both of us are simply too ipetent. If we had Jeremy''s abilities, we wouldn''t need to rely on anyone else."


    Liam''s words were clearly self-deprecating.


    General Howard offered no response. He simply left, taking his adjutant with him.


    After Howard departed, Liam quickly returned to the Special Situations Bureau. He needed to gather all the items and weapons in his possession that could store High-Dimensional Data.


    While Howard and Liam were making their moves, Jeremy returned to his home. He carefully checked through the weapons and items he had hidden there.


    Although Jeremy''s storage held numerous data containers, the amount of High-Dimensional Data these containers could store was quite limited.


    After pulling out every single one of his data containers, Jeremy let out a long, drawn-out sigh.


    "It seems I''m still a bit short on supplies. If I had stocked up on more data containers, I wouldn''t need to rely on anyone else this time."


    The reason Jeremy required so many data containers was simple: he needed to use them to store all of the High-Dimensional Data. As long as the boss of *The Lost Realm instance* couldn''t absorb enough High-Dimensional Data, the difficulty level of *The Lost Realm instance* would remain manageable.


    Moreover, Jeremy could utilize the High-Dimensional Data stored in the containers to enhance his *King of Time and Space* ability, allowing him to stabilize the chaotic spatial distortions within *The Lost Realm instance*. This would make navigating and surviving in the instance much easier.


    After gathering all the containers, Jeremy didn''t waste any more time. He decided to head straight to ire''s house.


    At that moment, ire, along with Emma and Ritchie, was already at her home. Jeremy knew he would need the help of hispanions for the next phase of his n.


    As Jeremy approached the front door of ire''s house, Ritchie appeared right in front of him.


    "What are you doing here? Weren''t you supposed to go with General Howard''s adjutant to handle *The Lost Realm instance*? Did you already clear it out that quickly?"


    Ritchie''s tone carried a hint of confusion as he asked.


    Jeremy smiled, shaking his head gently.


    "Even though my strength is quite formidable, there''s no way I could clear out *The Lost Realm instance* that fast. The difficulty level of the instance is incredibly high. To ensure the sess of our uing mission, I want all of you to join me."


    Hearing this, Ritchie immediately responded with a serious tone.


    "Not a problem at all! I''ve been ready for battle for quite some time now. Just say the word, and I''m ready to head into the instance with you."


    Jeremy was pleased with Ritchie''s response.


    "Great, then let''s head inside. I''ll exin *The Lost Realm instance* in detail to you and the others."


    With that, Jeremy and Ritchie entered ire''s home. Inside, both ire and Emma were slightly surprised by Jeremy''s sudden appearance.


    However, ire and Emma quickly regained theirposure.


    Jeremy wasted no time and began exining in detail the intelligence he had gathered from *The Lost Realm instance*. After listening to Jeremy''s ount, neither ire nor Emma had much to say, as they had never really experienced an extremely dangerous instance before.


    Ritchie, on the other hand, had a more serious expression on his face. After taking a moment to process everything, he asked cautiously, with a hint of hesitation in his voice.


    "As you said, you haven''t actually made it deep into the instance. So how do you know there''s a powerful boss waiting in the depths? For all we know, the information you''ve uncovered could just be an illusion. We''ve encountered situations like this before. I think it''s risky to jump to conclusions.


    Maybe, before we take any definitive action, you should take me back into *The Lost Realm instance* so we can reassess the situation."


    Ritchie''s cautious nature was as evident as ever.


    Jeremy shook his head at Ritchie''s suggestion.


    "We don''t have the luxury of time. With just our group, we won''t be able to clear out all the monsters in *The Lost Realm instance*. That''s why we need the assistance of General Howard and Director Liam.


    There''s no issue on Director Liam''s end; his only responsibility is ensuring the safety of the area around Moonlight City. But there''s an unexpected situation with General Howard. His elite forces are about to be redeployed to the capital.


    If we don''t act in the next few days, we''ll lose the opportunity to get support from General Howard''s elite forces!"


    Jeremy''s words made Ritchie''s face cloud with worry.


    "I''m not sure what you''re thinking right now, but in my opinion, this operation is going to be extremely dangerous. There''s a good chance we''ll encounter enemies in the instance far stronger than we can imagine."


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "You''re right. We will almost certainly face enemies beyond anything we''ve faced before. But we have to bear this heavy responsibility. We are already among the strongest people in Moonlight City."


    "If we can''t clear out the monsters in *The Lost Realm instance*, Moonlight City will be plunged into a massive crisis. Do you really want to see your hometown destroyed by the monsters from the apocalypse game instance?"


    Jeremy''s voice was firm as he added, "No matter what happens, we *have* to act now."


    These words finally convinced Ritchie. He straightened his gear and then turned to Jeremy with a resolute look.


    "All right! I''ve already told you before, no matter the situation, I''ll stand with you. So, let''s move forward without dy."


    Ritchie, Emma, and ire spent about half an hour gathering and preparing their gear. Once they were ready, the three of them followed Jeremy towards the center of Moonlight City. Their destination was *The Lost Realm instance*, but before diving into it, they needed to make a quick stop at the Special Situations Bureau to finalize their preparations.


    As they approached the entrance of the Special Situations Bureau, they unexpectedly spotted Bonnie pacing back and forth, her face lined with worry. She was anxiously walking near the entrance, clearly troubled by something.


    Before Jeremy and his group could greet her, Bonnie noticed them and immediately walked over, her quick steps indicating her urgency.


    "Jeremy..."


    "Why didn''t you ask for my help? Do you think I''m not qualified to join you on this mission?" Bonnie''s words caught Jeremy off guard, leaving him momentarily awkward.


    Jeremy knew that, apart from himself and Ritchie, Bonnie was the strongest among them. But there was aplication¡ªBonnie''s father, Benjamin, was not only the mayor of Moonlight City but also fiercely protective of her. He never wanted Bonnie to be involved in dangerous missions.


    Jeremy, naturally, didn''t want to stir up conflict with the mayor, which is why he chose not to inform Bonnie of his ns this time.


    "It''s not like that. I just had a lot of factors to consider¡ª" Jeremy began to exin, but Bonnie immediately interrupted him.


    "Don''t bother exining! I know exactly what you''re thinking! You''re afraid that if I go with you, it''ll anger my father. But I need you to understand something¡ªI am the only one who decides what I do!"


    With those words, Bonnie turned on her heel and marched straight into the Special Situations Bureau without looking back.


    Jeremy could only sigh in resignation at her reaction. There was no stopping her now.


    "It seems we really have no way of preventing her from joining us," Ritchie said, his voice tinged with concern as he stood beside Jeremy.


    Both ire and Emma, although not entirely in agreement with Bonnie''s decision, chose to stay silent. They understood that Bonnie''s strength far surpassed their own, so there wasn''t much they could say. All they could do now was wait for Jeremy to make the final decision.


    Jeremy, feeling the weight of responsibility growing heavier, nced at hispanions. He understood their unease, but there was no turning back now. Bonnie was determined, and he had to respect that.

 Chapter 333 An Unexpected Surprise from Liam

    "If she really insists oning with us, there''s nothing we can do to stop her. Besides, I believe Bonnie is quite level-headed when ites to executing missions, so you don''t need to worry too much about her," Jeremy said, turning to Ritchie, ire, and Emma with a reassuring smile.


    The three of them epted Jeremy''s exnation, their concerns eased for the moment.


    With that, Jeremy led the group into the main hall of the Special Situations Bureau. Liam was already waiting there, and as soon as he saw them, he walked over with a friendly smile.


    "I thought you might arrive a bitter, but it seems like all of you move pretty quickly," Liam remarked.


    "Of course. After all, the threat *The Lost Realm instance* poses to Moonlight City is too severe. We need to act as fast as possible," Jeremy replied, the urgency in his voice clear.


    Liam nodded. "I feel the same way, which is why I called you here. Our bureau has arge collection of tools capable of collecting High-Dimensional Data. However, our own members aren''t able to fully utilize their potential, so I''d like to entrust these tools to you."


    With that, Liam snapped his fingers. His secretary appeared, carrying a stack of folders, and distributed them to Jeremy and his team.


    "The information in these folders contains details about the tools I''m offering to you¡ªeach one designed to collect High-Dimensional Data. Take your time to review these materials. Once you''ve gone through them, you can familiarize yourselves with the tools," Liam said as he led Jeremy and the others toward his office.


    Jeremy knew exactly what this meant¡ªthese tools must be stored in Liam''s office. As they made their way down the hallway, Jeremy flipped through the documents in the folder. By the time they reached the office, he had finished reading them all.


    His mood brightened considerably.


    Jeremy suddenly realized that, with the help of these powerful tools, they might not face as many difficulties as he had initially feared in this mission. The equipment Liam had provided was indeed incredibly effective.


    The tools that Liam had provided this time had the impressive ability to absorb vast amounts of High-Dimensional Data. Fortunately, the tools themselves were not overlyplicated to use. The only downside to using them was that they temporarily prevented the user from leveling up, a limitation thatsted for a short period.


    Liam''s decision to entrust these tools to Jeremy and his team was based on the fact that they were the highest-level fighters in Moonlight City. This meant that the impact of this leveling restriction would be minimal for them, as their current power far exceeded that of others. Jeremy saw this as an unexpected advantage, a surprise gift from Liam.


    Just as Jeremy was reflecting on this, Ritchie leaned in close and whispered cautiously in his ear.


    "Why does he want us to use these tools? Do you think he''s deliberately trying to limit our strength?"


    Ritchie wasn''t as trusting of Liam as Jeremy was, and his naturally suspicious nature led him to question the situation. Unlike Jeremy, Ritchie didn''t have a broad view of the circumstances, which caused him to misjudge the situation.


    Jeremy shook his head in response. "I don''t think he''d do that. It wouldn''t benefit him at all. If a major crisis were to hit Moonlight City, he wouldn''t be able to escape the consequences either."


    With just a few words, Jeremy managed to ease Ritchie''s concerns.


    As for ire and Emma, who were trailing behind them, they hadn''t given the matter nearly as much thought. They simply followed along, trusting Jeremy''s judgment.


    The group soon arrived at Liam''s office. As expected, the tools were carefully stored there. When Liam brought them out, Jeremy immediately noticed a subtle shift in the surrounding space. This indicated that the tools contained a significant amount of High-Dimensional Data¡ªjust as described in the documents.


    "You''ve all reviewed the information on the tools by now, right?" Liam asked, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "If you feel confident that you understand how to use them, go ahead and give them a try."


    Liam pushed the tools forward, inviting them to take the next step.


    Jeremy, without hesitation, picked up one of the tools. The moment his hand made contact with the tool, he could feel the High-Dimensional Data within it trying to flow into his body. It was as if the data were seeking a way in. To stop this influx of High-Dimensional Data, Jeremy realized that he would need to use his own internal strength to block it.


    "So, this is why using the tool temporarily slows down the rate of leveling up!" Jeremy remarked as he felt the tool''s influence in the next moment.


    Liam nodded in acknowledgment. "You''re quite perceptive. So, are you going to try using it? If you don''t want to, I won''t hold it against you."


    Liam, deep down, didn''t expect anyone to willingly use the tool. He was simply offering it to Jeremy and his team, leaving the choice up to them. If Jeremy decided against it, Liam wasn''t going to pressure him.


    But Jeremy, with a calm smile, shook his head. "Of course I''m willing to use this tool! However, I think there''s something you might not fully understand about it yet. These tools don''t just slow down the rate at which someone can level up; they also make the user far more sensitive to High-Dimensional Data."


    Jeremy''s statement took Liam by surprise. His expression shifted slightly as he asked, "Why do you say that? I''ve never noticed any such effect from these tools before."


    Liam wasn''t doubting Jeremy; he simply didn''t understand the reasoning behind his im.


    "I have a deep understanding of High-Dimensional Data," Jeremy began to exin. "Under normal circumstances, someone who has never encountered High-Dimensional Data wouldn''t even be able to see it. And even those who have, over time, find themselves slowly eroded by it as they continue to use it.


    Only individuals who are highly sensitive to High-Dimensional Data, but who also don''t rely on it too heavily, can truly harness its power to the fullest. I happen to be one of those people. After holding this tool, I''ve noticed that my sensitivity to High-Dimensional Data has significantly increased. I can now even see the High-Dimensional Data surrounding your body!"


    Liam''s expression changed once again, this time to one of understanding and belief. Jeremy''s exnation made sense.


    High-Dimensional Data existed in all spaces, but under normal conditions, its density was extremely low. This meant that only people with an extraordinary sensitivity to it could perceive it. Now that Jeremy could see it more clearly, it was apparent that the tool had enhanced his natural ability to interact with High-Dimensional Data in a way that even Liam hadn''t anticipated.


    Previously, Jeremy had been unable to see High-Dimensional Data in the real world. But the moment he touched the tool, that changed. Suddenly, Jeremy could perceive the High-Dimensional Data present in the reality around him. This new revtion sparked a fresh idea in his mind, a n that began forming rapidly.


    Meanwhile, Ritchie, Bonnie, ire, and Emma remained silent, listening intently to the exchange between Jeremy and Liam. They didn''t fully grasp the technical details of what Jeremy and Liam were discussing. However, that didn''t bother them too much. After all, once they entered the instance, their only task was to follow Jeremy''s lead.


    Liam, with a smile, nodded in agreement. "It seems you truly are a genius, Jeremy. Now that you''ve gained the confidence you need, I believe we''re ready to move on to the next phase of the operation. General Howard has already made all the necessary preparations."


    This piece of news caught Jeremy by surprise. In his estimation, it should have taken General Howard at least a full day to gather all of his elite forces.


    "Are you sure about that? It seems almost impossible for General Howard to have assembled his troops so quickly," Jeremy asked, his voiceced with disbelief.


    Liam, still smiling, replied, "I know General Howard well. His speed in mobilizing his forces is remarkable. In fact, I wouldn''t be surprised if he arrives here to meet with us in the next half hour."


    Though Jeremy remained skeptical, he prepared himself, just in case. He knew that Liam wasn''t one to make such bold ims without reason, but it still seemed unlikely to him that Howard could move this fast.


    Yet, 25 minutester, to Jeremy''s astonishment, General Howard and his adjutant appeared in front of him and Liam. Liam nced at his watch and, with a yful tone, said:


    "Well, looks like I was right¡ªHoward''s as quick as ever!"


    "Your speed was even faster than I expected! I initially thought you would need at least half an hour to get everything ready," Jeremy said with a hint of surprise in his voice.


    General Howard, however, remained expressionless as he responded, "This mission is critical for Moonlight City. I''m not going to waste a single minute. I''ve already gathered all of my elite forces. If everyone is ready, we can begin the operation immediately. Or, do you still prefer to wait until the time we initially agreed upon?"


    Though both Howard and Liam had managed to move with remarkable efficiency,pleting their preparations in less than half a day, the original n had been tounch the operation two dayster. That''s why Howard was checking with Jeremy before proceeding ahead of schedule.


    Jeremy shook his head decisively. "Since we''re all prepared, there''s no need to dy any further. As you said, time is incredibly valuable right now. Let''s move to the entrance of *The Lost Realm instance* right away. Once we''re there, I''ll share my n with all of you. Just follow my lead, and I''m confident we''ll seed!"


    His tone was resolute, filled with the determination that set the tone for what was toe.

 Chapter 334 The Evil Plot of the Enemy

    Just as Jeremy and hispanions were about to enter The Lost Realm instance, Kean was in a vi on the outskirts of the capital, engaged in a heated argument with The Son of the Sun.


    "Don''t forget, you promised me that you would help eliminate all the human defenses around the capital!" The Son of the Sun said to Kean in an extremely angry tone. "If you''ve already agreed to help, why are you backing out now? Why are you heading to Moonlight City? Do you really believe you have the strength to defeat Jeremy and his allies?"


    The Son of the Sun was furious because Kean had suddenly retracted his previousmitment. Earlier that day, Kean had sent a message to The Son of the Sun, informing him that he was about to head to Moonlight City. Kean hade across a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to eliminate Jeremy.


    Upon receiving this news, The Son of the Sun rushed to the vi where Kean was staying. He believed he had to stop Kean at all costs.


    Faced with The Son of the Sun''s questions, Kean''s expression remained unchanged. He continued to organize his gear right in front of him. At this moment, Kean had selected all the equipment he owned, nning to take the most useful items with him to fight against Jeremy.


    Kean''s actions left The Son of the Sun extremely displeased.


    The expression on The Son of the Sun''s face grew very serious. He lowered his voice and slowly asked Kean, "Are you even listening to me? Or do you think you have enough strength to stand against me?"


    At this, Kean finally lifted his head to look at The Son of the Sun. His expression was icy cold. Though he knew he didn''t need The Son of the Sun''s help, Kean would not easily allow himself to be threatened.


    "I remember that we''re supposed to be partners. If that''s the case, we should certainly look after each other''s core interests. I entered this partnership to gain greater power, and my ultimate goal in gaining that power is to defeat Jeremy. Now that I finally have an opportunity to take him down, do you think I would let it slip away so easily?


    And do you really think I''m someone who would ept your threats?"


    Kean''s words hung heavily in the air, creating a tense atmosphere in the room. The Son of the Sun''s gaze turned cold as well. He stared into Kean''s eyes, and Kean held his gaze just as firmly. Neither of them blinked, both hoping to emerge victorious in this silent battle of wills.


    After a moment, The Son of the Sun''s expression shifted slightly. "Of course, I''m willing to help you deal with Jeremy! But do you really think the information you''ve received is reliable? Could it be that Jeremy has set a trap for you on purpose?"


    The Son of the Sun''s words caused Kean to waver just a bit.


    At first, Kean himself was also skeptical about the sudden news he had received. However, the informant within Moonlight City had conveyed all the intelligence to him. This information convinced Kean that all the forces in Moonlight City were currently tied up with The Lost Realm instance. He saw a perfect opportunity to trouble Jeremy''s family and friends.


    If Jeremy had indeed entered The Lost Realm instance, Kean even believed he could coborate with the monsters inside the instance.


    "I don''t think there''s a deliberate trap set for me. But I can''t be sure whether Jeremy might use The Lost Realm instance to strike against me," Kean said, his tone filled with hesitation. He was aware that his strength did not match Jeremy''s, and during their previous encounters, he felt that Jeremy outsmarted him as well.


    In this situation, Kean knew he had to remain cautious in any actions he took.


    The Son of the Sun''s expression became more rxed. He felt that his next words could persuade Kean. "These are just your spections. The things you can be certain about are very few. So, for your own safety, I believe you shouldn''t act immediately.


    Stay here in the capital; we will soon eliminate all the human defenses around the city. In no time, we will be free to deal with Jeremy. Why are you in such a rush? I thought you were supposed to be a very cautious person."


    The Son of the Sun''s words made Kean reflect on his previous decisions, and he began to feel that perhaps his actions had indeed been somewhat reckless.


    Kean ced his organized equipment on the ground. He let out a deep sigh and said, "I''m just so desperate to defeat Jeremy! All my current struggles are caused by him! My family no longer values me because they believe my talent iscking. My fianc¨¦e has grown cold towards me because she thinks I instigated the conflict with Jeremy on purpose. She even believes I should apologize to him.


    Do you think I can reconcile with Jeremy under these circumstances? Absolutely not! I will seize any opportunity to strike at him!"


    Kean''s words seemed to be directed at himself, but they were also meant for The Son of the Sun to hear. The Son of the Sun quickly responded, "Ipletely understand you! That''s why I''m not just here to stop your actions. I also bring you a brand-new n! If you follow my n, Jeremy will definitely pay a heavy price."


    The Son of the Sun''s words piqued Kean''s curiosity.


    The Son of the Sun pulled out a scroll. The scroll was covered in a multitude of intricate patterns. At the center of the scroll, a sun symbol radiated light and heat outward.


    Upon seeing the scroll, Kean looked at The Son of the Sun with a hint of confusion and asked, "This scroll doesn''t seem to possess any significant power to me. What do you mean by showing it to me? Are you saying that this scroll is a reward for me?"


    The Son of the Sun shook his head. "The power this scroll currently disys might not seem very strong, but that doesn''t mean the power it contains is weak. Once this scroll is ced within an instance that harnesses sr power, it can unleash incredibly potent abilities. This scroll is the key to defeating Jeremy.


    Regardless of what happens, Jeremy will be upied in The Lost Realm instance for a while. During this time, we can eliminate the human defenses surrounding the capital. Additionally, we can deliberately set up an instance infused with sr power near Moonlight City.


    Once all the preparations areplete, you can use the sr-powered instance to trap Jeremy. In that trap, you can afford to wait and let him exhaust himself."


    The Son of the Sunid out a very cunning n. After thinking it over carefully for a moment, Kean suddenlyughed. "It seems you have indeed prepared a wless n. However, I believe I can''t execute this n alone, so you will need to assist me throughout the process."


    Although Kean believed that The Son of the Sun''s n was likely to seed, he wanted to ensure everything was foolproof. Therefore, he insisted that The Son of the Sun participate in the decisive battle between him and Jeremy.


    The Son of the Sun smiled and nodded. "Of course! I will definitely assist you in your showdown with Jeremy! And not only will I provide help, but others from The Person in the Mirror will support you as well. There''s no way Jeremy will defeat you! If he does, then our n, along with the revival of the great deity, will be utterly ruined, and I will not allow that to happen!"


    The Son of the Sun''s response left Kean very satisfied. The two of them proceeded to devise a cunning n against Jeremy.


    Unbeknownst to Kean and The Son of the Sun, Jeremy waspletely unaware of their scheme. At that moment, Jeremy was still at the entrance of The Lost Realm instance. He and the others had been at the entrance for quite some time, yet they had not entered the instance. This was because they encountered a peculiar situation¡ªthe entrance to the instance had suddenly vanished.


    Both General Howard''s aide and Jeremy wore expressions of astonishment. After all, they had been there just a day prior. To figure out what had happened, General Howard called all the guards stationed around the instance entrance to gather.


    "Why has the entrance to the instance suddenly disappeared? Aren''t you supposed to be guarding this ce?! Did you not notice anything unusual?!" General Howard shouted at the guards with anger.


    The guards looked confused, mixed with a hint of grievance on their faces. They felt they had not made any mistakes; however, the entrance to the instance was indeed gone. They had no idea how to exin it, as the entrance had seemingly vanished without a trace. They hadn''t even had time to react before it disappeared, making it impossible for them to inform others to address the situation.

 Chapter 335 The Trick of Delaying Time

    General Howard, along with his aide, was continuously interrogating the guards stationed at the entrance of the instance. At the same time, Jeremy and Liam were discussing the situation. Since Jeremy had only entered The Lost Realm instance a day earlier, Liam believed that Jeremy might have some unique insights regarding the matter.


    "What do you think is causing this situation? Did you encounter anything simr when you entered the instance yesterday?" Liam asked Jeremy casually.


    Jeremy shook his head. "I didn''t encounter any simr situation yesterday, but I think what''s happening now is quite normal. The instance boss in The Lost Realm instance will definitely not make it easy for us to find him. He is currently stalling for time. After all, as time goes on, his power will only grow stronger. If he can buy enough time, we might not be able to defeat him."


    What Jeremy said was something Liam already knew. Therefore, he did not let the matter drop and continued to press further. "Don''t you have the talent of The King of Time and Space? You should be very sensitive to changes in space. So why can''t you use The King of Time and Space talent to locate the entrance to the instance?"


    Liam''s question was indeed quite tricky. Jeremy did not respond directly; instead, he turned to look in the direction of General Howard.


    "What''s wrong? Why aren''t you answering my question? Do you think my question is too difficult?" Liam refused to give up easily. He was determined to get a response from Jeremy.


    Jeremy shook his head. "I can answer you right now. I do possess the talent of The King of Time and Space, but that doesn''t mean I am sensitive to all changes in space. Since the instance boss in The Lost Realm has made up his mind to stall for time, he certainly wouldn''t ce the entrance to the instance in a location that we could easily find. I believe General Howard''s actions are pointless.


    Interrogating those guards won''t reveal the location of the instance entrance."


    Jeremy''s response finally satisfied Liam. He nodded, "You''re right. I share the same thoughts as you. But do we have any other methods? For now, we can only rely on General Howard''s interrogation to yield some useful information."


    No sooner had Liam finished speaking than General Howard''s aide approached him and Jeremy.


    "Gentlemen, the General wants you toe quickly!"


    At this point, Jeremy anxiously asked General Howard''s aide, "Has the General''s interrogation yielded some useful information?"


    The aide shook his head. "Don''t ask so many questions. Let''s just go."


    It was clear that General Howard''s aide didn''t want to disclose any more information. Jeremy and Liam didn''t press further; they simply followed the aide as they hurried towards General Howard''s location.


    When Jeremy and Liam met General Howard, the guards had already been taken away.


    "How are things looking? It seems we still haven''t been able to find the entrance to the instance," Liam said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.


    General Howard frowned and nodded. "The guards weren''t lying; they truly don''t have any useful information. Moreover, the entrance to the instance has suddenly disappeared, making it nearly impossible for us to locate it."


    "What are we going to do? ording to the information we''ve gathered, the more time we waste, the stronger the instance boss bes. If we don''t enter the instance quickly, the boss will soon grow powerful enough for us to handle," Liam said, his tone increasingly impatient.


    Liam believed that the current situation was entirely due to General Howard and Jeremy.


    "I don''t think it''s that bleak," Jeremy replied. "Even though we can''t directly find the entrance to the instance, we could dig a tunnel from the surface that would lead us closer to the instance area."


    Jeremy''s suggestion surprised both Liam and General Howard.


    Liam shook his head with a wry smile. "Stop talking nonsense! While the instance appears in the real world, its space essentially belongs to the apocalypse game. If we don''t enter through the instance entrance, there''s no way we can reach the space of the instance by any other means."


    Liam believed that Jeremy was intentionally making such statements.


    Liam understood that the characteristics of an instance were well-known among nearly all yers of apocalypse games. As the strongest yer in the apocalypse game, Jeremy certainly should have known the properties of instances too.


    Jeremy shook his head. "These characteristics apply to typical instances, of course. But The Lost Realm instance is not a normal one."


    Jeremy''s words suddenly sparked a realization in Liam and General Howard.


    "You should be able to think of some of the anomalies of The Lost Realm instance with my hints, right? While the difficulty of instances in other apocalypse games can indeed increase over time, the difficulty progression of The Lost Realm instance is quite unique. Only the boss of The Lost Realm instance bes stronger as time passes.


    The ordinary monsters within The Lost Realm instance do not grow more powerful.


    This means that the instance boss has gained strength through some means from outside the instance. I can tell you quite clearly that the power the instance boss has acquired is the power of High-Dimensional Data. He has absorbed High-Dimensional Data from outside the instance into his own body."


    At this point, both Liam and General Howard began to understand what Jeremy was implying.


    Since High-Dimensional Data could enter the instance directly from the real world without going through the entrance, they could also find a way to bypass the entrance to enter the instance. Liam still felt a bit apprehensive at this moment.


    With a hint of hesitation in his voice, he asked, "Are you suggesting that we disguise ourselves as High-Dimensional Data? But how is that even possible? If we could turn into High-Dimensional Data, wouldn''t we be monsters ourselves?"


    Jeremy smiled and replied, "We don''t need to disguise ourselves as High-Dimensional Data. All we need to do is cover our bodies with Data Storage Devices that contain High-Dimensional Data. After all, we brought plenty of Data Storage Devices with us this time."


    Jeremy''s words finally awakened Liam and General Howard to the n. The two immediately prepared ording to Jeremy''s instructions. Once everyone had covered themselves with the High-Dimensional Data storage devices, they could indeed see the faint outline of The Lost Realm instance''s boundary.


    "Don''t rush in just yet! Although we can see the boundary of The Lost Realm instance now, that doesn''t mean we can directly enter the instance," Jeremy cautioned. "I will use my talent, The King of Time and Space, to open a Portal. You all need to find some strong individuals to enter the Portal first.


    The Portal won''tst long. After the first Portal copses, we will need some time to open a second one. During this process, the first group entering The Lost Realm instance must rely on their own strength to ensure their safety. Those outside the instance won''t be able to provide any help."


    Jeremy revealed his true n. Liam and General Howard immediately made their assessments. Together, the two of them selected the strongest individuals from their subordinates to form a special team. This specially assembled team would enter The Lost Realm instance first, alongside Ritchie.


    Before the operation officially began, Jeremy called Ritchie aside. "This mission is crucial for us! Therefore, I hope you can take on the responsibility of looking after everyone during the operation!" Jeremy spoke with a tone that was very serious.


    He understood that Ritchie was feeling quite nervous and didn''t want to increase that anxiety, but he also needed to be clear about the situation. "I won''t be able to join you this time because I must maintain the stability of the Portal from outside the instance. However, I haveplete confidence in you. I believe you can lead a small team on your own."


    Jeremy encouraged Ritchie a few more times, wanting to instill a sense of assurance in him. Ritchie''s expression appeared slightly serious as he focused intently on Jeremy. "Rest assured! I will give it my all during this mission! I will also take care of everyone as much as I can!" he dered, his voice resolute.


    After saying this, Ritchie joined the members of the Special Team. Meanwhile, Jeremy was already preparing to open the Portal. After a few final minutes of preparation, he activated his talent, The King of Time and Space.


    Soon, a Portal connecting The Lost Realm instance and the real world was opened. As soon as the Portal opened, Ritchie was the first to step through. Following Ritchie, the members of the Special Team entered the Portal one after another, each stepping into the unknown with determination.


    As thest member crossed the threshold, the Portal could no longer maintain its stability. Jeremy had no choice but to close the Portal, feeling a mix of hope and concern for his team as they ventured into the mysterious realm.

 Chapter 336 Cheer Yourself Up

    In the instant the Portal copsed, Jeremy suddenly felt an unusual shift in the space around him. This sensation was entirely different from what he had experienced in The Lost Realm instance before. At that moment, a very unsettling thought crossed his mind.


    "Something seems off. The situation inside the instance appears to have changed significantly! We need to get everyone transported into the instance as quickly as possible!" Jeremy muttered to himself, then closed his eyes and sat down on the ground.


    At this time, Jeremy was concentrating on recovering his state as quickly as he could. Only when he returned to his optimal condition would he be able to reopen the Portal.


    Liam and General Howard, who were beside Jeremy, naturally heard what he had said. The expressions on their faces showed that they were both slightly worried.


    "What exactly has changed? From Jeremy''s expression, it''s clear that he is under much more pressure than before. Does this mean that the situation inside the instance has be even more dangerous?" Liam whispered to General Howard, lowering his voice.


    General Howard shook his head. It was evident that he was also in the dark about what was happening.


    "Regardless of what changes have urred inside the instance, we cannot halt the ongoing operation. Jeremy hasn''t indicated any intention to stop the n, so we can only trust Jeremy and the members of the Special Team who have already entered the instance," Howard replied, his tone firm yetced with concern.


    General Howard spoke with a calm demeanor, even though he felt a slight sense of panic bubbling beneath the surface. He was not the kind of person to reveal his true thoughts through his expressions. After hearing his words, Liam could only nod silently in agreement.


    While those outside the instance worried about the overall n, the members of the Special Team who had entered the instance encountered an immediate and formidable challenge. As Ritchie stepped into the instance, he found himself in an area flooded with an overwhelming brightness.


    Even when he tried to shield himself from the light with an object, it cast no shadow. The lighting from the opposite directionpletely negated any potential shadow that could have formed. In this situation, Ritchie felt an immense pressure weighing down on him. Without any shadows to manipte, his talents, skills, and weapons would be rendered nearly useless.


    As Ritchie stood there, stunned by the environment around him, more members of the Special Team began toe through the Portal. When thest member finally crossed over, the Portal copsed behind them with a sudden finality.


    In that moment, Ritchie kept encouraging himself internally. He hoped that by doing so, he could calm his racing thoughts and focus on the task at hand.


    He was the strongest among them, and if he couldn''t calm himself down, the others would undoubtedly be even more anxious. This meant that their mission was destined to fail.


    "Everyone, please don''t panic! The space around us is extremely bright, which means any monsters that appear will be easily spotted right away. We don''t need to linger here; we must move deeper into the instance as quickly as possible. Only then can we open a channel to connect the instance with the outside world."


    After saying this, Ritchie made his way deeper into the instance. The members of the Special Team followed closely behind him.


    It wasn''t long before they encountered their first monster: a gigantic mechanical Puppet. The Puppet was under level 50, so Ritchie and the others didn''t feel overly tense facing it.


    Although Ritchie couldn''t use his shadow-rted skills, he still managed to rely on his fundamental skills and coordinated effectively with his team members to sessfully take down the mechanical Puppet.


    Once the mechanical Puppet was defeated, all the High-Dimensional Data it possessed was stored in a Data Storage Device. Ritchie immediately brought the Data Storage Device up to his eyes.


    He hoped to take a closer look at the High-Dimensional Data contained within the Data Storage Device. Before this mission, Jeremy had specifically exined to Ritchie the differences between the various types of High-Dimensional Data.


    Each type possessed distinct characteristics: some could enhance a monster''s vitality, others allowed monsters to convert into data, and some could even enable monsters to control other machines.


    After carefully examining the data for a while, Ritchie ultimately confirmed that the High-Dimensional Data from the mechanical Puppet they had just defeated only served to enhance the creature''s vitality. This meant that the mechanical Puppet they had just killed was not significant at all.


    "We need to delve deeper into the instance! We still haven''t found any useful clues!"


    After saying this, Ritchie once again took the lead, pressing forward into the depths of the instance. However, this time, the members of the Special Team found themselves unable to keep pace with him.


    A transparent barrier suddenly appeared between Ritchie and the members of the Special Team. Ritchie moved deeper into the instance, while the others were trapped in a strange space.


    One of the Special Team members who had been closely following Ritchie shouted at the top of his lungs, "Wait! A barrier has suddenly appeared in front of us! We can''t continue following you!"


    Despite pouring all his strength into his voice, the member''s shout was drowned out. Ritchie didn''t hear him at all. The special barrier that had formed between Ritchie and the Special Team members blocked all sound.


    After about fifteen minutes of advancing deeper into the instance, Ritchie suddenly realized that there was no one behind him anymore.


    At that moment, a chill ran down Ritchie''s spine. He felt he was in a very precarious situation.


    "God damn! What on earth is happening? Why hasn''t anyone followed me? Did the monster in the instance manage to eliminate everyone while I was moving forward?"


    Ritchie pondered the situation in his mind, trying to figure out why this had urred. Meanwhile, he remained vignt, carefully observing his surroundings. He believed that being alone in this environment was the most likely time for a powerful monster to appear.


    Ritchie''s instincts were indeed correct.


    He didn''t observe his surroundings for long before spotting a powerful mechanical monster. This mechanical creature was actually a hybrid of machine and organic life. Its main body was a gigantic tiger, with its two front paws and eyes reced by mechanicalponents.


    The moment Ritchieid eyes on this half-mechanical tiger, he immediately realized that he was no match for it. Without hesitation, he chose to flee in the opposite direction of the half-mechanical tiger. Ironically, the direction he was running was deeper into The Lost Realm instance.


    The half-mechanical tiger hadn''t appeared to eliminate Ritchie; it simply wanted to exert immense pressure on him, forcing him to delve further into the instance. As Ritchie sprinted deeper into the instance, the half-mechanical tiger watched him go and, not long after, transformed into a stream of information and vanished quickly.


    Meanwhile, outside the instance, Jeremy had recovered to his optimal state. He reactivated his talent, The King of Time and Space, and summoned a very stable portal. Once the portal was fully formed, Jeremy called out to Liam and General Howard, "The portal I''ve constructed this time is extremely stable! It will allow everyone to pass through quickly!


    Hurry and get your subordinates into the instance!"


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Liam and General Howard immediately sprang into action.


    They led their subordinates directly into the instance, moving with urgency and purpose. Bonnie''s eyes were fixed intently on Jeremy as she hesitated for a moment, weighing her words carefully before speaking. "I will take Emma and ire into the instance! Once we pass through the portal, you can enter as well! Until you arrive, I will make sure Emma and ire are safe!"


    Jeremy felt a swell of gratitude for Bonnie''smitment. He nodded earnestly, appreciating her courage and resolve. "I believe you can absolutely ensure their safety! So let''s not waste any more time! Go ahead and enter the instance!"


    At Jeremy''s urging, Bonnie, along with Emma and ire, stepped through the portal. As soon as they passed through, the portal began to shimmer and flicker, bing increasingly unstable.


    In that moment, Jeremy realized he had already exhausted most of his energy. He faced a critical decision with two distinct options before him. The first option was to remain outside the instance and focus on recovering his strength, a decision that was undoubtedly the safest.


    However, it would also mean that those inside the instance would be left at greater risk, vulnerable to whatever threats loomed within.


    The second option was more perilous: Jeremy could choose to pass through the unstable portal. This course of action presented a significant danger to him, as the instability of the portal could lead to unforeseen consequences. Yet, the advantage was clear¡ªby choosing to enter immediately, he wouldn''t waste a single precious moment.

 Chapter 337 Extremely Unstable Instance

    Jeremy didn''t think for long; he believed he couldn''t afford to waste even a moment. So, he ultimately chose the most dangerous route.


    As he passed through the unstable portal, he could distinctly feel changes urring within his body. These changes seemed to be caused by the erratic spatial fluctuations surrounding him. However, Jeremy had no time to focus on these subtle alterations.


    Upon entering The Lost Realm, he immediately noticed that the situation within the instance was drastically different from before. The entire instance had be highly unstable. Jeremy sensed that the surrounding space was continuously shifting. Moreover, these spatial changes were causing the strength of the monsters within the instance to fluctuate as well.


    During his previous entry into the instance, he had been able to vaguely perceive the instance boss deep within, thanks to his talent, The King of Time and Space. But this time, he couldn''t even use that ability to gauge the spatial dynamics around him.


    Just as Jeremy furrowed his brow, pondering how he should proceed, Liam and General Howard approached him, their expressions grave.


    "We''ve sent our subordinates to scout the surrounding area. The region we''re in is a crossroads; we can head in four different directions. What do you think we should do? Should we split up and take separate actions?"


    The reason they sought Jeremy''s opinion was that they couldn''te to a consensus. Liam wanted everyone to stick together, believing that the challenges in The Lost Realm were extremely high. In his view, if they didn''t stay united, they would likely be picked off one by one by the monsters lurking in the instance.


    On the other hand, General Howard felt that staying together was simply a waste of time. He believed that if they split up, they could gather more information in the shortest possible time.


    At that moment, Jeremy felt a headacheing on. However, it didn''t prevent him from making a swift decision.


    "I think we should split up!" he said directly. "While this does pose a certain risk to all of us, it will also save us valuable time. I believe that the three of us are strong enough, so let''s divide everyone into three groups. Each group can choose a direction to advance from the crossroads. If any group encounters an insurmountable crisis during their mission, they can just return to this spot."


    Jeremy not only provided an answer but also devised a very detailed action n. Upon hearing his words, Liam and General Howard found themselves unable to refute his logic. However, Liam still reluctantly said to Jeremy, "If we split into three groups, doesn''t that mean we can only choose three different directions to move forward? But there are four directions here."


    "Then there''s no other option!" Jeremy replied firmly. "While I want to save time, I also believe it''s essential to ensure that everyone has a certain level of safety during this operation."


    Jeremy''s reasoning was impable. While everyone hoped to clear The Lost Realm as quickly as possible, none of them wanted to face death during the process.


    In the end, Liam, General Howard, and Jeremy decided to split up. Naturally, Jeremy teamed up with Bonnie, ire, and Emma. The direction Jeremy chose to advance was actually the same one that Ritchie had initially selected.


    "I believe Ritchie must have gotten into some trouble by now! We need to find him as quickly as possible!" Bonnie said directly to Jeremy after they separated from the others.


    Jeremy nodded gravely in agreement. "I share your thoughts! Plus, I''ve already found some clues left by Ritchie!" As he spoke, Jeremy directed his gaze toward the ground.


    Bonnie, ire, and Emma followed Jeremy''s gaze and looked down at the ground. Indeed, they spotted some shadows on the floor. These shadows bore Ritchie''s personal imprint, indicating that he had definitely passed through this area.


    "I think Ritchie and the other members of the Special Team got separated for some reason. Earlier on, we could see not only Ritchie''s footprints but also those of others. However, on this stretch of the path, we only see Ritchie''s prints. I don''t understand why this is happening, but it''s likely because they encountered a powerful enemy," Jeremy spected.


    While Jeremy''s reasoning had some merit, it wasn''t necessarily urate. After all, he didn''t possess omniscient abilities. He could only make inferences based on the information avable to him and his previous experiences. Little did he know that the instance boss in The Lost Realm could create special barriers out of thin air.


    After about fifteen minutes of walking, Jeremy and the others arrived at a rtively spacious hall. In this open area, they finally spotted a member of the Special Team. The team member stood with their back to Jeremy and the others, positioned at the other end of the hall.


    Upon seeing the member of the Special Team, a smile appeared on Bonnie''s face. "Finally, we can get some information from a Special Team member!"


    After saying this, Bonnie started walking toward the individual. However, before she could get too far, Jeremy pulled her back. "Don''t move any closer! Don''t you find it strange that this Special Team member looks odd?"


    Jeremy''s words made Bonnie instantly realize the situation. ire and Emma tightened their grips on their weapons, both ready for a fight.


    "You three stay here! If anything unusual happens, justunch an attack! I''ll go ahead and take a look!" After giving his instructions, Jeremy took a few steps forward.


    He moved cautiously, as he needed to carefully observe the condition of the Special Team member. When he was about ten meters away, the Special Team member suddenly turned their head. To Jeremy''s shock, the member''s head had been reced with a mechanical one.


    In that split second, Jeremy raised his weapon, the mortalbat. He had no intention of activating the skills of the mortalbat; he simply wanted to be prepared for a potential sudden attack.


    At the same time Jeremy took action, Bonnie pulled out her staff. Bonnie''s response was actually quicker than Jeremy''s. She unleashed twopletely different frost spell skills in rapid session.


    One was the Ice Spike Technique, and the other was a powerful blizzard. The Ice Spike Technique summoned a massive block of ice that hurtled toward the members of the Special Team, while the blizzard slowed their movements significantly.


    Bonnie moved with incredible speed, so much so that ire and Emma hadn''t even had the chance to prepare for an attack before the battle was already over. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of Bonnie and Jeremy, the Special Team members were quickly brought under control.


    "Can you still speak? If you can, then tell me something useful!" Jeremy demanded, his tone firm but with an underlying urgency. He had no intention of eliminating the Special Team member before him; he merely wanted to extract valuable information.


    However, it was clear that the Special Team member was no longer capable of speech. They had been transformed into a half-living, half-mechanical monster, renderingmunication impossible. Ultimately, Jeremy had no choice but to put the creature down.


    "It seems that Ritchie is indeed facing a tremendous crisis," Jeremy said, his voice tinged with a hint of sorrow. "The members of the Special Team must have all been converted into these half-living, half-mechanical beings. Even if there are any survivors, they likely won''t be able to hold out for much longer."


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Bonnie, Emma, and ire couldn''t help but feel a sense of gloom wash over them. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on their hearts.


    Bonnie stepped forward decisively and addressed Jeremy, "In that case, we need to quicken our pace! There''s a chance we might still find some survivors out there! Even if we can''t locate any, we should do everything within our power to rescue Ritchie."


    Jeremy nodded in agreement and then led the three of them forward at a brisk pace.


    Meanwhile, Liam and General Howard''s squad encountered a member of the Special Team as well. Their situation mirrored that of Jeremy''s group exactly. However, Liam and General Howard held different assessments than Jeremy regarding the circumstances they faced.


    Both men independently concluded that the difficulty level of the Lost Realm instance had been grossly overestimated.


    "I believe we shouldn''t have ced such a heavy emphasis on this instance from the beginning," Liam remarked with a confident smile to his subordinates. "The difficulty isn''t nearly as high as we initially thought. Even the Special Team members have merely been transformed into half-mechanical, half-living monsters.


    This indicates that the instance boss of the Lost Realm hasn''t been able to eliminate these Special Team members."


    General Howard, while not as optimistic as Liam, agreed with the overall assessment. "It seems that we will be able to clear the Lost Realm instance quite soon! After that, we won''t have to worry excessively about the safety of Moonlight City."

 Chapter 338: Chapter 338：Did Not Play Any Role

    Although Liam and General Howard had simr assessments regarding the sudden appearance of the Special Team members, their responses were slightly different.


    Liam casually addressed his subordinate, saying,


    "Since we''ve already found some of the Special Team members who entered the instance earlier, let''s rest here for a while. Go over and ask him what kind of situation he encountered before."


    Liam''s subordinate, still rxed, nodded and quickly headed towards the Special Team member standing with his back to them not far away.


    "Hey, man, no need to be scared! We''ve already entered the instance, which means we can protect you now! Since you Special Team members have managed to hold out until now, we can stick together, and there''s no need to worry about any threats."


    As he spoke, Liam''s subordinate casually patted the Special Team member on the shoulder.


    However, the Special Team member continued to stand with his back to him, showing no intention of turning around.


    Liam''s subordinate found this a bit strange, but just as he was about to continue speaking, he suddenly felt a sticky sensation on his hand.


    Looking down at his hand, he realized it had started to melt.


    "Ah!" A scream burst from Liam''s subordinate''s mouth.


    The moment everyone heard the scream, they immediately turned their attention in that direction.


    When Liam saw what was happening, his expression changed drastically.


    He realized that something was seriously wrong.


    Liam quickly instructed the others around him,


    "It seems my earlier judgment was off! The Special Team members aren''t as normal as we thought! Stay here for now, observe carefully, and only act once we''re sure about what''s going on."


    After giving those instructions, Liam rushed toward the source of the scream.


    When he reached his subordinate, the man''s entire arm had already melted.


    With a terrified expression, Liam''s subordinate looked up at him and pleaded,


    "Boss! Please save me! My whole body is melting!"


    Liam gazed seriously at his subordinate. Even though he was extremely anxious inside, there was nothing he could do.


    Because he had no idea what was causing his subordinate''s body to melt, Liam could only act based on the information he had.


    "Don''t panic right now! Try to stay calm! I''ll figure this out as quickly as possible!" Liam reassured his subordinate, trying to keep himposed, while at the same time pulling out a healing potion from his pocket.


    Under normal circumstances, the healing potion should have had some effect.


    But after his subordinate consumed the potion, there was no improvement whatsoever.


    "Boss! My body is still melting! Am I going to die soon?" The subordinate''s voice, trembling with fear, betrayed his growing terror as he looked at Liam desperately for answers.


    Though his voice wasn''t particrly loud, the seriousness of the situation meant that everyone else, who had been focused on what was happening, now had a clear idea of the gravity of the situation as well.


    Liam''s face grew even more serious as he responded bluntly, "I don''t know how to save you! But rest assured, I''m doing everything I can to get help. I''ve already sent someone to reach out to General Howard and Jeremy for assistance."


    Liam wasn''t lying to his subordinate. He truly had sent another subordinate to seek help from General Howard and Jeremy.


    However, it was obvious that things wouldn''t go smoothly.


    As soon as Liam finished speaking, the subordinate he''d sent out earlier came rushing back.


    "Boss! We''re trapped here! I can''t find a way to get back to where we came from!"


    Hearing this, Liam''s expression darkened even more. A sense of hopelessness was creeping in.


    Just as Liam was about to say something, the Special Team member standing nearby slowly turned around.


    This was the first time that Liam and his subordinates finally got a good look at the Special Team member''s true appearance.


    The figure had been grotesquely transformed into a half-mechanical, half-organic monster.


    Liam, upon seeing this horrifying sight, acted swiftly. Without hesitation, heunched an attack on the creature that had once been a Special Team member.


    His attacknded sessfully.


    Though the Special Team members had been transformed into half-mechanical, half-biological monsters, theirbat abilities weren''t overwhelmingly strong.


    After eliminating the transformed monster that had once been a Special Team member, Liam turned his gaze back toward his subordinate. By then, his subordinate hadpletely melted, leaving nothing but a gruesome mess.


    Liam let out a sigh, unable to hide his frustration.


    "I''m responsible for this. If I hadn''t rashly made that decision, he wouldn''t have died here," Liam muttered quietly to himself.


    Though there was some truth to his self-me, Liam''s words were more of a strategic move to maintain morale among the rest of his team. He knew that letting his subordinates lose confidence in him now could be disastrous.


    After a moment of silent contemtion, Liam lifted his head and looked at the remaining team members.


    "We''re not going to rest anymore. We have to keep moving. Since our way back has been blocked by the instance, the only option left is to go deeper into it."


    None of his subordinates voiced any objections. They were still in shock from what had just transpired, and none of them wanted to end up like the melted man they had just witnessed. Fear was a strong motivator, and they knew standing still could lead to the same horrifying fate.


    With that, Liam led his team deeper into the heart of the instance.


    Meanwhile, General Howard''s group faced a simr situation. The key difference was that no one on Howard''s side had died, at least not yet.


    Howard''s decision mirrored Liam''s. Like Liam, he chose to press forward into the instance''s depths.


    However, due to the misjudgments both men had made, their progress had significantly slowed. By now, they were far behind Jeremy and his team, to the point where any hope of catching up and assisting Jeremy seemed slim.


    Despite bringing suchrge forces into the instance, both Howard and Liam had, up until now, failed to make any significant impact.


    At this point, Jeremy remained unaware of the situations unfolding with Howard and Liam. But in truth, Jeremy had never pinned his hopes on them in the first ce.


    Now, Jeremy, along with hispanions, had reached a strange and mysterious area deep within the instance.


    The area where Jeremy and hispanions found themselves appeared, at first nce, to be an enormous hall. The space was vast and seemingly endless, but shadows continuously flickered across the room. These fleeting shadows resembled human figures.


    However, despite multiple attempts by Jeremy and his team tomunicate with these shadows, all efforts ended in failure. The shadows did not respond, nor did they seem aware of the team''s presence.


    After contemting the situation for a moment, ire spoke up, addressing Jeremy.


    "I don''t think they''re human at all. This must be a trap set by the instance. These shadows are likely illusions. I haven''t detected any signs of consciousness or thought from them," ire said, her expression thoughtful.


    ire''s abilities were centered around mental and psychic powers. She had the unique skill to block out mental interference from both the instance and its creatures, and in some cases, she could even read the thoughts of others. However, her mind-reading abilities were not particrly advanced.


    This meant that ire could only extract surface-level thoughts from most people. When it came to individuals whose strength or mental fortitude far exceeded her own, like Jeremy, ire was unable to read their thoughts at all.


    After listening to ire''s assessment, Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "I think you''re right. But even though we know these shadows are traps set by the instance, we still have to move forward. Stay behind me, and I''ll make sure to check for any traps along the way," he instructed.


    With that, Jeremy strode purposefully toward the center of the hall, his pace quick and decisive.


    ire and Emma followed closely behind him, while Bonnie, tasked with guarding the rear, kept an eye on their surroundings.


    The moment Jeremy set foot in the hall, he sensed something unusual beneath his feet, as though a creature was lurking just beneath the surface.


    "Hold on! Don''t follow me just yet!" Jeremy called out to the group behind him, his voice sharp with urgency.


    "There''s something down below¡ªmonsters, I think. Let me deal with them before you proceed."


    Barely had the words left Jeremy''s mouth when the floor of the hall began to crack open,rge fissures splitting the ground with a loud rumble. From these cracks, an overwhelming swarm of beetles surged forth, countless in number. The moment they emerged, they locked onto Jeremy as their target, their movements swift and coordinated.


    It was clear that the real danger had just begun.


    Jeremy gripped his weapon, Mortal Combat, tightly in his hands, but he didn''t immediatelyunch an attack. He needed a moment to carefully assess the situation.


    The swarming beetles were relentless, but after weighing his options, Jeremy concluded that using Mortal Combat to fight them head-on wouldn''t be the best course of action. The weapon, though powerful, was too bulky and slow for dealing with such a massive, fast-moving horde. Trying to eliminate every single beetle with brute force would take far too long and leave him vulnerable in the process.


    Instead, Jeremy decided to activate his King of Time and Space ability. He figured that opening a portal to transport the beetles to another section of the instance would be a much simpler, more efficient solution than fighting them directly.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy summoned a portal in front of him. The swirling vortex appeared in the air, its edges glowing with a strange energy, as the beetles, driven by their single-minded intent to attack, surged toward it. In an instant, the swarm was sucked into the portal, disappearing into its depths.


    On the other side of the portal, Jeremy had connected it to another, distant area within the instance.


    As thest of the beetles passed through, Jeremy quickly shut the portal, sealing them away from their current location.


    Watching everything unfold, Bonnie''s expression remained cautious. She hesitated for a moment before voicing her concern, her toneced with worry.


    "Are you sure this won''t cause any problems?" she asked, her eyes scanning the now-empty hall where the beetles had been moments before.


    Jeremy nced back at her, his face calm but thoughtful. "I sent them to an isted section of the instance. They won''t be able to get back to us from there," he reassured her. "It''s the best way to deal with them without wasting time or risking further danger."


    Though Bonnie nodded, epting his exnation, the faint trace of worry still lingered in her eyes. For now, they were safe, but in an unpredictable environment like this, there was always room for doubt.

 Chapter 339 A Different Ritchie Than Usual

    Faced with Bonnie''s question, Jeremy sighed softly. He knew exactly why she was concerned.


    "I understand what you''re worried about," Jeremy began, turning to look at her. "You''re probably thinking that by sending all those beetles to another section of the instance, I might have unintentionally put others at risk."


    Bonnie nodded in agreement.


    "That''s certainly a possibility," Jeremy continued. "But, honestly, I didn''t have much of a choice. The number of beetles was overwhelming, and if I had tried to eliminate them using conventional methods, it would''ve taken far too long. We''d be stuck here for hours, maybe even days. I trust you understand the situation."


    Bonnie remained silent, processing his exnation. Jeremy''s words were logical, leaving her with no valid counterargument. She knew he was right; they couldn''t afford to waste time, not in an environment as dangerous as this.


    With no further questions, Bonnie watched as Jeremy pressed forward into the hall, his pace unbroken. The threat of the beetles had passed, and the hall was now eerily quiet. With no immediate dangers remaining, Jeremy and hispanions quickly reached the far end of the hall.


    At the end of the room, they encountered a narrow passageway. This passage was so tight that only one person could squeeze through at a time.


    The moment Jeremy saw the passage, his instincts red. He immediately recognized it as another trap.


    "We absolutely can''t go through this passage one by one," he said firmly. "It would expose each of us to far too much danger. We need to find an alternative route."


    Jeremy scanned the area, then turned back to his team.


    "Search around. See if there''s another way through. If there isn''t, I''ll use my King of Time and Space ability to open a portal for us."


    Jeremy''s tone was resolute, leaving no room for doubt. His n was clear and decisive, and it wasn''t just a message for his team¡ªit was also a signal to the instance''s boss.


    Jeremy was fully aware that the boss of The Lost Realm instance was likely watching his every move. He suspected that all the traps and obstacles they had encountered so far were part of arger n designed to gradually weaken him. By making each step forward more dangerous, the instance was chipping away at his strength, hoping to wear him down.


    Despite this, Jeremy wasn''t about to fall into such an obvious trap. He knew how to navigate the challenges ahead, and he wasn''t about to let the instance''s boss gain the upper hand.


    Once Jeremy''s strength had been sufficiently weakened, the instance boss would inevitably reveal itself. To avoid this worst-case scenario, Jeremy was determined to conserve as much of his energy as possible before confronting the boss.


    While ire, Emma, and Bonnie searched the hall for any alternative routes, Jeremy remained alert, monitoring the situation and scanning his surroundings. Despite his vignce, as the minutes ticked by, he began to suspect there were no other exits besides the narrow passage they had already found.


    Just as Jeremy was about to give up hope, Emma suddenly shouted in excitement,


    "There''s another passage over here! And it''s wide enough for all of us to go through together!"


    Her discovery left Jeremy stunned. Given his King of Time and Space ability, Jeremy had an acute awareness of the space around him. The fact that he hadn''t detected arger passage puzzled him deeply. How could Emma have found something that had eluded his spatial senses?


    Curiosity piqued, Jeremy quickly turned to look in Emma''s direction. To his astonishment, a massive passageway had indeed appeared before his eyes, one that hadn''t been there earlier.


    In disbelief, Jeremy stared at the passage, then asked hispanions,


    "Did any of you see this passage before now? I never sensed its presence. Could it have just formed moments ago?"


    Bonnie was quick to respond,


    "No, I didn''t see it before either! That means this passage must have just appeared!"


    Her confirmation made Jeremy even more suspicious. If the passage had only just emerged, it could mean someone¡ªor something¡ªwas actively observing their every move and adjusting the environment ordingly. Bonnie''s and Jeremy''s exchange caused both Emma and ire to grow uneasy. The idea that they were being watched so closely sent a ripple of tension through the group.


    Instinctively, Emma and ire moved closer to Jeremy, seeking the safety of his presence.


    Jeremy, however, wasn''t shocked by the revtion that they were being watched. He had long suspected the instance boss was keeping a close eye on him. What surprised him was how abruptly and conveniently the new passage had materialized.


    "Does the instance boss think I''m some kind of fool?" Jeremy thought to himself, his mind racing.


    "Does he really expect me to walk straight into a passage that suddenly appears out of nowhere, without a second thought?"


    Sarcasm filled Jeremy''s thoughts as he considered the absurdity of the situation.


    "If he thinks I''m that stupid, maybe I should show him exactly what he wants to see¡ªdo something foolish just to mess with him."


    Despite his internal skepticism, Jeremy made up his mind. He decided to take a bold, calcted risk and enter the newly formed passage. He knew it was a trap, but sometimes the only way to outy your opponent was to walk straight into their carefullyid snare, while staying one step ahead of them.


    With that decision, Jeremy took his first step toward the unexpected passage, fully aware that the game was far from over.


    Jeremy''s expression quickly shifted to one of casual ease. With a smile on his face, he addressed the group, "Now that the passage has appeared, we might as well head inside. Staying here any longer might just bring us more trouble¡ªlike another swarm of beetles."


    With that, Jeremy turned and began walking toward the newly revealed passage.


    His sudden decision took Bonnie by surprise. She hurried forward, stepping in front of him to block his path.


    "Don''t you think this passage appearing out of nowhere is suspicious? Aren''t you even a little worried it might be a trap?" Bonnie asked, her voice full of concern.


    Jeremy shook his head calmly.


    "There are only two ways out of this hall¡ªthe narrow passage or this one. I''m definitely not going through the narrow one. That leaves us with only this wider passage."


    His response was cryptic but deliberate. Bonnie stood there for a moment, thinking over his words. After a brief pause, understanding dawned on her. Jeremy wasn''t being reckless; he was simply choosing the lesser of two evils, fully aware of the risks. Seeing this, Bonnie stepped aside, allowing him to continue.


    With Jeremy leading the way, the group moved through the wide passage into the next area.


    The new zone they entered was crawling with numerous, but rtively weak, monsters. Without hesitation, Jeremy took the lead andunched into action, attacking the creatures with precision and strength. Bonnie, ire, and Emma followed closely behind, doing their best to assist him as they pressed forward.


    Together, the four of them fought their way through the instance, crossing one area after another, each filled with monsters that Jeremy had to battle head-on. It seemed like an endless cycle of fighting and advancing.


    Finally, after passing through countless monster-filled regions, the group reached an area unlike any they had encountered before.


    This new space was eerily strange, filled with swirling shadows and distorted, ovepping fragments of space. The atmosphere was disorienting, and the chaotic, fragmented nature of the area made everything feel unsettlingly wrong.


    ire, Emma, and Bonnie all wore expressions of unease. Though theycked extensive experience, the danger radiating from the surroundings was palpable. They could sense that this area was far more hazardous than the ones they had traversed previously.


    Jeremy, moreposed than the others, carefully observed the shadows and strange space around them. His sharp eyes quickly locked onto a figure moving within the shadows¡ªsomeone he recognized.


    "You''ve already seen us, so why note out?" Jeremy called out confidently in the direction of the figure. "Surely, you don''t consider us your enemies, do you?"


    His voice echoed through the shadow-filled area as he waited for a response, fully prepared for whatever¡ªor whoever¡ªmight emerge.


    Everyone''s attention shifted toward the shadowy figure. For a brief moment, a vague silhouette shed within the darkness. However, instead of stepping forward, the figure darted into another shadow, continuing to remain hidden from Jeremy and the others.


    Jeremy, feeling somewhat exasperated, called out again, his tone tinged with frustration.


    "Ritchie! Do you seriously not recognize me? Or do you think I''m some kind of illusion? If you don''t show yourself right now, I won''t be as polite next time."


    He had recognized the figure in the shadows¡ªit was none other than Ritchie.


    Jeremy''s words clearly struck a chord. With a reluctant sigh, Ritchie finally emerged from the shadows, his expression serious and guarded. His eyes scanned Jeremy, Bonnie, Emma, and ire with suspicion, as if he couldn''t fully trust what he was seeing.


    "It looks like you''ve encountered something pretty strange," Jeremy remarked, carefully studying Ritchie''s tense demeanor. "Otherwise, you wouldn''t be acting so paranoid. I''m guessing the rest of the Special Team members who came in with you have already turned into monsters, haven''t they?"


    Jeremy had pieced it together from the moment he saw Ritchie''s wary expression. There was no other exnation for why Ritchie would be so on edge.


    Ritchie''s face darkened even more at Jeremy''s words. He nodded slowly, confirming Jeremy''s suspicions without uttering a single word. The silence that followed spoke volumes¡ªRitchie had indeed gone through something horrific. He was thest one left, having witnessed the gruesome transformation of hisrades into monstrous abominations.


    Seeing Ritchie like this, Jeremy realized just how deep the situation had spiraled. It wasn''t just about fighting monsters anymore; the instance was twisting the very people inside it, pushing them to their breaking point.


    "You''re right," Ritchie said, his tone grim and resolute. "Those Special Team members have all turned into monsters. But that still doesn''t mean I can trust you, because every monster in this instance knows that same fact. You need to tell me something the monsters couldn''t possibly know. Only then will I be sure it''s really you, and only then will I agree to move forward with you."


    Ritchie''s voice was filled with caution, reflecting the gravity of his situation. It was clear that after everything he''d been through, he had grown sharper and more independent, able to handle challenges on his own with greater confidence.


    Jeremy smiled upon hearing Ritchie''s response, genuinely impressed by the growth he was seeing in his oldpanion.


    "It''s good to see you''re doing much better than before," Jeremy said. "At least now, when you''re operating alone, you won''t fall into traps so easily."


    With that, Jeremy calmly pulled out Mortal Combat, his iconic weapon.


    "Take a good look at this. You recognize it, don''t you? Do you think any of the instance''s monsters could perfectly replicate this weapon?" Jeremy asked, his voice steady as he presented the weapon to Ritchie.


    Ritchie didn''t respond immediately. Instead, he kept his sharp gaze fixed on Jeremy, his eyes filled with doubt and suspicion, still unsure whether he could fully trust what he was seeing.


    Jeremy sighed, realizing words alone wouldn''t be enough to convince him. Without hesitation, Jeremy activated one of Mortal Combat''s abilities.


    In an instant, both he and Ritchie were pulled into a unique, isted dimension¡ªa special space created by the power of Mortal Combat. It was only after being transported into this pocket dimension that Ritchie''s expression finally shifted. His eyes widened, and the tension in his body rxed slightly. He now understood that the person standing before him could only be the real Jeremy.


    "You believe me now, right?" Jeremy said, looking at Ritchie with a slight smirk. "The fact that I could bring you into this special space means my power far surpasses yours. If I were really a monster in disguise, I could easily destroy you right here. Do you honestly think you have any remaining value to these monsters? Something that would make them spare you?"


    Jeremy''s words were direct and sincere, cutting through Ritchie''s paranoia with brutal honesty.


    Ritchie''s expression softened, the wariness on his face giving way to exhaustion and a hint of defeat.


    "I''ve been so cautious because I''ve faced incredibly dangerous situations recently," he admitted. "Everything I''ve seen, everything I''ve been through¡­ it''s changed the way I see things."


    Hearing this, Jeremy nodded, understanding just how much the instance had pushed Ritchie to his limits. The trauma of surviving in such a hostile environment had understandably made him wary, perhaps even distrustful, of everything and everyone around him.

 Chapter 340 The Events That Actually Happened

    After Ritchie finished speaking, Jeremy''s expression turned to one of deep confusion.


    "What exactly happened? Other than you, has the entire Special Team been killed by the monsters? Why are you hiding here? Based on my calctions, we''re really close to the instance boss. Isn''t it more dangerous for you to stay here? Shouldn''t you be hiding somewhere farther away from the boss?"


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s question, Ritchie slowly began to recount everything he had experienced up until now.


    Ritchie and the members of the Special Team had entered The Lost Realm instance, where they encountered a series of bizarre events. These strange happenings caused Ritchie and the rest of the Special Team to be separated from each other. Each of them was then attacked by odd and terrifying creatures.


    At one point, Ritchie even began to question whether he had fallen into some kind of hallucination. Faced with these strange and unpredictable monster attacks, he chose what seemed to be the safest option: hiding in the shadows.


    At first, Ritchie''s decision to stay hidden seemed to be working. However, as time passed, he began to feel a creeping sense of confusion about his own self-awareness. He couldn''t tell if he was still fully human or slowly turning into a machine.


    Although staying in the shadows helped shield him to some extent from the mental interference of the instance boss, there was a moment where he almost transformed into a half-mechanical, half-organic creature.


    After surviving that extremely dangerous moment, Ritchie decided to keep fleeing throughout the instance, hoping that by doing so, he could retain his human consciousness. During his flight, he passed through one strange space after another. Inevitably, as he traveled through these bizarre areas, he found himself moving deeper into the instance.


    By the time he realized how close he was to the instance boss, it was already toote to choose any other direction. With no better option, Ritchie decided to hide in the shadows again.


    He wasn''t sure how much time had passed, but eventually, Jeremy and the others came into view. At first, Ritchie assumed they were just illusions created by the instance boss, meant to lure him out of his hiding spot.


    However, after Jeremy used a special skill from Mortal Combat, Ritchie realized the people in front of him were real, not just figments of his imagination.


    After hearing Ritchie''s ount, Jeremy''s face grew noticeably grim.


    The things Ritchie described were events that had truly happened. This meant that Jeremy and the others had not yet faced the full might of the instance boss''s attacks.


    "Is there anything else you haven''t told us? If not, we need to leave this special area as soon as possible. The longer we stay here, the more danger ire, Emma, and Bonnie will be in. I don''t think the instance boss will give us time to prepare for battle."


    After hearing Jeremy''s words, Ritchie quickly responded, "I''ve already told you everything I know. And while I was running, I never had a direct confrontation with The Lost Realm''s instance boss. I don''t know what kind of abilities it has or how strong it really is. I''m sorry, I can''t provide much more help."


    Ritchie felt a tinge of disappointment in his heart. He had initially thought that by leading the Special Team into The Lost Realm ahead of everyone, he could make a real difference. But instead of helping, he felt like he had made things harder for Jeremy and his team.


    Sensing Ritchie''s guilt, Jeremy gave him a reassuring smile. "You don''t need to me yourself! Honestly, we all underestimated the strength of the instance boss in The Lost Realm. I imagine General Howard and Director Liam must be in a pretty bad situation right now too."


    With that, Jeremy deactivated the special area from Mortal Combat. In an instant, he and Ritchie reappeared in front of ire, Emma, and Bonnie.


    "Did anything unusual happen while we were gone?" Jeremy immediately asked the three women.


    Bonnie shook her head. "No, during the time you and Ritchie were gone, we didn''t encounter anything strange. But I did hear some faint noisesing from deep within the instance. It sounded like someone was beating a drum in the distance. However, ire and Emma didn''t hear it, so I''m not sure if what I heard was real or just my imagination."


    Upon hearing Bonnie''s words, Jeremy frowned, contemting the situation. After a few moments of thought, he came to a realization.


    In a deep, serious tone, Jeremy said, "Our next move will carry a great deal of risk. You all need to be fully prepared for what''sing."


    "If any of you feel that your strength isn''t sufficient or that you''re not in the best condition, then stay here. Don''t keep pushing forward."


    With those words, Jeremy turned and began making his way deeper into the instance. Ritchie and Bonnie, without a moment''s hesitation, followed closely behind him. ire and Emma, however, hesitated for a brief moment.


    Both of them wanted to continue with Jeremy, but they couldn''t shake the feeling that their abilities might not be strong enough for whaty ahead. After a moment of internal conflict, Emma leaned in closer to ire, lowering her voice as she spoke.


    "I think this might be a test from Jeremy. If we have confidence in ourselves, we should follow him and continue forward."


    ire nodded firmly at Emma''s suggestion. "You''re right. We can''t back down now. Let''s catch up with them!"


    And so, the entire group pressed forward together, following Jeremy deeper into the heart of the instance. As they advanced, Jeremy''s mind was constantly at work, strategizing how to defeat The Lost Realm''s instance boss.


    Through the information he had gathered, Jeremy had already begun to piece together a clearer picture of their formidable enemy. From Ritchie, he learned that the instance boss possessed a certain level of psychic interference, capable of clouding the minds of those who drew near. From Bonnie, he had gained insight into the increasing strength of the boss''s spatial abilities.


    The faint drumming sound that Bonnie had heard was, in fact, the sound of gravitational waves. The intense spatial distortions caused rapid fluctuations in gravity, producing these gravitational waves that, under certain conditions, could be perceived by those with heightened abilities.


    Jeremy, possessing the innate talent of The King of Time and Space, had an extraordinarily keen sense for spatial distortions. However, even with his sharp instincts, he had overlooked the presence of these gravitational waves. It was a detail that made him realize just how powerful the instance boss had be. If left unchecked, the boss would soon be too strong for them to stand a chance.


    With this knowledge in mind, Jeremy elerated his pace, determined to reach the depths of The Lost Realm as quickly as possible.


    While Jeremy and his team pressed on, Liam and Howard were also taking action. However, their efforts were not going as smoothly. Despite adjusting their ns after facing several setbacks, the difficulty of The Lost Realm instance far exceeded their expectations.


    As their mission progressed, both Liam and Howard''s squads suffered significant losses. The challenges they faced were unlike anything they had encountered before, pushing their limits and leaving them on the verge of copse.


    Liam and Howard, each leading their respective teams, found themselves trapped in the middleyer of The Lost Realm instance. This area was filled with a series of bizarre and disorienting spaces. Without the ability to sense spatial shifts with extreme precision, there was no way for them to navigate out of these chaotic regions.


    Despite the dire situation, both Liam and Howard managed to maintain a sense of calm.


    "Everyone, stay calm! I know the spaces around us seem strange and disorienting, but if we keep our heads clear, we''ll find a way out," Liam said to his subordinates in a firm and serious tone. Though hecked confidence himself, he hoped his words would be enough to keep his team from panicking.


    Howard echoed a simr sentiment to his own squad. Like Liam, Howard hadn''t yete up with a solution to their predicament. Both of them, in truth, were banking on Jeremy''s sess. They believed that if Jeremy could defeat The Lost Realm''s instance boss, the entire instance would destabilize, and their current dilemma would resolve itself naturally.


    "I hope Jeremy''s mission goes smoothly," Liam muttered to himself after finally managing to settle the nerves of his team. "If even he can''t take down the instance boss, we''re all going to die here, trapped in this twisted realm."


    Liam''s perception of Jeremy had changed considerably over time. Initially, he had regarded Jeremy as just another powerful extraordinary being. Sure, Jeremy was strong, but Liam didn''t think he could y a pivotal role in their ns.


    However, after experiencing two instances in the real world together and surviving the mission in the Tower of Exile, Liam began to see Jeremy in a new light. Jeremy, in his eyes, had proven himself to be a true genius, someone with the potential to achieve great things. Liam even considered using Jeremy''s abilities to further his own ambitions.


    Yet, despite recognizing Jeremy''s talent, Liam hadn''t fully regarded him as an indispensable ally. That all changed after they entered The Lost Realm. Facing crises that Liam himself had no way of resolving, he finally came to acknowledge Jeremy as his most crucial partner in their survival.


    Now, all of Liam''s hopes rested on Jeremy''s shoulders. Howard''s thoughts were much the same. Both men understood that Jeremy''s sess or failure would determine whether they made it out of the instance alive.

 Chapter 341 The First Phase of Battle

    Although Jeremy was unaware that both Liam and General Howard had ced all their hopes on him, it didn''t change his resolve. He was determined to give everything he had. In his mind, only he was capable of defeating The Lost Realm''s instance boss.


    After about half an hour of making their way deeper into the instance, Jeremy finally led hispanions to the very heart of the instance. Whaty before them was a vast, deste expanse. At the center of this space was a massive, pitch-ckke. In the waters of theke, a glowing white worm-like creature writhed and swam about, radiating an eerie brilliance.


    It was immediately clear that this glowing white worm was The Lost Realm''s instance boss.


    Upon seeing the boss, Jeremy wasted no time and shouted to hispanions, "Everyone, get ready for battle! I''ll be the one to strike first!" Without waiting for a response, Jeremy leaped down from the elevated tform they were standing on.


    The moment he entered the wide-open area, Jeremy sensed something was off. The spatial structure of the area was incredibly chaotic, making movement unpredictable and dangerous. Quickly, he turned back and warned his teammates, "Don''te down here! Stay where it''s safe and support me from a distance!"


    Bonnie and Ritchie, hearing Jeremy''s urgent warning, immediately altered their ns. Originally, both had intended to fight alongside Jeremy, believing that with their strength¡ªsecond only to his¡ªthey should stand by his side and assist in the boss battle. But now, with Jeremy''s cautionary advice, they had no choice but to remain in a safer position.


    Bonnie was the first to spring into action. She withdrew her staff, and as soon as it was in her hand, her eyes became shrouded in ayer of frost. A dark cloud materialized above the instance boss, and within moments, a powerful blizzard descended from the sky, swirling around the boss.


    At the same time, Ritchie activated his ring, summoning shadows stored within it. The shadows coalesced into monstrous creatures that immediately charged toward the instance boss, intending to overwhelm it.


    Though both Bonnie and Ritchie reacted swiftly, their attacks didn''tnd before Jeremy was already at the edge of the ckke. Just as Bonnie''s storm began to howl and Ritchie''s shadow creatures surged forward, Jeremy had already closed the distance between himself and the instance boss.


    From this vantage point, Jeremy felt the immense power radiating from the glowing white worm, and he knew the fight ahead would be unlike anything they had faced before. His heart raced with adrenaline, but he remained focused. He had to be the spearhead of this attack, the one to shatter the defenses of this powerful foe.


    As he readied himself for the first strike, he could feel the chaotic space around him twisting, making every move a gamble.


    Despite the chaos, Jeremy''s resolve only hardened. He would not fail.


    Jeremy gripped Mortal Combat tightly and swung it forcefully at the edge of the ckke. At the same time, he activated his innate ability, The King of Time and Space, linking the space at theke''s edge with the space at theke''s center.


    This allowed his attack to bypass the distance and strike directly at The Lost Realm''s instance boss, the glowing white worm writhing in the middle of theke.


    His attack had some effect¡ªthe white worm turned its head toward Jeremy, emitting what sounded like a wailing cry. But this didn''t mean Jeremy had seeded. In an instant, the glowing worm shot up into the air.


    Bonnie''s Blizzard spell, which had been summoned moments earlier, had no effect on the worm. It didn''t even slow the creature down. Instead, the worm radiated tiny white lights from its body, sending them outward like glowing spores.


    In that moment, everyone heard the distant sound of drums, signifying violent spatial fluctuations around them. These intense spatial distortions triggered powerful gravitational waves. Bonnie and Ritchie were the first to feel the effects¡ªimmediate, excruciating headaches overcame them.


    Bonnie''s grip on her staff weakened to the point where she could barely hold it, while Ritchie''s ring cracked under the pressure. Around both of them, patches of warped space formed, making it feel as though they were being crushed under an immense, invisible weight.


    Behind Bonnie and Ritchie, Emma and ire were also hit by the intense interference. Emma felt like her body was being torn apart, while ire struggled to breathe, as though all the air had been sucked out of her lungs.


    Jeremy''spanions were all caught in a massive crisis, but he couldn''t help them. The dangers they were facing paled inparison to the threat Jeremy himself was up against. The space around him had be incredibly unstable, so much so that he noticed a miniature ck hole forming directly in front of him.


    This ck hole began sucking in all of Jeremy''s High-Dimensional Data, the unique spatial energy he possessed.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy swung Mortal Combat, shattering the miniature ck hole before it could absorb more of his energy. But as soon as the ck hole was destroyed, the space around him shifted violently again. The glowing white worm appeared directly above him, its body coiling in a circr shape, resembling the ancient symbol of the Ouroboros¡ªan eternal serpent consuming its own tail.


    As it closed the loop, the worm transformed into a massive ck hole, one that began to pull everything in, including Jeremy. The immense gravitational pull enveloped him, threatening to swallow him whole.


    At the veryst moment, as the ck hole was about to close around him, Jeremy activated The King of Time and Space once more. A portal opened behind him, and in an instant, Jeremy stepped through it, teleporting to the far edge of the vast open area, just outside the ck hole''s reach.


    Breathing heavily but stillposed, Jeremy realized that this battle would demand everything he had¡ªand more.


    The glowing white worm''s attack didn''t seed, but it didn''t seem discouraged. In the brief exchange, it had clearly gained the upper hand. The worm retracted from its ck hole form and returned to its original writhing shape. It dove back into the ckke, causing ripples to spread across the water''s surface.


    As the ripples intensified, the surrounding space once again began to distort violently.


    One after another, miniature ck holes appeared in different locations around the vast area. These ck holes were not only absorbing Jeremy''s High-Dimensional Data, but they were also attempting to drain him of his other powers as well.


    Jeremy stood firm, gripping Mortal Combat tightly, his eyes focused intently on the glowing worm. He had already realized that this battle was far from simple, but he hadn''t anticipated that the instance boss of The Lost Realm would be this difficult to handle.


    "I need to find its weakness," Jeremy thought to himself. "Could the ckke be its weak point? If I can destroy theke, it might lose its ability to harness such immense spatial power."


    In a sh of insight, Jeremy zeroed in on what could be the worm''s most vulnerable spot. Without hesitation, he activated his innate talent, The King of Time and Space. A portal appeared before him, and he stepped through, emerging once again at the edge of the ckke.


    As soon as he arrived, he felt the intensepression of the space around him. Thepressed space had be so dense that it felt solid, and Jeremy''s movements were severely slowed, as though he were wading through thick, viscous liquid. Every step forward was a struggle.


    The glowing white worm reappeared in the middle of theke. This time, it didn''t release its white lights into the surroundings. Instead, it gathered all the glowing points together. Soon, a massive white sphere, made up of countless illusionary doors, formed around Jeremy, enclosing him in its center.


    Jeremy''s situation had be extremely perilous, but his King of Time and Space ability alerted him to the danger. He knew with absolute certainty that he couldn''t allow the white sphere to engulf him. If it did, he would be lost forever in an endlessbyrinth of folded space, with no hope of escape.


    Gritting his teeth, Jeremy summoned every ounce of strength he had. His hands, still clutching Mortal Combat, began to tremble from the sheer force he was channeling. Determined, he raised his weapon and aimed for the space in front of him, shing with all his might.


    While Mortal Combat couldn''t physically harm space itself, Jeremy''s innate talent, The King of Time and Space, allowed him to imbue the weapon with the ability to slice through dimensions. As the de cut through the highlypressed, folded space, it created a cascade of miniature ck holes.


    Unexpectedly, these ck holes worked to Jeremy''s advantage. The newly-formed ck holes interfered with the structure of the white sphere, weakening its grasp. Seizing the moment, Jeremy saw his chance to escape.


    With the white sphere''s control disrupted, Jeremy''s movements became slightly faster. He wasted no time, using his spatial maniption powers to create a small opening in the chaotic space around him. Just as the white sphere tried to reform and trap him again, Jeremy dashed through the opening, escaping the deadly trap.


    His heart pounded in his chest, knowing how close he hade to being lost forever.


    But he wasn''t done yet. The battle was far from over, and the glowing white worm was still lurking, waiting for its next opportunity to strike.


    Jeremy swiftly escaped from the highly folded space. Once free, he thrust Mortal Combat deep into the ground of the vast area, immediately activating its special ability. A unique space formed between him and the glowing white sphere.


    In reality, Jeremy was exploiting a loophole in the rules of the battle. The special space created by Mortal Combat had the power to iste Jeremy and a chosen enemy within it, regardless of other external factors. While the white sphere wasn''t technically an enemy or a monster, Jeremy had cleverly folded one of the glowing points from the white worm into the white sphere.


    This trick made Mortal Combat treat the white sphere as a temporary enemy.


    Jeremy''s immediate goal was to deal with the white sphere first. If he could harness the powerful spatial energy contained within it, he would gain a critical advantage in the ongoing battle.


    In an instant, Jeremy and the white sphere vanished from the area, disappearing entirely from The Lost Realm instance boss''s field of vision. This sudden disappearance confused the glowing white worm. The boss, now unsure of Jeremy''s whereabouts, began to scan the surroundings furiously.


    The glowing white worm could only detect Jeremy''spanions, but it couldn''t locate Jeremy himself. This situation enraged the instance boss. In a fit of fury, the glowing white worm smashed its massive body into the ground, causing the entire instance to tremble violently.


    The ground shook, and the fabric of space within The Lost Realm distorted further, as the boss''s frustration manifested in the violent upheaval of the environment. Despite its immense power, the instance boss found itself momentarily blinded to Jeremy''s location¡ªa fact that only deepened its growing rage.

 Chapter 342 Speeding Up to Prevent the Worst-Case Scenario

    Intense tremors spread swiftly throughout the entire Lost Realm instance. Deep within the heart of the instance, Jeremy''spanions bore the brunt of this violent quake.


    Already weakened by the Lost Realm instance boss''s earlier attacks, each of them now found themselves nearly incapable of fighting. Ritchie was forced to retreat into the shadows, distancing himself as much as possible from the boss. Bonnie, barely managing to hold her stance, lifted her staff, conjuring a shield of ice around herself for protection.


    Though ire and Emma were farther from the boss, their rtiveck of strength left them unable to take any action at all. In other parts of the instance, Liam, General Howard, and their subordinates felt the tremor''s impact too, though much less severely due to their distance from the Lost Realm boss. However, this disturbance heightened both Liam''s and General Howard''s anxiety.


    "This seems likely to be the boss''s doing! Could this mean Jeremy''s already encountered the boss? Do you think he stands any chance against it?" Liam asked General Howard, his voice edged with concern.


    Earlier, Liam and General Howard had managed to regroup. Thebined strength of their reunion gave them a measure of security in the face of this perilous realm. Still, when questioned, General Howard didn''t respond right away. He merely frowned, staring in the direction of the tremors'' origin.


    After several tense seconds, General Howard finally spoke. "I sincerely hope Jeremy can prevail in this fight. If he fails, there''s no chance of us escaping this instance. The longer we remain here, the greater the threats we''ll face. The boss''s power is undoubtedly far greater than ours. If Jeremy can''t defeat it, we won''t stand a chance either."


    Howard''s words drew a reluctant sigh from Liam. Both men knew they could now only pin their hopes on Jeremy. And there was nothing more they could do to aid him.


    Keeping themselves safe was no easy task for Liam and General Howard, who felt fortunate just to maintain their safety amidst the chaos. As the two of them discussed the violent tremors shaking the realm, within the unique, high-stakes dimension of Mortal Combat, Jeremy was frantically working to destroy the glowing white orb as quickly as possible.


    Jeremy understood all too well that he needed to speed up. He had to prevent an irreversible oue, one that could lead to disaster. His encounter with the Lost Realm instance boss had left him acutely aware of its immense strength. He also realized that as soon as he disappeared, the instance boss would likely redirect its full force against hispanions.


    Even if Ritchie and Bonnie poured everyst bit of their strength into resisting the boss, they wouldn''t be able to hold out for long. Jeremy had to finish his mission within this special space of Mortal Combat and get out swiftly to ensure the safety of Bonnie, Ritchie, and the others.


    In this unique Mortal Combat dimension, Jeremy was free from distractions. He focused on continually activating his King of Time and Space talent, creating portal after portal within the special space. He darted through these portals, one after another, using them to weaken the power of the white orb continuously.


    Although this orb was made up of countless mysterious sub-spaces, it was practically defenseless against Jeremy''s relentless assault. This was because the white orb had been summoned by the Lost Realm instance boss andcked any self-awareness. Without the boss actively controlling it, the orb posed little threat to Jeremy.


    In this way, Jeremy gradually wore down the power of the white orb. Throughout this process, he even managed to convert some of the orb''s spatial power into his own, enhancing his King of Time and Space ability. Jeremy sensed his capacity to summon portals growing stronger with each moment.


    He even began to feel that he might be able to create a portalrge enough to transport himself directly from Mortal Combat to the instance boss''s location in the Lost Realm.


    However, despite this idea, Jeremy resisted the urge to act on it, knowing that doing so would drain far too much of his energy. As he absorbed thest vestiges of power from the white orb, the Lost Realm instance boss finally redirected its attention toward Jeremy''spanions.


    A worm radiating white light rose out of the inky depths of theke, its gaze fixated on Bonnie and Ritchie. Almost immediately, Bonnie felt the space around herpressing rapidly. Though she had created an icy shield around herself earlier, it was shattered in an instant under the force of the tightening space.


    Despite her weakened condition, Bonnie knew she had to act quickly. She struck her staff against the ground with force, and from the staff''s point of impact, a blue ring of frost rapidly spread outward. As the ring expanded, the temperature plummeted in every ce it touched, conjuring frost spells that appeared out of thin air.


    These spells effectively slowed the spatialpression, buying Bonnie a precious few moments to escape further from the Lost Realm instance boss.


    While her quick thinking and actions had a certain impact, it was clear the Lost Realm instance boss had no intention of giving up so easily. In no time, it conjured multiple strange, twisted spaces around Bonnie, which proceeded to engulf every one of her frost spells. She suddenly realized that she had no room left for escape; her surroundings werepletely enclosed within these bizarre spaces.


    Panic surged within Bonnie as she struggled to keep herself calm. "Don''t let fear overtake you! There has to be a way out! The more I panic, the worse this situation will be!" she reminded herself, forcing herself to breathe and focus. Sessfully regaining herposure, she scanned her surroundings and, raising her staff, unleashed a powerful blizzard spell.


    While it couldn''t destroy the twisted spaces around her, Bonnie hoped it might give her just enough of an opening to escape.


    In a sh of blue light, she propelled herself toward the only possible direction that offered even a slim chance of freedom.


    Just when Bonnie thought she had managed to evade the Lost Realm instance boss''s relentless attacks, she was shocked to discover that thest escape route in the distance had also been sealed off by the strange, warped space. A sudden wave of despair washed over her as the reality set in¡ªthis time, she felt certain she wouldn''t make it out alive.


    Every instinct told her that no action could save her now. As Bonnie''s hope ebbed away, she was jolted by a familiar voice¡ªRitchie''s voice, calling out from somewhere nearby.


    "Stop standing there in a daze! Head towards me, now! I can hide you in the shadows!"


    Following the direction of Ritchie''s voice, Bonnie''s eyes found a faint, blurry shadow not too far away. Without a second''s hesitation, she dashed towards it, her every step pursued by the twisting spatial distortions that closed in like an insidious trap behind her. Had she hesitated even a moment, she would have been caught and likely obliterated by the warped space.


    Reaching the shadowy form, Bonnie extended her hand, touching the faint, blurred darkness. In an instant, a wave of chilling sensation engulfed her as she felt herself swallowed into the depths of darkness.


    As Bonnie found herself engulfed in utter darkness, with no trace of light around her, Ritchie''s voice once again echoed in her ear.


    "We need to focus all our strength on sustaining this shadow! The surrounding space is stillpressing, and our shadow might not hold for very long," he said, his tone edged with urgency. Though Ritchie had managed to help Bonnie at a critical moment, he knew all too well that this didn''t mean they were truly safe.


    In fact, Ritchie saw their current situation as merely buying time in the desperate hope that Jeremy would return soon.


    Even though Ritchie didn''t know exactly where Jeremy was, he held a firm belief that Jeremy wouldn''t abandon them. Hearing Ritchie''s words, Bonnie nodded, drawing her staff and preparing herself.


    Together, she and Ritchie poured every ounce of their energy into fortifying the shadow around them, fighting against the crushing spatial force closing in, determined to keep the fragile shadow from disintegrating.


    Outside the shadow, the worm¡ªradiating a menacing white glow¡ªhovered not far away. As the Lost Realm instance boss, it was relentless in its mission to destroy every human that dared to enter its domain. Since it couldn''t locate Jeremy, it had turned its full attention to eliminating the others.


    Under the force of the instance boss''s relentless attack, the shadow surrounding Ritchie and Bonnie began to flicker and fade, bing dangerously thin. The fragile darkness around them was on the verge of copsing entirely, and both Bonnie and Ritchie felt despair creeping in as they sensed how precarious their situation had be.

 Chapter 343 Defeated by Your Own Weapon

    "Hold on! We can''t give up now! If we can just hang in a little longer, Jeremy will make it here to save us!" Despite the desperation creeping into Ritchie''s heart as he hid within the shadows, he refused to show it. In fact, he was doing his best to encourage Bonnie to keep fighting.


    Bonnie remained silent, focusing every bit of her strength on sustaining the shadow around them. Though both of them were pushing themselves to their absolute limits, the shadow continued to crumble irreversibly, slipping further into copse with each passing second.


    Suddenly, a beam of light pierced through the darkness. As soon as Ritchie and Bonnie caught sight of it, their hearts sank. They knew all too well what this meant; the appearance of the light marked the final copse of their shadow.


    "We''ll split up and run! At the very least, one of us has to make it out alive!" Ritchie''s voice, low and determined, broke the tense silence just before the shadow disintegrated. In that moment, the twisted, distorted space rushed toward Ritchie and Bonnie, and they immediately darted off in opposite directions.


    The glowing white worm, however, was not deceived by their desperate maneuver. It immediately locked its focus onto Ritchie, deeming him the greater threat after their recent skirmish. As the worm''s body began to shimmer with a silver-white light, it suddenly teleported directly in front of Ritchie.


    Ritchie didn''t waste a second. The moment he spotted the instance boss, he activated his most potent survival skill. In an instant, his body split into four distinct shadows, each darting off in a different direction. This was his ultimate gambit; each shadow was, in essence, part of Ritchie himself. As long as even one shadow could escape, Ritchie would be able to resurrect from it.


    Ritchie''s countermeasure was indeed expertly executed, but he had still underestimated the power of the instance boss. The glowing white worm did not chase after any of the shadows individually. Instead, it conjured numerous miniature ck holes around itself, allowing them to cluster into a massive ck hole at its center.


    This singrity grew in size and gravitational pull, threatening to devour everything in its vicinity, including Ritchie''s fleeing shadows.


    The massive ck hole''s gravitational pull was relentless, drawing in every one of Ritchie''s four shadows until they merged back together. As the shadows converged, Ritchie''s true form materialized directly in front of the instance boss.


    Now perilously close, Ritchie could feel an overwhelming pressure emanating from the boss. Simultaneously, he felt his body beginning to disintegrate under thebined force of the enormous ck hole and the warped spatial distortion surrounding him. His consciousness flickered, fading fast. Though filled with a deep sense of regret, he was utterly helpless to stop it.


    In what felt like his final moments, one thought echoed through Ritchie''s mind: "Jeremy, where are you? Why haven''t youe back to save us?"


    Not far away, Bonnie watched Ritchie''s dire situation with mounting anxiety. She wanted desperately to help but waspletely drained, unable to use even a single spell. Her strength had been fully exhausted in the earlier battle. Just as all seemed lost and despair clung to everyone, a sudden sh of golden light appeared nearby, near both Ritchie and the instance boss.


    Jeremy had arrived, standing right beside the instance boss. He gripped his Mortal Combat weapon tightly and swung it directly at the boss. The attack was swift and unexpected, but the instance boss reacted with blinding speed, managing to dodge Jeremy''s strike in a burst of white light. Still, this intervention had been enough to save Ritchie.


    Ritchie copsed to the ground, gasping for air. "What took you so long? I thought I''d never see you again!" he eximed as his consciousness began to stabilize.


    Jeremy didn''t answer Ritchie''s question directly. Instead, he responded calmly, "I got here, didn''t I? Now, get yourself to safety. Leave the rest of this fight to me. I''ve gained the power I need to take down the instance boss."


    With that, Jeremy summoned a portal, stepping through it to appear directly in front of the instance boss once more. By now, the instance boss had undergone a dramatic transformation; its original form¡ªa white, glowing worm¡ªhad morphed into an all-ck creature, seeming to have absorbed all surrounding ck holes and twisted spaces into its body.


    The stage was set for a final showdown between Jeremy and the transformed instance boss.


    Witnessing the scene before him, Jeremy realized that the instance boss was fully prepared for their final confrontation.


    "So, you''re ready for the ultimate battle, are you? Then it''s time I show you my true power!" Jeremy extended his hands, and between them, a white orb began to take shape¡ªan orb identical to the one the instance boss had once summoned.


    "Now, I''ll use your own weapon to destroy you! I bet you never imagined you''d fall at the hands of what you created!" With these words, Jeremyunched his attack. As he did, the white orb expanded rapidly, summoning countless spectral portals around the instance boss. These portals not only absorbed the warped spaces surrounding it but also prevented the boss from focusing its power entirely.


    Gripping his Mortal Combat weapon, Jeremy unleashed blow after blow on the instance boss. This time, his attacks finally began to take a toll, inflicting visible damage. Their fight was fierce, each strike reverberating throughout the entire Lost Realm instance.


    Watching from a close distance, Ritchie and Bonnie were awestruck by the intensity of the battle. Ritchie couldn''t help but remark to Bonnie, "Compared to them, our strength is insignificant. If we had power like that, we''d be able to stand on our own and eliminate even the toughest enemies."


    Bonnie nodded in agreement. "I only wish I had strength like Jeremy''s. If I were that powerful, my father wouldn''t stop me from acting independently."


    Although both of them envied Jeremy''s strength, they knew all too well that achieving such power was no simple feat and would take far more time and effort. As they discussed the fierce showdown unfolding before them, Emma and ire finally regained theirposure and joined them.


    "How''s the battle going? Can you tell which side has the upper hand?" ire asked urgently, ncing between Ritchie and Bonnie. Lacking the same strength as the others, ire couldn''t tell who was winning. Emma, too, was just as uncertain about the bnce of power in the fight before them.


    Since ire had already voiced the question, Emma decided she didn''t need to repeat it. Both Ritchie and Bonnie shook their heads in unison.


    "We''re not sure who''s got the upper hand either," Ritchie admitted.


    In truth, no one could definitively gauge who was winning the battle. Although Jeremy had prepared meticulously, it was clear that eliminating the instance boss quickly was out of the question. And as the fight wore on, the instance boss continued absorbing the power of High-Dimensional Data, furtherplicating Jeremy''s challenge. His time was running short.


    Beyond Jeremy''s own intense battle, the instance boss''s skills rippled outward, affecting the others as well. Bonnie, Ritchie, Emma, and ire could all feel the space around them beginning to warp and shift. For now, they remained rtively safe, thanks to Ritchie''s and Bonnie''s awareness of spatial distortions and their ability to shield Emma and ire.


    In other areas of the instance, however, Liam, General Howard, and their troops were having a far rougher time. Despite their preparations for unforeseen circumstances, the unique spatial disruptions around them were making survival a serious challenge, leaving them in a state of disarray.


    Liam found himself forced to join forces with General Howard to clear away the unusual spatial distortions surrounding them.


    "Even though we''re doing everything we can, the number of warped spaces around us just keeps increasing. It looks like we might need to relocate to a safer area," Liam remarked, his tone betraying a hint of anxiety. He felt the situation had spiraled beyond his control. If they stayed here, they risked facing a crisis beyond their ability to manage.


    General Howard''s expression was equally grim. Yet, he was reluctant to lead his men into unfamiliar territory under such tense circumstances.


    "True, there''s a certain level of risk here, but we''ve be fairly familiar with this area. If we venture somewhere else, we might encounter even greater dangers. I think we''re better off staying put. I have a feeling the battle between Jeremy and the instance boss will be over soon¡ªwe just need to wait it out," Howard replied, his reasoning calm and logical.


    Howard''s argument was sound, although his n had a more passive approachpared to Liam''s. In the end, Liam chose not to press his own idea further and agreed to follow Howard''s suggestion.

 Chapter 344 The Critical Choices of Companions

    As Liam and General Howard made their decisions, the battle between Jeremy and the instance boss reached its most intense phase. The fierce sh between them began to affect the entire space of The Lost Realm instance, causing significant spatial distortions. Every region within The Lost Realm showed varying degrees of spatial disruption. Previously separate spaces were now connected in unexpected ways, which not only impacted the humans who had ventured into The Lost Realm but also disturbed the monsters inhabiting it.


    At the heart of the battlefield, Jeremy had fully unleashed the spatial energy contained within his white orb of light. Meanwhile, the instance boss of The Lost Realm had transformed entirely into a ck hole. This ck hole was fundamentally different from any seen before. The previous ck holes could be understood either as a skill of the instance boss or as high-dimensional data causing spatial distortions within the real world. While these ck holes could influence space, theycked the destructive power to consume entires.


    However, the ck hole formed by The Lost Realm''s instance boss was a genuine ck hole in every sense. From the moment of its creation, Jeremy felt an overwhelming gravitational force. He quickly gripped his mortalbat weapon, using its power to anchor himself to his position.


    "So, you really intend to take me down with you in this way? I''ll never let you seed! I''ll confine all your power within the instance!" Jeremy had grasped the instance boss''s ultimate n. Realizing he could not defeat Jeremy outright, the instance boss was now prepared to use his ck hole form to force a mutual destruction. If sessful, this would not only kill Jeremy but also obliterate the entire Lost Realm instance. The copse of the instance would have severe repercussions on the surrounding real-world space, causing intense shockwaves. By doing this, the masterminds behind the apocalypse game would no longer have to worry about the threat posed by Jeremy and his allies.


    Jeremy gathered all his power, swiftly activating his King of Time and Space talent. A golden portal shimmered into existence before him.


    The other side of the portal actually led into a special space tied to the mortalbat weapon. Jeremy understood all too well that relying solely on his King of Time and Space talent and hismand of spatial powers would not be enough to stop the instance boss. To even have a chance at halting the enemy''s moves, he needed the strength of mortalbat as well.


    Jeremy''s efforts did indeed yield some results. The gravitational force from the instance boss''s ck hole transformation couldn''tpletely envelop the entire instance. However, this also ced Jeremy under far greater pressure than before. By using this unique space to seal off the instance boss''s power, Jeremy found himself trapped within this enclosed space as well.


    Jeremy''s sudden disappearance on the battlefield immediately rmed hispanions. ire and Emma exchanged worried looks, both visibly tense. Emma, her voice trembling, asked Bonnie and Ritchie, "Where''s Jeremy? Why did he suddenly disappear? Is he facing some terrible danger? Shouldn''t we be helping him now?"


    Emma''s nervousness was palpable, and although ire thought her questions were somewhat unnecessary, she couldn''t help feeling a hint of fear herself. Bonnie and Ritchie didn''t answer, but they shared the same anxious gaze, staring intently in the direction where Jeremy hadst been seen.


    After watching the spot for a moment, Ritchie abruptly stood up. "Stay here, and don''t act on your own! I''m going to scout the area where Jeremy wasst seen!" With that, he prepared to shift into a shadow and head toward Jeremy''sst location.


    But before Ritchie could make a move, Bonnie stopped him. "I think it''s too dangerous for you to go alone! I''ming with you. If we work together, we''ll have a better chance of seeding."


    Ritchie gave Bonnie a scrutinizing look. "You already used up most of your strength in thest fight. If we run into any trouble, you won''t have enough power left to escape."


    Ritchie didn''t want Bonnie toe along, concerned that her weakened state could put both of them at risk.


    In Ritchie''s view, he had the ability to shift into shadow and escape if things turned dangerous. But Bonnie didn''t have that advantage¡ªescaping wouldn''t be as easy for her. Yet Bonnie shook her head firmly.


    "Yes, I did expend a lot of my strength in the battle," she admitted. "But after a brief rest, I feel my energy has mostly recovered. I''m ready to join the fight again."


    Bonnie was determined to act alongside Ritchie. From her perspective, Jeremy was in serious trouble, and as his ally, she felt a responsibility to assist him. She couldn''t simply stand by while he faced such grave danger.


    Ritchie looked into her resolute eyes and realized he wouldn''t be able to change her mind. With a sigh, he conceded. "Alright, let''s go together. But let me be clear¡ªif we run into real trouble, I may not be able to help you. You''ll have to rely on your own abilities to escape."


    Bonnie nodded in acknowledgment. "Focus on your own safety. Even though my level may not be as high as yours, I can hold my own just as well." With that, she grasped her staff, summoning a glowing blue magic circle at her feet. The circle cast a frost spell around her, forming a thin barrier of cold air. This barrier wasn''t strong enough to fully withstand the instance boss''s powerful attacks, but it would provide Bonnie a moment of protection should they face an unexpected threat.


    Together, Ritchie and Bonnie headed toward the area where Jeremy hadst been seen. As they moved, Emma and ire felt the urgency to take action as well. ire turned to Emma with a look of determination.


    "We may not be the strongest, but we can still use our skills and talents to support them," ire said. "I''ll use my mental sensing talent to try locating Jeremy. Meanwhile, you can focus on using your healing abilities to support Ritchie and Bonnie. Even though they''ve mostly recovered, I doubt they''re entirely healed from their previous injuries."


    Emma listened to ire''s suggestion and nodded firmly in agreement, understanding that every bit of support could make a difference.


    "I think you''re absolutely right! Even though we aren''t that powerful, we have to help Jeremy when he''s in trouble!"


    And so, each of Jeremy''spanions set out to take what they believed were the most effective actions they could. Although none of them had overwhelming strength, and despite the risk of endangering themselves, they stepped up without hesitation. As Jeremy faced his peril, his allies threw themselves into helping him, proving their loyalty and determination.


    This collective decision ultimately gave Jeremy an immense boost. When Ritchie and Bonnie arrived in the area where Jeremy hadst been, they quickly sensed a unique space taking shape around them. In that instant, Ritchie immediately thought of the special abilities tied to the mortalbat weapon.


    "I''m pretty sure Jeremy activated the mortalbat''s skill. He''s likely sealed himself and the instance boss together inside that special space," Ritchie said, his tone one of conviction.


    Bonnie''s eyes widened in shock at his words. "Isn''t he being a bit too overconfident? Does he really think he can take down the instance boss in a one-on-one showdown?!"


    The audacity of Jeremy''s move stunned her. A one-on-one battle against such a formidable opponent was beyond reckless¡ªit was almost unfathomable. However, Ritchie, observing Bonnie''s reaction, gave a slight, knowing nod. He seemed to understand Jeremy''s mindset, that Jeremy would do whatever was necessary to eliminate the threat, no matter the cost.


    In Bonnie''s view, the instance boss was immensely powerful¡ªthere was no way Jeremy could defeat it alone. But Ritchie offered no reply. He knew Jeremy well enough to understand his intense self-confidence; Jeremy undoubtedly believed he could bring down the instance boss by himself.


    "Let''s set that aside for now! We need to focus on figuring out how we can support Jeremy in this fight!" Ritchie urged. "Ordinarily, no force can prate the special space created by the mortalbat skill. But maybe we can use our own resources. We have plenty of High-Dimensional Data storage units¡ªlet''s gather all the High-Dimensional Data around us and store it in those units. If we can deprive the instance boss of its High-Dimensional Data support, its power should weaken, at least to some degree. That could give Jeremy a better chance at victory."


    Ritchie''s n offered a glimmer of hope, and Bonnie, after a moment''s thought, reluctantly nodded. Although she wasn''t certain it would seed, this was the only idea they had to potentially help Jeremy in his struggle.


    "Then let''s get started! There''s no time to waste¡ªJeremy could already be in serious trouble by now!" Bonnie''s voice was tense but resolute, and they both knew that every second mattered.

 Chapter 345 The White Tower Refuses to Surrender

    Ritchie and Bonnie moved with impressive speed, cing every High-Dimensional Data Storage Device they carried around the perimeter of the special space generated by Jeremy''s mortalbat skill. After setting up their own devices, they even gathered the Data Storage Devices carried by ire and Emma. With so many devices clustered together, the High-Dimensional Data in the region around the instance boss was rapidly drained.


    The sudden disappearance of the High-Dimensional Data had a noticeable effect on the instance boss, who was locked in battle with Jeremy inside the special mortalbat space. Jeremy quickly realized that the instance boss''s spatial control powers were beginning to weaken.


    "So, you''re finally losing your edge!" Noticing this newfound vulnerability, Jeremyunched a relentless series of attacks, pressing the instance boss harder than ever. Under the force of Jeremy''s continued strikes, the instance boss''s form began to change rapidly. Initially, it had taken the shape of a massive ck hole, but under the sustained assault, it could no longer maintain this powerful form. Eventually, the instance boss reverted to its original worm-like shape, stripped of the strength it once possessed. In this weakened form, it could no longer even emit its usual white glow¡ªthe power of The Lost Realm''s instance boss had been significantly reduced.


    Seizing this opportunity, Jeremy decided to release the special mortalbat space. Although he hadn''tpletely destroyed the instance boss, he felt he had weakened it substantially, meeting the requirements of the mortalbat skill. With his King of Time and Space talent, he sessfully activated a portal and used it to eject the instance boss out of the special space.


    As soon as the instance boss left the special space, Jeremy deactivated it. Both he and the instance boss reappeared simultaneously before Ritchie and Bonnie, who were taken aback by their sudden arrival. The moment they saw the instance boss, they reacted instinctively, each pulling back as quickly as possible to put some distance between themselves and the creature.


    After reaching a safe distance, Ritchie and Bonnie paused to carefully observe the condition of both Jeremy and the instance boss. It didn''t take long for them to notice that the instance boss was in extremely poor shape. Its strength, which once seemed invincible, had been drained, leaving it a shadow of its former power.


    "Don''t just stand there! I need your help now! Let''s work together and finish off this instance boss!" Jeremy''s voice echoed urgently in the ears of Ritchie, Bonnie, Emma, and ire.


    Without hesitation, the four sprang into action. Ritchie quickly activated his shadow maniption skill, and to his surprise, he found that he could control the shadow of The Lost Realm instance boss. This was a feat he couldn''t have aplished before, as the boss''s strength had far exceeded his own.


    Bonnie raised her staff and unleashed what she believed to be her most powerful spell. Meanwhile, ire, with no time for further preparation, poured all her mental energy into a concentrated psychic assault on the instance boss. Although her mental impact couldn''t inflict significant damage, it was enough to disrupt and hinder the boss''s movements.


    Emma, however, hesitated the most, as she possessed no offensive skills. All she could do was use her healing abilities to support the others. Though Jeremy''spanionsunched their attacks immediately as he directed, they knew that their efforts alone couldn''t destroy the instance boss. Their attacks merely served to hold it back, preventing it from retaliating fully.


    The only one truly capable of finishing off the instance boss was Jeremy himself, armed with the mortalbat weapon. His gaze locked onto the creature, unwavering.


    "Even though you''re more powerful than any instance boss I''ve ever faced¡ªeven though you set countless traps for me in this instance¡ªyou still can''t defeat me! Not only can''t you defeat me, but even your master, one of the nners behind the apocalypse game, stands no chance against me!"


    With those words, Jeremy charged toward the instance boss, mortalbat weapon clenched tightly in his hand. This time, the instance boss had no way to evade. The weapon sliced cleanly through the worm-like form of the boss, splitting it in two.


    In the instant the instance boss was cut in half, the entire space of The Lost Realm instance began to tremble violently. Every region of the instance started copsing simultaneously, crumbling with incredible speed. The destruction spread in waves, erasing each section of the realm as it fell into ruin.


    Whether they were near the instance boss in The Lost Realm or on the far edges of the instance, Jeremy, hispanions, Liam, General Howard, and their subordinates could all feel the intense spatial shifts as the realm began to copse.


    "We need to head to the exit immediately! The instance boss has been defeated, and this ce is seconds away from copse. We can''t let ourselves get trapped in here!" Jeremy quickly assessed the situation.


    The moment Jeremy spoke, Ritchie, Bonnie, Emma, and ire sprang into action, following his lead as they rushed toward the instance''s exit. Although Liam and General Howard didn''t react as swiftly, their proximity to the exit gave them an advantage. By the time they registered what was happening, Jeremy and his team were already within their line of sight.


    Seeing Jeremy and the others confirmed their next move, and everyone began sprinting toward the exit at full speed. Thanks to Jeremy''s guidance, nearly everyone managed to escape just before the instance fully disintegrated. As the strongest among them, Jeremy naturally took on the responsibility of bringing up the rear, ensuring everyone else made it out safely.


    Just as thest person exited, the portal to the instance suddenly closed, leaving Jeremy trapped inside alone. Realizing he was now sealed within, Jeremy clenched his mortalbat weapon tightly.


    "Do you really think you''ve seeded?" The voice of The White Tower echoed in Jeremy''s mind.


    Hearing the voice, Jeremy''s expression rxed slightly, taking it as a sign that there were no longer any remaining threats within the instance that could challenge him. He loosened his grip on the mortalbat weapon and allowed a confident smile to spread across his face.


    "Oh, is that what you think? You believe I failed in my mission? The Lost Realm instance was supposed to be a carefully crafted trap, designed to ensnare me. But not only did I avoid falling into it, I turned it to my advantage, growing even stronger."


    Jeremy continued, his tone firm, "You may be able to reduce the experience and items I gained, but you can''t take away everything. You''re bound by the same apocalypse game rules. Even The Fool can''t randomly alter the rewards from an instance set by the apocalypse game."


    Jeremy''s words held a quiet defiance, knowing that no matter the powers of The White Tower, they remained constrained by the very game that had brought them all into this strange, perilous world.


    Jeremy spoke with a feeling of pure satisfaction. To him, it seemed he had finally dealt a significant blow to the masterminds of the apocalypse game. But soon, the voice of The White Tower echoed once more.


    "This so-called sess of yours is hardly a true victory. Even if you managed to escape this time, it doesn''t mean you or yourpanions are safe. I''ll be setting up even more difficult traps for you in the future! Sooner orter, your luck will run out! Enjoy what little good fortune you have left before you meet your inevitable end."


    The White Tower''s words, however,cked any real intimidation. Jeremy knew that, after the serious damage inflicted on the Tower of Exile, the White Tower''s influence on the real world had significantly weakened. For it to cause him further trouble, it would need the Tower of Exile to fully recover first.


    "No matter what you say, I''ve seeded in clearing The Lost Realm instance. And you, on the other hand, failed to protect the Tower of Exile. The difference in strength between us is clear. Your threats are meaningless because youck the power to defeat me. Why don''t you send your strongest deity from the apocalypse game nners to confront me directly? Maybe they would stand a chance against me!"


    Jeremy saw no need to hold back, and he taunted his adversary openly.


    "I just hope you''ll still be able to say the same when we meet again." With those parting words, the White Tower''s voice faded away.


    Almost at that exact moment, the exit of The Lost Realm instance reopened. As Jeremy looked out, he saw hispanions, along with Liam and General Howard, all watching in his direction with anxious expressions.


    Jeremy stepped out of The Lost Realm instance, shing a smile. "Why are you all looking at me like that? Did you think I''d be trapped in there? Or did you assume I was already dead?"


    Hearing Jeremy''s words, hispanions broke into relievedughter. General Howard stepped forward, meeting Jeremy with a look of gratitude.


    "The Lost Realm instance has been dealt withpletely! The city center of Moonlight City won''t be under any serious threat now. We owe this all to you. Without your help, there''s no way we could have managed this."


    In the face of the general''s gratitude, Jeremy responded calmly, "It was simply my duty. After all, I''m a part of Moonlight City, too!"

 Chapter 346 The Uncontested Distribution Plan

    After confirming that everyone had safely exited The Lost Realm instance, a sense of relief spread across the group. Faces previously tense with concentration now rxed.


    "Now that the instance boss is defeated and the entire instance haspletely copsed, there''s really no reason for us to linger here. Staying would only make us more conspicuous," Jeremy said with a smile, addressing Liam and Howard.


    Both Liam and Howard nodded in agreement. With that, the three parted ways, each taking their respective teams andpanions.


    Liam''s and Howard''s groups returned to their original locations, while Jeremy''spanions temporarily headed to Bonnie''s home. Since Bonnie''s residence was in the center of Moonlight City, reaching her ce wouldn''t take them much time.


    Once everyone had left, Jeremy finally had the chance to discuss the distribution of the loot with Liam and Howard. Although this action hadn''t involved defeating arge number of monsters, Jeremy had still taken down The Lost Realm''s instance boss, and the resulting rewards were impressive.


    Among the loot, aside from a few low-level skill books, the most attention-grabbing items were three high-tier treasures. Two were golden-level skill books, while the third was a powerful bow at level 55.


    Jeremyid out all the loot in front of them. "Here''s what we earned. So, how do you think we should distribute these?"


    He posed the question to Liam and Howard directly. The two exchanged a nce, feeling that their contributions in this action had been limited. They didn''t believe they deserved arge share of the rewards.


    Liam spoke up first, straightforward as ever. "I trust your judgment, Jeremy. You handle the distribution. I''m sure you''ll be fair."


    Howard nodded, expressing his agreement with Liam''s words. Since they''d already given him this confidence, Jeremy saw no need to be overly polite.


    He promptly pushed all the low-level skill books toward Liam and Howard. "These lower-level skill books aren''t particrly valuable to me, so they''re all yours. You can distribute them among your teams."


    Among the three high-level loot items left, I''ll allow the two of you to jointly select one. The remaining two should go to me since, after all, I contributed the most in this operation."


    Havingid out his terms, Jeremy awaited their responses.


    Liam and Howard didn''t hesitate in the slightest. They both responded immediately.


    "No problem at all! We both think your distribution n ispletely fair!"


    After briefly conferring with each other, Liam and Howard made their decision: they would take one of the golden-level skill books.


    "We''ll take the golden-level skill book as our share. The other golden-level skill book and the level 55 weapon are yours."


    After expressing their agreement, Liam and Howard collected their chosen loot and departed.


    Jeremy then gathered the remaining golden-level skill book and the level 55 bow. He didn''t intend to inspect the specific attributes of his new items right away. Instead, he nned to head over to Bonnie''s house, where all hispanions were gathered.


    At Bonnie''s house, everyone wasfortably seated in the living room, their expressions rxed. After all, they felt they had contributed to the operation in the instance.


    With a bright smile, ire spoke up.


    "I can''t wait for the next mission! At first, I thought entering an instance would be extremely dangerous, but this time, I didn''t run into anything overly perilous at all!"


    Emma quickly added,


    "I totally agree! It''s great to be able to keep moving forward with Jeremy. That way, we can level up faster, and who knows, we might catch up to Ritchie and Bonnie soon!"


    ire and Emma''s optimism was a bit na?ve. Hearing their words, Ritchie and Bonnie couldn''t help but exchange a knowing smile.


    Both of them understood that leveling up wasn''t so simple. The reason this operation had gone so smoothly was solely due to Jeremy''s careful strategy and handling of every challenge.


    They knew that Jeremy wouldn''t always be able to apany them on missions. There would inevitablye a time when he''d need to attend to more significant matters.


    Once Jeremy went off to handle other matters, they would have to rely on their own abilities to deal with the sudden challenges in any instance they encountered.


    "I think you two shouldn''t be so happy just yet! Of course, following Jeremy around means you won''t run into major dangers. But you can''t expect Jeremy to let you two tag along forever," Ritchie said, dampening ire and Emma''s excitement.


    Emma quickly replied, "We''re well aware of that, which is exactly why we want to level up as fast as we can! Soon, we''ll surpass you!"


    Ritchie could only smile and remain silent in response to Emma''s bold deration.


    "I see you''ve all finished your coffee. Would you like me to make another round?" Bonnie asked, smiling as she looked at ire and the others.


    Everyone shook their heads, declining the offer.


    At that moment, Bonnie''s gaze shifted to the window, where she saw Jeremy standing at the door. Without dy, Jeremy entered the living room.


    "It seems you''re all doing well. That eases my mind. The Lost Realm instance has been thoroughly dealt with, so Moonlight City won''t face any major threats for a while. We can take advantage of this period to clear out some of the lower-level instances in the city''s outskirts. You can join me, which should help you level up faster," Jeremy said, outlining his uing ns.


    Hearing this, everyone''s faces lit up with anticipation.


    "There''s no need to rush," Jeremy continued, "so tomorrow, you can all take the day off. Rest up, and we''ll meet at my ce tomorrow night to decide which instance to clear out next."


    With that, Jeremy intended for everyone to head back to their respective homes. However, Bonnie stopped him just as he was about to leave.


    "Did we not receive any loot after clearing out The Lost Realm instance?" she asked, capturing everyone''s attention.


    The rest of the group was equally curious to hear what sort of rewards they''d obtained from clearing the instance.


    Jeremy nodded calmly. "Of course, we obtained some loot. However, since we only defeated the instance boss, the lower-level loot we received wasn''t in particrlyrge quantity."


    "These low-level rewards were just basic skill books," Jeremy exined. "Liam and Howard have already taken them. As for the high-level loot, there were only three items: two golden-level skill books and a level 55 bow. Liam and Howard took one of the skill books, so the other two high-level items are here with me."


    After speaking, Jeremy ced the golden-level skill book and the level 55 bow on the table. Everyone''s attention immediately zeroed in on the bow.


    "Does this bow have any special skills? And what kind of talents does it best suit?" Ritchie asked, voicing the questions that had captured his curiosity.


    Jeremy shook his head. "I don''t know yet because I haven''t used the Eye of Omniscience skill to check its attributes. Right now, I''m not in good shape and can''t use the Eye of Omniscience skill directly."


    As he spoke, a hint of frustration crept into his expression. His condition indeed wasn''t the best. Although he had sessfully defeated The Lost Realm''s instance boss, his talent, the King of Time and Space, had been suppressed during the battle. Jeremy felt his spatial awareness had dulled, and he was fighting off a nagging, intermittent headache.


    Hearing Jeremy''s answer, everyone chose not to press further. Bonnie spoke up directly.


    "In that case, you should go home and get some rest! Once you''ve recovered, you''ll be able to use the Eye of Omniscience to inspect the bow."


    Bonnie had no desire for the bow Jeremy held. In her view, it was rightfully his¡ªhe had almost single-handedly defeated the instance boss, while the others'' contributions had been minimal.


    The rest of the group shared Bonnie''s sentiments. Ritchie hadn''t been after the bow either; his questions were simply out of curiosity.


    With that, everyone headed back to their homes. After returning, Jeremy casually ced the golden-level skill book and the level 55 bow on his nightstand. His energypletely drained, he could barely keep himself upright. He staggered over to his bed, and despite his intention to stay awake, a powerful wave of exhaustion overcame him. Try as he might to fight it, his eyes closed.


    During the battle, he had poured every ounce of strength and focus he had into the fight. Now, his body demanded rest.

 Chapter 347 Surpassing Bow

    Jeremy didn''t wake up until 10:00 the next morning.


    As soon as he stirred, his first instinct was to check the precious items he''d left on his bedside table: the golden-tier skill book and his Level 55 bow. These were valuable treasures, after all.


    Seeing them still lying there, untouched, Jeremy breathed a sigh of relief. After a full night''s rest, he felt somewhat restored, though a faint headache lingered, as if a distant reminder of his previous exertions. He gave his head a slight shake, hoping to chase away the dull ache, but it didn''t quite do the trick. Resigned, he took a deep breath, choosing to ignore the difort.


    "Even though the headache''s hanging on, I can finally use the skill The Eye of Omniscience. It''s time to check out these precious finds."


    Jeremy picked up the golden-tier skill book first, scrutinizing it carefully. The power promised by this golden-tier skill was immense, though he felt it might not align perfectly with hisbat style.


    [Name: Frost Cage]


    [Type: Golden-tier Skill Book]


    [Skill Description: Upon using this skill book, the user gains the Frost Cage ability, a formidable ice magic skill. When activated, it creates an intensely cold space where everything within is slowed considerably. After a set duration, the slow effect weakens, but any targets within the cage still suffer damage based on a percentage of their maximum health. The duration of the slow effect and the damage dealt depends on the user''s level and talent.]


    This skill seemed like a perfect fit for Bonnie. Jeremy resolved to keep the skill book for her use.


    After inspecting the skill book, Jeremy turned his attention to the Level 55 bow.


    "Please, let this be the weapon I''ve been waiting for," he thought, fingers crossed. "My Mortal Combat bow has served me well, but it doesn''t quite feel like an extension of my own hands. I need something that really suits me."


    With a silent prayer, he activated The Eye of Omniscience on the Level 55 bow, eager to uncover what secrets it held.


    [Name: Surpassing Bow]


    [Type: Weapon]


    [Level: 55]


    [Skills: 1. Guaranteed Hit. 2. Soul-Seeking Retribution.]


    [Skill Description:


    Guaranteed Hit. With the Surpassing Bow, the user can target any chosen enemy by directing the bow at them before attacking. Once a target is locked, the user''s attacks will unfailingly strike the chosen target for a set period. No skill of invisibility, substitution, or concealment can evade this attack. Furthermore, the damage inflicted by the user''s attacks is significantly amplified.


    Soul-Seeking Retribution. This skill allows the user to exchange a part of their soul for unparalleled power. By sacrificing their soul, the user can activate Soul-Seeking Retribution, unleashing devastating damage upon an enemy. If the targetcks divinity, it will be killed outright. If the target possesses divinity, the user will steal this divine essence.]


    [Special Skill: Causality Transcendence.]


    [Skill Description: Causality Transcendence allows the user to temporarily override the effects of fate. When facing enemies with destiny-altering skills, this ability nullifies any such powers of fate they may wield.]


    After reading through the Surpassing Bow''s detailed description, Jeremy found himself at a loss for words. The skills on this bow were undoubtedly powerful, but the cost of Soul-Seeking Retribution was extraordinarily high. He wasn''t exactly eager to tear apart his own soul during a battle.


    While Jeremy was aware that divine power could potentially mend soul damage, the agony of such a sacrifice would be intense. Just the thought made him shudder.


    As for the bow''s unique ability, Causality Transcendence, Jeremy wasn''t entirely sure what to make of it. He had yet to encounter enemies wielding destiny-based skills. In the context of the Apocalypse Game and its lore, figures like The Sun, The White Tower, The Hanged Man, and The Magician didn''t seem to possess fate-rted powers.


    [The Fool] appeared to possess skills rted to fate, but in previous battles, The Fool had never showcased any abilities associated with destiny.


    "Regardless, the Surpassing Bow is a powerful weapon for me," Jeremy thought.


    After examining every detail of the Surpassing Bow, Jeremy began to familiarize himself with its weight and feel, practicing to make it an extension of his own body. By the time he feltfortable with the weapon, it was already 3:00 PM. Deciding he couldn''t wait any longer, Jeremy picked up the phone and called Bonnie.


    "Are you free right now? If you are, I''d like you toe over a little earlier. I have something very important I want to discuss with you," Jeremy said.


    "I''m free! I''ll be there as soon as I can!" Bonnie replied enthusiastically.


    True to her word, she arrived at Jeremy''s house within half an hour. As soon as she stepped in, Jeremy ced the golden-tier skill book in front of her.


    "Frost Cage is much better suited for you. Once you learn it, you''ll be able to contribute even more in our uing battles," Jeremy said calmly, watching her reaction.


    Bonnie looked at the golden-tier skill book in shock. She had never expected Jeremy would gift her such a valuable item. Golden-tier skill books were rare and treasured by everyone, nearly impossible to obtain. Even figures like General Howard and Liam would think twice before giving away a golden-tier skill book so casually.


    Her eyes filled with emotion, and tears began to well up as she processed the depth of his gesture.


    Seeing her reaction, Jeremy was momentarily surprised. "What''s wrong? You seem upset. Don''t you like the skill book? Unfortunately, I don''t have any other skill books to give you right now."


    "No, I absolutely love it! Frost Cage is an incredibly valuable skill for me!" Bonnie responded quickly, wiping her eyes. "I promise I''ll put this skill to great use in our uing battles. I won''t be a burden to you, and I won''t let you down."


    As she spoke, her voice was filled with determination. Jeremy couldn''t quite understand the depth of her reaction but was d to see her resolve.


    As far as he was concerned, as long as she could support him in the battles toe, there was nothing more to worry about.


    "You can take the next few hours to familiarize yourself with the Frost Cage skill. After all, I arranged for everyone to meet here by evening," Jeremy said.


    With that, he headed straight to his backyard, nning to practice with the Surpassing Bow there. Bonnie, seeing his actions, followed him outside. The two of them spent the time honing their newfound skills and bing ustomed to their new gear.


    That evening, Ritchie, ire, and Emma arrived at Jeremy''s house. Jeremy immediately briefed them on the details of the Surpassing Bow and Frost Cage. Upon hearing that Bonnie had acquired the Frost Cage skill, Ritchie and the others couldn''t hide a hint of envy on their faces.


    "I''d love to get my hands on a golden-tier skill book too! Jeremy, any chance you can give me one?" Ritchie asked directly.


    Jeremy chuckled and gave Ritchie a light pat on the shoulder. "If I find a skill book that''s a good fit for you, I''ll definitely pass it along. But I think you should focus on strengthening yourself. Relying on others won''t get you as far as relying on your own power."


    Ritchie nodded, understanding Jeremy''s point. Although he was envious of Bonnie, he knew that Frost Cage wouldn''t be very useful for him anyway. ire and Emma shared simr feelings, though their disappointment seemed a bit more pronounced. During the following discussion, both ire and Emma stayed silent, well aware they were the least skilled among the group.


    As the discussion continued, Ritchie and Bonnie each voiced their opinions on what to do next. Ritchie suggested they head to the nearest instance, as it posed the most immediate threat to their location. Bonnie, however, argued they should aim for the most challenging instance avable, believing that only the highest difficulty would elerate their level progression.


    The debate quickly grew heated, with neither willing to back down. Jeremy observed their disagreement but chose not to intervene right away. He, too, was uncertain of the best course of action.


    After pondering for a while, Jeremy finally spoke up. "You both make valid points. But right now, none of us are at our peak. We shouldn''t rush into the toughest instance just yet. Let''s start with the closest one. We can use it as a warm-up to regain our rhythm before moving on to harder challenges."

 Chapter 348 Dark Swamp

    After Jeremy expressed his thoughts, Bonnie and Ritchie stopped arguing. Everyone understood that they needed to follow Jeremy''s lead. Only he could make precise judgments in their current situation.


    Seeing that no one intended to object, Jeremy pulled out a map. This map was given to him by General Howard, and it showed the approximate locations of all known instances surrounding Moonlight City. The nearest instance to where they were was named Dark Swamp.


    ording to the intel on the map, Dark Swamp was not particrly high in difficulty¡ªit was only rated at level 50. Jeremy himself was already approaching level 60, and with his newly acquired weapon, the Surpassing Bow, he felt that clearing the Dark Swamp instance would be a rtively easy task.


    "Dark Swamp is only about six kilometers from here. So tonight, let''s stay at my ce. Tomorrow morning, we''ll head directly to the area around the instance. Based on General Howard''s information, there''s been no unusual activity around Dark Swamp. The monsters within it haven''t crossed into the real world, meaning the instance itself shouldn''t be too challenging."


    "You all can use this opportunity to level up in the Dark Swamp instance," Jeremy continued. "I''ll make sure you get that chance. When facing weaker monsters, I won''t step in myself."


    Jeremy''s words caused a shift in everyone''s expressions. Ritchie hesitated slightly before speaking. "Won''t this approach slow us down? Even though Dark Swamp isn''t that high in level, shouldn''t we aim to clear it within a day?"


    Jeremy nodded in agreement. "You''re right. Throughout our actions, I''ll monitor the instance''s overall situation. If our progress gets too slow, I''ll definitely step in to help."


    Reassured by Jeremy''s response, Ritchie felt satisfied and had no further concerns. ire and Emma, for their part, had decided to follow Jeremy''s instructionspletely, so they, too, had no questions to ask.


    After a brief moment of thought, Bonnie turned to Jeremy and asked directly, "Do the monsters in the Dark Swamp instance have any unique traits? Judging by the name, I assume the monsters there are likely rted to dark powers. Which nner in the Apocalypse Game oversees these dark powers?"


    Bonnie had a deeper understanding of the Apocalypse Game. She knew very well that each kind of power in the game belonged to a specific nner. Though she hadn''t faced multiple nners like Jeremy, she once encountered the remnants of the [Sun], who was fallen and seeking revival. Bonnie understood that if a nner were still alive, the power they wielded would be rtively strong. For this reason, she hoped that the nner managing the dark powers was already deceased.


    After hearing Bonnie''s question, Jeremy answered straightforwardly. "The dark powers belong to [The Hanged Man]. You probably haven''t encountered him; I have. Although he opposes us, he doesn''t seem intent on eliminating us quickly."


    As Jeremy spoke, Ritchie recalled their previous encounters in the Tower of Exile. In that tower, both Jeremy and Ritchie had crossed paths with [The Hanged Man]. Back then, [The Hanged Man] hadn''t attacked them but had instead offered help.


    "So you''re saying that the monsters in the Dark Swamp instance might not attack us?" Ritchie interrupted the conversation with a slightly brash tone, directing his question to Jeremy.


    Jeremy shook his head. "That''s certainly not the case! However, I''m fairly certain that [The Hanged Man] won''t align with the remaining forces of [The White Tower] or [The Sun]. We likely won''t encounter extremely powerful monsters in the Dark Swamp instance."


    Jeremy''s reasoning was quite sound. Hearing his exnation, both Ritchie and Bonnie felt reassured.


    "I have no further questions. Let''s proceed with Jeremy''s n!" Bonnie said, ready to leave. She hoped to use the remaining time to get familiar with her newly acquired golden-tier skill.


    "If no one else has questions, then you should all get some rest. Keeping your energy up is the best way to ensure you perform well during tomorrow''s mission," Jeremy advised.


    After saying this, Jeremy directed everyone to their guest rooms for the night, while he returned to his own bedroom to rest.


    The next morning, before dawn had broken, Bonnie was already awake. She nced at the time and muttered to herself, "It''s only 5:00 a.m.? Am I feeling too much pressure? Is that why I woke up this early?"


    Though Bonnie didn''t consider the Dark Swamp instance particrly dangerous, a subtle sense of nervousness lingered within her. After adjusting her focus for a moment, she headed to Jeremy''s backyard to practice her frost cage skill.


    As she practiced, she was suddenly interrupted by Jeremy''s voice behind her. "We''re about to tackle the Dark Swamp instance today. Do you really think it''s wise to expend your energy right before heading out?"


    Jeremy didn''t agree with Bonnie''s approach. In his view, they would soon be entering the Dark Swamp instance. While it wasn''t expected to be highly challenging, maintaining full strength was essential to handle any unexpected events that could arise.


    Bonnie smiled in response to Jeremy''s concern. "I feel I''ve still got plenty of energy. I actually rested a lot yesterday, so I just need to warm up to ensure I''m at my best in the Dark Swamp instance."


    Even though Bonnie tried to make her smile look as natural as possible, Jeremy could sense that something seemed slightly off about her demeanor. He walked closer to her and asked in a gentle, caring tone, "Is there something weighing on your mind? If there''s anything you''re worried about, you can talk to me. I''m here to help, you know."


    Hearing his words, Bonnie''s expression grew a bit moreplex. She indeed felt quite tense, but even she couldn''t pinpoint the exact reason behind her anxiety. After a brief moment of hesitation, she finally sighed and replied, "Honestly, I don''t have anything specific I''m worried about, and I don''t need any help. I think I''m in decent shape."


    Since Bonnie insisted that she was fine, Jeremy realized there was no need to press the matter further.


    Jeremy nodded slightly and said to Bonnie,


    "That''s great! If you''ve got everything ready, head to the living room as soon as you can! Everyone else is already up and sorting out their gear and equipment."


    With that, Jeremy turned and walked back to the living room.


    Bonnie took a moment to collect herself and then followed Jeremy to join the others. Inside the living room, the three of them had already finished organizing their gear and equipment.


    Feeling a bit embarrassed, Bonnie lowered her head slightly and said to the others, "I''m really sorry. I should have organized my stuff earlier."


    ire and Emma remained silent, while Ritchie was absorbed in examining a ring on his finger.


    The ring Ritchie wore was the weapon Jeremy had entrusted to him¡ªa tool designed to seal shadows. However, during their battle in The Lost Realm instance, the ring had experienced some issues. Ritchie couldn''t be certain if it could still serve its purpose as effectively as before.


    He realized he needed to study it carefully before they entered the Dark Swamp instance to ensure it would function as needed.


    Without anyone acknowledging Bonnie''s apology, she quickly finished organizing her gear and equipment.


    "Now that everyone''s ready, let''s head out! We need toplete the Dark Swamp instance by sundown today!"


    With thatmand, Jeremy led the group as they set off.


    They reached the area surrounding the Dark Swamp instance entrance in less than half an hour. Upon arrival, they noticed numerous unusual urrences.


    It seemed that a powerful force had enveloped the entire area around the instance''s entrance.


    Jeremy was deeply puzzled, as he hadn''t detected this anomaly before. After all, Jeremy possessed the King of Time and Space talent, and he lived fairly close to this location.


    "What should we do next? The current situation ispletely different from the intel we gathered. Are we really going to enter the instance without knowing what''s going on?" Ritchie asked, sounding a bit hesitant.


    Jeremy thought for a moment before responding,


    "Although things seem a bit off, I think we should still go ahead and enter the instance."

 Chapter 349 A Flawed Defense Plan

    While Jeremy and hispanions lingered around the outskirts of the Dark Swamp instance, debating their next move, General Howard, along with Liam and Benjamin, were in the city council''s meeting room, discussing the defense strategy for Moonlight City.


    Howard had just presented a detailed defense n to Benjamin,ying it out in full for review. After reading through the n, Benjamin''s expression grew increasingly grim. As the mayor of Moonlight City, he could see that Howard''s proposed defense n was riddled with critical ws.


    "Is this seriously the defense n you''re offering me?" Benjamin demanded, his tone cold and critical. "Do you think this n has any chance of sess? Sure, we managed to clear out the most dangerous instances along the city''s outer edge, but there are still numerous high-threat instances around Moonlight City. Without a wless defense strategy, the city could be thrown into a serious crisis. You need to take this more seriously! You can''t just hand me a n with so many ring weaknesses."


    With these words, Benjamin stood up abruptly, his frustration palpable. He red at Howard, his eyes filled with a fierce intensity, as though trying to make the general understand just how uneptable this was.


    Liam, observing the exchange, chose to remain silent. He, too, believed the n had numerous vulnerabilities. However, he was aware of certain internal challenges. Liam knew well that General Howard had, in fact, done his best. The upper echelons of the federation and military headquarters had already pulled away most of Howard''s elite forces, leaving him significantly undermanned. In this situation, how could the general possibly craft a perfect defense n?


    Though Liam sympathized with Howard''s predicament, he didn''t intend to speak up in his defense. To Liam, these were issues Howard needed to address himself.


    Facing Benjamin''s outrage, General Howard responded calmly, his tone measured.


    "This is already the best n I can offer. The forces at mymand are much fewer than before. I simply don''t have the resources toe up with a better defense strategy."


    Howard''sposed demeanor and matter-of-fact tone only served to deepen Benjamin''s frustration.


    "Can''t you convince military headquarters to bring back the forces they pulled from here? The situation in the capital has improved a lot, hasn''t it? Why are they still redeploying elite troops over there?" Benjamin yelled at Howard, his frustration bursting into anger.


    Howard let out a bitter chuckle at Benjamin''s words.


    "I wish headquarters would return the forces they took from me, but they won''t. The elite troops reassigned from Moonlight City are intended to remain in the capital indefinitely. As for the state of the capital you mentioned, I don''t know much beyond what little I gather from the reports headquarters sends. From their perspective, the situation in the capital hasn''t stabilized as much as you might think. They''re even considering moving additional forces to strengthen the area."


    As he finished, a hint of regret crossed Howard''s face. Deep down, he believed the military headquarters was overreacting, but he also understood their reasons. The security of the capital remained their top priority. Even though conditions had improved, headquarters was stillpelled to send reinforcements. Should any serious incidents arise in the capital, the generals would face severe bacsh from the federation''s leadership, who might go as far as to remove them entirely.


    Benjamin''s face softened as he listened to Howard''s exnation, his initial anger fading. He slowly sank back into his chair, gathering his thoughts. After a moment of silence, he turned his gaze to Liam.


    "General Howard doesn''t seem to be able to offer us any further support. Don''t you have anything to add, Liam? After all, you are the director of the Special Situations Bureau."


    Clearing his throat, Liam began to speak in a calm tone,


    "The Special Situations Bureau does have some operational resources. We can help to strengthen General Howard''s defense n, but we won''t be able to patch every single gap. That''s why I believe we should concentrate all avable defenses around the core structures of the city¡ªces like the city hall, and our own headquarters at the Special Situations Bureau. As long as we ensure the safety of these key buildings, Moonlight City can continue to hold out a bit longer. As for the civilians¡­ unfortunately, there''s not much more we can do for them."


    "Perhaps we could gather the civilians together and have them relocate to the city center. After all, there are still some civilians living out in the suburbs. We simply don''t have the resources to ensure their safety anymore," Liam suggested.


    His proposal was, in fact, quite practical. However, Benjamin found himself hesitating. Moonlight City wasn''t an ordinary ce. Its industrial district was one of thergest in the federation, and abandoning it would lead to a significant drop in weapon production¡ªa loss that would rapidly weaken the military''s strength.


    Moreover, several vital research facilities were located in the city''s outskirts. The equipment and resources in those institutions couldn''t be relocated easily. If they abandoned the industrial district and research facilities, Moonlight City would lose all strategic value in the eyes of the federation''s leadership.


    It was worth noting that General Howard, a highly regarded figure within military headquarters, wouldn''t have been stationed in an unimportant city. If the federation deemed Moonlight City to be without value, there was a high chance that Howard would be reassigned. Consequently, the resources Moonlight City could expect in the future would dwindle.


    After a moment of contemtion, Benjamin slowly shook his head.


    "I won''t approve this n, Liam. It sacrifices far too much," he said firmly.


    Liam wasn''t surprised by Benjamin''s response. Nodding in acknowledgment, he replied,


    "You''re absolutely right. This n does call for abandoning several critical assets. However, it''s the only solution I coulde up with."


    Following Liam''s words, the meeting room fell into silence once again. After a lengthy pause, Liam''s mind suddenly turned to Jeremy.


    "While we might not have any ideal solutions left, perhaps Jeremy could offer us some assistance. His actions in the past have proven his strength. On his own, he''s nearly as effective as an elite unit."


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s name, both Benjamin and Howard''s expressions shifted slightly. They knew well how formidable Jeremy was; his help would undoubtedly make a significant difference. But the key issue was what they could offer Jeremy in return.


    After all, Jeremy already had some of the rarest and most powerful weapons at his disposal.


    Neither General Howard nor Benjamin had any means of providing Jeremy with weapons more rare than those he already possessed. In truth, Jeremy didn''t seem to need any other assistance from them.


    After a moment of reflection, Howard spoke up slowly.


    "Of course, Jeremy is willing to help us. But we need to offer him some form ofpensation in return! We can''t keep expecting him to contribute without giving him something in exchange."


    Benjamin nodded in agreement.


    Understanding their sentiments, Liam shared his own thoughts.


    "I understand what you both are suggesting. I believe we do have something to offer Jeremy that he might find hard to refuse. While Jeremy''s own strength is formidable and likely beyond needing our aid, hispanions aren''t quite at his level yet. Jeremy often works solo on missions, and during those times, hispanions would certainly benefit from our support.


    "We can assure Jeremy that we''ll guarantee hispanions'' safety. Furthermore, when needed, we could supply them with rare equipment we acquire. We could also share our intelligence with him. I''d imagine that the intel we collect surpasses what he has ess to, especially concerning real-world information. In the real world, we surely have moreprehensive sources than Jeremy does."


    Liam delivered his proposal in a single breath. It was clear that he had been refining this idea in his mind for some time. Upon hearing Liam''s n, both Benjamin and Howard felt that it was indeed a feasible way to secure Jeremy''s cooperation.


    With a smile, Benjamin said to Liam,


    "Since you came up with this proposal, you''re the one best suited to persuade Jeremy. I''m confident you''ll seed."


    Liam nodded confidently.


    "Absolutely. However, as far as I know, Jeremy and hispanions are currently engaged in the Dark Swamp instance. I''ll approach him once they''ve finished there. I promise I''ll convince Jeremy, and if I fail, I''ll resign as Director of the Special Situations Bureau."


    Liam''s words took both Benjamin and Howard by surprise. They hadn''t expected Liam to stake his career on this negotiation.


    "We believe you''ll seed, Liam! Even if, in the end, things don''t go as nned, we won''t hold you responsible," Benjamin assured him, his tone gentle and reassuring. "We know that you''ll have given it everything you''ve got."


    Benjamin''s words were intentionally calming, as he didn''t want to add undue pressure on Liam. He knew that the more pressure Liam felt, the lower the chances of him achieving sess. Benjamin understood that approaching Jeremy required a clear mind and confidence, not the weight of unnecessary expectations.

 Chapter 350 Even a Low-Difficulty Instance Can Be Dangerous

    Inside the Dark Swamp Instance, Jeremy and his team proceeded cautiously, aware of the lurking dangers. Even outside, they had sensed that this seemingly simple instance would be harder to clear than it appeared on the surface. So, upon entering, everyone felt a bit on edge, their senses heightened.


    However, after a few moments, the team began to rx. The first wave of monsters they encountered turned out to be rtively weak. These creatures were only around level 40, which meant that Bonnie and Ritchie alone could handle them easily.


    "You two will take the lead in clearing these monsters. Emma and ire, you''ll assist them. This way, all four of you can gain some experience points from the fight," Jeremy directed, quickly setting a n in motion.


    For Jeremy, eliminating level-40 monsters didn''t yield much experience anymore, as he had already reached level 59. With just one level to go before hitting 60, he now needed to defeat monsters above level 58 to gain any significant experience.


    However, for Ritchie and Bonnie, who were approaching level 50, fighting level-40 monsters could still provide them with considerable experience points. Emma and ire, though not taking on a major role inbat, were also rtively low-level, only just over level 30, so any experience was helpful.


    After about an hour of fighting, Jeremy''s team finally reached the instance''s central area. At that moment, Ritchie, grinning with excitement, turned to Jeremy and said, "I''ve reached level 49! I''ll be at level 50 soon! If all goes well, I might even be ready for my Awakening Instance in a week!"


    As Ritchie spoke, each member''s face reflected different emotions. Jeremy, however, was clearly pleased. Smiling, he responded to Ritchie, "Your progress is indeed impressive. I think you''ll be able to start preparing for your Awakening Instance in a week! But remember, once you reach level 50, you''ll still need to make some preparations before entering the Awakening Instance."


    Jeremy''s tone was warm and encouraging, his praise well-earned by Ritchie''s rapid advancement.


    After hearing Jeremy''s encouraging words, Ritchie''s face lit up with a bright smile. Emma and ire also smiled warmly; though they were not high-level yers themselves, they were genuinely happy for Ritchie''s sess. After all, he was a close friend with whom they had fought side by side for a long time.


    Bonnie, too, managed a smile, but hers was a bit less natural. She had always believed she''d be the next, after Jeremy, to reach the Awakening Instance. She hadn''t expected Ritchie to catch up and surpass her so quickly. Still, despite the varied emotions within the team, they pressed forward in the Dark Swamp Instance.


    In the mid-level area of the instance, Bonnie took on the role of the primary damage dealer, determined to push her level closer to Ritchie''s. Her unusually intense focus did not go unnoticed by the others.


    Jeremy, smiling, turned to Bonnie and said, "There''s no need to rush. Sure, Ritchie''s level may be a bit higher than yours right now, but that doesn''t mean he''ll necessarilyplete his Awakening Instance before you. Awakening Instances are extremely challenging. Personally, I doubt he''ll be able to clear it in a single attempt. You, on the other hand¡ªyour intelligence might give you an edge. I think you''re smart enough to make it through on your first try."


    Before Jeremy could finish his yful remark, Ritchie, slightly indignant, responded, "Hey, if you''re trying to reassure her, just do it! Why drag me into it? I''m pretty confident I can clear the Awakening Instance on my first try! As long as I''m fully prepared, failure won''t be an option!"


    Ritchie''s words, though defiant, were delivered with a hint of humor, and everyone could tell he was joking. The group burst intoughter, and even Bonnie''s smile softened into something genuine.


    Seeing the lightened mood, Jeremy said with a grin, "Alright, since you''re so confident, why don''t you take the lead from here?"


    Ritchie nodded, stepping forward to guide the team.


    In the mid-level region of the Dark Swamp Instance, they encountered some higher-level monsters. However, even these stronger foes posed no real threat to Jeremy and his team, who moved forward with renewed energy and camaraderie.


    Ritchie and Bonnie managed to dispatch the monsters with ease. After traversing through the mid-level region of the instance, they finally reached its deepest point. Here, they needed to prepare for the impending boss battle of the Dark Swamp Instance.


    As they stepped into the darkest depths, Jeremy immediately sensed something amiss. The atmosphere around them felt drastically altered. He could almost feel a shift in the very fabric of space surrounding them.


    "Hold up!" Jeremymanded in a grave tone. "Don''t move forward recklessly. Something has changed in the space around us! I think we''re on the brink of facing something extremely dangerous."


    Hearing his words, everyone looked at him with puzzled expressions. Ritchie hesitated, then voiced his doubt. "But¡­ this is supposed to be a low-level instance. How could it contain something so dangerous? The monsters we encountered earlier were all incredibly weak. Maybe you''re just being overly cautious?"


    Though Bonnie remained silent, her expression revealed that she shared Ritchie''s skepticism.


    Jeremy sighed deeply. "Even a low-level instance can harbor significant danger. When we''re navigating an instance, we must stay vignt at all times. Haven''t any of you noticed that your very souls feel like they''re being infiltrated by some strange force? Haven''t you noticed that your voices sound different than before? And haven''t you noticed that your movements are unnaturally slow?"


    Jeremy''s pointed questions brought an abrupt awareness to everyone. Ritchie suddenly realized that his movement had slowed to a crawl, as though the air around him had thickened into a viscous substance, hindering every step he tried to take. It didn''t matter how much effort he exerted¡ªthis sticky atmosphere was actively resisting his every move.


    Bonnie, too, noticed that her speech had slowed, as if her very thoughts and voice were being restrained. It was undeniable now¡ªsomething had taken hold of them, restricting their abilities.


    "What¡­ what''s happening to us? Why do I feel like I can''t even move forward?" ire''s voice quivered with panic, her fear evident.


    Emma, too, was now entirely immobilized, unable to take any action.


    The whole group had fallen under the influence of a mysterious force, one that bound them and suppressed their movements.


    Jeremy didn''t answer ire''s question. His gaze had already shifted toward the depths of the instance.


    At that moment, a twisted and grotesque creature was slowly crawling out of the abyss within the instance''s core. It was a nightmarish entity, like a mass of seaweed twisted and entangled into a form beyond description, an eldritch horror that defied logic.


    "We''re about to face the Dark Swamp Instance Boss!" Jeremy announced gravely. "Although this boss isn''t overwhelmingly powerful, it does possess a unique skill."


    With the help of The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy quickly assessed the boss''s details. The Dark Swamp Instance Boss was only level 57¡ªa level below Jeremy''s. Under normal circumstances, this would mean Jeremy could take it down quickly. However, the boss''s special ability could solidify the surrounding space, meaning that duringbat, everyone''s movements would be incredibly slow.


    Once he briefed the team about the uing battle, Jeremy immediatelyunched his attack on the instance boss. Drawing on his newly acquired weapon, the Surpassing Bow, he was able to counteract the boss''s ability and restore his movement speed to normal.


    With Jeremy''s speed unhindered, the level-57 instance boss stood little chance. In less than fifteen minutes, Jeremy vanquished it entirely.


    Yet, the defeat of the instance boss only lifted the immediate threat. As the boss fell, the Dark Swamp Instance itself began to crumble around them, setting off a chain reaction of copse. Now, the team faced an even greater challenge¡ªthey had to escape the instance before it fully disintegrated.


    With the Surpassing Bow, Jeremy could maintain high-speed movement, but his teammates weren''t so fortunate. Neither Ritchie nor Bonnie could break free from the sluggishness affecting them, and Emma and ire were even more encumbered.


    Jeremy assessed the rate at which the Dark Swamp Instance was copsing and realized there was no way to ensure everyone''s safety through conventional means. Making a quick decision, he drew out his Mortal Combat artifact, using its unique spatial ability to enclose all his teammates within its protected space.


    "You''ll all need to stay in there for now! Once I get us out of the Dark Swamp Instance, I''ll release everyone," he reassured them.


    With those words, Jeremy took off, sprinting toward the instance''s exit at top speed, his every move fueled by the urgency to escape before the instancepletely copsed.

 Chapter 351 Learning from Mistakes and Strengthening Power

    Jeremy barely managed to escape from the Dark Swamp Instance just as it was about to copsepletely. Standing by the entrance, he looked back at the instance as it finally shattered into oblivion. Around the entrance, several pieces of loot slowly materialized, remnants of their efforts.


    Since the Dark Swamp Instance wasn''t a high-difficulty instance, the rewards were modest at best. Most of the loot consisted of silver-grade skill books, with only two weapons in the mix. Even those weapons were below level 35, making them rtively weak by Jeremy''s standards. Upon seeing the rewards, Jeremy shook his head in mild disappointment.


    "It seems that instances at this level don''t offer much value for me beyond helping my teammates level up and hone theirbat skills," he murmured to himself.


    With a sigh, Jeremy took out Mortal Combat and released his teammates from its special spatial confinement. As Ritchie and Bonnie stepped out, both wore slightly disgruntled expressions.


    Without hesitation, Ritchie voiced hisint, "Can you please avoid locking me up in Mortal Combat''s special space next time? Even though you didn''t activate itsbat skill, we were still forced to keep fighting in that confined space. We survived, but the process was excruciatingly painful!"


    Ritchie''s tone wasced with frustration. However, he wasn''t the one who had suffered the most. That title belonged to Bonnie. Inside Mortal Combat''s space, there was an additional rule: when more than two people are present, the artifact automatically pairs individuals with simr strength levels into groups of two, pitting them against each other.


    Since Ritchie and Bonnie had simr power levels, they had been forced to battle one another in that confined space. Emma and ire, likewise matched by their rtively close skill levels, also ended up fighting each other. Emma and ire, however, didn''t appear as upset. Their fight hadn''t been nearly as intense, as neither was particrlybat-focused in the Apocalypse Game. Both of them possessed mainly support talents and abilities.


    Bonnie, on the other hand, had endured a far more grueling experience. Fighting Ritchie in that enclosed, hostile space had been a test of both her skill and resilience. While Ritchie''s words were filled with irritation, Bonnie''s silence spoke volumes about her own struggle in the special space.


    Seeing their reactions, Jeremy nodded understandingly. "I know it wasn''t pleasant, and I didn''t make that decision lightly. But given the situation, it was the only way I could get everyone out of the instance safely. This experience should serve as a lesson: even seemingly low-level instances can turn out to be unexpectedly perilous. We''ll need to focus on building your strength so that you won''t be caught off guard again in such situations."


    Though Jeremy''s words were pragmatic, they carried an undeniable sincerity. He wasmitted to ensuring that his teammates would be better prepared for the dangers ahead, knowing well that each of them would need to continue growing if they wanted to survive in the Apocalypse Game.


    Only Bonnie and Ritchie possessed offensive skills, and because Ritchie was the stronger of the two, Bonnie had taken a much heavier toll in the fight, sustaining more serious injuries.


    Jeremy ignored Ritchie''sints and quickly moved to Bonnie''s side. "Are you alright? You look like you''re in pretty rough shape! Let me take you home. You should really rest for at least a week."


    It was evident that Jeremy was particrly concerned about Bonnie. This was partly because he felt he shared a special bond with her, and partly because she was the only one who had sustained significant injuries. Bonnie shook her head, her face pale.


    "The injuries aren''t as bad as they look. I only need two or three days of rest, a whole week would be excessive for me."


    Bonnie was reluctant to take that much time off. She feared that if she rested too long, the gap between her and Ritchie would only widen. Jeremy, seeing through her intentions, decided not to push the matter further.


    "Alright," he replied, his tone calm, "it''s up to you how long you need to recover. But I''ll remind you¡ªthere''s no need to rush your level progression."


    After saying this, Jeremy turned his gaze toward the other three.


    "That goes for all of you as well. Instead of rushing to raise your levels, you should focus on learning from the lessons of our recent battle and gradually building your strength. All of you already have higher levels than most other Apocalypse Game yers. While you''re not on my level, I am, after all, one of the most gifted yers in the game."


    Jeremy''s words were full of wisdom and made sense to ire and Emma, who epted his advice. However, Ritchie and Bonnie were less inclined to agree.


    Although Ritchie acknowledged Jeremy''s strength, he believed the difference between them wasn''t so great that he couldn''t keep up in terms of leveling. To him, it felt only natural that he should be able to stay right behind Jeremy''s level.


    Bonnie''s primary concern was that she didn''t want to fall behind Ritchie in terms of level progression. Jeremy looked at his teammates, noting the mix of emotions on their faces. Sighing, he continued, "Let''s call it a day. We''ve already cleared the Dark Swamp Instance, and Bonnie''s neighborhood is quite safe. Take a day or two to think over what went well in the instance and what didn''t. Then, let''s regroup the day after tomorrow to discuss which instance we''ll tackle next to boost our levels."


    With that, Jeremy pulled out all the loot they had gathered. "These items are of no real use to me. The silver-grade skill books won''t improve my abilities and would just take up skill slots. And the weapons below level 35 aren''t useful for me either. So go ahead and divide these items among yourselves. Once you''re done, you can all head home."


    Under Jeremy''s prompting, everyone divided the loot. ire and Emma took the two weapons under level 35. For them, these weapons offered a modest but meaningful upgrade, giving them a bit more offensive capability in future instances. Bonnie and Ritchie imed the remaining skill books, though this didn''t mean they would necessarily use them all; both would need to select skills that best suited their strengths.


    Once the loot was divided, everyone went their separate ways. Still, Jeremy felt uneasy about Bonnie''s condition and decided to escort her home. When they arrived at Bonnie''s house, they unexpectedly ran into her father, Benjamin. Having just finished a meeting, Benjamin hade to check on his daughter, only to find her with significant injuries.


    His face darkened, and he turned to Jeremy with a serious expression. "What happened? Why is my daughter so badly hurt? I thought I made it clear¡ªI wanted you to take care of her."


    Before Jeremy could answer, Bonnie interjected. "Father, you''ve got it wrong! Jeremy actually helped me a lot. The reason I got hurt was because I made some serious mistakes during the instance. It wasn''t his fault."


    Bonnie''s words were true; her injuries werergely due to her own actions in the instance.


    To Benjamin, however, it seemed Bonnie was deliberately defending Jeremy. He scoffed coldly.


    "I''ve told you before, Bonnie¡ªif an instance is too difficult, you shouldn''t follow Jeremy. He''s powerful, but even he can''t guarantee your safety."


    With that, Benjamin turned and walked away. Though he could have used this moment to discuss cooperation with Jeremy, he believed that task was Liam''s responsibility and didn''t want to interfere.


    After Benjamin left, Bonnie looked at Jeremy apologetically. "I owe you an apology. Because of my mistakes, things between you and my father have be even more strained. I''ll find a way to smooth things over with him. I''m sure he''lle to understand and appreciate you."


    Jeremy responded with a reassuring smile. "It''s really not a big deal. Mayor Liu still needs me to help protect Moonlight City! And I''m confident I''ll earn his understanding and respect¡ªI am the strongest among us, after all."


    Jeremy''s confident reply visibly lifted Bonnie''s spirits. "Alright, then. Go get some rest. If you really want to join me in our next mission, you''d better heal up quickly!"


    After this final reminder, Jeremy turned to leave, but at that moment, Liam appeared in his line of sight. Liam greeted him with a warm smile, while Jeremy''s expression shifted to one of mild surprise.


    He approached Liam and, with a hint of suspicion, asked in a low voice, "Have you been following me? Why did you suddenly show up here?"


    Smiling, Liam responded, "There''s no need for me to follow you. All of Moonlight City is under surveince by the Special Situations Bureau, so the moment you stepped into the city, I was aware of it."


    Liam''s exnation made sense to Jeremy, so he said nothing further and simply waited for Liam to continue.


    "I''m here because I want to discuss our uing cooperation. If we''re going to secure the safety of Moonlight City, we''ll need to work very closely together."


    Finally understanding Liam''s intent, Jeremy''s expression softened. He, too, was determined to ensure Moonlight City''s safety, and this alignment of goals seemed promising.

 Chapter 352 Seeking the Root of the Problem

    Jeremy''s expression softened slightly as he carefully began to ask,


    "So, why are you bringing this up with me now? I remember that I already agreed to work with you all to keep Moonlight City safe. Has something major happened recently that I''m not aware of?"


    Liam nodded.


    "Some major events have indeed urred, though they aren''t directly rted to Moonlight City. All these events are centered around the safety of the capital."


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy let out a coldugh.


    "Of course. The higher-ups in the Federation only care about their own safety. They couldn''t care less about the safety of regr folks in other cities, could they? They''ve pulled all the elite forces from everywhere else, just to make sure that they don''t face even the slightest threat themselves."


    Jeremy was deeply dissatisfied with the Federation''s leadership. He had always felt that their responses to the apocalypse game were abysmal.


    Liam chuckled. In truth, he shared Jeremy''s views entirely. However, he felt thatining about the Federation''s leaders was pointless right now.


    "Yes, it''s true that the Federation higher-ups don''t care about our safety. But we can''t just give up! Now that most of the elite forces have been transferred elsewhere, the only strength left to protect Moonlight Cityes from you and me."


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "You''re right about that. So, do you have any ns?"


    "My n is simple: the two of us will split the city''s defenses. You and your team will take responsibility for the East District since that''s where you live, while I, along with the forces from the Special Situations Bureau, will handle the defense of the West District. As long as we can secure both the East and West Districts, the majority of Moonlight City''s poption will be safe from the monsters."


    Liam''s approach was, in fact, quite conservative. He felt that adopting any other n might result in unexpected consequences.


    After listening to Liam''s proposal, Jeremy shook his head slowly.


    "I don''t think your n will be enough to ensure Moonlight City''s safety. While we have considerable power, there are numerous instances surrounding Moonlight City. If we truly want to protect everyone in Moonlight City, we must get to the root of the problem. Don''t you think that the instances around us are a bit more challenging than those near other cities?"


    Jeremy''s question brought a hesitant look to Liam''s face.


    Though Liam had always felt that the instances around their city seemed tougher than those in other areas, he had assumed this was just the nature of things. After all, since the arrival of the apocalypse game, each instance had its own unique difficulty levels.


    "You mean to say that there''s some unknown reason why the instances surrounding us are harder than those in other ces?" Liam asked, his tone cautious.


    "That''s exactly what I mean!" Jeremy replied firmly. "And during a recent mission, I''ve managed to get a rough idea of where the root of the problem lies."


    Jeremy''s tone was unwavering as he spoke the truth. Liam wanted to probe further, but after ncing around, he said,


    "It''s not safe to continue discussing this here. Come back with me to the Special Situations Bureau. We can talk in detail there."


    With that, the two headed off toward the Special Situations Bureau. Meanwhile, Bonnie had been listening carefully to every word of their conversation. Like the others, she felt deeply concerned about the current situation.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Bonnie picked up her phone and dialed the number of an old friend from the capital. She nned to ask for details about what was truly happening there.


    The call connected quickly, and a slightlyzy voice greeted her from the other end.


    "Why are you calling me sote? Don''t you know I''m the type who likes to get to bed early?"


    "I''m very sorry for disturbing your rest," Bonnie replied, her voice polite but urgent. "The reason I''m calling is that I need to know what''s happening in the capital right now. Is the security situation still as bad as before?"


    At the sound of Bonnie''s question, the tone on the other end shifted to one of mild irritation.


    "The security situation isn''t quite as terrible as it used to be. But despite all the elite forces directly controlled by military headquarters and the additional power of the Federation''s leaders, they still haven''t been able to drive out those strange monsters surrounding the capital. Everyone here is on edge because of their constant presence. Even I can''t go out and enjoy myself as often as I used to."


    After hearing her friend''s response, Bonnie''s face fell slightly.


    "I see. Well, it looks like all the elite forces will be concentrated in the capital for the foreseeable future. We in these smaller cities will just have to rely on our own strength to keep ourselves safe."


    As soon as Bonnie finished speaking, the voice on the other end of the line immediately asked,


    "Why do you insist on staying in Moonlight City? I know your father is the mayor there, but that doesn''t mean you have to stay by his side. You could easilye back to the capital. The security situation here, while not perfect, is still much better than in Moonlight City. If you came here, I could even offer you protection myself."


    Without hesitation, Bonnie declined the suggestion.


    "I have a deep love for Moonlight City. Even though the safety situation here isn''t ideal, I believe I can keep myself safe alongside mypanions."


    No sooner had she spoken than she realized her words may have sounded a bit revealing. She began to think of a way to rify her statement. But before she could find the right words, the voice on the other end replied,ced withplex emotions.


    "Are you referring to Jeremy as that panion'' of yours? Even here in the capital, I''ve heard plenty about him. He seems to be an extraordinarily talented apocalypse game yer. If that''s the case, why not have him transferred to the capital? Surely, his talents could be put to use here, couldn''t they? And if you can''t persuade him, I could apply some pressure through the Federation''s leaders and military headquarters. I doubt he could withstand that kind of pressure."


    Hearing this, Bonnie quickly interjected,


    "You shouldn''t do that! Where Jeremy chooses to go should be his own decision. None of us have the right to make that choice for him! Now, it''s gettingte; you should get some rest. I''m hanging up."


    With that, Bonnie ended the call abruptly, unwilling to continue the conversation further. Her action left her old friend feeling deeply offended.


    Unbeknownst to her, this friend of hers had connections to Kean. Although he himself was not an apocalypse game yer, his family held significant influence among the Federation''s elite. With this clout, he believed he had the power to make Jeremy pay a price.


    After pondering for a moment, he dialed Kean''s number directly.


    "Calling me thiste? Don''t tell me you''re trying to convince me to join you on some adventure again?" Kean joked as he picked up the call.


    "I''m calling to discuss something rted to Jeremy," came a statement from the other end of the line that immediately piqued Kean''s interest.


    Kean quickly pressed for more information.


    "What do you mean? You''re not an apocalypse game yer, which means you''re not an extraordinary. So why are you so concerned about Jeremy? And what exactly is it about him that you want to discuss with me?"


    Kean''s tone was serious, and Bonnie''s old friend, sensing the intensity, felt a brief moment of hesitation. But he quicklyposed himself.


    "From what I can gather, the reason Bonnie insists on staying in Moonlight City is likely because of Jeremy. I want to see if there''s a way to bring both Jeremy and Bonnie back to the capital. Do you think there''s anything we can do to make that happen?"


    Hearing this, Kean''s expression softened slightly.


    "It''s probably possible to arrange that, but why should we? What''s in it for us to have Jeremy brought to the capital?"


    "You''ve always wanted to eliminate Jeremy, haven''t you? Bringing him to the capital would give you more opportunities to face him head-on and finally take him down. I''d be willing to use my family''s influence to help you achieve that goal."


    Kean didn''t respond right away. After a thoughtful pause, he finally replied slowly,


    "Your proposal does have some appeal. Very well, go ahead and take action. I''ll lend you some support, but you''ll need to ensure your family can convince both the Federation''s higher-ups and the military headquarters."


    "Don''t worry! I''m confident in my ability to do that. Just wait for my good news!"


    With their agreement in ce, they both ended the call.


    Kean then began to strategize, considering the best ways to deal with Jeremy once he was brought into closer reach.

 Chapter 353 A Double-Edged Plan

    Kean spent nearly two hours alone, deep in thought. In his mind, he envisioned countless possible scenarios that might unfold in his final showdown with Jeremy. He rehearsed over and over what challenges he might face, and what solutions he could use to ovee them. However, no amount of conjecture could assure him of victory when the time came. The mental strain was so intense that his head began to ache, and he eventually gave up on nning for the moment.


    Deciding he needed a change of environment, Kean headed toward the outskirts of the capital. In a hidden location just beyond the city''s limits, The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror were conducting a ritual that had already made great progress. Through a series of previous operations, they had gathered a significant amount of sr energy, and the process of resurrecting The Sun was more than halfwayplete.


    Although The Sun had not fully returned, as one of the orchestrators of the apocalypse game, it was already starting to influence the real world with its powers. The strange, unyielding creatures that haunted the capital''s periphery, neither entirely cleansable nor fully repulsed, were manifestations created by The Sun''s growing strength.


    When Kean arrived at the hidden location where The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror were working, he saw them channeling sr energy continuously toward the resurrection of The Sun. At this moment, The Sun had already begun to reveal part of its form in the real world. A blinding sphere of light radiated from a massive mirror, and in an instant, Kean felt as if he were standing in the midst of a fiery inferno.


    The heat was overwhelming, and Kean could no longer perceive anything but the scorching light. Just as he felt on the brink of being consumed by mes, the temperature around him abruptly dropped. At the same moment, he heard The Son of the Sun''s voice.


    "You should have informed me beforeing here. If I hadn''t noticed your presence in time, you could very well have been reduced to ashes by the great power of The Sun."


    With measured steps, The Son of the Sun approached Kean, his tone carrying a mixture of rebuke and caution.


    At this moment, Kean looked slightly disheveled. He managed to pull himself up from the ground and, with a hint of irritation, said,


    "I would have informed you ahead of time, but when I tried to contact you, you didn''t respond at all. I have something very important that I need to discuss with you."


    The Son of the Sun listened and nodded slowly.


    "Very well. Let''s go somewhere more secluded to discuss this ''important matter'' of yours."


    With that, The Son of the Sun led Kean to an extremely hidden spot, not far from The Person in the Mirror''s secret base. Here, they could rely on The Person in the Mirror''s protection and make a quick escape if necessary, keeping the base''s location concealed.


    "Now, tell me what''s so important," The Son of the Sun said, his toneced with impatience. To him, the most critical task was, of course, the resurrection of the great Sun. Without that, they all faced a grim fate¡ªno human force in the real world, nor any of the other apocalypse game nners, would ever let them go.


    "I''ve devised a way to deal with Jeremy!" Kean dered. "I''ll work with my allies to bring Jeremy to the capital as soon as possible. Once he''s here, I need you to create an instance specifically designed to target him! The great Sun must also have a score to settle with Jeremy, right? With its immense power, Sun could lend us the support we need."


    Hearing this, The Son of the Sun''s expression remained calm, almost detached. He thought Kean''s n was profoundly foolish.


    "How can you even think of bringing Jeremy to the capital? His strength far exceeds that of most humans. If he arrives here, he could end up ruining everything we''ve worked for. I''ve told you before, the only thing that matters is resurrecting the great Sun. You shouldn''t prioritize your vendetta above that goal."


    The Son of the Sun''s voice grew stern, and Kean noticed the surrounding temperature was beginning to rise sharply, a clear sign of The Son of the Sun''s displeasure. Kean''s expression grew tense; a trace of fear flickered in his eyes. Until now, he had believed he was in a position to negotiate with The Son of the Sun, but the reality of the situation was dawning on him.


    However, as the Sun¡ªthe mastermind of the apocalypse game¡ªcontinued its resurrection process, The Son of the Sun''s power grew immensely stronger. At this point, Kean had no chance of defeating The Son of the Sun in battle; in fact, he couldn''t even hope to hold his own.


    Feeling a pang of fear, Kean steeled himself and forced himself to continue.


    "I believe that eliminating Jeremy would also significantly advance the resurrection of the great Sun. After all, Jeremy possesses considerable power himself."


    Kean put forth what he considered an excellent argument, but The Son of the Sun dismissed it without hesitation.


    "The risk is far too great! I cannot allow such a dangerous element to threaten our ns!"


    With that, The Son of the Sun turned to leave. But after taking just a few steps, he stopped in his tracks. Suddenly, he heard Sun''s voice echoing from the void.


    "You should agree to his n. Bringing Jeremy to the capital will benefit our next steps immensely. If he remains in Moonlight City, he poses a greater threat to us."


    Sun had not yet fully resurrected, yet it expended considerable energy to convey this directive to The Son of the Sun. This would slow the progress of its resurrection slightly, but Sun was fully aware of this cost and deemed it necessary. For one of the apocalypse game''s masterminds, Sun was willing to pay this high price to deliver a clearmand to The Son of the Sun.


    Seeing this, The Son of the Sun wouldn''t dare defy such an explicit directive. Although puzzled, he turned back to Kean with a smile.


    "After reconsidering, I believe your n has merit. Let''s proceed with it. How soon can you bring Jeremy to the capital?"


    The drastic shift in The Son of the Sun''s attitude left Kean momentarily at a loss for words. But he quickly recovered and replied,


    "I''ll have him here in a week. Will you be able to set up a trap that Jeremy won''t be able to escape within that time?"


    "Of course! Go carry out your mission. I''ll make sure to prepare a wless trap."


    With their agreement in ce, both understood the gravity of the tasks ahead, and Kean set off with a renewed sense of purpose.


    Although Kean was still filled with questions, the current situation seemed to be working in his favor. No matter what, The Son of the Sun had agreed to his n. Now, all he had to do was proceed with the next steps ording to their arrangement.


    After Kean left, The Son of the Sun returned to the enormous mirror. Within its depths, a radiant golden sun orbited continuously.


    "Great Father, why did you agree to Kean''s n? Don''t you feel that bringing Jeremy here could pose a significant threat to our current progress?"


    "My child, you are correct. However, Jeremy is close to discovering the most crucial item we left in Moonlight City. Without that item, we''ll be unable to continue strengthening the monsters around Moonlight City."


    Upon hearing this, The Son of the Sun finally understood everything. While Kean''s n seemed fraught with risks on the surface, in reality, it served a dual purpose. By luring Jeremy to the capital, Sun could use its powers to transfer that critical item from Moonlight City to a safer, hidden location.


    During this time, The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror could join forces with Kean to confront Jeremy. If they managed to inflict severe damage on him during the battle, they could even harness Jeremy''s power to further elerate Sun''s resurrection.


    A smile finally appeared on The Son of the Sun''s face as heprehended the full scope of the n.


    "Your foresight truly surpasses ours by far! How should I set up the trap next time? My previous traps failed to contain Jeremy."


    Though he now understood the rationale behind Kean''s n, The Son of the Sun still felt uncertain. His previous attempts to capture Jeremy had ended in failure, leaving him doubtful of his own capabilities.


    Sun''s voice resonated slowly.


    "You needn''t worry about any of that. I will personally design the trap for Jeremy. There is no way he''ll be able to break free from what I have in store for him. Your only task is to cooperate with Kean''s efforts."


    With this reassurance, The Son of the Sun felt a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that Sun itself would ensure Jeremy''s downfall.

 Chapter 354 Chapter 354 Apocalypse Game – No Coincidences

    Moonlight City, Special Incident Handling Bureau Headquarters.


    Liam and Jeremy were in the headquarters'' conference room, deep in discussion about the root cause of the crisis guing Moonlight City. In the room, it was just the two of them, with the added security of an active soundproofing system, ensuring no one outside could overhear their conversation.


    With a sigh, Liam spoke up, "Can you tell me the real source now? Here, our conversation ispletely secure, no one else can know what we discuss."


    Jeremy nodded, "I can certainly tell you, but it''s a lot to unpack. If you want to truly understand, I''ll need to start from the beginning and connect every piece of information."


    Jeremy''s implication was clear: it would take a considerable amount of time to fully exin everything.


    Liam nodded, epting that this was not a matter that could be summarized in a few sentences. He was prepared for a lengthy discussion.


    "When the apocalypse game descended, Moonlight City, like many other ces, was overrun with countless monsters and bizarre instances. Entering these instances, I noticed something distinctive: each monster''s power is tied to one of the apocalypse game nners. If a monster''s power reflects more than one nner''s influence, it means that both the monster and the instance itself were jointly created by multiple nners." Continue your saga on empire


    "Though the apocalypse game nners are terrifying enemies to humanity, there is still rivalry among them. While you haven''t experienced everything that I have, you must have noticed the schemes and conflicts between these nners."


    Jeremy paused, directing his gaze at Liam, who nodded in understanding. Even though he hadn''t been through as many experiences as Jeremy, he could grasp the implications of what Jeremy was saying.


    But from the information he had gathered, Liam could also deduce that there were definite conflicts among the nners of the apocalypse game.


    Having gained Liam''s acknowledgment, Jeremy wasted no time in posing a direct question. "How well do you understand the instances around Moonlight City?"


    "My understanding is likely on par with yours. I''m thoroughly familiar with every instance that has appeared around Moonlight City. I know the power of each monster in each instance and which apocalypse game nner that power originates from. The only difference is that I don''t know as much about the nners themselves as you do. I don''t even know the names of each apocalypse game nner."


    Hearing this, Jeremy gave a faint smile. "Your understanding of the instances is, frankly, quite limited. You''ve missed a critical detail about the instances surrounding Moonlight City. Haven''t you noticed that the powers held by the monsters in our nearby instances often originate from different apocalypse game nners?"


    "Unlike here, this phenomenon doesn''t happen in other cities¡ªthe instances around them don''t show the influence of multiple nners. This means multiple apocalypse game nners are actively monitoring our actions."


    Hearing this, Liam''s expression grew more serious. The realization finally dawned on him.


    After agreeing with Jeremy''s perspective, Liam''s face underwent a dramatic change. "This is something I should have noticed easily. Why had neither I nor my subordinates ever considered this before? Could this be a blind spot in our thinking?"


    Jeremy gave a knowing smile. "In reality, you''ve been under the influence of the most powerful apocalypse game nner of all. This particr nner is the supreme deity known as the ''Fool.''"


    "Using its power, it prevents you from perceiving this crucial information. Simultaneously, it keeps you ensnared in various instances, making it nearly impossible for you to connect the anomalies you encounter. Any strange phenomena you observe in these instances feel like mere coincidences to you."


    "But let me tell you one thing: in the apocalypse game, there are no coincidences."


    As Jeremy spoke these words, his tone was grave. Liam''s expression was one of utter shock.


    "It seems I need to go back andpile all the information we have in the Special Incident Handling Bureau. Only by piecing everything together can we find the root of the problem," Liam said with determination.


    However, before he could even finish, Jeremy immediately objected.


    "There''s no need to do that¡ªit would only be a waste of time. Even if your team were to ess this information, they would quickly forget it. The power of the ''Fool'' far exceeds what you can imagine. Although it seems the Fool cannot directly descend into our reality, the influence it exerts on our world is immense."


    "Don''t you wonder why the federal leaders and the military headquarters adopted such absurd strategies when the crisis hit the capital? Do you really believe everyone in the federal and military headquarters is simply ipetent?"


    Jeremy''s words left Liam visibly shaken.


    "You''re saying that the ''Fool'' not only deceived us but also manipted other humans with its power?"


    "That''s exactly what I mean!" Jeremy confirmed.


    "But why would it do this? The monsters we encounter in instances are usually controlled by other apocalypse game nners. We''ve nevere across a monster directly associated with the ''Fool'' in these instances. Could it be that the Fool is taking all these actions merely to help the other apocalypse game nners?"


    Liam was sharp and quickly picked up on a potential w in Jeremy''s exnation.


    With a sigh, Jeremy shook his head. "I don''t know the answer to that! So, when you came to me to discuss how to secure Moonlight City, this is all I could tell you. My guess is that, aside from the Fool''s direct maniption, there is likely some artifact within the instances surrounding Moonlight City¡ªa device that amplifies the strength of nearby instances and monsters. If we could locate this artifact and either destroy or seal it, we might be able to prevent Moonlight City from facing so much peril."


    Jeremy proposed another solution¡ªone that he believed held the highest chance of sess. After all, the Fool''s power was far beyond their own. Even if they understood that the Fool was the true mastermind behind the apocalypse game, there was still no way for them to make the Fool pay any price for its actions.


    After hearing what Jeremy said, a faint smile finally appeared on Liam''s face.


    "I think this is the best news you''ve brought me today! Since you''ve already mentioned this lead, I assume you have some kind of theory."


    Jeremy nodded. "Yes, I do have a theory. I''ve found several items within the instances surrounding Moonlight City that contain extraordinary, almost divine powers. Among these items are the Dark Core and a Shadow God Tree in one of the instances. These objects, infused with divine power, require a constant supply of simr power to maintain their strength. So, I suspect that the artifact enhancing the strength of instances and monsters around Moonlight City is located at the convergence point of these items with divine energy."


    As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, Liam pulled out a map. "You can mark the locations where you found these items with divine power on this map."


    Jeremy quickly marked each spot, indicating where these powerful items were located. Once the locations were connected by lines, they all converged on a single point on the map: the Moonlight City Library, situated right in the city center.


    Seeing this, Liam''s expression became profoundly conflicted. He struggled to process the revtion. The Moonlight City Library wasn''t far from them and served as a vital repository of information, where anyone seeking knowledge would typically go to ess records and resources. If such a significant artifact was indeed hidden within the library, they should have discovered it long ago. Their failure to do so suggested that this powerful object was exceptionally well-concealed.


    "Now you can understand why I''ve been reluctant to approach the library," Jeremy continued. "I''ve sensed something unusual there for a while, but I couldn''t pinpoint the exact location of the artifact. I didn''t want to stir up suspicion prematurely, so I waited until now to share this information with you. I also urge you not to act rashly. This artifact is likely sentient. Any premature move could trigger it to activate every monster in the nearby instances, which would spell a true disaster for Moonlight City."


    While Jeremy spoke, Liam maintained a neutral expression. Despite his calm exterior, he was deeply shocked by what he''d learned.

 Chapter 355 Chapter 355 No Rush, Slow and Steady

    In the Special Incident Handling Bureau''s conference room, Liam took a long time to calm himself, finally steadying his thoughts. He looked over at Jeremy and asked slowly, "So, what do you think we should do next? With our current strength, can we find that special artifact in the library?"


    "We absolutely can''t. We need much stronger power! In my opinion, what we''re missing is an artifact with incredibly potent divine energy. This could be an item or a weapon, but obtaining something with such power is extremely difficult. To acquire such an artifact in an instance, we would have to defeat a monster of level 70 or higher. So, until I reach level 70, we shouldn''t take any action."


    Jeremy''s reasoning was well-thought-out, but Liam felt that waiting for Jeremy to reach level 70 could spell disaster for Moonlight City. Clearing his throat, Liam shared his perspective directly.


    "You''re currently not even level 60, and the experience needed between levels 60 and 70 is immense. Waiting for you to reach level 70 could take a year. I can''t guarantee Moonlight City''s safety for an entire year! So I believe we must take action as soon as possible."


    Although Liam''s tone remained calm, Jeremy could sense a hint of urgency.


    Jeremy quickly responded, "You absolutely cannot take hasty action! And you can''t allow yourself to feel rushed. We must handle this crisis with patience and caution. If we act too soon and alert our target, our entire effort will copse, and all our work will be wasted. I assume you don''t want to see that happen." Find your next read on empire


    Liam''s expression showed his frustration at Jeremy''s caution. Standing up, he began pacing around the room.


    "Why are you only telling me this now? Shouldn''t you have informed me sooner? Or does the safety of Moonlight City mean nothing to you?"


    Jeremy hadn''t expected Liam to lose his temper so abruptly.


    Jeremy''s expression became slightly tense as well.


    "I''m not part of your official forces, so I had no obligation to share this information from the start. Besides, I was concerned that revealing it to you would only lead to reckless actions. Your reaction now proves I was right. After hearing this intel, you''re panicked and unable to provide any meaningful assistance."


    Having said this, Jeremy turned to leave. In his mind, Liam was no longer likely to be of much help. Just as Jeremy was about to exit the conference room, Liam called out from behind.


    "Does anyone else know about this besides us?"


    "No one else knows. Not even General Howard or Mayor Benjamin," Jeremy replied.


    Liam''s expression rxed slightly at this, and he softened his tone. "I need to apologize. My reaction was indeed a bit excessive. I hope you can forgive me."


    Jeremy, seeing Liam''s sincere apology, chose not to press the issue. After all, it was understandable for someone to be shaken after learning such distressing news.


    "Since you''ve apologized, I won''t hold it against you. However, I''ll reiterate: you can''t afford to panic. You need to appearpletely calm. I believe there are spies among us, working for the apocalypse game nners. If they notice anything unusual about you, the nners will certainly respond."


    Jeremy added this valuable piece of information, and Liam nodded, though he''d already suspected as much. Yet hearing it directly from Jeremy affected him nheless.


    "Don''t worry. As an intelligence officer, I can ensure I stay perfectlyposed."


    Finally, both men managed to regain theirposure.


    "If there''s nothing else, I''ll take my leave. I could use some rest¡ªI just finished clearing out the Dark Swamp instance."


    Liam nodded in silent agreement, watching as Jeremy left without another word.


    Jeremy made his way back home from the heart of Moonlight City, seemingly unaffected by the earlier events. To him, the confrontation and revtions with Liam were merely minor matters, distractions at best.


    But for Liam, sleep was out of the question. He didn''t go home; instead, he sat in the Special Incident Handling Bureau''s conference room for the entire night, contemting the steps he needed to take to secure Moonlight City. But as dawn broke, he still hadn''t devised a wless n.


    Rising slowly from his seat, Liam sighed and muttered to himself, "It seems my intelligence isn''t as sharp as I''d hoped. I''ll need to find an opportunity to sit down with Jeremy again. He''s likely capable of finding a way through this crisis. The wait-and-see approach he mentioned before was probably just a temporary measure. After all, waiting indefinitely will only increase the risks we face."


    Liam suspected that Jeremy''s previous solution wasn''t the final answer. Resolving to engage with Jeremy further, Liam steadied himself and entered the bustling main hall of the Special Incident Handling Bureau. The bureau was already alive with activity, with agents arriving and getting to work, sorting and categorizing all the intelligence they''d gathered.


    Liam scanned the room, confirming that everyone was diligently working. Just as he was about to return to his director''s office, his secretary called out from behind.


    "Director, there''s an urgent order from the federal highmand. You need to review it immediately."


    Liam turned, epting the file marked "Emergency Orders" from his secretary. Clearly, no one but him had the clearance to open it. Without returning to his office, he opened the file right there, under the watchful eyes of the bureau staff. Inside was a critical directive from the federal highmand.


    After reading the contents, Liam''s expression grew increasinglyplex.


    "Director, what kind of urgent order has you looking so conflicted? Could it be that even our elite forces need to be reassigned to the capital?"


    One of Liam''s trusted subordinates, noticing the conflicted look on Liam''s face, immediately understood that the order he''d received must be putting him in a difficult position. Not one to hesitate, he directly asked Liam about it.


    But Liam gave no real answer; he simply replied in a calm, detached tone, "This matter doesn''t concern any of you. Get back to your own tasks. I need to head to city hall."


    With that, Liam left without further exnation. The urgent directive he''d received was, in fact, amand from the federal highmand, instructing him to send Jeremy to the capital immediately. Liam found himself unsure how to handle the situation. Technically, the Special Incident Handling Bureau reported directly to Mayor Benjamin of Moonlight City. Under normal protocol, a federal order like this would be delivered to Benjamin first. Yet, Benjamin had mentioned nothing about it, which struck Liam as highly unusual.


    When Liam arrived at Benjamin''s office, the mayor was calmly upied with city affairs. Benjamin looked up, surprised to see Liam standing there.


    "What brings you here, Liam? Has something major happened?" Benjamin asked, a hint of concerncing his tone. Whenever Liam appeared unannounced, it usually meant there was troubling news.


    "Mayor, haven''t you received an urgent directive from the federalmand?" Liam asked, his tone careful.


    "An urgent directive?" Benjamin''s brows furrowed in confusion. "I haven''t received any urgent directives." As soon as he finished speaking, a change came over his face as he began to realize the gravity of what Liam might be about to say.


    "This is the urgent directive I just received from the federal highmand. They bypassed you entirely, and I''m not sure whether I should proceed with executing it," Liam said, handing the document over to Benjamin.


    Benjamin reviewed the document, his expression darkening further as he read. "This is highly irregr. Are you certain this directive is legitimate?"


    "I can''t be entirely sure," Liam replied, "but it came through official channels. I don''t believe anyone could forge an urgent directive through those channels."


    Benjamin nodded, sharing Liam''s assessment. Despite the authenticity of the directive, the situation was too unusual for him to make a hasty decision.


    "Here''s what we''ll do," Benjamin said, carefully choosing his words. "For now, hold off on executing this directive. I''ll reach out directly to the federal highmand to confirm. If this directive truly came from them, they won''t deny it."


    In the end, Benjamin opted for a cautious approach. Liam nodded in agreement and quietly exited the mayor''s office.

 Chapter 356 Chapter 356 Forced to Head to the Capital

    After leaving Benjamin''s office, Liam didn''t immediately return to the Special Situation Bureau. He felt it necessary to inform Jeremy about everything that had just transpired. Even though the order came directly from the federal authorities, who had explicitly stated that it must remain confidential, Liam considered his partnership with Jeremy to be of utmost importance. He hoped that by sharing this information, Jeremy would see his genuine intent to coborate closely.


    Liam quickly dialed Jeremy''s number.


    "Hello? Why are you calling me so early? Didn''t we go over everythingst night?" Jeremy''s voice camezily from the other end of the line. He was still lying in bed, reluctant to get up. Jeremy had a habit of sleeping in the day after finishing an intense assignment.


    "I need to inform you of a very important development. The federal authorities are insisting that you head to the capital as soon as possible," Liam said solemnly, fully expecting Jeremy to be taken aback by this news.


    To Liam''s surprise, Jeremy responded with a rxed tone.


    "The federal authorities have asked me to head to the capital before, and I refused. My answer this time remains the same¡ªI won''t go. I have to protect Moonlight City, after all. Besides, all my friends are here, and I wouldn''t be able to perform at my best in the capital."


    Jeremy assumed thistest request was no different from the previous one and that his simple refusal would suffice.


    Realizing that Jeremy hadn''t grasped the gravity of the situation, Liam spoke more firmly, "This time is entirely different from thest. The federal authorities won''t allow you to refuse. They''ll stop at nothing to get you to the capital. You need to be prepared for that."


    There was silence on the other end for about thirty seconds before Jeremy finally replied, his tone now much colder.


    "If that''s the case, then I''ll make them pay dearly for it. No one, under any circumstances, can force me to do something I don''t want to do."


    Jeremy''s tone was unmistakably serious as he spoke, indicating that he had made up his mind. This left Liam feeling deeply troubled. He was torn, uncertain about what to say next, feeling caught between his loyalty to Jeremy and his duty to the federal authorities. As Liam wrestled with his conflicting loyalties, his phone suddenly rang. It was Benjamin.


    "Mayor Benjamin is calling me," Liam said to Jeremy. "He might have something important to discuss, so I''ll have to end this call for now. If you have any further questions, feel free to reach outter."


    Without waiting for a response, Liam disconnected the call, feeling a strange sense of relief that Benjamin''s call had spared him from the tense conversation with Jeremy. After all, he wasn''t sure how he could continue exining the situation.


    "Mayor Benjamin, have you received additional information from the federal authorities? Do you know why they''re insisting that Jeremy go to the capital so urgently?" Liam asked, his tone urgent and apprehensive.


    On the other end, Benjamin sighed heavily. "The federal authorities are absolutely resolute this time, Liam. If Jeremy refuses to go, they''re prepared to make all of us pay a steep price. Many in both the federal leadership and the military headquarters believe Jeremy is staying here because of us. They think we''re deliberately weakening the capital''s defense."


    Liam was shocked. "How could they possibly think that? Do they truly believe we''re as selfish as they are?"


    "I feel the same way you do," Benjamin replied, his voiceced with frustration. "I''ve already tried to exin our position over the phone to certain officials, but they refuse to believe me. In fact, a very high-ranking member of one of the elite families gave me a clear warning: if we don''t get Jeremy to the capital, everyone in Moonlight City will suffer the consequences."


    Benjamin''s words left Liam at a loss for how to respond. The gravity of the situation had suddenly be crystal clear.


    "There''s no room for negotiation on this," Benjamin said finally. "Jeremy has to go to the capital, whether he wants to or not."


    Liam hung up, feeling utterly helpless. Besides him and Benjamin, General Howard also quickly received simr orders from military headquarters. The pressure to act was mounting from all directions.


    The orders General Howard received were, in fact, identical to those Liam had been given. Everyone involved realized that, this time, Jeremy might truly have no choice but to head to the capital. While Benjamin, Liam, and Howard were still reeling from the gravity of the situation, Jeremy remained blissfully unaware of all that was unfolding.


    After getting out of bed, Jeremy had dismissed everything Liam had mentioned on the phone, putting the entire conversation out of his mind. Instead, he began to meticulously review his weapons and equipment, evaluating which items might be useful in his next mission.


    An hourter, the unmistakable sound of a helicopter''s engine roaring to life reached Jeremy''s ears. Instantly, he knew who wasing¡ªGeneral Howard. In Moonlight City, Howard was the only one with the authority to deploy a helicopter whenever he pleased.


    Jeremy stepped outside, looking up to see the helicopter descending slowly from the sky. When the helicopter had fully touched down, General Howard, Mayor Benjamin, and Liam stepped out together. It was the first time Jeremy had seen all three of them visit him at once.


    "What brings the three of you here together? Is there something urgent you need to tell me?" Jeremy asked directly, wasting no time with pleasantries.


    General Howard nodded, handing Jeremy a thick folder. Jeremy epted it and carefully scanned through the documents inside. Every page in the folder contained orders from the federal authorities demanding that he immediately travel to the capital.


    After reading through, Jeremy smiled calmly and returned the folder to General Howard. "My stance hasn''t changed at all. I''m not leaving Moonlight City, and it doesn''t matter who''s giving the orders¡ªI''m not going," he said firmly.


    With that, Jeremy turned to head back into his house, not even extending the courtesy of inviting them inside.


    At that moment, Benjamin called out, halting him in his tracks. "This time is entirely different from before. Previously, the federal authorities and military headquarters merely requested that youe to the capital. If you refused, they didn''t push too hard. But now, they''re fullymitted. If you don''t go, they will undoubtedly resort to extreme measures."


    "If I don''t go, what exactly do they n to do? Are they going to forcibly drag me there?" Jeremy still didn''t believe that the federal authorities would go to such lengths as to apprehend him directly.


    General Howard quickly responded. "They won''t physically force you, but they will strip Moonlight City of every bit of its defensive resources. They''ll leave it entirely unprotected, with no one to defend it. And after that, neither the federal authorities nor military headquarters will offer you any assistance. You''ll be left entirely on your own to safeguard all the civilians in Moonlight City."


    Jeremy''s face registered genuine shock upon hearing this. He hadn''t expected the federal authorities and military headquarters to threaten him by endangering the lives of all the ordinary people in Moonlight City.


    "I don''t believe they would dare go that far!" Jeremy replied, still unwilling to ept what the three men before him were saying.


    In silence, Liam stepped forward and handed Jeremy a document. It was thetest directive issued by the federal authorities and military headquarters. The order clearly stated that all government agencies and official forces stationed in Moonlight City were to prepare for full withdrawal within two days.


    Upon seeing the document, Jeremy finally understood the severity of the situation.


    "It seems I have no choice but to go to the capital," he said, his tone simmering with anger. The intensity in his voice left the three men before him speechless.


    After a few moments of silent contemtion, the fury on Jeremy''s face gradually softened. "Perhaps this could be an opportunity," he muttered to himself. "Though I''ve been to the capital before, I didn''t get aplete understanding of what''s really going on there. This trip might give me a better grasp of what''s happening in the capital."


    After voicing his thoughts aloud, Jeremy turned his gaze to Benjamin and Howard. "Since I have to go to the capital, when''s thetest they expect me to arrive? The federal authorities and military headquarters can''t expect me to leave immediately¡ªthey''ll at least allow me some time to pack, won''t they?"


    General Howard replied directly, "They expect you to arrive in the capital within three days."


    Jeremy nodded thoughtfully. "Alright. I''ll spend a day gathering my things. Then tomorrow, you can arrange for me to travel to the capital. Now, if you don''t mind, I''d like to get on with my preparations."

 Chapter 357 Chapter 357 Preparations Before Departure

    Jeremy watched as Benjamin and the other two left, his expression thoughtful. Once they were out of sight, he frowned, pondering why the federal authorities and military headquarters were so insistent that he go to the capital.


    "Though the federal authorities and the military headquarters have always valued my abilities, they''ve never demanded that I muste to the capital," Jeremy muttered to himself. "Even if the capital has faced a series of threats recently, it doesn''t seem likely that they''d put all their hopes on just me."


    He was carefully analyzing the information he had, yet no matter how he tried to piece it together, he couldn''t reach a clear answer. The intel he had ess to simply wasn''t enough. After a while, he decided to set his concerns aside and focus on preparing for his departure.


    As he began packing his belongings, Jeremy took the opportunity to inform his closepanions about his impending journey. Barely an hourter, Bonnie showed up at his doorstep, clearly already aware of the situation.


    Her father had evidently briefed her, and as soon as she saw Jeremy, she got straight to the point. "Are you really going to the capital? If you''ve made up your mind, I''ll go with you."


    Jeremy looked at Bonnie, surprised by her readiness to apany him. But after a moment, he understood her reasoning. Bonnie''s status gave her the freedom to live in the capital if she wished. Her prolonged stay in a small city like Moonlight City had always been a bit unusual.


    "If you''re willing toe with me to the capital, I certainly won''t refuse," Jeremy replied. "However, once we''re there, we probably won''t be able to work together as closely. I''ll have to follow federal orders once I''m in the capital."


    Bonnie, unsurprised by his response, gave him a reassuring smile. "I understand that," she said with a nod. "Even if we can''t act together, I''ll still be able to help you. I have quite a few connections in the capital, friends who can provide you with a range of weapons and equipment."


    Jeremy could tell that Bonnie was genuinely happy about the arrangement, and her enthusiasm made him feel a bit more at ease about the journey ahead.


    To Bonnie, going to the capital with Jeremy was the perfect opportunity for them to spend time alone. After all, he only knew her in the capital and wasn''t familiar with anyone else there. Plus, it was impossible for him to bring ire and Emma along on this journey. They would have to stay in Moonlight City, which meant they wouldn''t be able to vie for his attention.


    Just as Bonnie finished speaking, a knock sounded at the door, catching both her and Jeremy''s attention.


    "That must be the others! Could you get the door for me?" Jeremy asked, still busy packing his belongings.


    Bonnie obliged and opened the door to find Ritchie, Emma, and ire standing there. Having heard that Jeremy was about to leave for the capital, the three had hurried over as quickly as possible.


    Ritchie wasted no time and got straight to the point. "Didn''t you say before that you''d stay in Moonlight City no matter what? So why are you suddenly heading to the capital now?"


    Before Jeremy could answer, Bonnie spoke up on his behalf. "It''s not Jeremy''s decision. The federal authorities and the military headquarters are jointly insisting that he goes to the capital. If he doesn''tply, Moonlight City will face an enormous threat." Sheid out all the details she knew, leaving nothing out.


    Hearing this, the others fell into a contemtive silence, their expressions turning serious. Ritchie sighed deeply and finally spoke.


    "I thought we''d be able to keep working together, Jeremy. Who could''ve expected that soon we''d be separated by such a great distance?"


    Ritchie knew that, unlike Jeremy, he couldn''t follow him to the capital. Since the arrival of the apocalypse game, the capital had strict restrictions on who could enter. Only those with explicit permission from the federal authorities and military headquarters could gain ess.


    Jeremy gave Ritchie an encouraging smile. "Don''t be too discouraged. I don''t think I''ll be in the capital for very long. As soon as things stabilize a bit, I''ll be able to return."


    Ritchie nodded, a bit reassured, and fell silent.


    Meanwhile, ire and Emma''s attention was fixed solely on Jeremy, both of them clearly concerned about his impending departure.


    Both ire and Emma wished Jeremy would take them along to the capital. However, Jeremy responded to them directly, without any hesitation.


    "That''s out of the question! Besides, the situation in the capital is far more dangerous than it is here in Moonlight City. I think it''s best for you both to stay here."


    Jeremy''s words left ire and Emma visibly disappointed, though Bonnie couldn''t hide her relief. She no longer had to step in to prevent Jeremy from taking them to the capital.


    With his bags nearly packed, Jeremy realized he needed to ensure that hispanions were well-prepared before his departure.


    "I''ll be leaving soon, but there''s a lot I want to say to you before I go. Make sure you remember every word," he said, pulling out a pen and paper. He handed them to hispanions, ready to outline his ns and advice.


    "Ritchie," he began, "I think you should continue venturing into instances over the next little while. You''re already very close to reaching level 50. Once you get there, I''ll make time toe back and help you n out a strategy for your awakening instance. So for now, focus on leveling up. Let me worry about the rest. And, of course, after I leave, make sure you keep ire and Emma safe."


    Ritchie jotted down everything Jeremy said with a serious expression. "Don''t worry. After you''re gone, I''ll make it my priority to protect ire and Emma. And I''ll reach level 50 within about a week."


    "There''s no need to rush," Jeremy replied with a smile. "If you can reach level 50 within two weeks, that''s fine. Besides, I''m not sure when I''ll be able toe back."


    Having instructed Ritchie, Jeremy turned his attention to ire and Emma. To him, they held a special ce in his heart. Though neither of them was particrly powerful, they had provided him with invaluable support before the apocalypse game descended.


    "You''re both barely above level 30, which means it''ll be a long time before you''re ready for an awakening. What you need to focus on now is leveling up as quickly as possible while keeping yourselves safe. Don''t take unnecessary risks."


    "If you do encounter any danger, don''t act recklessly. You should consult with Ritchie first. While he may not be as strong as I am, he''s grown a lot more level-headed afterpleting a series of missions," Jeremy advised, showing his confidence in Ritchie''s abilities. He believed that, once he was gone, Ritchie would be able to ensure ire and Emma''s safety.


    Emma and ire carefully noted down Jeremy''s words, both of them feeling a pang of reluctance at his impending departure. However, they also understood that it was toote to try and change anything now.


    After finishing what he had to say, Jeremy stood up. "That''s everything I wanted to tell you. I''ll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning. If you want to see me off, then pleasee. If there''s nothing else, you can head home for now."


    The trio felt a mix of emotions. None of them wanted Jeremy to leave, and they knew they would be there in the morning to bid him farewell. ire and Emma were particrly saddened, their faces clouded with emotion.


    However, Ritchie sensed something amiss. He turned to Jeremy and asked, "Why did you only give instructions to Emma and me? What about Bonnie? Don''t you have anything you want to say to her?"


    Before Jeremy could respond, Bonnie answered with a smile, "My father has arranged for me to return to the capital. He believes it''s safer there, so I''ll be traveling with Jeremy."


    ire and Emma''s faces fell even further upon hearing this, their disappointment deepening. Ritchie could only sigh and nod.


    "Alright then, why don''t we stay here until tomorrow morning? That way, if there''s anything else you think of, you can let us know directly," Ritchie suggested, deciding not to return home. He figured that Jeremy might remember something important at thest minute.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement. "Sounds good. I have plenty of spare rooms here¡ªyou can all stay in the guest rooms. And if anything elsees to mind, I''ll let you know."


    With that, they all fell into a somber silence, each feeling the weight of the imminent separation. It was, after all, a bittersweet farewell.


    As Jeremy bid farewell to hispanions, far away in the capital, Kean finally received confirmation that his n had seeded. ted, he wasted no time reaching out to The Son of the Sun.


    "Jeremy is about to head to the capital," Kean said with an excitement he could barely contain. "I trust you''re ready to fulfill your part of the deal. You''vepleted everything you promised me, haven''t you?"


    The Son of the Sun responded swiftly, his tone carrying a subtle air of satisfaction. "The trap is set. It''s ready for activation at any moment."

 Chapter 358 Set Off! Heading to the Capital

    After a night of rest, Jeremy was ready to set off with Bonnie early the next morning. They bid farewell to each of theirpanions one by one.


    Emma and ire were particrly reluctant to see Jeremy go. Their gazes were filled with sorrow, and Jeremy tried tofort them, saying, "I won''t be gone for long! A month at most, and I''ll definitely be back by then."


    Emma and ire both nodded, though their expressions made it clear they didn''t really believe his promise. But Jeremy didn''t know what else he could say to reassure them.


    At that moment, a helicopter descended slowly from the sky. Jeremy and Bonnie were set to take the helicopter first to the outskirts of Moonlight City, where they''d catch a jet to the capital.


    Waving goodbye to everyone, Jeremy and Bonnie boarded the helicopter. Under the watchful eyes of Ritchie and the others, the helicopter flew farther and farther away until it disappeared from sight.


    "They''re really gone! There''s no reason for us to stay here either," Ritchie said, his voice tinged with sadness. "Let''s each go home and prepare for tomorrow''s mission."


    Though Ritchie felt a bit of sorrow, he knew he had to fulfill the responsibilities Jeremy had entrusted to him. With Jeremy gone, Ritchie would need to take charge of guiding ire and Emma.


    ire and Emma looked at Ritchie with confusion, not entirely understanding what he was saying.


    "Remember what Jeremy said before he left?" Ritchie continued. "He wanted us to keep growing stronger while he''s away. If we''re going to do that, we need to start clearing instances. Tonight, I''ll decide which instance we''ll tackle tomorrow. All you need to do is wait for my message. We have to work hard! We can''t let Jeremy down!"


    Hearing Ritchie''s words, both Emma and ire nodded firmly. They too didn''t want to disappoint Jeremy.


    With that, Ritchie, Emma, and ire each went home to prepare.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy and Bonnie''s helicopter soon reached the airport on the outskirts of Moonlight City.


    Here, Benjamin, Howard, and Liam were waiting for Jeremy and Bonnie. Under their watchful gaze, the helicopter slowly descended.


    Before the helicopter had even fully touched down, Bonnie jumped straight out of the cabin. She dashed over to her father, Benjamin, her face bright with a smile.


    "Father, you must be pleased now, right? You''ve been urging me to head to the safety of the capital for so long," Bonnie said, smiling at him.


    Benjamin responded with a resigned smile. "It''s true that I''ve been pushing you to go to the capital. But this time, you''re going there not because of my urging. You just want to go with Jeremy, don''t you?"


    Bonnie shook her head in response, a yful glint in her eyes. "In the end, the result is the same! I think you''re pretty happy about it anyway, aren''t you, Father?"


    Benjamin sighed and nodded reluctantly; after all, Bonnie was his only daughter.


    While Benjamin and Bonnie were talking, Jeremy also stepped down from the helicopter. He greeted General Howard and Liam with a few polite words.


    "You''ll certainly face quite a bit of trouble once you reach the capital," General Howard said, getting straight to the point. "I''ll have some of my subordinates stationed there offer you some assistance."


    Jeremy nodded with a smile, expressing his gratitude to General Howard for the support. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire


    Liam, looking a bit sheepish, spoke up, "I''m not like General Howard; I don''t have any subordinates in the capital to offer you direct help. But I''ll keep a close eye on things over there. If Ie across any critical information, I''ll make sure you hear about it."


    As the head of the Special Situations Bureau in Moonlight City, Liam wasn''t in a position to extend much assistance in the capital, and Jeremy understood this. He smiled and replied, "Any important information you can share will be a tremendous help to me."


    With that, Jeremy turned his gaze toward Benjamin, who had finished speaking with his daughter. Benjamin looked at Jeremy, his tone serious.


    "This time, as you head to the capital, I''ll remind some of my family members to lend you a hand. But don''t expect too much from them; they won''t risk offending the Lannisters to help you," Benjamin said solemnly.


    Jeremy nodded. "I understandpletely. That''s why I don''t n to rely on anyone else''s efforts. I''ll do my best to handle any trouble thates my way on my own. Besides, I''m confident I can ovee whatever challenges await me."


    Benjamin felt immensely satisfied with Jeremy''s response. The reason he had always valued Jeremy so highly was because he saw him as someone capable of handling things independently.


    "I have great confidence in your abilities," Benjamin replied with a nod. "I believe that even if you do run into trouble, you''ll be able to resolve it. That brings me to another request." He then looked over at Bonnie. "I hope you can keep an eye on my daughter. She''s always been a bit... impulsive, and she might do something that could put her in danger. In situations like that, your voice may be the only one she''ll listen to."


    While Benjamin spoke, Bonnie was making a range of expressive faces, causing both him and Jeremy to chuckle.


    "Rest assured, Bonnie is not only your daughter, but also my closest friend. Of course, I''ll make sure she gets all the help she needs," Jeremy replied earnestly, and Benjamin''s expression softened with satisfaction. But Bonnie''s face showed a hint of disappointment after hearing his words. Internally, she couldn''t help but wonder, "Jeremy only sees me as his best friend? Is that really all we are?"


    As Bonnie wrestled with her thoughts, Jeremy continued speaking with the others. When all was said and done, he turned to Bonnie, ready to leave.


    "What are you thinking about? It''s time to go!" Jeremy''s voice snapped Bonnie out of her thoughts and brought her back to the present.


    With a faint nod, Bonnie climbed aboard the ne alongside Jeremy. Under the watchful eyes of Benjamin, Howard, and Liam, the ne they boarded began to slowly ascend, leaving the airport.


    "They''re sure to face a lot of trouble in the capital," Howard said, his eyes following the aircraft. "As far as I know, Kean has already started stirring up problems for Jeremy."


    Howard was well-informed and had reliable sources in the capital. He knew very clearly about the tension between Kean and Jeremy.


    Benjamin sighed, his face clouded with concern.


    "We''re no longer in a position to offer Jeremy any more support. If he can''t resolve the conflict with Kean himself, he''ll have to face the pressure from the Lannisters," Benjamin said thoughtfully. "I think he has a good chance of handling it, though."


    Despite his words, Benjamin was inwardly uncertain. He knew Jeremy was capable, but taking on the immense power of the Lannisters alone was another matter entirely.


    General Howard sighed as well, sharing Benjamin''s doubts. Both men had their reservations about Jeremy''s ability to withstand the looming threat.


    Only Liam seemed to have full confidence in Jeremy. To Liam, Kean was nothing more than a formidable opponent. But Jeremy? Jeremy was different; he was, in Liam''s mind, nothing short of a genius.


    "I think you''re both worrying a bit too much," Liam said, trying to reassure them. "Jeremy''s strength is remarkable. He''s faced all sorts of challenges before, both in the real world and in the apocalypse game. No matter how fierce his opponents, he''s alwayse out on top. I don''t believe Kean poses a true threat to him."


    Liam''s words offered a glimmer of relief to Benjamin and Howard. Benjamin took a deep breath and said, "I certainly hope you''re right. But if he can''t stand up to the Lannisters in the end, I''ll do whatever I can to support him. A talent like his is far too valuable to abandon."


    With that, Benjamin turned to leave. There were still countless matters awaiting his attention in Moonlight City. General Howard and Liam also went their separate ways; as important as Jeremy''s situation was, they each had responsibilities they couldn''t ignore.


    In truth, their concerns might have been somewhat misced. Although Kean had the ability to bring serious trouble to Jeremy, he hadn''t prepared himselfpletely. The trapid by The Son of the Sun was ready, but Kean felt they didn''t yet have a strong enough advantage. He believed that before facing Jeremy in a final showdown, he would need to weaken him significantly.


    So, Kean devised a n: once Jeremy arrived in the capital, he would orchestrate a series of "idents" to ensure Jeremy paid a high price. Only when Jeremy was significantly weakened would Kean consider the final battle. In this way, Kean was certain that victory in theirst encounter would be his, beyond any doubt.

 Chapter 359 Attacked Midway

    The flight from Moonlight City to the capital would take about six hours. Throughout the journey, Jeremy patiently listened to Bonnie as she enthusiastically described the sights and culture of the capital.


    "I''m telling you, I''ve visited every art gallery in the capital! Each gallery has the most breathtaking works of art. Once we''re there, I can take you to see every single one," Bonnie said excitedly.


    Jeremy nodded but didn''t respond. In truth, he wasn''t particrly interested in art galleries or the cultural aspects Bonnie mentioned. His reason for heading to the capital was singr and clear: to confront the threat posed by Kean.


    Although he wasn''t entirely sure about the events that had transpired recently, Jeremy sensed that Kean had yed a significant role in orchestrating them. Since Kean was the one who''d arranged for him to be transferred to the capital, it was clear that he intended to present a substantial challenge.


    After talking for a while, Bonnie noticed Jeremy''sck of enthusiasm. She sighed with a hint of exasperation.


    "Why are you frowning so much? Do you really think that once we get to the capital, Kean will be able to cause you serious trouble?"


    Her question took Jeremy by surprise. He looked at her, puzzled. "Isn''t that exactly the case? I was transferred to the capital, and Kean had a lot to do with that. If he doesn''t have something nned to challenge me, why would he go to such lengths?"


    "True, Kean probably did have a hand in your transfer," Bonnie admitted, "but I don''t think he''ll be able to pose as much of a threat as you''re imagining. The political dynamics in the capital are veryplex. The federal government and the military headquarters are deeply embedded with ancient, influential families. These families hold immense power, controlling a substantial portion of both economic and political resources. Under these conditions, every move the Lannisters make is scrutinized by other families. So, even if Kean intends to make things difficult for you, he won''t be able to go too far."


    Bonnie had a solid understanding of the intricate web of influence and control within the capital, so she didn''t initially see the situation as dire.


    Jeremy''s curiosity was piqued as he listened to Bonnie''s exnation.


    Although Jeremy considered himself stronger than most people, he was well aware of theplexity awaiting him in the capital. He knew he needed to gather as much information as possible before his arrival.


    "Could you exin the rtionships between the major families in the capital?" Jeremy asked Bonnie directly.


    Bonnie nodded eagerly. "Of course! I''ll give you a detailed breakdown of the connections between the capital''s most powerful families. And you should know, the Lannisters actually have a lot of enemies. If you can ally with the Lannisters'' adversaries, you might even be able to counter Kean''s influence."


    Bonnie''s eyes lit up as she spoke; she was thrilled to finally be of assistance to Jeremy. To better exin theplex familyworks, she took out a pen and paper.


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    "I''ll draw out a chart to map the rtionships between the capital''s main families," she exined as she started jotting down names. "And once you''re there, I''ll personally guide you and help you navigate. I can even bring you to some of the family gatherings."


    Jeremy watched her intently as she began sketching out the family connections on paper, fully engrossed in her every move. But just as Bonnie finished listing the family names, Jeremy suddenly sensed an imminent threat closing in on them.


    His face turned icy as he shouted, "Get down!"


    Before Bonnie had a chance to react, Jeremy grabbed her, pulling her toward the rear of the ne. No sooner had they left their seats than a missile struck precisely where they had been sitting moments before. The missile''s impactpletely obliterated the middle of the ne, tearing it apart into two sections.


    The front of the ne started plummeting rapidly, while the tail section began spiraling down in a dizzying descent. Thanks to Jeremy''s quick reflexes and early warning, he had managed to pull Bonnie out of the line of fire, saving them both from the direct impact.


    Yet, even though they survived this initial crisis, it was clear they would no longer be able to reach the capital as nned¡ªthey had crashed into unknown territory. Using their unique abilities, Jeremy and Bonnie managed tond safely on the ground below.


    They found themselves in an abandoned small town. In front of themy the wreckage of the ne''s tail, which had fallen just moments earlier.


    Bonnie was still in shock, struggling to understand why they''d been attacked, especially by a missile. This meant their attackers were human.


    "How could this happen? Who would dare attack a ne sent by the federal authorities?" she asked, barely able to believe what had just urred.


    Jeremy, however, remained calm, his tone steady as he replied, "It might have been the Lannisters behind this. If you can think of it, so can they. Eliminating us before we reach the capital is an effective way for them to remove us as a threat."


    Although Jeremy spoke with a measured tone, there was a fierce anger beneath the surface that even he couldn''t hide. If Kean and the Lannisters had the audacity to do this, he thought, then they shouldn''t me me when I retaliate tenfold.


    But no matter how deeply he resented Kean and the Lannisters, now was not the time for revenge. He needed to focus on getting Bonnie and himself to safety as quickly as possible. The fact that this town was abandoned likely meant that monsters or an "instance" were present here.


    Jeremy quickly spotted an instance not far from them. Although it wasn''t particrly high level, its location on the main road meant they would need to clear it before they could proceed.


    "How are you holding up? Are you hurt? Will you be able to fight immediately if necessary?" Jeremy asked Bonnie, firing off his questions in quick session.


    Bonnie shook her head, answering with determination, "I''m fine¡ªI didn''t get a scratch. Let''s keep moving; we need to let others know we''re still alive as soon as possible."


    Although Bonnie wasn''t sure who had attacked them, she knew they needed to send word to others that they were safe. Thest thing she wanted was for her family to be left in worry and uncertainty.


    Jeremy agreed with Bonnie''s n; he didn''t want his friends to be consumed with worry either. What concerned him most was the possibility that Kean might use this opportunity to target his friends.


    "In that case, let''s get moving! Once we clear the instance ahead, we can keep going. With any luck, we might find a town with human activity not too far from here!" Jeremy said with urgency.


    With that, he and Bonnie pressed forward.


    Almost simultaneously, the news of Jeremy and Bonnie''s ne losing contact reached both the capital and Moonlight City. In the capital, there was outrage; this was the first federal aircraft in recent memory to be attacked and go missing. Moonlight City, however, was filled with fear and anxiety. When Benjamin learned of the incident, he was taken aback. He could hardly believe that Jeremy and Bonnie had encountered such a dire situation en route.


    What''s more, he couldn''t bring himself to inform his wife, knowing how devastated she would be upon hearing the news. Instead, he summoned Howard and Liam immediately. Both were equally shocked by the news, though they didn''t feel the same overwhelming pressure that weighed on Benjamin. They believed that Jeremy''s strength was substantial enough to ensure his survival, even in the face of an attack.


    "Mayor, I don''t think you need to worry too much," Liam said gently. "Jeremy is incredibly strong, and he can protect Bonnie. Don''t forget, Jeremy has faced far greater dangers in ces like the Tower of Exile¡ªa ce far more perilous than our reality."


    Benjamin showed no visible reaction, only giving a slight nod in acknowledgment.


    Howard, meanwhile, didn''t bother with reassurances. His mind was already upied, analyzing who could have been responsible for the attack. "I don''t believe this was the work of apocalypse game monsters," he began, voice tense. "It''s highly possible that the attack came from enemies within the federal leadership itself¡ªparticrly the Lannisters. They have the most motive for such an assault."


    Benjamin said nothing, but inwardly he made a firm resolution. If it truly was the Lannisters who orchestrated this attack, he would spare no effort to bring about retribution.


    "We''ve pinpointed thest known location where the ne was in contact," Liam quickly informed Benjamin. "We can send an elite squad to search the surrounding area immediately."


    Benjamin nodded decisively. "Send only our most elite team! If they need any assistance, just let me know directly. The city government will provide full support."


    Liam nodded in acknowledgment and hurried out, knowing he needed to arrange the Special Team''s deployment without dy.

 Chapter 360 Emergency Rescue Team

    Liam''s response was impressively swift.


    In less than half an hour after receiving the news, he had finalized almost all members of the emergency rescue team. Determined to take charge, he decided he would personally lead the mission to locate Jeremy and Bonnie.


    Once the rescue team members were selected, Liam shared the list with Benjamin. It wasn''t long before Benjamin called him.


    "I have no objections to your team list," Benjamin began, "but I think you might need help from Jeremy''spanions. We should inform them about what''s happened."


    Liam hesitated after hearing Benjamin''s suggestion. He worried that if they informed Jeremy''spanions, it might cause them undue panic, potentially leading to disarray during the mission.


    "Mayor, I think it''s best not to tell Jeremy''spanions right now. They''d be extremely anxious upon hearing the news, and it could seriously disrupt our operations," Liam exined, voicing his concern directly.


    But Benjamin wasn''t convinced by Liam''s reasoning.


    "As I recall, one of Jeremy''spanions is exceptionally capable," Benjamin countered. "And this person has been with Jeremy through the Tower of Exile. Are you sure they would be overly anxious?"


    Benjamin was, of course, referring to Ritchie. After various experiences, Ritchie had be a reliable and self-reliant ally. Benjamin''s daughter, Bonnie, had spoken highly of him.


    After a moment of thought, Liam realized that including Ritchie in the emergency rescue team might indeed be a wise choice.


    "I think you''re absolutely right! I''ll inform Jeremy''spanions as soon as possible. If everything goes smoothly, I should be ready to depart in about half an hour," Liam replied, his tone resolute.


    Benjamin sounded satisfied with this response.


    "Good, then proceed as nned! I''ll be awaiting good news from you," Benjamin said before hanging up.


    In truth, Benjamin hadn''t ced all his hopes on Liam alone. In addition to Liam''s team, Howard was also deploying a special rescue unit.


    However, the two special rescue teams would not be working together.


    Besides the team dispatched from Moonlight City, another rescue force had been deployed from the capital. After all, the ne carrying Jeremy and Bonnie had originally been sent out from there.


    When Liam found Ritchie and filled him in on the attack that had targeted Jeremy, Ritchie showed little sign of rm. Instead, he responded with a calm tone, "When do we leave?"


    Liam took Ritchie''s calm demeanor seriously, though he wasted no time in replying. "If you''re ready now, we can leave immediately. The rest of the emergency rescue team is already assembled."


    Ritchie nodded firmly. "I''m ready! I don''t need to bring much equipment, as my strength primarily relies on my own skills and abilities."


    With that, Ritchie walked out of his house, prepared to move. Liam was taken aback by his decisiveness.


    Once they boarded the helicopter, Liam finally had a chance to ask Ritchie, "Aren''t you even a little worried? Don''t you care about what''s happened to Jeremy?"


    Ritchie looked mildly surprised at the question. In his eyes, Jeremy was strong. Even if attacked, Jeremy was more than capable of protecting himself.


    "I haveplete confidence in Jeremy. I believe his strength is more than sufficient, so even if we weren''t going to rescue him, he''d still be able to ensure his own safety."


    Ritchie''s words left Liam even more perplexed.


    "If that''s what you believe, why are youing along with me?"


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    "I''m here to help rescue Bonnie! While Jeremy''s strength may be formidable, I''m not so confident that Bonnie can guarantee her own safety."


    Ritchie''s response finally put Liam''s mind at ease. He realized there was no need to ask further; Ritchie wouldn''t reveal any more than he already had.


    And so, Liam, Ritchie, and the rest of the emergency rescue team boarded the helicopter, swiftly heading toward the crash site where Jeremy and Bonnie''s ne had gone down.


    Almost at the same moment, Jeremy and Bonnie had already taken down the first instance standing in their way.


    The difficulty of this first instance wasn''t particrly high, but the monsters within it seemed to have undergone varying degrees of mutation. Some monsters had blended different powers, while others had levels vastly different from the instance''s overall difficulty.


    After clearing this instance, Jeremy turned to Bonnie, a hint of concern in his voice.


    "I have a feeling this was probably the easiest instance we''ll face," he said. "The instances and monsters we encounter from now on are likely going to be much stronger."


    Bonnie didn''t reply verbally; she simply gave a slight nod. Throughout the process of clearing the instance, she and Jeremy had been exchanging information. They hade to a firm conclusion: this attack on them was no coincidence. It was clearly a well-nned ambush by their enemies.


    Given that, they both anticipated that a series of relentless assaults would follow. Bonnie wasn''t in the mood for extra conversation; she understood that she needed to conserve her energy to prepare for the battles ahead.


    After clearing the first instance, Jeremy and Bonnie finally continued down the main road. They found an old, abandoned car and drove along the road, heading further toward whatever awaited them. Before long, they approached another rundown town.


    This town was slightly different from the previous decrepit settlements they''d passed. The buildings here were less worn down, suggesting it had only recently been abandoned.


    "We might be able to find some critical information here. If we''re lucky, we could even find a map at a gas station. That would help us pinpoint our current location," Jeremy said, a smile touching his face.


    He was putting on a cheerful front, but in reality, he felt quite pessimistic. Deep down, he doubted they would find any useful information here. As they drove, they hadn''t seen a single sign or indication of where they might be. No building bore the name of the town or even a street name.


    There were two possible exnations for this. The first was that the people in this area were strangely secretive, neverbeling their stores or putting up signs indicating where they lived. That exnation, of course, was highly unlikely.


    The second exnation, however, was far more unsettling: all the information had been deliberately erased.


    This entire area was, in fact, a massive trap set specifically for Jeremy and Bonnie. The reason they hadn''t been attacked yet was simply that their enemies weren''t quite ready to strike.


    Bonnie''s expression remained tense and serious. She, too, found Jeremy''s optimism somewhat misced. Thus, the two continued in silence, sifting through the gas station for any valuable information.


    Although the station had only recently been abandoned, every map had been meticulously cleared from the store shelves. Even the sections usually stocked with magazines and newspapers werepletely empty¡ªthere wasn''t a single publication left behind.


    "Jeremy, I believe everything here has been erased on purpose," Bonnie said directly, her tone sharp with urgency. "We need to leave immediately; this ce is a giant trap!"


    Jeremy nodded, finally taking Bonnie''s concern seriously. Until now, he had tried to remain calm and optimistic, but seeing the state of the gas station''s shop had shattered any pretense of hope he''d been holding onto.


    Without wasting another moment, they dashed out of the shop. Just as they did, the car they''d arrived in exploded in a sudden, fiery st.


    Almost simultaneously, a creature wreathed in intense mes emerged from the far side of the gas station. Its blood-red eyes locked onto Bonnie and Jeremy with an unsettling focus.


    With the help of The Eye of Omniscience, Jeremy quickly assessed the creature''s level. He realized, to his dismay, that this zing beast was level 66¡ªa good few levels higher than his own. This meant that Bonnie''s skills would be entirely ineffective against it in theing fight. Jeremy would have to rely solely on his own abilities to take down the creature.


    But just as Jeremy braced himself for battle, the monster suddenly redirected its attention to Bonnie.


    In a swift attempt to defend herself, Bonnie raised her staff and cast a slowing spell. However, her level was simply too low; her attack had no effect whatsoever on the creature.


    In an instant, the fiery beast closed the distance between them, advancing on Bonnie. Before Jeremy could react, the creature''s mes engulfed both Bonnie and itself, and they vanished, leaving nothing but ash in their wake.

 Chapter 361 The First Appearance of Moon

    Jeremy stood frozen, staring nkly at the spot where Bonnie had just been, utterly stunned by what had happened.


    "Is this the reaction speed of a level 66 monster? I didn''t even catch its movement before it took Bonnie away," he muttered to himself, trying to process the situation.


    Yet, despite what he had seen, Jeremy didn''t believe Bonnie had been destroyed. If she had been, her equipment would have immediately appeared in the ce where she hadst stood. Instead, it seemed the creature had only taken her away.


    "What''s going on? What exactly was the purpose of that creature? Could all these traps have been set just to iste me?"


    Questions swirled through Jeremy''s mind, leaving him uncertain about his next steps. Initially, he had suspected this attack was orchestrated by Kean. However, Jeremy knew enough about Kean to have doubts. If this were Kean''s doing, he would have alreadyunched his follow-up moves. Kean was desperate for revenge against Jeremy, and if given the chance, he wouldn''t hesitate to attack.


    Since Kean hadn''t shown up, that meant this assault wasn''t his n. Aside from Kean, the only other potential enemies Jeremy could think of were the architects of the apocalypse game. He had faced some of them directly before, but the power disyed by that fiery monster didn''t match anything he''d seen from the apocalypse game''s creators.


    Although the zing mes bore some resemnce to the power associated with [The Sun], Jeremy knew that [The Sun] had not yet fully revived. Without aplete resurrection, even the strongest apocalypse game nners wouldn''t be capable of orchestrating something like this.


    As Jeremy grappled with these questions, the sun in the sky rapidly set, and darkness engulfed the world. In the deepening night, a bright Moon appeared directly overhead, casting an eerie glow over everything.


    Gazing up at this luminous Moon, Jeremy felt a flood of conflicting emotions. He couldn''t shake the feeling that all his previous efforts had been utterly pointless.


    He felt as if his very existence in this world was superfluous. He even thought that he should end his own life immediately, believing it was the only way he could truly repay hispanions.


    Such dark, despairing thoughts weighed heavily on Jeremy, filling him with unbearable pain. Gripping his weapon, Mortal Combat, his face twisted into a look of finality. He was prepared to use Mortal Combat to end it all. Read exclusive chapters at empire


    But just as he was about to act, he froze. A sudden awareness dawned on him¡ªthese despairing thoughts weren''t entirely his own. Some external force had nted and amplified these feelings in his mind, leading him toward this darkness.


    The moment he realized this, he looked sharply at the sky. The luminous Moon, while outwardly peaceful and calming, filled him with an inexplicable sense of malice.


    "Could the Moon in the sky be my enemy too? And if so, what does Moon represent?" Jeremy whispered, filled with confusion and uncertainty. He knew there would be no easy answer.


    Not far from him, Bonnie, too, gazed up at the bright Moon, her face clouded with deep guilt.


    "It''s all my fault. If I hadn''t insisted on being with Jeremy, we wouldn''t have been attacked. If we hadn''t been attacked, we wouldn''t be caught in such a dire situation," she murmured, repeatedly apologizing to Jeremy, even though he wasn''t within earshot.


    Her mind waspletely dominated by a flood of negative thoughts.


    "You''re right. I should take responsibility for everything. I shouldn''t even exist in this world. I must atone," she continued, her empty gaze fixed on the ground as if she were apologizing directly to Jeremy.


    Bonnie was in no state to fight; in fact, she couldn''t even establish contact with him. She was utterly trapped in her own spiral of remorse.


    And it wasn''t just Jeremy and Bonnie. Every living creature bathed in the Moon''s eerie light began to change in disturbing ways. Creatures that were once normal slowly morphed into monstrous beings, while existing monsters gained a noticeable boost in power. However, this newfound strength came at a cost: every enhanced monster became a follower of the Moon, drawn to it with a fervent, almost obsessive devotion.


    These creatures roared in ecstasy, chasing the Moon''s light as they ran wildly across thend, entranced by its glow.


    Everything had taken on a nightmarish, surreal quality, as if the world itself had been warped under the influence of the Moon''s sinister gaze.


    In this area bathed in moonlight, only Jeremy could barely maintain his rity of mind.


    After all that he''d been through and a careful survey of his surroundings, Jeremy came to a grim conclusion: Moon was indeed the source of all the chaos.


    "If my guess is correct, Moon must be the embodiment of yet another apocalypse game nner. I just don''t know this nner''s true name yet," Jeremy murmured to himself, feeling as if he were on the verge of uncovering the truth.


    He knew that to find a way to defeat an apocalypse game nner, he needed to first discover their true name. Each nner in the apocalypse game had a name that encapsted their essence. Without this knowledge, any attempt to harm a nner would be futile.


    Moon might very well be this nner''s name, but until he could be sure, Jeremy couldn''t deal any meaningful damage. In this twisted game, any uncertainty in one''s heart about a nner''s name allowed the nner to redirect any attack through the powers they controlled. Only with an unwavering belief in the nner''s true name could an attack possibly affect them.


    Determined to confirm if "Moon" was indeed this nner''s name, Jeremy resolved to use The Eye of Omniscience. However, using The Eye of Omniscience on an apocalypse game nner was incredibly risky. When The Eye of Omniscience probed a nner, the nner could use its detection to directly target Jeremy, turning the knowledge against him.


    To mitigate this risk, Jeremy prepared meticulously.


    First, he created a decoy for himself. He infused a paper figure with his own aura, making it a usible stand-in. Then, using his powers as The King of Time and Space, he opened a portal nearby.


    His n was intricate. He would activate The Eye of Omniscience to gather information about Moon. The very instant The Eye took effect, he would enter the portal, using it as his escape.


    The portal would transport him roughly a kilometer away.


    Meanwhile, the paper figure infused with his aura would remain in ce. If the Moon above truly represented an apocalypse game nner, that nner would likely lock onto the paper figure as its target, buying Jeremy precious time to avoid the attack and gather the information he sought.


    With everything prepared, Jeremy sprang into action. As soon as The Eye of Omniscience activated, he stepped directly into the portal.


    Despite Jeremy''s speed, he couldn''t entirely evade the iing attack. The Eye of Omniscience did indeed reveal the information he needed about Moon, but in doing so, it also locked Jeremy into Moon''s deadly focus.


    Moon''s power was so overwhelming that it pierced through the portal itself, tearing at Jeremy''s very soul. He could feel a part of his essence being seized, pulled away from him and held under Moon''s control.


    In that critical moment, Jeremy activated a unique skill tied to his weapon, Mortal Combat. He opened its special spatial domain, transporting both himself and a distant, ordinary animal into the isted space. This unique dimension temporarily shielded him from Moon''s influence, giving him a chance to regroup.


    Inside Mortal Combat''s spatial domain, Jeremy finally had a moment to examine the information provided by The Eye of Omniscience.


    Just as he had suspected, the Moon in the sky was indeed an apocalypse game nner, whose true name was, in fact, [Moon]. As an apocalypse game nner, Moon wielded powers of both repentance and soul maniption. Moon could inspire blind worship in any creature, granting them a portion of its power to transform them on a spiritual level. Moon could also tear apart a creature''s soul; if it held even a fragment of a soul, Moon could gradually convert that being into a fanatical follower.


    While Mortal Combat''s spatial domain offered Jeremy some protection, he knew it was only temporary. Moon had locked onto himpletely. If Jeremy couldn''t quickly devise a way to reim his lost soul fragment, he would inevitably be one of Moon''s ardent followers, consumed by a forced and absolute loyalty.


    Jeremy furrowed his brow, racking his brain over what his next steps should be.


    Yet, no matter how hard he tried, a solution eluded him.


    "What exactly is the method to reim a soul?" he murmured. "I don''t have any soul-rted abilities. Am I supposed to perform a s¨¦ance¡­ on my own soul?!"


    Despite the immense pressure, Jeremy managed to cling to a fragile sense of calm. Still, he had no clear idea of what to do next. His mind swirled with thoughts, each one more desperate than thest.

 Chapter 362 The Foreknowledge of the Goddess of Life

    When Jeremy was trapped in the special dimension within Mortal Combat, without a single way to escape, the voice of the Goddess of Life suddenly echoed in his mind.


    "I sense that your soul has been torn apart! I can assist you! As long as the necessary conditions are met, I can help you reim your soul."


    Hearing the Goddess of Life''s voice calmed Jeremy a bit.


    "Why are you able to help me get my soul back? Did you foresee this situation long ago?"


    Jeremy still felt some concern, so he had to ask the Goddess of Life for more rity.


    The voice of the Goddess of Life echoed once more.


    "Back in the Tower of Exile, I sensed that the strength of your soul was insufficient. So, I prepared for this moment long ago. If you can summon me to your location, I''ll be able to help you reim your soul."


    Her exnation was certainly reasonable. However, from Jeremy''s perspective, the Goddess of Life''s method seemed nearly impossible to execute.


    "Even though I have the gift of The King of Time and Space, I can''t open a portal to bring you here directly. After all, you''re likely within a specific instance right now."


    Jeremy wasn''t just trapped in the unusual space created by [Moon]; he had also confined himself within the unique realm of Mortal Combat. Even with his powers as The King of Time and Space, he couldn''t breach the vast distance in time and space to bring a being as powerful as the Goddess of Life to him.


    "You only need to perform the ritual! Have you forgotten the ceremony you witnessed in the mists of history within the Tower of Exile? If you pray for my blessing, I will be able to reach you."


    The Goddess of Life''s gentle voice spoke once more.


    Hearing her words, Jeremy finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Alright then! I''ll start the prayer right away! But I hope you''re ready for a battle. [Moon] has been closely watching my every move. If you can help me reim my soul, [Moon] might unleash its immense power to attack us directly."


    "I understand! I''ve long been prepared for battle! Begin your prayer, and I shalle to you."


    After making all the necessary preparations, Jeremy began his prayer to the Goddess of Life. Soon, he felt a powerful surge of life force gathering around him, forming an aura that wrapped him in warmth and strength.


    In the space not far from Jeremy, threads of green light began weaving together, tracing the outline of a graceful figure. This elegant silhouette, glowing with radiant vitality, could only belong to the Goddess of Life herself.


    As her form solidified, an immense wave of life energy surged into Jeremy''s body. He could feel the powerful force seeping into his being, knitting together the fractured pieces of his soul, restoring him from within.


    Simultaneously, the bright moon in the sky above grewrger, almost ominously so, casting a cold, silvery light that began to shift, tinged faintly with a soft pink hue. The Moon was changing, transforming into a blood-red moon.


    This shift signaled that [Moon], the architect of the apocalypse game, was now about to unleash its full might. The blood moon''s appearance sent a ripple of transformation through all life forms within the strange space [Moon] had created. Every creature, whether from the real world or those summoned by the apocalypse game, began to undergo bizarre mutations, bing more twisted and fearsome than ever before.


    But the power of [Moon] wasn''t limited to the creatures¡ªit was also exerting immense pressure on the unique dimension of Mortal Combat. Fissures began to spider across the fabric of the space, cracks that spread and deepened, threatening to tear the realm apart.


    "It seems we''ve finally provoked the architect of the apocalypse game! It''s now wielding its most formidable power! We must act faster!" The Goddess of Life had sensed [Moon]''s reaction and knew time was running short.


    With an urgent resolve, she turned to Jeremy, determined to hasten the recovery of his soul. "I''m going to channel an even greater amount of life force into you to reim your soul. This might cause you some considerable pain, but I need you to endure it."


    Jeremy braced himself, knowing the infusion of life energy would bring with it intense difort. But he remained unfazed¡ªhe had experienced far worse agony before. This pain was a small price to pay for survival and freedom.


    "I''m ready! Just focus on speeding up the recovery process!" Jeremy''s resolute answer was all the Goddess needed.


    Without hesitation, the Goddess of Life poured every ounce of her life force into Jeremy. He could feel each cell in his body pulsating, splitting with frenzied intensity. His very essence seemed to be racing towardpletion, every fragment of his soul snapping back into ce, mending, bing whole again.


    It was impossible to tell how much time passed, but at longst, Jeremy''s soul was fully restored, entire and strong within him once more.


    Jeremy, feeling extremely weak, looked up at the Goddess of Life and spoke with gratitude but urgency.


    "Thank you so much for your help! But now isn''t the time to chat. We need to prepare ourselves for [Moon]''s direct attack!"


    Together, Jeremy and the Goddess of Life turned their gaze toward the ominous Moon in the sky. In that instant, the special dimension of Mortal Combat was shattered by an overwhelming force.


    [Moon] had finally broken through, allowing its power to exert a direct influence on Jeremy and the Goddess of Life.


    The Goddess of Life felt her own life force rapidly mutating under the pressure of [Moon]''s power. Strange and grotesque limbs began to sprout from her body, transforming her into an eerie and terrifying sight.


    Jeremy''s body, too, began to undergo strange mutations. However, he managed to resist the changes by using his innate power as The King of Time and Space to shield himself from [Moon]''s influence. Despite staving off the worst effects, Jeremy knew that his time was limited.


    Grasping his weapon in Mortal Combat, he turned urgently to the Goddess of Life.


    "We need to get out of here immediately! But before we leave, I have to find mypanion! You should be able to locate her position, right?"


    In Jeremy''s mind, it was likely that Bonnie''s soul had also been torn apart by [Moon]. He hoped the Goddess of Life could use her powers to locate Bonnie.


    As the Goddess of Life used her life force to stabilize her own body, she nodded slowly.


    "I''ve found Bonnie''s location. I will guide you to her."


    Without wasting any more time, Jeremy and the Goddess of Life hastily made their way toward Bonnie''s position. When they finally found her, Jeremy''s heart sank. Bonnie had been transformed, just like the other creatures, into a twisted and horrifying version of herself.


    Seeing Bonnie in such a state, Jeremy found himself at a loss for words. He hade here to rescue her, but seeing her like this made him pause.


    Though he had saved her life, the circumstances were far from ideal. They had both been ambushed by an enemy, which led to this nightmare.


    Jeremy thought of Benjamin. There was no way Benjamin would ept this oue. If he brought back Bonnie in this grotesque, mutated form, Benjamin would surely be enraged.


    Turning to the Goddess of Life, Jeremy spoke with a hint of desperation.


    "Can you restore Bonnie to her original state? I can''t bring her back looking like this."


    After pondering the situation for a moment, Jeremy turned to the Goddess of Life and asked directly.


    The Goddess of Life nodded.


    "I can indeed restore her to her original state! But it will take some time. We need to move away from this dangerous area first."


    With the Goddess of Life''s reassuring response, Jeremy finally felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He immediately activated his innate power, The King of Time and Space.


    Using a series of portals, Jeremy quickly transported the Goddess of Life and Bonnie toward the edge of the strange dimension that [Moon] had created. There, they could see a faintly glowing pink barrier¡ªthe boundary between this eerie realm and the normal world.


    "Do you think you can use your power as The King of Time and Space to get us through this barrier?" the Goddess of Life asked, her voice tinged with concern. Though she was confident in Jeremy''s abilities, she knew this barrier was exceptionally strong.


    [Moon] had only recently managed to project its power into the real world, yet the influence it held over this space was formidable.


    Jeremy furrowed his brow, considering the task at hand. After a moment, he nodded resolutely.


    "Don''t worry! I can use The King of Time and Space to open a portal through it."


    With that, Jeremy closed his eyes, concentrating all his energy. He gathered his strength, then harnessed Mortal Combat''s unique spatial abilities once more. When he oveid one space on top of the other, a small tear appeared between the two realms.


    Jeremy seized upon this rift, widening it into a portal.


    "Hurry! Get through the portal¡ªdon''t waste even a second!" he shouted to the Goddess of Life.


    Though he had seeded in creating a portal, it was far from stable. They needed to pass through quickly before [Moon]''s overwhelming power could close it.


    Without hesitation, the Goddess of Life took Bonnie and stepped through the portal. Just as the portal began to flicker and tremble, Jeremy leapt through as well. Your journey continues with empire


    Finally, Jeremy, Bonnie, and the Goddess of Life emerged into a safe zone. For the first time, they could see the full extent of the strange realm [Moon] had constructed, an ominous and twistedndscape sprawled out beneath the blood-red moon.


    [Moon] had used its formidable power to transform a vast area into a zone where all life would undergo uncontroble, frenzied mutations. Jeremy had simply stumbled into this region by chance.


    This realization meant that someone else was responsible for the ambush on Jeremy and Bonnie.

 Chapter 363 Finally, Safe Arrival at the Capital

    After sessfully escaping from the strange dimension, Jeremy''s first action was to check on the Goddess of Life and Bonnie. The Goddess of Life appeared to be in rtively good condition; after all, she possessed immense strength. Despite sustaining some injuries, her powerful abilities allowed her to recover quickly. Stay tuned for updates on empire


    Bonnie, on the other hand, was free from the mutations but remained unconscious.


    "How should we wake her up? Is her current state of unconsciousness still a lingering effect of [Moon]''s power?" Jeremy asked, uncertain of the best way to revive Bonnie. He decided to ask the Goddess of Life directly.


    The Goddess of Life examined Bonnie carefully.


    "Your friend isn''t in any serious danger. I will use my life force to heal her injuries, but she''ll still need some rest. Once she wakes, she should be back to normal."


    With that, the Goddess of Life began channeling her life energy, gently healing Bonnie''s wounds. After a short while, Bonnie''s condition visibly improved, though she remained asleep.


    Realizing her work was done, the Goddess of Life decided it was time to leave.


    "I must return to my previous instance as soon as possible. If I stay in the real world for too long, it will start to have adverse effects on me as well."


    Jeremy nodded in understanding.


    "I understand. Then please, make your way back quickly!"


    With Jeremy''s acknowledgment, the Goddess of Life''s form began to shimmer and fade. In a few moments, she transformed into a green light and vanished entirely.


    After her departure, Jeremy suddenly heard the rumbling sound of helicopter engines approaching from above. Looking up, he saw the emblem of the Moonlight City Bureau of Special Situations.


    "Liam, you sure work fast! I''m feeling a bit exhausted myself, so I''ll leave the rest to you!" Jeremy called out to the helicopter overhead before closing his eyes. It was clear he needed some rest after everything that had transpired.


    As the helicopter descended, Liam and Ritchie gradually took in the scene on the ground below.


    Seeing that both Jeremy and Bonnie had their eyes closed, Liam and Ritchie instantly grew tense.


    "Hurry up andnd! We need to check on Jeremy and Bonnie immediately!" Liam urgently shouted to the helicopter pilot.


    Ritchie, however, didn''t wait for the helicopter to touch down. Without hesitation, he jumped out and made his way quickly to where Jeremy and Bonnie were lying. After a closer look, Ritchie let out a sigh and muttered, "Do you really have to worry us like this? Couldn''t you have held out just a few more minutes before passing out?"


    It didn''t take long for Ritchie to determine that Jeremy was, in fact, fine¡ªhe was simply resting. Bonnie, on the other hand, was in a slightly worse state, but she wasn''t in any immediate danger.


    As the helicopterpleted itsnding, Liam rushed over to join Ritchie.


    "What''s the situation? Are they alright? Can we get them out of here safely?" he asked in one breath, his voice filled with urgency.


    Ritchie didn''t answer right away, letting out a sigh instead. This only heightened Liam''s anxiety.


    "What''s wrong? Tell me! I need to inform the others as soon as possible!" Liam pressed.


    After a moment, Ritchie replied,


    "Jeremy just needs some rest¡ªhe''s sleeping now. We only need to get him onto the helicopter. Bonnie''s condition is a bit more delicate; we should bring her back to Moonlight City for further treatment."


    Ritchie''s words finally allowed Liam to rx, letting out a breath he hadn''t realized he was holding.


    "Good, that''s a relief."


    The weight of the situation had clearly been pressing down on Liam, and now that some of the pressure was lifted, he quickly turned to practical matters.


    "We only have one helicopter, so let''s take both Bonnie and Jeremy back to Moonlight City. Benjamin will want to see Bonnie as soon as possible."


    Just as Liam finished speaking, he and Ritchie heard another round of helicopter engines roaring from above. This time, the aircraft bore the insignia of the military headquarters¡ªa sure sign that it had been sent from the capital to provide assistance.


    The helicopter descended slowly, and as itnded, a stern-faced colonel stepped out, assessing the situation with keen eyes.


    "What''s the status? Are they both in stable condition?" he asked, his toneced with both concern andmand.


    The colonel dispatched by military headquarters didn''t actually seem particrly concerned about the safety of Jeremy or Bonnie. His inquiry was more a formality than genuine interest.


    Liam quickly responded, "Jeremy is in decent condition, but Bonnie''s situation is more serious. That''s why I''d like to bring them both back to Moonlight City."


    Barely had Liam finished when the colonel cut him off with a firm retort.


    "If Jeremy is unharmed, then he must be taken to the capital immediately! Are you not aware of the direct orders from military headquarters?"


    The tone was blunt and rigid, and both Ritchie and Liam felt a surge of irritation at his attitude.


    Ritchie, never one to be intimidated by officials, was about to offer a sharp rebuttal. However, Liam, who saw value in maintaining a cordial rtionship with headquarters, quickly intervened.


    "It''s true that the military and the federal government want Jeremy in the capital as soon as possible," Liam said diplomatically. "But given recent events, Jeremy needs some proper rest. I think bringing them to Moonlight City first poses no issue."


    Neither Liam nor the colonel seemed willing topromise on their goals. As their disagreement continued, a faint, weakened voice suddenly broke through.


    "I don''t need to return to Moonlight City," Bonnie murmured. "I can apany Jeremy to the capital. Besides, the medical facilities in the capital are indeed better."


    Bonnie''s words left Liam with no choice but to relent. Jeremy, who had now opened his eyes, added his voice to the decision.


    "I agree with Bonnie''s suggestion. Take us to the capital. With your protection, we shouldn''t face any more threats, right?" Jeremy said, casting a calm, piercing gaze toward the colonel with a faint smile.


    The colonel nodded slowly.


    "With our escort, neither you nor yourpanion will face any further danger. If there''s nothing else, let''s proceed immediately."


    With that, he turned his gaze to Liam and Ritchie.


    "This matter is settled. You both should return. I''m sure there are plenty of pressing issues in Moonlight City awaiting your attention. No need to waste more time here."


    Without further dy, the colonel ushered Jeremy and Bonnie onto the helicopter. Ritchie and Liam could do nothing but watch as the aircraft lifted off, taking their friends toward the capital and into the unknown ahead.


    "Are all those people from military headquarters always this arrogant? Do they not know the meaning of respect or even basic courtesy?" Ritchie asked Liam with a slight frown of confusion.


    Liam gave a wry smile. "The folks at military headquarters all consider themselves the elite, the pride of the nation. They''re not likely to show much respect to anyone else. Believe it or not, the one we dealt with was actually pretty polite."


    After saying this, Liam immediately dialed Benjamin''s number.


    "Mayor, I''ve confirmed Jeremy and Bonnie''s status. They''re both fine, and the helicopter from military headquarters has already taken them. They should arrive at the capital soon. Bonnie will likely be able to reach out to you shortly. My task here is done, so I''ll bring the Special Team members back as soon as possible."


    With his reportplete, Liam gathered his team and started the journey back.


    In the Moonlight City mayor''s office, Benjamin finally rxed upon receiving the news. "Heading to the capital might actually be the better choice," he muttered to himself. "At least now, my daughter will have the protection of some powerful allies within the family."


    Benjamin had long hoped Bonnie would go to the capital. Although the journey there had its share of unexpected twists, knowing that Bonnie and Jeremy would soon reach the capital safely was enough to ease his worries.


    Just as Benjamin finished speaking to himself, Howard entered the office without dy.


    "I just received a report from military headquarters. They''ve safely retrieved Jeremy and Bonnie. In about three hours, they''ll arrive at the airport in the capital, so you should be able to speak with Bonnie soon."


    Howard watched Benjamin closely as he delivered the news, but seeing no change in Benjamin''s expression, he realized that Benjamin already knew.


    "So, you''re already informed. It seems Liam''s response time is still faster than that of those people at headquarters," Howard remarked, slightly impressed.


    Benjamin nodded with a smile.


    "Of course. Liam is the most promising subordinate I''ve ever promoted. I have no doubt he''ll continue to prove himself invaluable. In time, he may even be the second most capable person after Jeremy."

 Chapter 364 A Temporary Place to Stay

    After several hours of flight, the ne carrying Jeremy and Bonnie was finally approaching Capital.


    Although the Apocalypse Game had arrived some time ago and numerous instances as well as powerful monsters had appeared around Capital, the city itself still remained vibrant and bustling.


    Continue your journey on empire


    Even though the airport was located on the outskirts of the city, Jeremy could still see a vast number of buildings and bright streets. The bustling lights of the city illuminated the entire Capital, even in the darkness of night.


    "Thest time I was here, Capital wasn''t nearly as prosperous. It seems that in the past few months, the threats facing the city have been mostly minor," Jeremy couldn''t help but remark as he gazed out of the window.


    Sitting not far from Jeremy, a colonel sent by the military headquarters sneered. "The threats Capital has faced over the past few months have indeed been significant! However, the major threats have mostly been concentrated in other areas of the city. We''re currently in the southern district of Capital, and this area hasn''t been threatened at all. In fact, there are hardly any monsters near the airport."


    Jeremy turned his attention to the colonel. The man merely nced at him before lowering his head again.


    "It seems that these people still harbor a lot of hostility toward me. I need to be extra cautious now that I''m in Capital," Jeremy thought to himself silently.


    At that moment, Jeremy suddenly heard Bonnie''s voice.


    "Where are we now? How much longer until the nends?"


    Jeremy quickly looked toward Bonnie.


    Though her face was still somewhat pale, her condition had improved significantlypared to before. A faint smile even appeared on her face.


    Jeremy hurried over to Bonnie''s side.


    "You''ve recovered quite a bit! But I still think you should rest properly and not worry about anything else. We''re about tond at the airport, and once we do, you''ll be taken straight to the hospital."


    Jeremy smiled as he spoke to Bonnie.


    Bonnie nodded in response.


    "I don''t think I need too much rest. I just need two or three days, and then I''ll be able to join you in action again. Besides, I''ve already promised you that I''d show you around Capital and help you get familiar with everything here."


    At this moment, Bonnie still wanted to fulfill her promise. After all, in Bonnie''s eyes, she felt that she had to present herself in the best possible light in front of Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded.


    "I have no doubt that you will keep your promise! But if you don''t fully recover, we won''t be able to take any further action. So, it''s best for you to rest up first."


    While Jeremy and Bonnie were talking, the ne slowly descended toward the airport in the southern district of Capital.


    In fact, Capital didn''t just have one airport in the southern district. There were at least six airports around the city, and in addition to the obvious ones, there were several secret, hidden airports.


    The reason Capital had so many airports was that the city needed to centralize all the resources of the Federation. Whenever an important city of the Federation faced a crisis, these airports could quickly facilitate assistance to the affected areas.


    When the ne had fullynded, medical personnel who had already been waiting at the airport immediately moved to take Bonnie away.


    Before being escorted away, Bonnie called out loudly to Jeremy, "We''ll keep in touch the same way as before! As soon as I''ve recovered, I''ll give you a call!"


    Jeremy nodded firmly.


    With that, he stood still and watched as Bonnie disappeared from his sight, escorted by the medical team.


    As Bonnie and the medical staff faded into the distance, a figure slowly descended from the ne. It was, of course, the colonel sent by the military headquarters.


    "Bonnie has been taken to the hospital. Now, you''lle with me. I''ll take you to your temporary amodations. Since the Federation specifically transferred you to Capital, they''ll take care of all your arrangements," the colonel said, leading Jeremy toward a corner of the airport.


    In that corner, a jeep was parked, with three soldiers armed with submachine guns standing guard beside it.


    When Jeremy saw this scene, he couldn''t help but feel a little tense.


    He had a nagging feeling that something wasn''t quite right about the situation, so he secretly prepared himself for a potential confrontation. If the soldiers in the jeep suddenly attacked him, he wanted to be ready to respond quickly.


    However, in the end, it turned out that Jeremy had been overly cautious.


    The soldiers in the jeep were indeed just escorting the colonel and Jeremy.


    Once they got into the jeep, Jeremy rxed and settled in, waiting for the next stage of his journey to unfold.


    About half an hourter, the jeep came to a stop in front of a modest, unassuming inn.


    "This is the temporary amodation we''ve arranged for you," the colonel said as he gestured toward the inn. "Over the next week, you won''t be assigned any tasks. We''ll provide you with sufficient funds. Your only task during this period is to familiarize yourself with Capital."


    After speaking, the colonel casually tossed a set of keys to Jeremy. The keys were clearly for his room at the inn, and attached to them was a key tag disying the number 406.


    Jeremy watched as the jeep disappeared from his sight.


    "It seems they don''t take me seriously at all. So, why did they insist on bringing me here? Could it be that the ones who ordered my transfer didn''t have any ns in mind?" Jeremy pondered, feeling confused about everything that had happened.


    He had assumed that once he arrived in Capital, he would be under constant scrutiny, with all eyes on him. But now, it seemed that the city''s big yers hadn''t even focused their attention on him.


    After thinking for a while, Jeremy smiled to himself.


    "I guess I''ve been overthinking things," he thought. "Back in Moonlight City, I never worried so much. Perhaps the higher-ups here are simply bringing me in for added security. They don''t seem to be nning any grand schemes after all. I don''t need to be so anxious; I just need to stay adaptable and react to things as theye."


    With his mind now at ease, Jeremy entered the inn. Following the directions of the staff, he made his way to his room.


    Room 406 wasn''t exactly luxurious, but it was clear that it was one of the more expensive rooms in the inn. It wasfortable enough, if not particrly extravagant.


    Jeremy spent some time searching the room, making sure there were no unusual conditions or signs of tampering. Once he was satisfied that everything seemed normal, he decided to get some rest.


    Though he had managed to sleep for a couple of hours on the ne, it was obvious that resting on an aircraft wasn''t particrly restful. Jeremy hoped to recover as much of his energy as possible, so he''d be in peak condition to handle any unexpected situations that might arise.


    Despite his intention to rest, Jeremy remained on high alert.


    Inside his room, he set up a series of traps¡ªjust in case. Additionally, he used a special item at the door to further secure his space.


    This special item Jeremy had ced at the door was capable of recording every detail about anyone who came close to it. Every movement, every sound, every piece of information was meticulously captured and stored.


    Once all the precautions were set up, Jeremy finally copsed onto thefortable bed in his room.


    During his sleep, Jeremy wasn''t disturbed by anything. However, unbeknownst to him, his every move was being closely watched by countless eyes.


    He had assumed that the big yers in Capital were not paying attention to him, but he was wrong. In reality, the high-ranking individuals in Capital were keeping a very close eye on Jeremy.


    Everyone knew that Jeremy had obtained a divine artifact, and he was also widely recognized as the most talented yer in the Apocalypse Game. Whether they were his enemies or his allies, people were very concerned with his every action.


    Even factions that had no direct connection to Jeremy were eager to recruit him to their side.


    The reason why Jeremy hadn''t encountered any unexpected situations upon arriving in Capital was simply that the various factions here were still hesitant. They hadn''t made any moves yet.


    The rtionships between the factions in Capital were incrediblyplicated. Each faction had to carefully consider the possible reactions of the others. As a result, any actions they nned required extensive preparation and long periods of scheming.


    In stark contrast to Jeremy''s situation, Bonnie was undergoing a very different experience. While Jeremy was being taken to his temporary amodation, Bonnie had finally been transported to the best hospital in Capital.


    At the hospital, senior members of the White Family were already waiting for her. In addition to them, representatives from many of Capital''s most powerful families had also gathered. All of them were deeply concerned about Bonnie''s condition.


    Although Bonnie was exhausted from her ordeal, she still had to respond to the questions and pleasantries of the elders. They asked her how she was feeling, if she needed anything, and whether she was resting well. Bonnie, though tired, had to politely answer each of them in turn.


    Only when thest of the elders had left did Bonnie feel a sense of relief. Finally, she had some time to herself.


    At that moment, Bonnie''s phone suddenly rang. It was none other than her old ssmate calling.


    "How are you doing right now? I heard you were ambushed on your way to Capital! Are you okay? Did anything serious happen?"


    Hearing the voice on the other end of the line, Bonnie couldn''t help but smile faintly.


    "Don''t worry about me. Although I was ambushed on the way here, I was traveling with Jeremy. He was able to ensure my safety. I just need two days of rest to fully recover, and I''ll be fine."

 Chapter 365 An Unusual Atmosphere

    Jeremy had a restful night in his hotel room, and by 8:00 the next morning, he woke up feeling refreshed.


    The first thing he did upon waking was check the various traps, tools, and protective arrays he had set up around the room. Once he confirmed that nothing unusual had urred during his sleep, he let out a relieved sigh.


    "It looks like my initial concerns were a bit unnecessary," he thought to himself. "Since I won''t be assigned any tasks over the next week, I might as well take the opportunity to familiarize myself with Capital."


    With that decision made, Jeremy left the hotel and wandered out onto the streets of Capital.


    The area around his hotel wasn''t particrly lively, but it was remarkably safe. As he walked, Jeremy couldn''t help but notice the cold, indifferent expressions on the faces of the pedestrians around him. When some of them noticed him, a few seemed to be visibly nervous, while others would quickly avert their gaze and walk away at a faster pace.


    Jeremy found their reactions puzzling.


    "What''s going on here? Is everyone in Capital really this shy? Do they get nervous just from seeing strangers?" he muttered to himself.


    However, Jeremy couldn''t bring himself to believe such an exnation.


    Compared to Moonlight City, Capital was a vast metropolis. Inrger cities, people generally weren''t as curious about strangers. The indifference of the people here felt odd to Jeremy¡ªtoo odd to be normal.


    After wandering the streets for a while, Jeremy found himself in front of a small bakery. The window disy was filled with a variety of fresh-baked goods, and Jeremy began to browse.


    While pretending to casually examine the pastries, he struck up a conversation with the bakery owner.


    "Which one of your breads is the best? I just arrived in Capital yesterday. Can you rmend something?" he asked, attempting to sound casual.


    The bakery owner, without a word, shot Jeremy a cold nce. He didn''t respond verbally but instead gestured with a finger toward one of the loaves on disy.


    "You''re rmending this one as the best? I feel like you''re being a bit rude. After all, I''m your customer!" Jeremy''s tone was starting to show signs of irritation.


    The bakery owner furrowed his brow.


    "You''re right, you are a customer," he replied tly, "but that doesn''t mean I need to talk to you too much. People like you, strangers, don''tst long around here."


    The bakery owner''s words left Jeremy shocked and slightly taken aback. However, after a moment of reflection, he started to understand why the man had spoken to him in such a manner.


    Not long ago, Capital had called in elite forces from other cities, pulling them all in for one purpose: to protect the city. These neers, mostly yers of the Apocalypse Game, were now living among Capital''s residents, many of them strangers who didn''t have the same approach to social interaction as regr citizens. These yers were ustomed to fighting monsters, not engaging in polite exchanges with civilians.


    Given that these new arrivals were all Apocalypse Game yers, it made sense that the residents of Capital might feel some level of resentment or distrust towards them. After all, these outsiders were part of a war, one in which their lives were expendable for the sake of the city''s protection. So, Jeremy could understand the underlying reasons for the coldness directed at him.


    Yet, understanding the reasoning didn''t mean he epted the bakery owner''s dismissive attitude.


    "Even if people like us, strangers, don''tst long, we''re still fighting to protect you. Don''t you think you should be grateful?" Jeremy muttered to himself, feeling a knot form in his stomach.


    Though Jeremy had encountered some deeply unpleasant and even morally corrupt yers in the Apocalypse Game, the vast majority were simply trying to fight monsters and keep the world safe. Were these yers not sacrificing themselves to protect ordinary people like the residents of Capital?


    The bakery owner, hearing Jeremy''s words, showed a brief flicker of emotion on his face. His expression grew somewhatplicated as he took a moment to carefully consider his response. Finally, after a long pause, he spoke again.


    "You''re not dying to protect us," the owner said slowly, his tone colder than before. "You and yourrades are only fighting to protect the elites of Capital. If we weren''t residents of this city, we wouldn''t get any of that protection. So, no, we don''t owe you anything."


    After finishing his sentence, the bakery owner quickly packed up a loaf of bread and handed it to Jeremy without another word.


    "Take this bread and go. I won''t take your money. And I''d appreciate it if you didn''t continue talking to me," he said, his voice growing sharper.


    Jeremy stood there, momentarily stunned. The owner had effectively dismissed him, making it clear he was not wee.


    With a heavy heart and a growing sense of unease, Jeremy left the bakery. His mood had soured significantly, and he couldn''t shake the feeling that things in Capital were much worse than he had anticipated.


    The atmosphere here was tense, a storm brewing beneath the surface. Not only was there a power struggle among the city''s elites, but the growing rift between the ruling ss and the ordinary citizens was bing impossible to ignore.


    "It looks like the Federation and the military didn''t bring us here just to deal with monsters," Jeremy muttered under his breath. "Maybe soon, I''ll have to face off with the people of Capital too."


    As the reality of the situation set in, Jeremy began to wonder if the conflict he''de to fight wasn''t just with the creatures of the Apocalypse Game, but with the people he was trying to protect as well.


    The thought of such a situation unfolding weighed heavily on Jeremy''s mind, making him feel even more downcast and uneasy. He walked along the street for another half hour, trying to clear his head, but the tension in his chest wouldn''t dissipate. Continue your adventure with empire


    When his emotions began to settle somewhat, Jeremy suddenly realized that he had walked right up to the front of a military camp.


    "There''s even a military camp here?" Jeremy thought to himself, surprised. "It seems the military has really pulled in a lot of forces from other cities in the Federation. The existing military camps in Capital are already overcrowded, and now they have to make do with temporary camps."


    As he observed the camp, Jeremy continued walking forward. It wasn''t long before two armed guards stepped in front of him, blocking his path.


    "Who are you? You can''t go any further! This is a military camp!" one of the guards barked, his tone stern and aggressive.


    Jeremy remained calm. He simply reached into his pocket and pulled out his identification pass, holding it up for the guards to see.


    "I know this is a military camp. I''m an Apocalypse Game yer. I''ve been given an urgent directive from the Federation''s highmand and the military headquarters. I''m here on official orders. I need to enter the camp to prepare for uing operations."


    His exnation was clear and irrefutable. Everyone knew that the Federation''s highmand had called in numerous Apocalypse Game yers from all over, and most were expected to y crucial roles in the uing operations. After examining Jeremy''s pass and seeing no reason to doubt his words, the guards finally stepped aside, allowing him to pass.


    Jeremy entered the camp, but his initial impression was far from what he expected. From the outside, the camp seemed quiterge, but once inside, the space felt cramped and disorganized. There were piles of supplies everywhere, stacked haphazardly, creating a sense of chaos rather than military discipline.


    Much of the stockpile consisted of fuel, vehicle parts, and weapons scattered carelessly across the camp.


    "Such precious resources just lying around like this? Isn''t that a bit careless? No wonder the defenses here in Capital are so weak," Jeremy muttered to himself, unable to hold back his thoughts.


    He had expected the military camps in Capital to be far more structured and formidablepared to the ones in Moonlight City, but what he saw was theplete opposite. It was as if the soldiers here didn''t care for any order or discipline. The messiness made him uneasy, and he couldn''t help but think that this level of disorder was an indication of how poorly prepared Capital might be for any real threat.


    Before Jeremy could move much further into the camp, one of the soldiers noticed him.


    "Who are you? How did you get in here? Didn''t the guards stop you?" the soldier demanded, a sharp edge to his voice.


    Jeremy didn''t waste time on small talk. He simply showed the soldier his pass once again, hoping that would put an end to the questioning.


    "So what if you''re an Apocalypse Game yer?" the soldier scoffed, ncing at the pass before dismissing it. "You think you''re going to defeat the monsters around Capital? You can''t even get rid of them! If you were able to clear out the monsters quickly, we wouldn''t be stuck here guarding this ce all the time!"


    The soldier''s words were harsh andced with bitterness. Jeremy, who had expected some level of gratitude for their sacrifices, was taken aback by the open hostility. He couldn''t help but wonder what the soldiers in Capital thought of the Apocalypse Game yers. Did they truly see them as expendable tools for the Federation, rather than allies in arger war?


    Jeremy had not expected such deep resentment from the soldier toward Apocalypse Game yers. The hostility was almost palpable.


    "If you think all Apocalypse Game yers are so ipetent, then why don''t you join the game yourself?" Jeremy shot back without hesitation, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I bet with your confidence, your strength must be superior to most Apocalypse Game yers, right?"


    The soldier, furious at the insult, immediately drew his handgun. Jeremy''s eyes narrowed, his gaze cold and unwavering.


    For Jeremy, the soldier posed no real threat. He possessed the rare and powerful talent of The King of Time and Space. With this ability, he could easily dodge any attack, even without lifting a finger to fight back. The King of Time and Space granted him a teleportation-like skill, allowing him to instantly escape from harm''s way.


    Normally, Jeremy would have retaliated swiftly, perhaps incapacitating the soldier with a single move. But today, he chose not to. He had only just arrived in Capital, and this was a military camp. Engaging in a confrontation here would likely lead to seriousplications. For now, he preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble.


    Just as the tension between the two escted, amanding voice cut through the air.


    "What are you doing?! Put that gun down immediately! Didn''t I tell you that the firearm is for monsters, not humans? Why are you pointing it at a person?"


    A middle-aged man, exuding authority, hurried over to stand beside Jeremy and the soldier. The soldier, still seething with anger, quickly holstered his weapon at the man''smand. However, it was clear from the soldier''s expression that he was still far from satisfied with the situation.


    The middle-aged man turned his attention to Jeremy. His eyes were firm, yet polite. "Whoever you are, I would advise you to leave immediately. This is a military camp, and even with a pass, you''re not allowed to stay here for long."


    Jeremy nodded indifferently, his face expressionless.


    He had no intention of sticking around any longer. The state of the camp and the soldiers''ck of professionalism had already left him disappointed. He doubted that these soldiers would be of any help in the uing operations. The military here in Capital seemed more chaotic than he had imagined, and Jeremy had no intention of wasting any more time in this environment.


    Without a word, he turned and walked away from the camp, his mind already shifting to other ces he could explore. There was still much he didn''t understand about Capital, and he was eager to see more, to get a better sense of what was truly happening here.

 Chapter 366 The First Enemy

    Although Jeremy felt somewhat downcast after witnessing the events earlier, he decided to continue his exploration of the capital.


    For most of the day, Jeremy roamed several blocks around his ce of residence. Each block contained a military barracks, but the condition of each barracks varied significantly. The only thing they had inmon was that they were all inplete disarray.


    This chaos only made Jeremy feel more disheartened.


    "It seems that the people here in the capital really can''t be relied upon! If the capital is attacked by a stronger enemy, I''ll have no choice but to fight alone," Jeremy muttered to himself as he walked along the street.


    At that moment, he suddenly felt the chilling sensation of someone watching him.


    Jeremy''s instinct kicked in, and he became slightly puzzled. He began scanning the surroundings, trying to locate the source of the cold gaze.


    While doing so, Jeremy maintained his pace, pretending as though he was simply enjoying a leisurely walk.


    It didn''t take long before Jeremy pinpointed the location of the icy stare. The gaze wasing from the top floor of a nearby high-rise building.


    At the same moment Jeremy identified the source of the stare, the person who had been watching him also realized that Jeremy had be aware of their presence.


    In an instant, a sh of white light appeared at the top of the building, and a specially crafted bullet was shot directly toward Jeremy.


    Without thinking, Jeremy instinctively activated his "King of Time and Space" ability.


    Using the power of his ability, he sessfully blinked backward a short distance, just enough to avoid the bullet''s trajectory.


    As he dodged the bullet, Jeremy quickly opened a portal, which led directly to the top floor of the building he had just identified.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy stepped into the portal and emerged instantly at the top of the high-rise.


    However, as soon as Jeremy entered, the heavy door to the building''s top floor mmed shut behind him.


    It was then that Jeremy realized he had fallen into a trap.


    The bullet that had been fired at him earlier was merely a distraction, designed to draw his attention. In reality, Jeremy''s true enemy had been lying in wait on the top floor of the building all along.


    To make matters worse, there was a powerful enchantment on the top floor that could suppress Jeremy''s "King of Time and Space" ability.


    "It seems that the first enemy I''ve encountered in the capital is actually quite intelligent. You managed to tap into my curiosity and set such a trap for me. But I don''t think you''ll seed. On the contrary, your actions will only lead you to a fate from which there is no escape," Jeremy said with a smile.


    Although Jeremy had yet to figure out exactly where his enemy was hiding, he was certain that the person was somewhere nearby.


    As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, he suddenly felt the space around him begin to shift violently.


    Two massive hands materialized out of the void, each radiating with immense sr power. The blinding sunlight enveloped Jeremy, the heat from the sun scorching him like a furnace.


    In that moment, Jeremy knew exactly who was behind the attack.


    The person who had set this trap andunched the attack on Jeremy was none other than The Person in the Mirror.


    The Person in the Mirror had been working relentlessly to revive the Sun. And since it was Jeremy who had caused the Sun to fall, he had be a thorn in The Person in the Mirror''s side. This was why The Person in the Mirror had been targeting Jeremy all along.


    The reason they hadn''t seeded before was that Jeremy had spent so much time in Moonlight City. The Person in the Mirror didn''t have much power there. Most of The Person in the Mirror''s forces were concentrated in the capital.


    Once Jeremy had pieced together the identity of his enemy, he knew exactly what he had to do.


    He immediately drew out Mortal Combat, a powerful tool in his arsenal.


    But rather than aiming Mortal Combat at the two enormous hands, Jeremy pointed it directly at the sun in the sky.


    "I know where you''re hiding! There''s no need for you to stay concealed any longer. I''m about to force you into a duel!" Jeremy dered.


    With those words, he activated Mortal Combat.


    As the special space created by Mortal Combat took shape, a figure suddenly materialized in the sky, right where the sun''s light had been.


    This figure was one of The Person in the Mirror''s own, though this particr individual was far from being a powerful foe.


    Not only was this person incapable of defeating Jeremy in a duel, but they were also unable to buy enough time to dy Jeremy''s inevitable victory.


    Inside the special space of Mortal Combat, Jeremy refrained from immediately attacking his opponent.


    Instead, he chose to hold back, hoping to extract more information from them before the battle fullymenced.


    "You must know that you''re no match for me!" Jeremy said with a smile, his gaze fixed on The Person in the Mirror. "If you want me to spare you, then you''ll have to provide me with enough information."


    Not far from Jeremy, The Person in the Mirror red at him with intense hatred, eyes filled with malice.


    "Don''t even think that I''ll give you any information!" The Person in the Mirror spat, his voice venomous. "You, who caused the great deity to fall, you will surely face a curse! When the great deity is resurrected, it will make sure that you die without a grave to be buried in!"


    At the mention of the curse, Jeremy only smiled faintly, his expression calm.


    "If curses could really make me pay a price, I''d have died a hundred times over by now," Jeremy said with a slight chuckle. "Your curse means nothing to me. But I will respond to it, nheless."


    No sooner had Jeremy''s words finished echoing in the air than the space around The Person in the Mirror began to copse rapidly.


    A horrific scream of pain erupted from The Person in the Mirror, his body writhing as the copsing space crushed him from all sides.


    As the space continued to disintegrate, the form of The Person in the Mirror was mercilessly torn apart by the copsing void.


    However, Jeremy did notpletely annihte The Person in the Mirror.


    After forcing the enemy to pay a sufficient price and subjecting him to intense suffering, Jeremy paused. He looked down at the crumpled figure of The Person in the Mirror and asked again, his voice cold.


    "Are you still unwilling to give me enough information? If you continue to give me the same answer as before, the pain you''ll experience next will be far worse than what you''ve already felt."


    Jeremy''s threat was unmistakably clear.


    This time, The Person in the Mirror did not try to hold out. His voice, though trembling, still carried an edge of defiance as he responded, "Even if you can defeat me, you will never defeat the great Son of the Sun! The Son of the Sun is the descendant of the deity! He, along with our allies among the humans, will make sure that you are erased without a trace!"


    Although The Person in the Mirror''s voice trembled, and his words wereced with malice toward Jeremy, he had inadvertently revealed a significant amount of information.


    Jeremy stood still for a moment, processing the words carefully.


    The enemy''s attitude was far from cooperative, but the information he had provided was invaluable.


    Jeremy considered the possible reasons for The Person in the Mirror''s words. There were two main possibilities.


    The first, of course, was that The Person in the Mirror wasn''t particrly bright. He still held onto his hatred for Jeremy, but in his spite, he had unintentionally revealed crucial details.


    But Jeremy dismissed this exnation quickly. He knew The Person in the Mirror was not a fool. The truth was, this was more likely a carefully calcted move¡ªperhaps the enemy was under some kind of pressure or had no other option but to divulge what he knew.


    Jeremy knew that The Person in the Mirror had just given him a lead, one that could potentially unlock more answers, but for now, he needed to decide on his next move.


    Since The Person in the Mirror had managed to set a trap for him and ambush him here, it was clear that the enemy''s intelligence couldn''t possibly be low. This led Jeremy to fully believe the second possibility he had considered.


    The second possibility was that every move The Person in the Mirror made was being closely monitored by someone else. This meant that the only way the enemy could provide Jeremy with information was through this indirect method.


    Jeremy wasn''t concerned with how The Person in the Mirror provided the information, as long as he got what he needed. To Jeremy, the only thing that mattered at the moment was acquiring enough intelligence to make informed decisions.


    "Do you really believe you have such powerful forces?" Jeremy asked, following up on the information The Person in the Mirror had provided. "I''m not sure about the strength of the Son of the Sun, but I''m starting to think that the humans here in the capital aren''t as powerful as you all im. Are your allies the military headquarters?"


    When The Person in the Mirror heard Jeremy''s question, a surge of satisfaction filled him. He believed that Jeremy had finally grasped his true intentions. So, he continued speaking, using the same tone as before: "Don''t keep shouting! Our human allies aren''t the military headquarters! Our allies are¡ª"


    However, before he could finish his sentence, The Person in the Mirror abruptly stopped talking. A chilling realization washed over him: he could no longer speak at all.


    After struggling for a moment, The Person in the Mirror suddenly felt a searing, unbearable pain. His body was beginning to melt, as if some force was dissolving him from the inside out.


    At the same time, Jeremy felt an overwhelming surge of sr power¡ªso powerful that it almost felt like he was being consumed by it.


    Although Jeremy had acted immediately when The Person in the Mirror began to show signs of distress, he wasn''t able to save his enemy in time. He could only helplessly watch as The Person in the Mirror''s body melted away at an elerated rate.


    "It seems that the rest of The Person in the Mirror and the Son of the Sun had already made all their preparations. There''s no way I can get any more information from him now. And the longer I stay out here, the more danger I''ll face."


    Jeremy muttered these words to himself as he turned to leave. He knew that he needed to return to his residence. At least there, he would have the protection of the military headquarters and the various factions within the capital. These factions'' eyes and ears would ensure that Jeremy wouldn''t easily fall victim to the forces orchestrating the Apocalypse Game.


    As Jeremy made his way back to his residence, he was taken by surprise when he found Bonnie already waiting in his room.


    "You''re finally back! So, how was it? Was the capital much better than you thought?" Bonnie greeted him with a warm smile.


    Jeremy didn''t respond right away. Instead, he asked, his voice calm and even, "Why are you here? Shouldn''t you be at the hospital?"


    "I''m fully recovered!" Bonnie replied cheerfully. "The doctor said I''m good to go. I''ve already been discharged!"

 Chapter 367：The True Bustling Area

    Jeremy couldn''t have been more surprised. He never expected Bonnie to have fully recovered in just one day.


    He looked Bonnie over carefully, his eyes scanning her from head to toe.


    "Are you really sure you''re fully healed?" Jeremy asked, his concern evident. "I think you should rest for a few more days. Have you let Mayor Benjamin know that you''ve been discharged from the hospital?"


    Jeremy was particrly interested in whether Benjamin was aware of Bonnie''s actions. He wanted to make sure there was no misunderstanding.


    Bonnie''s expression shifted slightly, a hint of displeasure shing across her face when she heard Jeremy''s question.


    "I''ve already called him," she replied with a bit of irritation in her voice. "He said the same thing as you¡ªhe wants me to rest more. But I feel fine now. If I''m healed, there''s no reason to keep wasting time."


    Bonnie spoke quickly, and before Jeremy could respond, she grabbed his arm.


    "Do you remember the promise I made to you? I promised that I would show you all the important areas of the capital! Well, I''m going to keep that promise now."


    Without giving Jeremy a chance to protest, she began to pull him toward the door.


    Jeremy hesitated for a moment. "It''s already prettyte. I think we should wait until tomorrow to explore more of the capital. Besides, I''ve already checked out the area around our ce."


    Bonnie shook her head firmly. "The area around your ce is very dull. You''ve never seen the truly vibrant parts of the capital. And the best time to go there is at night!"


    Despite Jeremy''s hesitation, Bonnie was determined. She led him out of the room, and they quickly set off.


    Bonnie and Jeremy rode in a car, speeding through the streets of the capital. As they moved farther from Jeremy''s ce, it became increasingly clear that the area around his residence was, indeed, boring andcked life. At night, the streets near his home were nearly deserted.


    But as they passed through several neighborhoods and reached the city center, the atmosphere changed dramatically.


    The streets suddenly became bustling with life. Pedestrians crowded the sidewalks, and numerous shops were still open, their bright signs lighting up the streets.


    Jeremy couldn''t help but exim, impressed by the contrast. "I haven''t seen a scene like this in a long time! The city center of Moonlight City is never this lively at night!"


    Bonnie smiled at Jeremy''s words.


    "You don''t think this is the truly vibrant part of the city, do you?" she asked with a yful grin. "This is nothingpared to what''sing up. The real heart of the capital is still a couple of blocks away."


    Under Bonnie''s guidance, Jeremy sessfully drove the car to the heart of themercial district in the capital.


    Here, every skyscraper was brightly lit, shining with an almost artificial brilliance. The streets surrounding these towering buildings were filled with arge number of pedestrians, all seemingly as busy as they had been during the day.


    "Why are they still so busy at night? Do they really have so many things to take care of, even after the sun sets? Or are there a lot of people who just continue ying from morning until night?" Jeremy asked, observing the many well-dressed young people around him.


    Among these young people, some were clearly in fullpliance with the conscription standards that had been issued by the Federation''s highmand after the apocalypse game began. This meant that these individuals had somehow managed to avoid the Federation''s orders, indicating that their status was anything but ordinary. Some of them were members of prominent families, while others were heirs to major corporations.


    Jeremy felt an instinctive sense of hostility toward these people. To him, they seemed to be of no real use to humanity.


    Even after the apocalypse game had arrived, these people were still living in the same kind of extravagant, hedonistic lifestyle as before, and this filled Jeremy with difort.


    Bonnie, noticing that Jeremy''s mood was bing increasingly sour, quickly turned to him and spoke in an attempt tofort him.


    "It''s really quite normal," she said. "After all, even though the apocalypse game has begun, the Federation''s highmand can still maintain their existence. Are you suggesting we shouldpletely destroy the Federation?"


    Faced with Bonnie''s question, Jeremy could only shake his head helplessly.


    "As talented as I am, I can''t just destroy the Federation. If the Federation were destroyed, humanity''s civilization might copse entirely."


    Just as Jeremy finished speaking, a voice that he both recognized and despised came from behind him.


    "As expected of you. Now you''re even starting to care about the fate of human civilization?"


    Kean''s cold voice was unmistakable. He had appeared from behind Jeremy and Bonnie, walking toward them with an air of disdain.


    The moment Jeremy spotted Kean, he immediately braced himself for a potential fight. However, he did not take any action right away, as Bonnie gave his arm a gentle but firm tug.


    Bonnie understood very well that attacking Kean here would be tantamount to provoking the entire Federation''s highmand. Even though Jeremy was highly talented, he would not be able to bear the consequences of such an act.


    "It seems Miss Bonnie is indeed the more rational one," Kean sneered as he came to a stop in front of them. "You''d better leave that rustic attitude behind when you''re here, Jeremy. This is the capital, not some backwater town."


    Jeremy didn''t respond right away. He simply locked eyes with Kean, his expression cold and unreadable. Bonnie, ever the diplomat, stepped in to defuse the tension.


    "Kean, is there something we can help you with?" she asked, her tone polite but firm, hoping to prevent the situation from escting.


    Kean smirked and tilted his head slightly, clearly enjoying the difort he was causing. "Oh, I''m just here to remind Jeremy of a few things. It''s nice to see that you''re learning some humility, but don''t forget where you are and who you''re dealing with. The Federation has its rules, and you''re not above them, no matter how special you think you are."


    Bonnie shot a warning nce at Jeremy, silently urging him to keep his temper in check. Despite the tension between them, Jeremy knew Bonnie was right. Acting impulsively could have serious consequences, especially in such a vtile environment.


    After a long moment of silence, Jeremy finally spoke, his voice measured but carrying an underlying threat.


    "Just because I don''t always agree with the way things are run doesn''t mean I don''t understand the rules," he said, his gaze steady. "But you should also remember that I''m not someone you can easily intimidate, Kean."


    Kean chuckled darkly, a smirk still ying on his lips. "We''ll see about that, won''t we? Just be careful, Jeremy. The capital can swallow people whole if they''re not careful."


    With that, Kean turned and walked away, his figure blending into the crowd.


    Jeremy stood still for a moment, his thoughts running a mile a minute. Bonnie, sensing his inner turmoil, ced a hand on his arm and spoke softly.


    "Don''t let him get under your skin. We''ve got more important things to focus on. Let''s keep moving."


    Jeremy nodded, pushing his thoughts of Kean aside for the moment. As they continued through the bustling streets of the capital, he couldn''t help but feel the weight of the world pressing down on him. The stakes were higher than ever, and it seemed that the more he learned, the moreplicated everything became.


    But for now, at least, he had Bonnie by his side, and he was determined to keep his head focused on the task ahead.


    "This is the headquarters of the Federation! This is not a ce where you can just run wild!" Kean''s words were sharp, a direct taunt aimed at Jeremy.


    At that moment, Jeremy''s temper was already at its breaking point, and he seriously considered striking Kean right then and there. The tension was thick, and the air around them seemed to crackle with hostility. But just as Jeremy was about to react, Bonnie intervened with a biting tone of her own.


    "That line should be directed at you, don''t you think? Aren''t you the one causing a ruckus here? As a member of the Lannisters, shouldn''t you be more mindful of your behavior?" Bonnie''s words were cold, and they cut right through the atmosphere.


    Her rtionship with Kean had never been warm, and after Kean and Jeremy had be outright enemies, Bonnie naturally harbored her own deep-seated animosity toward him.


    Kean let out a soft chuckle. "Alright, fine. The feud between us hasn''t been settled yet. But mark my words, we''ll have our final confrontation soon enough. I only hope that before it happens, you don''t get wiped out by someone else."


    With that, Kean turned on his heel and began to walk away, his footsteps deliberate and confident.


    Jeremy''s eyes never left Kean. Several times, he felt the urge to lunge at him, to take action. But he restrained himself, knowing that attacking Kean now would only put him at a significant disadvantage. He took a deep breath and focused, reminding himself that patience was the better course of action for the time being.


    Once Kean had disappeared from view, Bonnie finally let out the breath she had been holding. "I don''t think you need to worry about his attitude," she said, trying to reassure him. "He''s already our enemy, and soon enough, we''ll take him down. Let him act cocky for now. His arrogance will only cause him to lose the support of the Federation''s higher-ups."


    Bonnie''s attempt tofort Jeremy was clear, but Jeremy wasn''t convinced. He shook his head slowly.


    "Do you really think those who supported Kean in the past will abandon him because of his arrogance? The truth is, those people support him because it benefits them. They don''t care one bit about his character."


    Jeremy''s words were blunt but undeniably true. Bonnie fell silent for a moment, her gaze distant as she considered his point. She let out a heavy sigh.


    "But don''t worry," Bonnie said, shaking herself out of her brief moment of uncertainty. "Kean can''t threaten you. The Lannisters might be a powerful family within the Federation, but the White Family isn''t one to be taken lightly either. We, the White Family, can provide you with more than enough support."


    Bonnie spoke with a quiet but firm conviction, her eyes meeting Jeremy''s with a sense of solidarity. Although she was not the heir of the White Family, she believed her influence within the family was significant enough to make a difference.


    Jeremy looked at Bonnie, a slight frown on his face as he processed her words. The White Family, while powerful, was not without its own issues, and he couldn''t help but wonder how deep Bonnie''s influence truly ran. Still, he appreciated her reassurance.


    "I appreciate that," Jeremy said, though his tone was cautious. "But we both know how delicate the situation is. Kean might be arrogant, but he''s still a major yer in the Federation. We can''t afford to underestimate him or those who back him."


    Bonnie nodded, understanding the weight of Jeremy''s words. "I know. But remember, you don''t have to face this alone. The White Family has resources and connections that can help you navigate the politicalndscape here. You just need to trust us."


    Jeremy remained silent for a moment, considering everything. The capital was a ce full of intrigue and danger, where allegiances shifted like sand. The Lannisters, the White Family, and other factions all yed their part in this game of power. Jeremy knew he had to be cautious, but he also knew that having Bonnie and the White Family''s support could be a key advantage.


    "I''ll keep that in mind," he finally said, his voice steady. "But right now, we have more pressing concerns. Kean is just one of many obstacles in our way."


    Bonnie smiled slightly, her expression resolute. "Exactly. And we''ll handle them all, one step at a time."


    With that, they continued down the street, the city lights casting long shadows as the night deepened. The capital, with all its gleaming towers and hidden dangers, was both a world of opportunity and a battlefield. Jeremy knew that the real struggle had only just begun.


    Bonnie was confident that she could leverage the power of the White Family to offer Jeremy the support he needed. Jeremy smiled and nodded, appreciating her words.


    "Well then, let me thank you in advance!" he said.


    Bonnie was clearly pleased by his response. "Finally, the annoying person is gone! Now we can continue exploring. And the bustling ces around here are just the beginning!"


    With that, Bonnie eagerly grabbed Jeremy''s arm and pulled him along, leading him through the lively streets.


    However, Kean hadn''t gone too far. After his conversation with Jeremy, he made his way to a tall building, where he could maintain a clear line of sight to keep an eye on both Jeremy and Bonnie. He watched them for a while, carefully studying their movements and behavior.


    After a few moments, the door to the room was suddenly knocked on.


    "Come in!" Kean called out in his usual cold tone.


    The door opened, and a young man in a sharp suit entered the room. He wasposed and professional, but his eyes betrayed a subtle curiosity, as though he were trying to gauge Kean''s mood.


    "What''s wrong? You look like you''re in a bad mood. Have you run into more trouble?" the young man asked, his voice casual, though clearly concerned.


    Kean didn''t turn around to face him. Instead, he replied with an air of indifference. "Isn''t it obvious that we have more problems than we can handle right now? Capital is already under threat from monsters, and now we have someone here who seems determined to oppose us¡ªthe Lannisters."


    The young man walked over to the window, following Kean''s gaze as he looked down at the street below. His eyes quickly locked onto Bonnie and Jeremy walking side by side.


    "Ah, so Bonnie''s finally back in Capital," the young man observed. "And if I''m not mistaken, that man next to her must be Jeremy, right? Looks like you finally get your chance to face him in a final showdown. Do you feel confident about winning?"


    Kean turned sharply at the mention of Jeremy''s name, his eyes filled with cold intensity.


    "Jeremy is not just my enemy," Kean responded with a biting tone. "He''s an enemy of the entire Lannister family! Shouldn''t you, as my cousin, be offering your help when I face him? After all, I''m your blood rtive! If I lose to Jeremy, the entire Lannister family will be disgraced."


    Kean''s words were filled with passion, and the frustration he felt was evident in his voice. The young man, however, simply smiled.


    "You are my cousin, but you haven''t earned the right to speak for the entire Lannister family yet," he said with a hint of amusement. "Even if Jeremy is our enemy, and even if he beats you, it doesn''t necessarily mean he''s won the war."


    Kean''s face tightened with anger at the young man''s words, but inwardly, he had already anticipated such a response. He was no fool. Kean knew that the Lannisters'' loyalty to him wasn''t as strong as he had hoped. His reason for bringing the young man in was not to get help but to throw off any judgment and distract him from the bigger picture.


    Kean had alreadye to terms with the fact that the Lannister family would not fully back him. He was simply using them for the moment. His real alliancesy with The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror. The Lannisters, for all their power, were just pawns in hisrger scheme.


    The young man chuckled at Kean''s frustration. "Well, I suppose that''s how it is. But it''s clear you''re more isted than you thought."


    Kean didn''t respond immediately. His mind was already set on his next steps. He knew that his future didn''t lie with the Lannisters¡ªhe would rely on his real allies, the ones who would help him achieve his goals, even if it meant betraying those who were closest to him.


    The young man left, and Kean was once again alone with his thoughts. He looked down at the streets below, his gaze unwavering, as his ns took shape in the shadows. This was just the beginning. He would use whatever means necessary to rise above the chaos that surrounded him. The Lannisters were nothing more than tools in his hands, and soon, he would no longer need them at all.

 Chapter 368 Urgent Mission

    After spending an entire evening in the bustling district of Capital, Jeremy finally decided to return to his residence in the poorer area just before dawn.


    Bonnie, of course, wouldn''t be staying with him. Her ce was actually the White Family''s vi in the prosperous district.


    Jeremy slept for about four hours at his residence. Around noon, a loud knocking on the door abruptly woke him up.


    "Who''s knocking? I don''t need room service! Don''t disturb me unless it''s important!" Jeremy said, slightly irritated. He hadn''t managed to rest properly.


    However, his words didn''t seem to have any effect on the person outside the door.


    The knocking continued with even more force.


    Angrily, Jeremy got out of bed and hurried to the door, yanking it open with a scowl on his face.


    To his surprise, the figure of the Colonel, who had escorted him and Bonnie to Capital, appeared before him.


    Without a word, the Colonel handed him a folder.


    "This is an urgent mission from military headquarters! You need to review the contents. The mission starts tonight," the Colonel said coldly, his tone devoid of warmth.


    It was clear he harbored some faint animosity towards Jeremy.


    Jeremy took the folder, still fuming with frustration.


    "I understand! But next time, give me a heads-up before you show up at my doorstep like this. It''s a bit much for me to handle."


    Jeremy hade to Capital for the purpose of missions, so receiving an urgent task didn''t seem all that strange. What bothered him was how the Apocalypse Game yers were notified to take on missions in such a rudimentary way here.


    Back in Moonlight City, Jeremy and hispanionsmunicated easily through their phones.


    The Colonel''s expression remained unchanged as he said tly, "You can check your phone. I''ve called you at least ten times!"


    Jeremy picked up his phone and saw that he had missed 15 calls.


    Feeling a bit embarrassed, he realized his mistake. However, the Colonel had no intention of mocking him.


    "Since you''ve already grasped the general idea of the urgent mission, you should start preparing immediately! The military headquarters expects you to execute this task wlessly!"


    With that, the Colonel turned sharply on his heels and walked away without so much as a backward nce. He clearly had no intention of engaging Jeremy in any further conversation.


    Once the Colonel was gone, Jeremy mmed the door shut with a loud thud.


    "What kind of urgent mission could they possibly want me to undertake? Did the defense forces in Capital suddenly stumble upon an exceptionally challenging instance on the outskirts of the city?"


    Jeremy muttered to himself, his curiosity piqued as he opened the folder.


    As he read through the entire document, the reason for assigning him this particr urgent mission became crystal clear.


    The mission he was tasked with was directly tied to an instance with a difficulty level of 70. Although the mission was technically just a reconnaissance operation, the fact remained that Jeremy himself had only recently reached level 60.


    Sending someone at his level to investigate a 70-level instance was undoubtedly a high-risk endeavor.


    "It seems the people targeting me can hardly wait to make their move. If I manage toplete this mission, they''ll definitely assign me an even more impossible task next time," Jeremy thought, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.


    Despite his irritation, Jeremy wasn''t overly worried. He had anticipated such scenarios long before arriving in Capital.


    Determined to stay one step ahead, Jeremy decided to scout the area surrounding the instance before the mission officiallymenced.


    This high-level instance, appropriately named "The Abyss", was located in a canyon on the outskirts of Capital. A river cut through the gorge, and the entrance to the instance was situated at a small, weathered dock.


    From the name alone, it was easy to infer a connection to one of the Apocalypse Game nners: The Hanged Man.


    The Hanged Man wielded powers of decay and corruption, manifesting in the creation of vast expanses of darkness and destion¡ªoften taking the form of a darkke. Naturally, such ake could also be referred to as an abyss.


    "My conflict with The Hanged Man hasn''t reached the same level of intensity as with some of the other nners. So, I probably won''t encounter too many dangers this time.


    "At the very least, The Hanged Man himself isn''t likely to attack me directly. Without the intervention of an Apocalypse Game nner, I should be able to rely on my gear and innate talents to make it out of The Abyss instance in one piece."


    Jeremy muttered these words as he began to strategize, his mind already forming a n to navigate the perilous depths of the ominous canyon.


    Afterpleting all the necessary preparations, Jeremy set off immediately.


    An hourter, he arrived at the canyon where the "Abyss" instance was located.


    Although the canyon wasn''t far from Capital, it waspletely covered in lush, dense forest. As Jeremy made his way through the area, he even spotted some creatures typically found only in tropical rainforests.


    "What''s going on? How could there be a tropical rainforest climate near Capital? That''s absolutely impossible!"


    Jeremy''s initial surprise quickly turned into a firm conclusion.


    He was certain that the climate around Capital had been distorted by the powers of one of the Apocalypse Game nners.


    "It seems The Person in the Mirror really has an incredibly strong presence in the Capital region. They''ve even managed to use the powers of ''The Sun'' to create a rainforest around Capital," Jeremy thought, immediately heightening his vignce.


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    From Jeremy''s perspective, any area influenced by the power of The Sun was bound to be fraught with immense danger.


    He began to suspect that the name of the "Abyss" instance might have been deliberately misleading. There was a strong possibility that most of the forces present in the instance were rted to The Sun rather than any abyss-like features.


    After roughly half an hour of navigating through the rainforest, Jeremy finally arrived in the heart of the canyon. The climate here seemed far more normal.


    Apart from the river that flowed through the middle of the canyon, the surrounding area was rtively dry.


    Following the river downstream, Jeremy eventually spotted a small dock about 10 kilometers away.


    The moment heid eyes on the dock, he sensed something profoundly unusual about the space surrounding it.


    The space around the dock had undergone severe distortion and folding.


    The few remaining dpidated boats at the dock were, in reality, not part of the physical world. Those old, worn-out boats were already within the spatial domain of the "Abyss" instance.


    "It seems the difficulty of the ''Abyss'' instance is even greater than I anticipated! If someone came here to scout the instance without the ''King of Time and Space'' ability, they wouldn''t even notice the anomalies. They''d most likely choose to board one of those broken boats straight away!"


    On the surface, boarding the dpidated boats appeared to be a way to avoid the most dangerous areas. This seemingly safer route might trick Apocalypse Game yers into thinking they could start exploring the instance without immediately encountering danger.


    But in reality, it was a cunningly designed trap.


    If anyone were to board those old boats before officially entering the "Abyss" instance, they would be swiftly killed by the instance''s overwhelming power.


    Jeremy''s expression darkened as he contemted this revtion. It was clear that this mission wasn''t just about reconnaissance¡ªit was a battle against the unseen dangers lurking in every shadow.


    After observing the area around the instance for a while, Jeremy finally discovered a safe method to enter the instance.


    On the dock''s wooden bridge, he created a unique space¡ªa dimensional construct that allowed him to directly ess the entrance to the Abyss instance.


    The moment this unique space waspleted, the entrance to the Abyss instance revealed itself.


    At first nce, the entrance seemed to be located at the end of the dock''s bridge. However, in reality, the true entrance was beneath the dock, hidden underwater.


    To safely enter the Abyss instance, Jeremy realized he would have to dive into the river.


    But he didn''t rush into the water immediately.


    Jeremy had a lingering feeling that the river surrounding the instance was not as tranquil as it appeared. He suspected there might be creatures lurking within its depths, and he was certain the river had some connection to the Abyss itself.


    It wouldn''t be surprising if stepping into the river triggered some force that would drag him directly into the Abyss.


    Jeremy meticulously examined his surroundings one more time. After ensuring there were no visible monsters or immediate threats, he tightened his grip on Mortal Combat, his trusted weapon, and cautiously stepped into the river.


    The moment his body entered the water, he felt an intense cold seep into his bones. His body heat was being drained at an rming rate.


    Jeremy quickly realized he had no time to waste. He needed to find the entrance to the Abyss instance as fast as possible. If he lingered in the icy river too long, he would likely freeze to death before even reaching the entrance.


    After searching underwater for what felt like an eternity, Jeremy finally located the entrance. It was concealed in an unremarkable and easily overlooked spot.


    If it weren''t for Jeremy''s extraordinary spatial awareness, finding this hidden entrance would have been nearly impossible.


    Reaching out, Jeremy pressed his hand against the entrance.


    In that instant, an overwhelming force pulled him into the Abyss instance.


    As Jeremy disappeared from the river, a shadowy figure emerged at the spot where he had just been.


    This shadow bore an uncanny resemnce to Jeremy, mirroring his appearance perfectly.


    But the shadow lingered for only a brief moment before vanishing entirely.


    Jeremy, meanwhile, found himself traversing an extraordinarily cold and utterly dark region.


    Even with his King of Time and Space ability, he was unable to construct a portal in this pitch-ck void.


    His only option was to endure the numbing cold and oppressive darkness, pressing forward as quickly as possible.

 Chapter 369 The Abyss Instance

    After moving through the darkness for what felt like an eternity, Jeremy suddenly noticed a faint glimmer of light ahead.


    The instant he saw the light, Jeremy summoned a Portal, stepping through it and emerging directly at the source of the glow.


    Whaty before him was an enormous gate. The light streamed through a narrow crack at the top of the door, casting faint illumination over the surrounding space.


    Jeremy didn''t immediately step through the gate.


    His instincts told him that whatevery beyond was bound to be even more dangerous.


    Jeremy reasoned that he hadn''t fully entered the Abyss instance yet.


    The area he had just traversed was merely an expanded zone behind the entrance, not the true heart of the instance.


    Only by pushing through this massive gate could he officially step into the depths of the Abyss instance.


    Taking a few deep breaths to steady his nerves, Jeremy finally made up his mind.


    With a determined shove, he pushed the heavy gate open.


    As the doors swung wide, an overwhelming flood of sunlight poured over Jeremy, momentarily blinding him.


    When his eyes adjusted, Jeremy found himself staring at an idylldscape¡ªa sunlit field stretching out before him.


    In the distance, he could make out a quaint, fairytale-like vige.


    For a moment, Jeremy froze in astonishment, his face betraying his disbelief.


    "Is this supposed to be the Abyss instance? Why does it feel more like a Fairytale instance? How could such a sunny, peaceful, and picturesque ce possibly be called ''The Abyss''?"


    His initial shock quickly gave way to spection.


    Jeremy surmised that neither the military headquarters nor the more powerful Apocalypse Game yers had managed to delve into the true depths of the Abyss instance.


    As a result, their understanding of the instance''s interior was based purely on the ominous, abyss-like appearance of its surroundings.


    In fairness, the external area of the Abyss instance did bear a striking resemnce to a literal abyss.


    "It seems this instance may have little to do with The Hanged Man after all. There''s a good chance this entire setup is a trap created by The Person in the Mirror just for me."


    Resolving to move forward, Jeremy headed toward the distant vige.


    The sunlit field was vast and empty, with no signs of activity except for the small settlement ahead.


    If Jeremy wanted to uncover clues to clearing the instance, visiting the vige was inevitable.


    As he approached the vige, he noticed the temperature around him was steadily rising.


    The power of the sun within the instance was overwhelming, far beyond what he had anticipated.


    Despite the serene and picturesquendscape, Jeremy couldn''t shake the feeling that a deeper danger lurked just out of sight.


    Jeremy could almost feel the Sun itself ring at him from a short distance away, its oppressive presence an inescapable weight.


    "This feeling is unbearable! I''m exposed in in sight, while the enemy hides in the shadows. They could strike at any moment, and I can''t even detect their presence right now."


    He surveyed his surroundings cautiously, his eyes scanning for anything unusual.


    There was no way Jeremy believed he could clear such a high-level instance¡ªrated at a daunting level 70¡ªwithout facing significant danger.


    As he walked along the narrow dirt path through the field, it wasn''t long before he encountered a farmer carrying tools.


    The farmer, upon seeing Jeremy, appeared visibly confused.


    "What are you doing here? You don''t look like someone from the vige. Are you an outsider?" the farmer asked, frowning as he studied Jeremy''s appearance.


    Jeremy nodded slightly.


    "You''re right; I''m not from the vige. I arrived here due to... unforeseen circumstances. I''m hoping to leave as soon as possible. Could you give me some guidance or clues?"


    Hearing Jeremy''s response, the farmer''s furrowed brow gradually rxed. A warm smile spread across his face.


    "It''s been ages since we''ve had an outsider visit the vige! Since you''re here, don''t be in such a hurry to leave! Everyone in the vige is kind and weing. Come with me, and I''ll introduce you to the others."


    The farmer''s sudden enthusiasm only heightened Jeremy''s unease.


    Instinctively, he wanted to decline. But just as he opened his mouth to speak, he realized something horrifying¡ªhe couldn''t say the words he intended to.


    He had nned to refuse the farmer''s offer, but the words that came out of his mouth were entirely different:


    "Of course, no problem! I''ve been looking forward to meeting everyone in the vige. If there''s a chance to y a game with them, that would be even better!"


    Jeremy''s tone was cheerful and filled with excitement,pletely at odds with his internal thoughts.


    As he listened to his own words, an intense sense of danger washed over him.


    "I''ve even lost control over my own body! This must be due to the rules of the instance! I need to tread carefully from here on out. I absolutely cannot trigger any more restrictions!"


    While Jeremy hadn''t encountered such a situation in his previous instances, he recalled stories from other Apocalypse Game yers. They had mentioned that certain instances came with unique rules, some of which could exert control over a yer''s actions.


    Left with no other choice, Jeremy followed the farmer into the vige.


    With every step he took, the ominous air of the instance seemed to grow heavier, and Jeremy''s resolve to uncover the truth about this strange ce only deepened.


    The town, though not particrly bustling, was filled with lively energy as the townsfolk warmly weed Jeremy''s arrival.


    Excited chatter surrounded him as the townspeople crowded around, eager to ask him all sorts of questions.


    Jeremy found himself overwhelmed. Unable to respond to everyone at once, he opted instead to maintain a polite smile, letting their words wash over him. Find exclusive stories on empire


    "All right, all right! Don''t crowd our esteemed guest! He''s just arrived and can''t possibly answer all your questions at once!" the farmer eximed, stepping in to disperse the enthusiastic townsfolk.


    With some effort, the farmer managed to shoo the crowd away, giving Jeremy a moment of respite.


    "To properly wee our honored guest," the farmer announced in a booming voice, "I''ve decided to invite the Mayor to join us! The Mayor will surely know the best way to make our precious guest feel right at home!"


    As soon as the farmer mentioned the Mayor, the crowd erupted into cheers.


    "Mayor!"


    "Mayor!"


    "Mayor!"


    The word was chanted repeatedly, echoing through the vige like a mantra.


    Although the townspeople wore warm and friendly expressions, and the atmosphere of the vige seemed lighthearted and cheerful, Jeremy felt an increasingly heavy pressure bearing down on him.


    Deep down, he was certain that this Mayor everyone was so eager to see would pose a significant threat to him.


    Amid the thunderous cheers, the central structure in the vige¡ªthe Mayor''s residence¡ªbegan to ring with the sound of bells.


    One chime, then another, until a total of twelve solemn tones reverberated across the vige.


    When the twelfth bell tolled, the grand doors of the Mayor''s residence swung open with deliberate grandeur.


    Through the open doors emerged a massive carriage drawn by six imposing horses.


    The carriage moved slowly but steadily, its presencemanding the attention of everyone present. The townspeople''s eyes followed its every movement as it made its way to Jeremy.


    Jeremy stood frozen, his senses heightened, carefully observing the carriage as it approached.


    Without warning, one of the carriage''s windows creaked open. From within, a single scarlet eye locked onto Jeremy, staring with an intensity that seemed to pierce through his very soul.


    "So, you are the esteemed guest, are you?" A voice, twisted and grotesque, rang out from within the carriage. It was a sound that could unravel even the strongest of minds¡ªwarped, maddening, and otherworldly.


    Jeremy did not reply. He merely maintained his polite smile, choosing silence as his shield.


    He had learned his lesson earlier. Since anything he said could be twisted or turned against him, it was safer not to speak at all.


    Unfortunately, his silence did little to protect him.


    The farmer beside him was quick to interject, answering on his behalf.


    "Mayor, you''re absolutely right! He is indeed the honored guest I brought here."


    The scarlet eye remained fixed on Jeremy, ignoring the farmer entirely despite his response.


    "In that case, let the celebration begin immediately! Every esteemed guest deserves a grand celebration!"


    That grotesque, repulsive voice echoed once more from inside the carriage.


    As the words sank in, Jeremy felt his stomach churn violently, as if he were on the verge of vomiting. At the same time, he noticed a strange sensation in his mind¡ªa subtle shift that made him feel as though something had changed within him.


    The Mayor''s deration seemed to excite the townsfolk immensely.


    All of them, including the farmer, eagerly began preparing for the uing celebration.


    Jeremy, however, had no intention of simply standing around and waiting for the event to unfold. He knew deep in his gut that this so-called celebration could very well end in his death within the instance.


    "What exactly is this celebration? Why are all the townsfolk so enthusiastic about it?"


    Jeremy pondered his question for a long while before carefully speaking it aloud. He was acutely aware of the risk that his words could once again be twisted into something entirely different.


    Thankfully, this time, the instance didn''t distort his question.


    The farmer, upon hearing Jeremy''s inquiry, smiled warmly and responded, "The celebration is, of course, something that every viger holds close to their heart! It fills each of us with pure joy, a happiness that radiates from deep within. Surely you''re looking forward to it as well, aren''t you?"


    The farmer''s answer was immediately followed by a question directed back at Jeremy.


    Jeremy didn''t reply right away. Instead, he deliberated over what response would be safest and most advantageous to him.


    After a long pause, Jeremy finally said, cautiously, "Perhaps."


    He kept his response deliberately brief, offering only the bare minimum of information. Jeremy knew that the more details he provided, the greater the risk of the instance twisting his words.


    The farmer, however, didn''t seem to mind Jeremy''s vague reply.


    With an expression of uncontainable excitement, he joined the other townsfolk in their frenzied revelry.


    Despite the supposed preparations for the celebration, the vigers weren''t doing anything practical. Instead, they simply leapt and danced wildly through the streets of the town.


    The atmosphere was undeniably lively, yet there was an underlying strangeness that made the scene deeply unsettling.


    Jeremy watched the chaotic scene unfold, his expression growing darker and more serious with each passing moment.


    The cheerful chaos,bined with the eerie undertone of the situation, heightened the sense of danger looming over him.

 Chapter 370 Manifestation of Malice

    Jeremy watched the bustling scene of the vigers preparing for the ceremony, while simultaneously trying to think of a way to escape.


    He was now absolutely certain that he had been trapped.


    The mayor, who had just appeared, was clearly the strongest enemy he would have to face.


    At this moment, Jeremy wasn''t sure whether the mayor was the boss of the Endless Abyss instance.


    If the mayor was indeed the boss of the Endless Abyss instance, Jeremy was likely in for a tough battle.


    However, if the mayor was just an early-stage boss, Jeremy felt that he could probably handle it with rtive ease.


    Jeremy had no intention of delving deeper into the Endless Abyss instance.


    He believed the situation there was vastly different from other instances.


    He would need to be fully prepared before entering the deeper parts of the instance.


    As Jeremy frowned and pondered, the first farmer he had seen earlier returned to him.


    "Do you like cake? We''ve made you a veryrge one!"


    The farmer''s words caused Jeremy a flicker of unease.


    He suspected that the cake the vigers had made for him could lead to grave danger.


    When Jeremy looked in the direction the farmer pointed, he felt more certain that his suspicions were correct.


    At the center of the vige square, the vigers had created an enormous cake.


    The cake was shaped exactly like Jeremy.


    "Are you really asking me to eat this cake?" Jeremy instinctively thought to ask.


    However, just as he was about to speak, the words that came out of his mouth were, "I really love this cake, and I can''t wait to eat it right now."


    The moment Jeremy heard his own words, he realized he had made a mistake in responding.


    But it was toote to take it back.


    So, Jeremy simply fell silent, deciding not to speak further.


    The farmer, on the other hand, looked at Jeremy with excitement.


    "If you like it, then fine! But it''s not time for cake yet! The ceremony will only begin at sunset. The sun is still in the sky, and we can only hold the ceremony once it sets."


    After saying this, the farmer quickly left.


    Jeremy nced up at the sun in the sky.


    "Right now, it should still be noon, and there''s half a day left before the sun sets. I still have time to think of a way to escape before sunset."


    Jeremy believed that he still had enough time to figure something out.


    However, what he didn''t anticipate was that, just a few minutester, the sun began to set at an rming speed.


    Darkness quickly enveloped the entire town.


    At the same time, the expressions on the vigers'' faces became increasingly bizarre and strange.


    Each viger would asionally nce in Jeremy''s direction.


    It was at that moment that Jeremy realized he waspletely unable to move.


    A heavy sense of pressure gripped him, and he felt as though he was about to be attacked any second.


    Although he hadn''t tried activating the King of Time and Space talent, he had already tightly gripped his Mortal Combat ability.


    In the absence of any means of movement, Jeremy could only rely on Mortal Combat to provide some form of protection.


    The vigers'' expressions grew even more distorted, and their bodies began to undergo twisted mutations.


    Some vigers sprouted extra arms, while others grew multiple heads.


    "These vigers are about to turn into monsters! Maybe I should strike first."


    Jeremy was contemting whether or not to take the initiative andunch an attack.


    In his view, there were simply too many vigers. If all of them turned into monsters, he might find himself overwhelmed.


    Just as Jeremy was about to act first, the vigers suddenly grew calm.


    They all fixed their cold, icy gazes on him.


    In that moment, Jeremy felt an unmistakable and overwhelming malice.


    It was as if every single viger wanted to kill him.


    Though the vigers did not speak, a flood of vile and venomous words suddenly filled Jeremy''s mind.


    Faced with such intense mental attacks, Jeremy had no choice but to use one of the items he had on him.


    One of his items was capable of temporarily shielding him from mental attacks.


    The damage from the mental attacks was significantly reduced, and Jeremy was finally able to carefully observe his surroundings.


    Suddenly, Jeremy realized that the enormous cake the townspeople had prepared for him had transformed into a twisted, fleshy mass made up of countless eyes. Surrounding this grotesque mass were a few horses and a cart.


    It was clear now that the twisted mass was, in fact, the mayor.


    The moment Jeremyid eyes on the mayor, he could feel his emotions undergoing intense and drastic shifts.


    At first, he experienced a wave of overwhelming fear, but that quickly morphed into extreme jealousy. Then, in an instant, his feelings turned into an intense hatred.


    The constant fluctuations of these negative emotions made Jeremy feel as though his head might explode at any moment.


    The mayor, now transformed into a grotesque mass of twisted flesh made up of countless eyes, rapidly rolled toward him.


    When the twisted flesh ball was less than 10 meters away, it suddenlyunched a barrage of semi-transparent ck threads. These ck threads surged toward Jeremy''s head, seemingly intent on entering his brain.


    The mayor''s method of attack confirmed Jeremy''s suspicions.


    The mayor was, in fact, the manifestation of pure malice.


    And the vigers were monstrous entities, each releasing their own form of malicious mental attacks.


    Although the town''s atmosphere appeared warm and inviting on the surface, the true purpose of this town was to destroy the minds of any yers who ventured into the Endless Abyss instance.


    With the mental attacks overwhelming him, Jeremy wielded Mortal Combat tounch an attack on the mayor.


    But it seemed that Mortal Combat couldn''t inflict any real damage on the mayor.


    Each time Mortal Combat struck,rge numbers of eyes would be severed from the mayor''s body.


    However, even the severed eyes remained fixed on Jeremy, their gaze unwavering, as though they could still see.


    After about fifteen minutes of battle, Jeremy finally realized that defeating the mayor directly was impossible.


    He decided to activate his King of Time and Space talent.


    A fragile portal appeared in front of him.


    Jeremy didn''t dare step through it, knowing that the moment he entered, the portal would likely copse, and he wouldn''t have another chance to activate The King of Time and Space again.


    So, instead of escaping, he chose to continue fighting the mayor.


    During the battle, Jeremy continuously searched for weak points in the area around him.


    Eventually, he found a very weak spot behind the mayor.


    With his grip tight on *Mortal Combat*, Jeremy quickly charged towards the mayor. Just as he was about to collide with the mayor, he suddenly jumped high into the air.


    With this move, Jeremy finally reached the weak area in the space.


    Jeremy didn''t waste a single second. He immediately activated his King of Time and Space talent. Before him, a more stable portal finally appeared.


    The mayor''s reaction time was incredibly fast. As soon as Jeremy opened the portal, the mayor flew toward him without hesitation.


    Despite the mayor''s form being a grotesque, twisted mass of flesh, it moved with surprising speed.


    Just as the mayor was about to use the many semi-transparent ck threads to control Jeremy, Jeremy finally managed to pass through the portal.


    As Jeremy crossed into the portal, he quickly shut it behind him.


    The mayor was left trapped in the Endless Abyss instance, while Jeremy had sessfully escaped.


    Upon exiting the instance, Jeremy fell straight into the water.


    He struggled for a while before finally managing to crawl out of the river.


    Jeremy was in a sorry state. His clothes werepletely soaked, and his hand, still gripping Mortal Combat, was trembling uncontrobly.


    Part of the reason for his shaking was the near-death experience he had endured in the Endless Abyss instance, but the other reason was simply the freezing cold of the river.


    After taking a moment to collect himself, Jeremy finally managed to regain someposure.


    "It seems I don''t need to explore this ce again tonight. I can just write up everything I found in my report. I''ve gathered enough information, so the military headquarters shouldn''t give me any trouble," Jeremy decided, quickly heading back.


    Not long after Jeremy left, an eye suddenly appeared at the entrance of the Endless Abyss instance.


    The eye was hollow and cold, its expression vacant and indifferent.


    However, as soon as the eye appeared, it was swept away by the rushing water.


    The environment around the entrance of the Endless Abyss began to change drastically. The river water grew colder than before. The trees that had still been alive nearby quickly withered and died.


    Even the dock and the abandoned, decaying boats near the entrance began to rot further, their conditions worsening at an rming rate.


    It seemed that Jeremy''s actions had caused the forces of the Endless Abyss instance to seep further into the real world.


    However, none of this was known to Jeremy.


    At that moment, he had already returned to his residence at the fastest speed possible.


    He turned the heating up to its maximum setting and began to think about how he should write the report to submit to the military headquarters.


    In Moonlight City, Jeremy didn''t need to worry about writing reports, but in the capital, he was required to write them personally.


    After several hours of intense work, Jeremy finally finished the report.


    Just as he was about to submit it, his phone suddenly rang.

 Chapter 371 The Colonels Determination

    Jeremy nced at his phone. The call was from an unknown number.


    Normally, Jeremy would never answer calls from unfamiliar numbers, but since he had just arrived in the capital, he decided to pick up the phone.


    As soon as the call connected, a voice came through¡ªone that Jeremy was very familiar with. It was the Colonel, the one who had escorted Jeremy and Bonnie to the capital.


    "Didn''t you carry out the mission? Why didn''t we see you around the Endless Abyss instance?" The Colonel questioned coldly.


    Although the tone of the Colonel''s voice was simr to before, Jeremy could tell that there was a hint of anger in it.


    "Wasn''t I supposed to carry out the mission on my own? I entered the Death Abyss instance this afternoon already. I''ve gathered enough information, and I''ve included everything in the report." Jeremy replied.


    "Is that so? I recall the task requirements were quite clear. You were supposed to be at the Death Abyss instance after dark." The Colonel''s voice came again, this time less angry, but still stern.


    "It''s fine, if you want me to go there now, I''ll head over right away!" Jeremy snapped, hanging up the phone and quickly heading to the Endless Abyss instance.


    When he arrived, he noticed several people gathered around the instance. One of them was the Colonel. The other two appeared to be quite young and weren''t wearing military uniforms, which meant they were likely yers from the Apocalypse game, possibly even unofficial ones.


    "You finally showed up! We''ve been waiting for you for a long time!" One of the Apocalypse game yers smiled at the Colonel, then turned to Jeremy with a mocking tone.


    "You guys didn''t have to wait for me at all. You could''ve just stayed away! It makes no difference whether you''re here or not." Jeremy, not one to ignore a stranger''s mockery, retorted sharply.


    Jeremy''s words immediately infuriated the two Apocalypse game yers.


    "Do you have any idea who we are? You have no idea what kind of consequences you''re inviting by messing with us!" One of the yers hissed angrily.


    Jeremy tightened his grip on the Mortal Combat weapon in his hand and fixed his gaze intently on the yer.


    "Are you threatening me?" Jeremy asked in a calm voice, but his words carried an overwhelming sense of pressure.


    Seeing the expression on Jeremy''s face, both Apocalypse game yers hesitated slightly. They didn''t respond to his question and even took a few steps back.


    "Enough!" the Colonel interjected sharply. "Stop the bickering! Our mission is to explore the Endless Abyss instance. Does your arguing help with that in any way?"


    At first, the Colonel hadn''t nned to stop the Apocalypse game yers from mocking Jeremy. He, too, had been somewhat dissatisfied with Jeremy''s previous actions. But when Jeremy disyed such a strong aura of pressure, the Colonel felt it was time to intervene and put an end to the potential conflict between the yers.


    The Colonel turned his gaze to Jeremy.


    "Now, hand over the report. If it''s up to my standards, I won''t pursue this matter any further. But if it doesn''t meet my expectations, don''t say I didn''t warn you," the Colonel said, though he didn''t explicitly mention what the punishment would be.


    However, to Jeremy, the unspoken threat of punishment was clear enough¡ªit was bound to be severe.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy handed over the report to the Colonel.


    The Colonel stood by the riverbank, carefully reviewing the report.


    After a long moment of silence, the Colonel slowly spoke.


    "Excellent! You''ve indeed gathered enough information. I''ll submit this report as soon as possible." His tone had softened considerablypared to before.


    The Colonel then turned his attention to the two Apocalypse game yers.


    "You can go back now. Our mission has beenpleted."


    "What do you mean? Our mission hasn''t even started yet. Why are you saying it''s over?" The two Apocalypse game yers were clearly dissatisfied.


    The reason the military headquarters had called them over was that they were essentially being used as cannon fodder.


    "Are you questioning my judgment?" The Colonel''s voice turned cold. "I said the mission is over, and it is over. I will make sure you receive thepensation you deserve. You can leave now."


    Although the two Apocalypse game yers were still clearly dissatisfied, they didn''t dare to argue further with the Colonel.


    Once the yers left, the Colonel''s tone softened even more than before.


    "Many people have entered this instance, but no one has ever managed to get as deep into it as you have. The small town you mentioned¡ª we''ve never found anything like that. But from the description in the first part of your report, I can confirm you really did go deep into the instance."


    The Colonel said these words with a somewhat dejected expression on his face.


    "So, does this mean you won''t be holding me ountable for anything anymore?" Jeremy asked, his focus on the matter at hand.


    Jeremy wasn''t concerned about anything else. To him, different instances didn''t make much of a difference. Some were harder to handle, while others were easier. His ultimate goal was to clear all instances. And to do that, he needed to eliminate the nners behind Apocalypse Game.


    "Of course I won''t hold you ountable! After all, youpleted this mission wlessly, and I''ll be rmending you for a reward with my superiors. You can go back and rest up."


    With the Colonel''s permission, Jeremy quickly made his way back to his quarters.


    The Colonel watched Jeremy leave, his gaze lingering until Jeremy''s figure disappeared from view. Then, he reopened the report Jeremy had handed him.


    "Could you really be in that small town?" the Colonel muttered to himself.


    As for Jeremy, he was quite satisfied with the Colonel''s response.


    Though the Colonel hadn''t been particrly polite, he had been fair and hadn''t targeted Jeremy in any way. Jeremy felt that if everyone at the military headquarters acted as the Colonel did, the overall situation would likely be much better.


    After Jeremy returned to his quarters, he went straight to rest.


    However, while Jeremy was resting, the Colonel didn''t take a break. He immediately took Jeremy''s report and headed to the military headquarters building in the city center of the capital.


    Although the Colonel''s rank wasn''t particrly high, the tasks he was assigned were of utmost importance. The Endless Abyss instance was one of the high-difficulty instances that the military headquarters was closely monitoring.


    When the Colonel submitted Jeremy''s report, everyone involved in monitoring the Endless Abyss instance was left stunned.


    "Are you really sure what he wrote in the report is true?" One of the high-ranking generals asked in a tone of deep skepticism.


    "I didn''t apany Jeremy on his mission, so I can''t fully verify that everything he said is urate. However, from the first part of his report, it seems he did manage to get deep into the Endless Abyss instance. Even if he didn''t encounter the instance''s boss, he was very close to it. We can start preparing for the final confrontation," the Colonel replied, his voice filled with excitement.


    Clearly, he had long been eager to eliminate the Endless Abyss instance once and for all.


    However, to the Colonel''s superiors, the idea of eradicating the Endless Abyss instance was still a bit too ambitious.


    "I think we can''t afford to act hastily. Since Jeremy''s previous actions were sessful, let''s have him continue exploring the Endless Abyss instance. If he can clear it out on his own, we won''t have to take any unnecessary risks. That would be the most advantageous course of action for us at military headquarters."


    "After all, the enemies we face aren''t just the monsters within Apocalypse Game''s instances. We also have internal enemies within the Federation to consider."


    The higher-ups at military headquarters had many things to consider. Thus, they needed to safeguard their own power and avoid unnecessary exposure to danger.


    Upon hearing this, the Colonel''s face fell in disappointment. But he also knew thatpletely dealing with the Endless Abyss instance would take time, so he couldn''t afford to be too impatient.


    "I understand. I will assign Jeremy a new mission as soon as possible. His uing tasks will all focus on the Endless Abyss instance. I also hope he will be able to assist us¡­" The Colonel''s voice trailed off, but his resolve was clear.


    The Colonel only hoped that Jeremy could bring him more intelligence.


    The reason for this was that the Colonel wanted to be the one to clear the Endless Abyss instance himself. Only by doing so could he avenge the manyrades he had lost there.


    The Colonel had lost numerouspanions in the Endless Abyss instance. He even suspected that some of the townspeople Jeremy had mentioned, who lived in the small town within the instance, might have once been his ownrades transformed into something else.


    The higher-ups at military headquarters approved of the Colonel''s n. They, too, were eager to gauge the true extent of Jeremy''s strength. If Jeremy''s abilities turned out to be exceptionally powerful, they would make sure to win him over to their side.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 372 Bonnie in Danger

    Jeremy had no clear understanding of the internal situation at the military headquarters, so he waspletely unaware that the Endless Abyss Instance was of paramount importance to the military headquarters.


    At that moment, Jeremy was simply resting in his own room.


    After sleeping for an entire day, Jeremy was once again woken up by the sound of a phone ringing.


    This time, the caller was none other than Bonnie.


    Bonnie had decided to invite Jeremy to her ce.


    "Thest time we went out, I didn''t get a chance to show you my ce. This time, I''ve decided to invite you over. The area where I live is one of the high-ss residential zones of the capital. You could even call it the ''noble district,''" Bonnie said.


    Her voice was still as pleasant as ever.


    However, upon hearing her words, Jeremy''s mood became slightly sour.


    Jeremy wasn''t someone from an elite background.


    Because of this, he harbored a natural sense of wariness toward the upper echelons of the Federation.


    Still, since the invitation came from Bonnie, Jeremy found it hard to turn her down so easily.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Besides, he did have time to spare.


    "All right, you cane pick me up. It''s pretty inconvenient for me to head to the city center on my own."


    "Got it! I''ll be at your ce shortly!" Bonnie replied cheerfully.


    After hanging up the phone, Jeremy took a moment topose himself.


    He wasn''t lying; it really was a hassle for him to get to the capital''s city center.


    He currently didn''t have any means of transportation.


    The only way for him to reach the city center was by public transport, and that would take an unreasonable amount of time.


    Half an hourter, Bonnie arrived downstairs at Jeremy''s apartment.


    This time, Bonnie hade in a luxury car.


    Such cars were already prohibitively expensive before the Apocalypse Game descended. After the game began, they had be a rarity, virtually impossible to purchase regardless of one''s wealth.


    "So, what do you think? Isn''t this car gorgeous?" Bonnie asked with a bright smile.


    Jeremy nodded. "It''s stunning, no doubt about it. From what I know, though, this car is incredibly pricey. Are these still being manufactured after the Apocalypse Game started?"


    "Of course! Even though this brand isn''t particrly practical, it''s still a favorite among many of the Federation''s high-ranking officials," Bonnie exined.


    Bonnie didn''t notice the change in Jeremy''s mood.


    She simply shared all the information she knew.


    Jeremy nodded. "Indeed, even after the Apocalypse Game began, the Federation''s elites seem unwilling to give up their refined lifestyles."


    Bonnie finally caught the hint of sarcasm in Jeremy''s words.


    Her expression turned slightly colder.


    However, she quicklyposed herself.


    "Let''s not dwell on that! Just get in the car already! I''ll take you to my ce right away!"


    Bonnie climbed back into the car as soon as she finished speaking.


    Although Jeremy''s mood remained somewhat sour, he decided not to waste any more time.


    The two of them started driving toward the capital''s city center.


    On the way, Bonnie talked extensively about everything that had happened to her over the past couple of days.


    Most of it revolved around attending various high-society balls.


    As a member of the White Family, Bonnie was expected to participate in such gatherings.


    Jeremy, however, had no interest in these events. He responded with only the asional word, letting most of her chatter drift past him.


    Halfway through the journey, Jeremy suddenly felt a sense of danger.


    It was as if he had sensed the presence of some incredibly powerful monsters nearby.


    "Step on it! We need to get through this area as quickly as possible!"


    Jeremy lowered his voice as he spoke to Bonnie.


    Although she was confused, Bonnie decided to follow his instructions.


    She quickly pressed down on the elerator.


    The car''s speed shot up to an astonishing level.


    But to Jeremy, it still felt far too slow.


    He could feel the spatial distortions around them growing more intense.


    "We might end up trapped in a special dimension! Be ready for a fight!" Jeremy said urgently.


    Without waiting for a response, he pulled out Mortal Combat.


    Jeremy climbed onto the roof of the car without hesitation.


    The moment he reached the top, he saw the monsters surrounding the vehicle.


    The creatures were entirely transparent, and their movements were rmingly fast.


    Even though Bonnie had already pushed the car to its maximum speed, the monsters were still able to keep up.


    "I can''t believe there are monsters in the middle of the capital''s city center! But no matter¡ªI''ll take care of all of you!" Jeremy dered.


    With that, Jeremy gripped Mortal Combat tightly andunched an attack on the surrounding monsters.


    Although his attacks quickly started yielding results, the vehicle itself began to suffer from the coteral effects of the battle.


    Bonnie found it increasingly difficult to maintain control over the car''s direction.


    Noticing the car''s violent swaying, Jeremy shouted down to Bonnie, "Hold steady! I''ll have all these monsters wiped out in no time!"


    Hearing Jeremy''s words, Bonnie clenched her teeth, determined not to be a liability at such a critical moment.


    Jeremy, however, knew Bonnie couldn''t hold out for much longer. He intensified his attacks, quickening his pace.


    Before long, Jeremy had sessfully eliminated all the monsters surrounding the vehicle.


    "It seems whoever nned this ambush wasn''t very smart. Sending just these monsters? If it were me, I''d have deployed a lot more," Jeremy muttered as he caught his breath.


    No sooner had he finished speaking than a familiar figure appeared just ahead.


    It was Kean.


    Kean stood with a sword in hand, its golden glow radiating an intimidating brilliance.


    He gazed at Jeremy with a smirk that was both mocking and calcting.


    The moment Jeremy spotted Kean, he realized the situation was far moreplicated than he had initially thought.


    "Kean''s right ahead! You need to stay safe, no matter what!" Jeremy quickly warned Bonnie.


    But Bonnie didn''t respond.


    That was when Jeremy realized something might already have happened to her.


    At that very moment, the car suddenly spunpletely out of control.


    Before Jeremy could re-enter the vehicle, it careened straight into an abandoned building, dragging him along with it.


    A deafening explosion followed, reducing the luxurious car to a heap of scattered parts.


    Though Jeremy emerged unscathed from the st, his heart sank with worry.


    He was deeply concerned about whether Bonnie had survived the crash.


    After carefully searching the area, Jeremy found no trace of Bonnie.


    This could only mean one thing: Bonnie had been captured by someone.


    "It has to be Kean! He''s the only one capable of setting up so many monsters in the capital. And he''s the only one who holds such a grudge against me!" Jeremy eximed, his voice filled with fury.


    At that moment, Jeremy was seething with anger.


    His hatred for Kean had reached an entirely new level.


    But Jeremy knew that anger alone wouldn''t help him.


    What he needed to do now was to rescue Bonnie as quickly as possible.


    Although it wasn''t certain that Kean would harm Bonnie, her disappearance was a dire situation.


    If Jeremy didn''t act fast, Bonnie could end up in irreversible danger.


    "What should I do now? Without Bonnie''s help, I can''t even move freely in the capital!"


    Jeremy was consumed with anxiety, his mind racing but unable toe up with a solid n.


    While he was lost in thought, more and more people began to gather around the scene.


    Among the crowd of onlookers, some soldiers appeared.


    The soldiers, spotting Jeremy, wasted no time in surrounding him.


    "What''s going on here? Why were you driving so recklessly in the middle of the capital? Come with us immediately for questioning!" one of the soldiers demanded, his tone sharp and usatory.


    The soldiers were highly suspicious of Jeremy.


    They seemed intent on taking him into custody, but Jeremy wasn''t about to go along quietly.


    With a cold and resolute tone, Jeremy replied.


    "This has nothing to do with you! Don''t get in my way! I have far more important things to deal with!"


    As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, he activated his innate ability, The King of Time and Space.


    A Portal materialized before him, leading directly to the location where he hadst seen Kean.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy stepped through and disappeared into thin air.


    His sudden vanishing act left the soldiers and the surrounding onlookers in utter shock.


    When Jeremy arrived at the spot where he hadst seen Kean, he noticed a piece of paper lying on the ground.


    It read:


    "If you want to ensure Bonnie''s safety,e to the abandoned cathedral in the western district of the capital tonight at midnight. Both she and I will be waiting for you there."


    "The abandoned cathedral in the capital''s western district? Is Kean nning to ambush me there?" Jeremy muttered, a hint of concern creeping into his voice.


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    Despite his apprehension, Jeremy knew he had no choice but to go to the abandoned cathedral.


    Rescuing Bonnie was his top priority.


    Jeremy checked the time¡ªit was still ten hours until midnight.


    He decided he needed to head to the western district''s abandoned cathedral in advance.


    Perhaps he could uncover some additional clues, or maybe he could dismantle whatever traps Kean had prepared before they could be sprung.

 Chapter 373 The Temple of the Sun

    At the exact moment Jeremy picked up the note left by Kean, Kean was meeting with The Son of the Sun inside the abandoned cathedral in the western district of the capital.


    "How are things going? You didn''t leave Jeremy with more clues than necessary, did you?" The Son of the Sun asked bluntly.


    "Why would I do that? He''s bound toe here ahead of time. When he does, we''ll simply turn the tables on him," Kean replied with a sly smile.


    The Son of the Sun nodded, though skepticism lingered in his eyes.


    In truth, The Son of the Sun didn''t fully trust Kean.


    He had always considered Kean to be rtively weak.


    If given the choice between aligning with Kean or Jeremy, The Son of the Sun would have much preferred Jeremy.


    However, he also understood that such an alliance was impossible. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire


    Jeremy''s sole purpose was to eliminate every nner of the Apocalypse Game.


    As the offspring of the great Sun, The Son of the Sun could never betray his divine parent.


    Walking over to Bonnie, who was lying unconscious on the ground, The Son of the Sun observed her with a calcting gaze.


    He believed that Bonnie would be instrumental inpleting their ritual.


    Though the location they upied was the abandoned cathedral in the western district of the capital, it was also the secret base of The Person in the Mirror.


    The Person in the Mirror had outfitted the cathedral with intricate and powerful defensive arrays.


    The Son of the Sun had decided to use this hidden stronghold to execute their n to resurrect the great Sun, one of the nners of the Apocalypse Game.


    Under The Person in the Mirror''s influence, the dpidated cathedral had been transformed into the Temple of the Sun.


    With enough power, the Temple of the Sun could be used to bring the great Sun back to life.


    Bonnie was, in fact, the lynchpin of the entire n.


    She served two critical purposes.


    First, she was bait to lure Jeremy to the temple. Without eliminating Jeremy, they wouldn''t be able to gather the immense power required toplete the ritual.


    Second, during the ensuing battle, Bonnie would serve as a distraction to hinder Jeremy.


    The Son of the Sun and Kean both knew that their strength paled inparison to Jeremy''s.


    To secure victory in theing battle, they had no choice but to use Bonnie as leverage to threaten Jeremy.


    After staring intently at Bonnie for a moment, The Son of the Sun slowly turned his head.


    "I can already sense Jeremy''s power. He should be arriving here shortly. The rest is up to you. I trust you''ll fulfill your promise," The Son of the Sun said before dissolving into a ray of sunlight and vanishing.


    Kean''s eyes gleamed with determination.


    The promise he had made to The Son of the Sun was clear: with the support of the immense power The Son of the Sun provided, Kean vowed he would defeat Jeremy in battle.


    Within the Temple of the Sun, Kean would be granted near-infinite sr energy.


    Additionally, as someone who could channel the power of a deity, Kean had the ability to summon one of the Apocalypse Game nners to temporarily inhabit his body.


    Because of this, Kean believed that no matter how dire the situation became, he could still turn the tide in his favor.


    Not long after The Son of the Sun left, the massive doors of the abandoned cathedral were kicked open with a resounding crash.


    Jeremy strode inside, gripping Mortal Combat tightly in his hand.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    At the far end of the cathedral stood Kean, a smirk on his face as he fixed his gaze on Jeremy.


    "So, you''ve finally arrived! I thought you''d get here sooner. Seems your speed isn''t as impressive as I expected," Kean mocked.


    Jeremy paid no attention to Kean''s taunts. After scanning the surroundings, he asked in a calm, measured tone,


    "Where is Bonnie? You''re the one who took her. Since you left me that note, you clearly wanted me to ask about her whereabouts."


    As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, Kean snapped his fingers.


    Bonnie''s figure appeared beside Kean.


    The moment Jeremy saw Bonnie, he immediately shifted into battle mode.


    Gripping Mortal Combat, Jeremy used his shing ability to close the distance between himself and Kean in an instant.


    But just as Mortal Combat was about to strike, Kean''s body dissolved into a burst of sunlight.


    At the same time, Bonnie''s figure vanished as well.


    "So it was fake all along! You''ve been anticipating my moves from the start. If you truly believed you were much stronger than me, why won''t you face me head-on?" Jeremy demanded, his voice cold and sharp.


    Jeremy wasn''t surprised in the slightest by what had just happened.


    He had never expected this mission to seed without significant challenges.


    After he posed his question, Kean''s voice echoed through the abandoned cathedral.


    The sound seemed to rise from beneath the ground.


    "Of course, I think I''m stronger than you. But if I have an easier way to defeat you, why would I take unnecessary risks? If you truly want to save Bonnie, thene down to the underground. I''ll be waiting for you!"


    Kean''s voice faded as quickly as it had appeared.


    At the same time, a grinding noise of gears turning filled the cathedral.


    Directly ahead of Jeremy, the base of the altar opened, revealing a hidden trapdoor. It was clear that this door led to the underground chambers of the cathedral.


    Jeremy knew full well that stepping into the trapdoor would put him in immediate danger.


    But he had no other choice. Saving Bonnie was the only thing that mattered.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy descended through the trapdoor.


    As soon as he was fully inside, the door shut behind him, sealing off any way back.


    Inplete darkness, Jeremy pressed forward, making his way deeper underground.


    After walking for about half an hour, he finally reached arge hall.


    The walls of the hall were covered in intricate symbols, all of which were clearly rted to the sun.


    The moment Jeremy saw the symbols, he understood who Kean''s ally was.


    "So, you''ve aligned yourself with the remnants of the Sun. I have to wonder¡ªdo you really think teaming up with them will lead you to sess? Or have you forgotten that in one of the Apocalypse Game instances, I was the one who brought down the Sun?"


    Jeremy aimed his words at Kean, hoping to unsettle him.


    But instead of Kean responding, a furious voice thundered through the hall.


    "Silence, sinner! You, a sphemer, will meet a fitting end!"


    It was The Son of the Sun who spoke, his tone filled with wrath.


    At the far end of the hall, The Son of the Sun stepped into view.


    Despite The Son of the Sun''s obvious hostility, Jeremy felt there was no need to waste time arguing with him.


    "Who are you? If you''re Kean''s ally, then go ahead and attack me. If you''re not, then there''s no reason for you to be here. I don''t intend to kill innocent people," Jeremy said firmly.


    His focus was singr¡ªfinding Kean as quickly as possible.


    Only by locating Kean could he rescue Bonnie in time.


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, The Son of the Sun chuckled.


    "There is no one innocent here. Everyone in this ce is working toward the resurrection of the great Sun. Your ns are doomed to fail because you will never gain the blessing of a deity."


    Jeremy''s patience was wearing thin.


    He had no interest in The Son of the Sun''s speeches.


    Nor did he believe that receiving a deity''s blessing guaranteed sess.


    "Oh, really? Didn''t The Person in the Mirror have the blessing of a deity? And yet, why have their ns failed one after another?" Jeremy shot back coldly.


    Jeremy had encountered The Person in the Mirror before.


    He knew well that their ns had failed time and time again.


    In the face of Jeremy''s provocation, The Son of the Sun''s demeanor unexpectedly calmed.


    "The failures of The Person in the Mirror were not due to ack of a deity''s blessing. They failed because they crossed paths with the most wicked individual imaginable."


    "That most wicked person is probably me, isn''t it? To be called the most wicked by you¡ªit''s honestly ttering. After all, the one you see as most wicked is likely the one humanity sees as most virtuous," Jeremy replied with a sharp edge to his tone.


    The exchange between Jeremy and The Son of the Sun produced no immediate consequences.


    Both were clearly testing each other.


    The Son of the Sun wanted to see if Jeremy could maintain hisposure under pressure.


    Jeremy, on the other hand, was buying himself time.


    He could feel that the array embedded in the surrounding murals had already been activated.


    If The Son of the Sununched a sudden attack, Jeremy might not be able to react in time.


    "So, you''ve figured it out¡ªyou''re already in a trap. But do you really think stalling for time will make you any safer?" The Son of the Sun said, his gaze piercing.


    Jeremy chuckled at the remark.


    "Don''t act so enigmatic. We both know exactly what the other is after. Your goal isn''t just to destroy me; you''re after the immense power I possess. But let me make one thing clear¡ªyou will never seed.


    Even if you manage to defeat me in battle, I will ensure that my power dissipates before you can im it. No matter what, I won''t let the nners of the Apocalypse Game be resurrected."


    Jeremy''s voice was steady, unwavering.


    However, to The Son of the Sun, his words were nothing more than empty bravado.


    The Son of the Sun was confident that his n was foolproof, especially with Kean''s unwavering support.


    As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, Kean materialized beside The Son of the Sun.


    Kean was already prepared for battle.

 Chapter 374 Coordination of Multiple Forces

    The moment Kean''s figure appeared, Jeremyunched his attack without hesitation.


    He unleashed every offensive move at his disposal in one fell swoop.


    The talent of The King of Time and Space enabled Jeremy to create a unique space surrounding Kean''s figure. Everything within this special space was rapidly copsing toward its core.


    Gripping Mortal Combat tightly, Jeremy charged straight at Kean.


    Jeremy knew very well that it was nearly impossible to eliminate Kean using The King of Time and Space''s talent alone.


    Thus, his initial assault was merely a diversion to disrupt Kean''s movements.


    Facing Jeremy''s attack, Kean showed no signs of panic.


    He effortlessly evaded the spatial copse and looked at Jeremy with a cold sneer.


    "You''re still as reckless as ever! Did you really think such a method could catch me off guard? I''veid an inescapable trap here for you. There''s no way out!"


    Kean taunted Jeremy as he stood his ground.


    Jeremy, however, did not let Kean''s mocking words deter his actions.


    When Jeremy was less than a meter away from Kean, he suddenly felt a multitude of magical formations activate simultaneously around him.


    An endless flood of sunlight burst into the hall.


    Jeremy found himself unable to see anything¡ªhis entire vision was consumed by the overwhelming radiance of the sunlight.


    Moreover, he could feel his body temperature rising rapidly.


    To avoid being incinerated by the scorching sunlight, Jeremy was forced to stop his advance.


    He began using his The King of Time and Space talent to generate a defensive space around himself.


    Yet, apart from clearing his vision, this effort brought him no further sess.


    At the same moment, Keanunched an attack against Jeremy.


    Kean wielded a sword radiating an eerie blue light. On the de, Jeremy immediately recognized the corrupting power of The Hanged Man.


    "This is impossible! Aren''t you coborating with The Person in the Mirror? How can you wield an artifact infused with corrupting power?"


    Jeremy was, naturally, utterly shocked.


    After all, Jeremy understood very clearly that the powers of The Sun and The Hanged Man werepletely opposite.


    Although both of them were nners in the Apocalypse Game, their rtionship was not particrly close.


    The Hanged Man would never use his own power to aid in the revival of The Sun.


    Faced with Jeremy''s shock, Kean merely let out a cold sneer.


    Without hesitation, Kean wielded the sword filled with corrupting power andunched an attack against Jeremy.


    When the sword emitting an eerie blue glow shed with Mortal Combat, both Jeremy and Kean felt that their opponent had grown significantly stronger since theirst encounter.


    Neither of them believed they could easily im victory in this battle.


    However, Kean was in no rush. He could gradually suppress Jeremy by leveraging the power within the abandoned cathedral.


    Even if Kean failed to defeat Jeremy during the fight, The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror would step in to assist him when necessary.


    Thus, Kean spoke to Jeremy bluntly, "Stop struggling! Even if you manage to defeat me, it doesn''t mean you''ll seed. The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror haven''t even unleashed their true power yet."


    Upon hearing these words, a faint trace of relief appeared on Jeremy''s face.


    At the beginning, Jeremy had been extremely anxious.


    He feared that if he couldn''t quickly defeat Kean, Bonnie would likely be killed by The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun.


    But after hearing Kean''s statement, Jeremy was certain that Bonnie was merely a hostage.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun''s ultimate goal was to eliminate him and seize the immense power he possessed.


    Now that he had uncovered his enemies'' true intentions, Jeremy could respond with calm andposure.


    Taking a step back, Jeremy activated his talent, The King of Time and Space, and created a portal.


    The moment Kean saw the portal materialize, he charged toward Jeremy at full speed.


    Kean was deeply concerned that Jeremy might choose to escape.


    However, Kean''s actions were a step too slow.


    When he was still over ten meters away from Jeremy, Jeremy had already stepped through the portal.


    The instant Jeremy passed through, the portal copsed rapidly.


    At this moment, Kean was left in utter frustration.


    To ensure he could quickly defeat Jeremy in this battle, Kean deliberately wielded artifacts and weapons with diverse powers.


    With thebination of these different forces, Kean believed he had the upper hand against Jeremy.


    What he didn''t expect was for Jeremy to choose to flee.


    However, Kean soon received a message from The Son of the Sun.


    "Jeremy would never choose to run away! While he might guess that we won''t kill Bonnie outright, he''s still desperate to rescue her. Jeremy is likely lurking somewhere around the abandoned cathedral!"


    Hearing The Son of the Sun''s words, Kean swiftly rushed out of the hall.


    At the same time, The Son of the Sun was coordinating efforts with The Person in the Mirror.


    Together, they conducted a rapid search around the abandoned cathedral.


    Yet, despite their efforts, none of them could locate Jeremy.


    In reality, Jeremy hadn''t escaped to a safer location at all.


    The portal Jeremy had opened actually led to the underground depths of the abandoned cathedral.


    By this point, Jeremy was already very close to where Bonnie was being held.


    Naturally, this also meant that Jeremy was dangerously close to the site of the ritual prepared by The Person in the Mirror and the others.


    As Jeremy pressed further into the depths of the underground, he could feel the increasing intensity of the Power of the Sun.


    The underground temperature was noticeably much higher than above ground, making the air heavy with heat.


    When Jeremy finally arrived before a massive door, he could sense a formidable presence on the other side.


    This powerful entity, however, appeared to be in a state of semi-slumber.


    The site of the resurrection ritual must be just beyond that door! The Sun is already in a semi-resurrected state. Although it has not yet been able to directly attack me, the power it possesses has already had a significant impact on the surrounding environment.


    Jeremy''s expression was grim at this moment.


    Although Jeremy was brimming with confidence when he began his mission, upon arriving here, he became far more cautious than before.


    Jeremy hesitated slightly. He wasn''t sure whether he should push open therge door right away.


    As he wavered, the majestic voice of the Sun suddenly echoed in his ears.


    "Since you''vee all this way, why not push the door open? Isn''t your goal to stop my resurrection? Do you really think standing outside will prevent me from returning?"


    The moment the Sun''s voice resonated, four golden figures appeared around Jeremy.


    These four golden figures were all Sun Knights.


    Though the Sun had not yet fully resurrected, it was already able to summon projections strong enough to pose a threat to Jeremy.


    Faced with the onught of the Sun Knights, Jeremy had no choice but to evade for the time being.


    As Jeremy was fending off the Sun Knights'' attacks, Kean swiftly arrived in the same area.


    "I truly didn''t expect you to dare use a portal to enter the underground realm! It seems I underestimated you a little. But regardless, there''s no way you can survive this! Together with the great Sun, I will ensure your destruction!"


    With those words, Keanunched a direct assault on Jeremy.


    Overwhelmed by the attacks from so many formidable enemies, Jeremy found himself unable to gain the upper hand for the time being.


    Thus, he was forced to retreat.


    Jeremy once again utilized the innate power of the King of Time and Space to create a portal.


    However, as he stepped through the portal, he suddenly realized he had been transported back to the same ce he had started.


    "You didn''t really think the same trick would work twice, did you?" Kean sneered. "The Son of the Sun and the Person in the Mirror have already sealed off the surrounding space. You can no longer use the abilities of the King of Time and Space to escape."


    Faced with an almost hopeless situation, Jeremy became calmer than ever before.


    He knew very well that he could not afford to panic under any circumstances.


    Jeremy began to think carefully about how he could break out of this predicament.


    However, time was running out, as he could feel his strength rapidly draining away.


    The Sun had already begun to strip him of his power. Explore stories at empire


    If Jeremy couldn''t escape before his power was entirely depleted, he was certain he would meet his end here.


    In a sh of inspiration, Jeremy finally devised a way to escape.


    He decided to use the unique space of Mortal Combat to seal himself off temporarily. Then, utilizing the innate ability of the King of Time and Space, he would open a portal to escape from within Mortal Combat''s special dimension.


    Although this n meant that Mortal Combat would fall into the enemy''s hands, it was the best solution he could think of under the circumstances.


    Having made up his mind, Jeremy acted immediately.


    He entered Mortal Combat''s unique space without hesitation. Inside the dimension, he quickly opened a portal using his abilities.


    Although Jeremy''s actions were swift, the Sun, wielding its godlike power, swiftly shattered Mortal Combat''s special space.


    If Jeremy hadn''t stepped through the portal in time, he might not have been able to escape at all.

 Chapter 375 Revenge Must Be Taken

    Although Jeremy''s actions were swift, the Sun, wielding its godlike power, swiftly shattered Mortal Combat''s special space.


    If Jeremy hadn''t stepped through the portal in time, he might not have been able to escape at all.


    The overwhelming power of the Sun had nearly imed Jeremy''s life.


    Although he managed to escape through a portal at thest moment, it took Jeremy half a day to regain consciousness.


    When his mind finally cleared, he realized he was back in Moonlight City.


    "I opened a portal leading to Moonlight City? In the chaos, did I unintentionally enhance my King of Time and Space ability? My talent is stronger now than it was before," Jeremy thought to himself, astonished.


    He hadn''t expected that, even in the midst of crisis, he would experience a strengthening of his power.


    Although this was something to be pleased about, Jeremy had more pressing matters to attend to.


    Even though he had barely escaped the enemy''s trap, Bonnie was still in their hands.


    Jeremy felt a deep sense of responsibility¡ªhe had to rescue Bonnie and exact his revenge on Kean and the others.


    However, Jeremy knew that he couldn''t achieve revenge on his own.


    He needed to consider who might be his allies.


    The Goddess of Life and the God of War were powerful beings who could surely aid him.


    But since these deities existed within specific instances, Jeremy would need to carefully prepare summoning rituals to secure their help.


    Beyond these two deities, Jeremy could also turn to hispanions for assistance.


    Unfortunately, aside from Ritchie, the rest of hisrades were not particrly strong.


    Even Ritchie, as capable as he was, had a power gappared to Jeremy, let alone Kean.


    If Ritchie and the others couldn''t provide sufficient support, Jeremy''s only option would be to seek help from Liam and Howard.


    However, to ask for their help, Jeremy would have to reveal to Benjamin that Bonnie had been captured by the enemy. Benjamin would undoubtedly be furious upon hearing this.


    After a period of deliberation, Jeremy ultimately decided to tell Benjamin everything.


    When Jeremy appeared before Benjamin, thetter was visibly shocked.


    "Aren''t you supposed to be in the capital? Why have you returned to Moonlight City?" Benjamin asked, his tone filled with surprise.


    Benjamin quickly noticed that something was very off about Jeremy''s demeanor.


    He could tell right away that Jeremy was about to deliver some truly bad news.


    When he realized that Jeremy had not returned with Bonnie, Benjamin began to piece things together. He was certain that Bonnie must have encountered significant danger.


    Before Jeremy could speak, Benjamin cut straight to the point.


    "Bonnie''s in trouble, isn''t she? You''vee back to Moonlight City to seek help and figure out how to rescue her, haven''t you?"


    Jeremy stared at Benjamin in disbelief.


    He couldn''t understand how Benjamin had managed to guess the situation so urately.


    Seeing the change in Jeremy''s expression, Benjamin knew his assumption was correct.


    Benjamin pressed further, asking, "What exactly happened to her?"


    "She''s been captured by Kean and the Person in the Mirror. They n to use Bonnie as a hostage to threaten me. Their goal is to exploit my powers to resurrect one of the masterminds behind the Apocalypse Game, the Sun!"


    Jeremyid out all the information he had, leaving nothing unsaid.


    After hearing everything, Benjamin''s expression didn''t change much.


    He responded calmly, "Have you told anyone else about this? If not, don''t for now. Let me first consult with the capital. If the capital is willing to deploy a strong enough force to rescue Bonnie, then you won''t need to worry about it anymore."


    Jeremy didn''t oppose Benjamin''s n.


    He knew that the White Family held considerable influence within the federal government.


    If the White Family could truly leverage the federal forces to rescue Bonnie, there was no reason for him to object. Enjoy more content from empire


    So Jeremy responded evenly, "If you can truly find a way to rescue Bonnie, I would, of course, be overjoyed. But I want you to understand this: no matter what n youe up with, I want to be part of the operation to save Bonnie."


    Jeremy''s tone was firm as he spoke these words.


    Benjamin had no intention of rejecting his request.


    He understood that someone like Jeremy would never back down so easily.


    Benjamin nodded in agreement.


    "Of course, no problem at all! You''re wee to join every step of the operation! In fact, I believe your involvement will make things run much more smoothly," Benjamin said firmly.


    After saying this, Benjamin began making phone calls to his contacts.


    He made a flurry of calls one after another.


    Jeremy stood silently by his side, observing the changes in Benjamin''s expression.


    At first, Benjamin''s face remained rxed and confident.


    But as he continued to make more calls, his expression grew darker and more troubled.


    By the time he finished thest call, Benjamin''s face was grim.


    "The capital is unable to offer much help," Benjamin said slowly, his gaze distant and empty. "They''re facing significant troubles of their own. On top of that, the White Family has been severely undermined by our rivals."


    Jeremy didn''t react immediately; he simply waited for Benjamin to continue.


    After a moment, Benjamin turned his eyes to Jeremy.


    "Since I can''t do anything to rescue Bonnie, I''ll leave everything to you. I believe Liam and Howard can be of assistance. Besides them, you should also involve yourpanions in this operation."


    This was exactly what Jeremy had been waiting to hear.


    Hearing Benjamin''s words, Jeremy nodded firmly.


    "No problem at all! I''ll immediately begin formting a n to rescue Bonnie. I promise you, within a week, Bonnie will be safe again," Jeremy dered resolutely.


    With those words, he turned and left without hesitation.


    On his way out, Jeremy dialed Liam''s number.


    During the call, Jeremy ryed everything that had happened in the capital.


    After listening to the full ount, Liam sighed deeply.


    "I warned you before: the capital isn''t a stable ce. Heading there alwayses with unexpected challenges. But since Bonnie is in danger, of course I''ll help you. When can you get to the Special Situations Bureau?"


    "Now!"


    Liam heard the same word in two ces at once: one voice came from his phone, and the other came from outside his office door.


    He was startled to see Jeremy standing right there in his office.


    "What''s the situation exactly? What kind of enemies are we going to face during this mission? The Special Situations Bureau has a wide range of weapons and tools¡ªwe''ll need to carefully select what we''ll use," Liam said, quickly recovering from his surprise.


    The shock didn''tst long. Liam knew the priority now was rescuing Bonnie, so he immediately began discussing the operation n with Jeremy.


    "Our enemies possess powers with a variety of attributes," Jeremy exined. "We need to focus on selecting universal weapons and tools that can adapt to different scenarios."


    This left Liam puzzled.


    "How is that possible? Are the nners of the Apocalypse Game really capable of such seamless coordination?" Liam asked. He had never encountered anything like this before.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "The nners of the Apocalypse Game can''t coordinate that closely. But that doesn''t mean our enemies can''t utilize the powers possessed by different nners," Jeremy rified.


    Liam quickly understood.


    The two of them spent a long timebing through the Special Situations Bureau''s arsenal.


    In the end, they selected five different pieces of equipment.


    While not all of the items were designed forbat, each had a critical function that could prove highly useful in their mission.


    "Other than the two of us, who else will be involved in this mission? General Howard probably won''t join us directly¡ªhe has too many other responsibilities. But I''m sure he''ll send his best troops to support us," Liam said bluntly, offering his analysis.


    Jeremy hadn''t made up his mind yet.


    He hadn''t informed General Howard about the situation, as his thoughts aligned with Liam''s.


    Jeremy also believed it was unlikely that General Howard would join the mission personally.


    "We don''t need General Howard''s help! The two of us, plus Ritchie, are already strong enough. The only reason I failed before was that I fell into the enemy''s trap. Now that we''re fully prepared, I will absolutely not fail again!"


    Jeremy dered these words with unwavering determination.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Liam looked into Jeremy''s eyes, unsure of how to respond for a moment.


    In Liam''s mind, Jeremy was undoubtedly a man of strong will.


    But sometimes, too much determination could be a bad thing.


    An excess of resolve could easily turn into stubbornness.


    "Do you really think the three of us alone can seed? I think we still need more help," Liam asked cautiously, testing Jeremy''s resolve.


    Jeremy''s tone remained firm as he replied, "I want you to believe in me, and I want you to believe in yourself! Our strength is more than enough! There will be no unexpected situations!"

 Chapter 376 Carefully Planning a Winning Strategy

    After selecting the weapons they needed, Jeremy and Liam headed straight to the suburbs to find Ritchie.


    At that moment, Ritchie was resting at his home. He had just cleared a rtively easy instance the day before.


    When Jeremy and Liam appeared at his doorstep, Ritchie waspletely stunned.


    "Why are the two of you at my door? And Jeremy, shouldn''t you be in the capital right now? Why did you suddenlye back? Are you in some sort of trouble?"


    Ritchie bombarded them with questions, one after another.


    However, neither Jeremy nor Liam gave him any answers.


    Jeremy simply said calmly, "The situation I''ve encountered is extremelyplicated¡ªsomething that can''t be exined in just a few words. Let''s sit down and talk about it slowly."


    Ritchie nodded and ushered Jeremy and Liam into his home.


    In the living room, Jeremy recounted in detail everything he had encountered in the capital.


    Only now did Liam finally learn about the many unexpected events Jeremy had faced.


    Previously, Jeremy hadn''t shared all the details with Liam. At the time, Jeremy had been in a rush and only gave Liam a brief exnation.


    Ritchie''s expression showed a hint of hesitation.


    After a while, Ritchie said slowly, "I think you made a lot of rookie mistakes in the capital."


    Jeremy didn''t deny Ritchie''s criticism.


    Nodding, Jeremy said, "You''re right. If I hadn''t made those mistakes, Bonnie wouldn''t have been captured by our enemies."


    "That''s not what I meant!" Ritchie interrupted Jeremy abruptly.


    "What I mean is, you shouldn''t have gone directly to rescue Bonnie! Since you found Kean''s note at the scene of the attack, you should have immediately realized it was a trap. If you already knew it was a trap, why would you willingly walk into it?"


    Ritchie''s words were undeniably reasonable.


    Under normal circumstances, an experienced apocalypse game yer would never fall into a trap deliberately set by their enemies.


    Jeremy had no retort. He knew full well that he had fallen into the trap because he was too concerned about Bonnie.


    Jeremy didn''t offer a verbal response, but the expression on his face said it all.


    Ritchie let out a long sigh.


    "Well, it''s understandable. After all, Bonnie is incredibly important to you," he said.


    Barely had Ritchie finished speaking when Liam interjected hastily, "I don''t think we need to dwell on that any further. What''s most important right now is figuring out how to rescue Bonnie."


    Jeremy nodded and immediatelyid out his n.


    "My n isn''t actually thatplicated. I''ll reach out to the apocalypse game yers from the White Family in the capital. They''re willing to offer us some support. Once we pinpoint the locations of Kean and The Person in the Mirror, we''ll be able to rescue Bonnie."


    Stay updated via empire


    Jeremy believed that as long as he could defeat Kean and The Person in the Mirror, they would have no choice but to hand Bonnie over.


    Ritchie and Liam understood Jeremy''s reasoning, but neither of them thought it would be as simple as Jeremy made it sound.


    "I don''t think the White Family''s influence in the capital is strong enough for this," Liam said, his tone somewhat somber. "Plus, it''s clear that Kean''s actions haven''t been officially sanctioned by the Lannisters. That makes it even harder for the White Family to track Kean''s exact location."


    Although Liam had never worked in the capital himself, he had some understanding of its intricacies.


    The power dynamics between the major families in the capital were notoriouslyplex. Even if the Lannisters were indeed backing Kean in secret, it was doubtful that the White Family could exert enough pressure to make a difference.


    Liam''s words left Jeremy and Ritchie visibly disappointed.


    Despite this, Jeremy remained confident in his n.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "If that''s the case, it might take us more time, but the overall n won''t fail. I have other allies I can call upon. Don''t forget, during my mission in the Tower of Exile, I saved two deities.


    "These two deities might be able to help us pinpoint the locations of Kean and The Person in the Mirror. If even they can''t help us, then we may have no choice but to turn to the military headquarters for assistance."


    Jeremy felt certain that the military headquarters wouldn''t side with the Lannisters.


    Because the military headquarters has its own interests, its primary objective is clearly to ensure the safety of the capital.


    The presence of individuals like Kean and The Person in the Mirror poses a significant threat to the capital''s security.


    Liam didn''t voice any further objections. After all, he wasn''t sure how powerful the two deities Jeremy had saved truly were. If their strength was indeed formidable, then Jeremy''s n had a high chance of seeding.


    At this point, Ritchie turned to Jeremy and asked,


    "If we do manage to locate Kean and The Person in the Mirror, can we be certain of victory? Are you confident that we''ll win the battle?"


    Ritchie was deeply worried about the possibility of defeat.


    Although Ritchie had never faced Kean in directbat, he knew that both The Person in the Mirror and Kean were tied to the masterminds behind the apocalypse game.


    The game''s nners would never allow their most crucial pieces to be so easily eliminated by Jeremy.


    Jeremy''s expression grew serious. He looked at Ritchie and Liam solemnly and said,


    "Although I failed in previous battles, it was because I was caught off guard by the enemy''s ambush. This time, I''ve made all the necessary preparations. I''m confident that I can defeat both Kean and The Person in the Mirror in battle.


    "If the apocalypse game''s nners intervene directly, I''ll call on my allies to step in! After all, aside from the two deities I saved, I have other helpers as well."


    Jeremy''s words left Liam visibly confused, but Ritchie understood. He had met both the Goddess of ss Change, Janna, and the embodiment of "The World" before.


    Convinced by Jeremy''s reasoning, Ritchie agreed to the n.


    With both Ritchie and Liam on board, Jeremy''s n moved into action without dy.


    Ritchie and Liam remained at Jeremy''s home, preparing for the uing operation, while Jeremy headed directly to the instance where the Goddess of Life resided.


    The instance of the Goddess of Life was located in a forest on the outskirts of Moonlight City.


    All the monsters in the instance had already been transformed by the Goddess of Life using her powers. They no longer harbored any hostility toward humans.


    When the Goddess of Life saw Jeremy, she immediately realized that he must have encountered a significant problem.


    "You''vee to see me because you''re facing great trouble, haven''t you?" The Goddess of Life asked in a gentle tone.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement and replied, "You''re right. My friend has been taken under the control of Kean and The Person in the Mirror. Kean and The Person in the Mirror are pawns of the apocalypse game''s masterminds. I need your help to defeat them."


    Without hesitation, the Goddess of Life nodded.


    "Of course, I''ll help you! However, I cannot easily leave the instance, so I will give you a scroll. During the battle, as long as you use the scroll, I will be able to enter the battlefield directly."


    A scroll glowing with green light, a Life Scroll, floated before Jeremy.


    Jeremy immediately took the scroll, not hesitating for a moment.


    "Thank you so much for your help! I promise, I will give my all in this battle."


    "I believe you will give it your all," the Goddess of Life said, her tone serious. "But I must still remind you of something. Simply having my assistance will not guarantee sess. You will need the help of others."


    The "others" she referred to were obviously the War God and the other allies who had escaped from the Tower of Exile alongside her.


    Jeremy nodded gravely.


    "I understand what you mean! I will make sure to gather as many people as possible to help!"


    The Goddess of Life watched Jeremy''s departing figure and couldn''t help but let out a sigh.


    The Goddess of Life was actually able to foresee the events that Jeremy had encountered before. She knew that the trouble Jeremy faced was caused by the masterminds behind the apocalypse game.


    Given the existence of the apocalypse game''s nners, the Goddess of Life was absolutely unwilling to act recklessly. She was also worried about being defeated again by one of those nners. Thest thing she wanted was to be captured and sent back to the soul prison.


    After spending half an hour, Jeremy finally arrived at the instance where the War God resided. Inside the instance, there was no creature except the War God.


    The War God had already in all the monsters within the instance.


    The War God was very weing of Jeremy''s arrival. He had not spoken to anyone for a long time.


    "Finally, someone to talk to!" the War God said with a smile. "But you must havee here for something important, right?"


    Jeremy then proceeded to exin the trouble he had encountered and the n he had developed.


    After listening, the War God immediately responded without hesitation, "Don''t worry! I will definitely do everything I can to help you! I''ll be involved in this battle as long as you summon me in time before it begins."


    In fact, the War God also couldn''t leave the instance easily, so he, too, required Jeremy to summon him just before the battle started.

 Chapter 377 Deeply Unwilling – The Son of the Sun

    While Jeremy and hispanions were discussing how to rescue Bonnie, a fierce argument erupted between Kean and The Person in the Mirror.


    Jeremy''s sessful escape from the trap had beenpletely unexpected for both Kean and The Person in the Mirror.


    Upon confirming that Jeremy had fled, The Son of the Sun immediately turned his wrath toward Kean, using him of ipetence.


    "The n you devised was riddled with ws," The Son of the Sun began, his voice heavy with disdain. "And during its execution, you failed to demonstrate the immense power you boasted about."


    "You didn''t keep your promise! You assured me before that you would defeat Jeremy in battle. Not only did you fail to do so, but you also couldn''t even prevent him from escaping," he spat, his tone brimming with fury.


    Kean, already in a foul mood, retorted sharply, unwilling to shoulder all the me.


    "How is Jeremy''s escape solely my fault? You and your subordinates failed to secure the abandoned cathedral properly. If you had seeded, Jeremy would never have been able to exploit his


    King of Time and Space


    talent to open a portal and escape!"


    Kean''s frustration boiled over as he continued, "Sure, I didn''t manage to eliminate Jeremy quickly during the battle, but it''s clear I had the upper hand. If I had been given just a little more time, I would have defeated him!"


    In Kean''s view, the failure of their n was entirely due to The Son of the Sun''s oversight.


    Hearing Kean''s defiant defense only made The Son of the Sun angrier. His entire body began to emit a blinding light as he teleported instantly to Kean''s side.


    "Don''t think for a second that our n hinges entirely on you! I can kill you right here and now and find another, more suitable human ally," The Son of the Sun dered, his presence exuding an overwhelming sense of power and menace.


    Kean could feel the immense threat from The Son of the Sun and was certain that his ally was genuinely considering killing him.


    Even so, Kean refused to beg for mercy.


    "I''ll say it one more time! I am the strongest ally you''ll ever find. If you kill me, you won''t find anyone more powerful or suitable than I am!"


    Kean''s piercing gaze locked onto The Son of the Sun, unyielding despite the danger.


    The Son of the Sun


    did not lessen the pressure he was exerting.


    In fact, The Son of the Sun began to amplify his power, radiating an even more intense energy.


    Kean could feel himself on the verge of being reduced to ashes under the blinding sunlight.


    Just as Kean was about to sumb, a voice¡ª


    The Sun


    ''s voice¡ªsuddenly echoed in the ears of both Kean and The Son of the Sun.


    "Now is not the time for me and conflict. You must unite."


    The moment


    The Sun


    ''s voice resonated, The Son of the Sun withdrew, creating a distance between himself and Kean.


    Although The Son of the Sun was clearly unwilling to relent,


    The Sun


    had made its stance unmistakably clear.


    As the architect of the


    apocalypse game


    ,


    The Sun


    had no desire to see The Son of the Sun kill Kean outright. It anticipated Kean ying a critical role in the uing ns.


    "Great Father, I don''t understand why you ce such trust in Kean! His earlier words were nothing more than desperate excuses. Our previous failure was entirely his fault," The Son of the Sun roared in frustration, his voice echoing with fury.


    He was well aware that


    The Sun


    could hear every word he spoke.


    Kean''s expression darkened further, his face now a mask of seething resentment.


    He had never imagined that The Son of the Sun would truly view him as the greatest enemy.


    "Jeremy''s strength surpasses both of yours,"


    The Sun


    said, its tone calm and measured.


    Although there was no trace of reproach in its voice, the words carried an undeniable weight. As a true deity,


    The Sun


    seemed disinclined to rebuke its subordinates.


    Both The Son of the Sun and Kean were taken aback by what they heard.


    They hadn''t expected


    The Sun


    to acknowledge Jeremy''s power so openly.


    "There''s no need for such surprise. If Jeremy were so easily destroyed, would I have fallen because of him?"


    The Sun


    stated inly, its words cutting to the core of the matter. Explore more adventures at empire


    Neither The Son of the Sun nor Kean could argue. They had to admit that


    The Sun


    ''s reasoning was entirely sound.


    "What should our next move be, then? Jeremy will not let this go. He will undoubtedly try to rescue hispanions. Are we to simply wait here for his arrival?"


    For now, The Son of the Sun set aside his animosity toward Kean, his focus shifting to therger problem at hand.


    He began to ask what actions they should take next.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Kean, naturally, was also deeply concerned about what kind of n


    The Sun


    would devise to counter Jeremy.


    "You cannot wait here for Jeremy''s arrival. The next time hees, he will be even stronger. Moreover, he will undoubtedly bring hispanions with him. You must prepare a far more challenging trap for him,"


    The Sun


    dered.


    The Sun''s


    reasoning was, in fact, consistent with its previous approach.


    Since they couldn''t defeat Jeremy in a direct confrontation, the obvious choice was to ensnare him in a trap.


    After hearing


    The Sun''s


    new instructions, both The Son of the Sun and Kean showed faint hesitation on their faces.


    Neither of them knew what kind of trap they should design.


    After all, the trap they had set in the abandoned cathedral had already been exceptionally difficult to escape.


    Even when caught off guard, Jeremy had still managed to use his


    King of Time and Space


    talent to escape.


    If Jeremy came prepared next time, what kind of trap could they possibly use to contain him?


    After pondering for a while, The Son of the Sun still couldn''te up with a n of action. Finally, he decided to ask his great father for guidance directly.


    "Great Father, I truly don''t know what kind of trap we could set to leave Jeremy defenseless. Could you give us some hints?"


    Although Kean said nothing, he was also waiting for


    The Sun


    to offer advice.


    "You shouldn''t set the trap near the capital''s city center. Instead, you must ce it in a very remote location. This way, you can take advantage of the surrounding


    instance''s


    power.


    I recall that Jeremy once ventured into the


    endless abyss instance


    . You can modify the


    endless abyss instance


    into a trap. ce Bonnie at the deepest point of the instance, so that Jeremy will have no choice but to enter it,"


    The Sun


    exined.


    Indeed,


    The Sun


    was far more intelligent than any of its subordinates.


    It had devised the perfect method for creating an inescapable trap.


    Both The Son of the Sun and Kean felt that this n was the most likely to seed.


    With no further hesitation, the two of them decided to take action immediately.


    Before the n began,


    The Sun


    once again gave a stern reminder to The Son of the Sun and Kean.


    "You two must stop arguing. Neither of you is particrly strong on your own. Only by working together can you pose a real threat to Jeremy."


    After saying this,


    The Sun''s


    voice faded into silence.


    The Son of the Sun and Kean still felt a lingering dislike for each other.


    However, neither of them intended to continue bickering.


    They both understood that if they kept fighting, their next n would meet the same fate as their previous failure.


    "Let''s head to the


    endless abyss instance


    immediately. We need to carefully n how to set the trap," The Son of the Sun eventually broke the silence, initiating a discussion with Kean about the course of action.


    Kean, however, shook his head.


    "I can''t go to the


    endless abyss instance


    with you right now. I need to return to the capital to take care of some personal matters. I''ll need about a day. By this time tomorrow, I''ll be ready to head to the


    endless abyss instance


    ."


    The Son of the Sun did not object, knowing that Kean indeed had several things to address on his own.


    After Kean departed, The Son of the Sun also left the abandoned cathedral.


    The Sun


    and the resurrection array that had been aiding it were already long gone.


    After all, lingering in the cathedral would only put


    The Sun


    at greater risk.


    The Son of the Sun regrouped with The Person in the Mirror.


    The Son of the Sun recounted everything that had happened to The Person in the Mirror.


    For The Person in the Mirror, their sole purpose was to bring back the great


    Sun


    .


    The failure of their recent mission dealt a significant blow to their morale.


    However, The Person in the Mirror would never give up so easily. They began working alongside The Son of the Sun to set up a new trap.


    Their movements were naturally hidden from others, as they were now operating in a remote and deste area.


    Kean, on the other hand, had a very different situation.


    As soon as Kean entered the bustling center of the capital, he was immediately detected by the military headquarters.


    Two highly skilled major generals from the headquarters were assigned to track him.


    Although the military wasn''t entirely sure what had transpired earlier, they had sensed a close connection between Kean and the mastermind behind the apocalypse game.


    Because of this suspicion, the military had ced Kean on their high-priority watchlist.


    From this point onward, every move Kean made would be closely monitored by the military headquarters.


    Unbeknownst to him, Kean had no idea that he was under surveince.


    He believed that apart from Jeremy, no one else was aware of his coboration with the mastermind of the apocalypse game.


    Kean simply went about handling his own affairs, following his own ns.


    This assumption inadvertently led the military to further misjudge Kean''s rtionship with the Lannisters.


    The military concluded that Kean''s current actions must be supported by the Lannisters.

 Chapter 378 The Factional Struggles Within Military Headquarters

    The investigators from Military Headquarters assigned to monitor Kean''s every move quicklypiled and reported all his activities from the day.


    Upon learning that Kean appeared to be coborating closely with The Person in the Mirror, the various factions within Military Headquarters began taking their respective actions.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    In truth, there were intense factional struggles within Military Headquarters. Since the major families of the Federation sought to exert greater influence within the headquarters, each family had ensured their members were embedded in its structure.


    In addition to the offspring of civilians backed by these families, each major family had effectively formed its own faction within Military Headquarters.


    Currently, the headquarters was led by Marshal Daniel, who himself did not belong to any of the five major families of the Federation. This independence allowed him to maintain the headquarters as a powerful and rtively autonomous force within the Federation.


    However, at the mid-levels of the headquarters, the major families wielded considerable influence.


    The first to receive the report about Kean, naturally, were the mid-level managers in charge of intelligence investigations. The intelligence apparatus within Military Headquarters was known as the Military Intelligence Bureau, and its director, Shen Feng, was a member of the Lannister family.


    Although Shen Feng was not a core member of the Lannisters and was only distantly rted to Kean, he was nheless inclined to side with him. As a result, Shen Feng immediately suppressed the report.


    "You no longer need to continue your previous mission," Shen Feng instructed. "Although Kean is suspected of coborating with The Person in the Mirror, we have no concrete evidence. From now on, your task is to investigate The Person in the Mirror."


    As the director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, Shen Feng ordered the reassignment of all personnel who had been monitoring Kean.


    This decision, unsurprisingly, provoked opposition from the intelligence officers.


    However, Shen Feng forcibly overrode their objections.


    "Your current operations are meaningless when ites to safeguarding the security of the capital," he asserted. "The real threat to the capital''s safety lies in The Person in the Mirror and the monsters within the apocalypse game''s instances. That''s why I''m directing you to investigate The Person in the Mirror."


    "If you still insist on opposing this, then feel free to take your objections directly to the senior officers at Military Headquarters. Let the generals at the top make the final judgment," Shen Feng said, his tone incredibly firm.


    His unyielding stance left the intelligence officers with no choice but to remain silent. After dismissing his subordinates, Shen Feng immediately dialed Kean''s number.


    At that moment, Kean had already returned to his home. He was handling various personal matters and was confused when he received Shen Feng''s call.


    Why is he calling me? Does Military Headquarters need my help with something? Kean was unsure of Shen Feng''s exact position, as the Military Intelligence Bureau was a highly secretive and important branch within the headquarters, and the details of its personnel were not made public.


    Despite his confusion, Kean answered the call.


    "I have something important to tell you! You must listen carefully! While I''m speaking, you must not say a word. I won''t answer any of your questions. Once I''m done, I''ll hang up," Shen Feng''s serious voice came through immediately after the call was answered.


    The gravity in Shen Feng''s tone made Kean feel a little uneasy. He began to worry that the military had discovered his cooperation with The Person in the Mirror.


    With a nervous heart, Kean listened intently, hoping for some rity.


    "The Military Intelligence Bureau has been monitoring your every move. It appears you are working with The Person in the Mirror. I don''t know whether this is true or not. I only have one thing to say to you: you need to be very careful. If anything happens to you, I won''t be able to help.


    And if you really are cooperating with The Person in the Mirror, you will drag down the entire Lannister family. None of the Lannisters wille to your rescue. Consider this a warning."


    Shen Feng finished speaking in a quick, clipped manner, then abruptly hung up the phone.


    At that moment, Kean''s emotions were in turmoil. He hadn''t expected to be under constant surveince by the Military Intelligence Bureau. But it didn''t take long for him to piece things together.


    There were many enemies of the Lannisters within Military Headquarters. While Shen Feng was in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Bureau, he couldn''t prevent other intelligence officers from monitoring Kean''s movements.


    Kean slowly lowered the phone from his ear, deep in thought. He began contemting his next course of action.


    Although Shen Feng might temporarily help prevent further investigations into him, Kean knew that the Lannisters'' enemies within Military Headquarters wouldn''t give up so easily. He would have to tread carefully from here on out.


    I can''t cooperate with The Person in the Mirror for now. I need to actively cooperate with the people at Military Headquarters. Only then will they believe that their suspicions about me were baseless.


    Once he made up his mind, Kean quickly sent a message to The Son of the Sun. He wasn''t going to help set up the trap for Jeremy in the deep parts of the Endless Abyss instance anymore.


    For the next week, Kean nned to work with Military Headquarters personnel to clear out some of the lower-difficulty instances. Of course, Kean would avoid any Apocalypse Game instances rted to The Sun. He would only focus on those that had no connection to it.


    When The Son of the Sun received the message, he was deep inside the Endless Abyss instance, working with The Person in the Mirror to set up a trap for Jeremy. If The Son of the Sun wanted his n to seed quickly, he needed Kean''s assistance.


    So, when he read Kean''s message, he was furious.


    "I knew I shouldn''t have trusted Kean! He''s nothing but a liability!" The Son of the Sun shouted in anger, his voice echoing through the room filled with members of The Person in the Mirror.


    The members of The Person in the Mirror, who were present, shared mixed feelings at that moment.


    Although The Person in the Mirror had been working with Kean for a long time, they all understood that Kean had his own independent thoughts and motivations. Therefore, they were able to ept Kean''s decision, even though it wasn''t what they had hoped for.


    However, they were also facing immense pressure. They desperately needed Kean''s help, and if he wasn''t able to assist them in this situation, they would indeed be very disappointed in him.


    The Son of the Sun, though deeply angry, knew that his rage wouldn''t solve any problems. After taking a moment to calm down, he spoke directly to The Person in the Mirror.


    "Since Kean can no longer help us, we''ll have to try even harder. Jeremy and hispanions could arrive here at any moment. We need to finish setting up the trap in the Endless Abyss as quickly as possible!"


    Under The Son of the Sun''s leadership, The Person in the Mirror quicklypleted the trap in the depths of the Endless Abyss instance. But whether or not the trap would seed ultimately depended on the specific circumstances of the battle.


    Jeremy''s faction was incredibly powerful. Additionally, this time, Jeremy had the help of other allies.


    If The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror didn''t perform exceptionally well during the fight, even with the trap in ce, it was very likely that they wouldn''t be able to defeat Jeremy.


    Over the next few days, The Son of the Sun engaged in countless discussions with The Person in the Mirror, going over every detail of the uing battle. They simted their encounters with Jeremy repeatedly, analyzing various scenarios.


    The results of these simtions were deeply disappointing for both The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror.


    The Son of the Sun suddenly realized that, on their own, they wouldn''t be able to trap Jeremy. And with Jeremy''s abilities to divert attention and draw them into prolonged engagements, it would be very easy for Jeremy''s allies to eliminate The Person in the Mirror while The Son of the Sun was upied.


    This meant that, without Kean''s help, their entire n would be impossible to execute. Experience tales at empire


    "What should we do now?! I can''t see any hope for our n to seed!" The Son of the Sun was feeling incredibly overwhelmed. He hadn''t expected to face such enormous trouble.


    The mood among The Person in the Mirror was equally bleak. One of them stepped forward and addressed The Son of the Sun.


    "If we can''t defeat Jeremy with just our own strength, perhaps we can seek the aid of the great Sun? The power of The Sun should far surpass that of Jeremy."


    In reality, most of The Person in the Mirror hoped that The Sun would intervene directly. Although The Sun hadn''t been fully resurrected, even a partial resurrection of an Apocalypse Game architect was enough to exert tremendous power in the real world.


    The Son of the Sun didn''t immediately reject the suggestion, but he didn''t agree to it either. He simply couldn''t be sure if The Sun would be willing to assist them in the battle.


    He gave a calm response: "I understand. I will discuss this with the great Sun. However, I can''t guarantee that The Sun will agree to help us."


    The Son of the Sun''s answer was exactly what The Person in the Mirror had expected. They knew it was impossible to predict what The Sun might decide.

 Chapter 379 Unexpected Challenges

    While The Son of the Sun and Kean were pursuing their respective agendas, Jeremy was traveling to the capital with Liam and Ritchie. Once again, they chose to fly to their destination.


    On the way to the capital, Liam and Ritchie continued to simte potential battle scenarios. Both of them were noticeably tense.


    Liam and Ritchie had never faced truly formidable opponents before. Although Ritchie had apanied Jeremy on numerous adventures, Jeremy had always been there to provide crucial support whenever they encountered a powerful enemy. This time, however, Ritchie felt it was his responsibility to stand on his own and face an exceptionally strong adversary.


    Liam, in some ways, was even more anxious than Ritchie. Despite being in charge of Moonlight City''s Special Situation Bureau, most of the challenges Liam had dealt with were caused by Apocalypse Game instances. The monsters in those instances were not particrly strong byparison.


    Liam had never faced an opponent on the level of an Apocalypse Game architect. In fact, he hadn''t even had a direct confrontation with The Person in the Mirror before.


    As Liam and Ritchie discussed strategies, Jeremy remained silent, gazing out the airne window. Though he couldn''t see the ground below, he could imagine the devastation. After two rounds of monster enhancements in the Apocalypse Game, most human cities without strong defenses had been utterly destroyed.


    "Attention, passengers. Please prepare fornding. We will be touching down at the military airport in the southern district of the capital in ten minutes," the ne''s inte announced.


    Liam and Ritchie halted their discussion, and Jeremy finally snapped out of his thoughts. The ne descended smoothly andnded at the southern district''s military airport in the capital.


    However, as soon as they disembarked, Jeremy and his group encountered their first obstacle. Enjoy new adventures from empire


    A soldier, iming to be a manager at the military airport, approached them aggressively.


    "Your flight was not authorized by Military Headquarters. You must exin why you''vee to the capital!" the soldier barked, his tone filled with anger as he red at Jeremy and the others.


    Jeremy looked at the soldier with slight confusion, unsure why the man was showing such hostility. Nevertheless, he answered the soldier''s question.


    "We''vee to the capital to rescue our friend. Bonnie went missing yesterday¡ªhaven''t you received this news? Or do you think Bonnie isn''t someone important?"


    Everyone was well aware that Bonnie was a member of the Liu family. Moreover, she was the daughter of Mayor Benjamin. While Benjamin himself wasn''t a particrly high-ranking official, his elder brother held a significant position in the Federation''s upper echelons.


    The soldier, of course, knew who Bonnie was. However, he didn''t believe that Jeremy and his group were capable of rescuing her.


    "This is not something you need to handle! The Federation''s leadership and Military Headquarters are already taking action. You''ll only get in the way of their operatives! Now turn around and head back immediately!" the soldier barked. He motioned as though he intended to send them back onto the ne.


    Jeremy, however, stood firm and had no intention of retreating. He gripped his Mortal Combat weapon tightly and red at the soldier. His mind was made up¡ªif the soldier took another step forward, Jeremy would attack without hesitation.


    Liam, wanting to avoid a confrontation so soon after their arrival, decided to mediate.


    "Let''s not resort to conflict just yet," Liam said calmly. "I believe we can sort this out. While we didn''t notify Military Headquarters about our mission in advance, I brought a letter personally written by Mayor Benjamin.


    I think Mayor Benjamin''s letter should be enough for you to allow us through. If you still aren''t convinced, then call your superior. Let them decide."


    Though Liam''s tone remained polite, his patience was wearing thin. He was beginning to suspect that the soldier was deliberately making things difficult for them.


    The soldier nced at the letter Liam handed him, his expression turning hesitant. After a few moments of silence, he finally spoke.


    "Understood. I''ll report this to my superior immediately. Until I return, don''t leave the airport!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    With that, the soldier quickly turned and walked away. Jeremy and the others stayed near the ne, waiting for his return.


    The group ended up waiting for two full hours before the soldier returned, this time apanied by a colonel.


    The colonel nced at Mayor Benjamin''s handwritten letter, a polite smile spreading across his face as he addressed Liam and Jeremy.


    "Since you have Mayor Benjamin''s letter, you''re authorized to proceed with your mission. However, I must caution you¡ªunder no circumstances should you interfere with Military Headquarters'' ongoing operations."


    Jeremy wasted no time and directly asked, "What kind of operations is Military Headquarters conducting? Do they know that Kean''s disappearance is connected to Bonnie''s?"


    The colonel shook his head.


    "I''m not sure what you''re referring to. From what I know, Military Headquarters has no knowledge of such a connection. In fact, they don''t seem to suspect Kean at all. As far as I''m aware, Kean is actively assisting Military Headquarters in locating Bonnie."


    This statement left Jeremy, Liam, and Ritchiepletely stunned.


    "Kean is searching for Bonnie?!" Jeremy asked in disbelief, needing confirmation.


    The colonel nodded.


    "That''s correct. Kean is one of the most talented Apocalypse Game yers we have. His assistance should significantly expedite Military Headquarters'' efforts to find Bonnie."


    With that, the colonel decided he had said enough and turned to leave. To him, there was no need to share more details. Despite his rtively moderate rank, the colonel had a clear understanding of the factional struggles within Military Headquarters, and he wasn''t about to entangle himself further.


    After the colonel departed, Jeremy''s fury boiled over.


    "Kean is deliberately sabotaging Military Headquarters'' efforts! We need to warn them immediately!"


    "They won''t believe us," Liam responded coolly. "Military Headquarters trusts Kean far more than they trust you."


    From Liam''s perspective, it was unwise to confront Kean directly, especially in the capital, where the Lannisters wielded significant power. Any open conflict with Kean would inevitably invite enormous trouble.


    "We''ve already encountered more obstacles than we expected since arriving in the capital," Liam added. "If we provoke a direct confrontation with Kean, this mission will be impossible to execute."


    Ritchie quickly chimed in.


    "I think Liam''s right. After all, this is the capital. Kean''s connections here are far deeper than ours. We''re outnumbered and outmatched in terms of influence."


    "So it''s not surprising that Kean could convince Military Headquarters," Ritchie said. "In my opinion, it''s perfectly normal. Let''s not focus on Kean or what''s happening at Military Headquarters anymore."


    After hearing Liam and Ritchie''s reasoning, Jeremy finally agreed to stop worrying about Kean and Military Headquarters'' actions.


    "Alright, then. Let''s proceed with the n you suggested earlier. We''ll head for the abandoned cathedral. There should be some clues around there."


    With the n set, Liam, Jeremy, and Ritchie quickly made their way toward the abandoned cathedral.


    About half an hour before they reached their destination, Kean had already learned that Jeremy and his group had returned to the capital.


    Kean had been expecting their return.


    "They''ve finally arrived," Kean thought to himself. "Their pace is a bit slow, though. I thought they''d make it to the capital byst night. I guess Jeremy doesn''t have enough confidence in his own abilities."


    At that moment, Kean was positioned not far from Military Headquarters'' rescue team. Of course, Kean was nning to assist the rescue team, but his help had a very specific purpose¡ªhe wanted to direct the team away from the location where Bonnie was currently held.


    Kean already had a strategy in mind to create more trouble for Jeremy and his group.


    "They''re definitely heading to the abandoned cathedral next," Kean said, looking at the person in front of him. "You''ve taken care of everything over there, right?"


    The person he was speaking to was one of The Person in the Mirror members.


    The member nodded. "Yes, we''ve dealt with everything at the abandoned cathedral. We even nted some evidence there to mislead Jeremy."


    Hearing this, a new idea suddenly crossed Kean''s mind¡ªan even better way to deal with Jeremy.


    "If that''s the case," Kean said with a thoughtful expression, "maybe I should take more direct action. I''ll bring the rescue team to the abandoned cathedral. That way, the team and Jeremy will inevitably sh."


    Kean quickly began to outline the rough framework of his n. Once he had formted his strategy, he immediately set it into motion.


    He walked over to the captain of the rescue team with a smile and said, "I''ve found some new leads. It seems that Bonnie may have gone to the abandoned cathedral. Let''s head there now. We should be able to find some clues."


    The captain of the rescue team nced at Kean. He wasn''t entirely convinced by Kean''s information, but given that he had no other leads at the moment, he ultimately decided to follow Kean''s suggestion and head to the abandoned cathedral.

 Chapter 380 Enemies Meet, Conflict Erupts

    Although both Jeremy and Kean were heading toward the abandoned cathedral, Jeremy and hispanions had started their journey earlier. As a result, they arrived at the cathedral half an hour before Kean.


    By the time Jeremy and his team reached the abandoned cathedral, the site had undergone significant changes.


    The Person in the Mirror had thoroughly removed all the clues that had previously been left behind. Even the overall structure of the cathedral had been altered. Stay updated through empire


    When Jeremy arrived and took in the sight, his expression darkened considerably.


    "It seems we won''t find any useful clues here," he said grimly. "Kean and The Person in the Mirror have already wiped out everything. I should''ve acted sooner!"


    His voice was heavy with regret as he spoke. Jeremy couldn''t shake the feeling that, had he moved faster, he might have discovered some crucial evidence. Now, everything had been erased by his enemies.


    Liam and Ritchie, however, weren''t as discouraged as Jeremy. Without wasting time, they began searching the area around the abandoned cathedral for anything useful.


    Before long, Liam discovered an abandoned scroll in one of the corners of the cathedral. The scroll radiated a powerful sr energy.


    As soon as Liam examined it, he was certain that one of The Sun''s subordinates had been present in this location. Excited by the find, Liam rushed over to Jeremy, holding the scroll.


    "I found this scroll in one of the corners. Do you think we can use it to trace its previous owner? If we can, we might be able to locate Bonnie directly."


    Liam''s suggestion had merit. After all, most scrolls carried residual information from their owners, which could potentially be used to track them.


    Jeremy carefully examined the scroll, his expression serious. However, after a thorough inspection, he realized that much of the residual information on the scroll had been erased.


    "Even if we use divination, it''s impossible to pinpoint the owner''s current location with this," Jeremy concluded. "This scroll won''t be of much use to us. We should focus on finding clues elsewhere."


    Just as Jeremy finished speaking, the distant roar of a helicopter echoed through the air. Momentster, a helicopter appeared overhead, hovering above the abandoned cathedral.


    Instead ofnding, the team aboard the helicopter chose to jump down directly from midair. These individuals were members of the rescue team dispatched by Military Headquarters.


    Leading the group was the team captain, a highly skilled Apocalypse Game yer from Military Headquarters.


    When Jeremy saw the rescue team members, his expression remained neutral. He recognized that these individuals were not his enemies.


    However, when thest person jumped down from the helicopter, Jeremy''s expression instantly twisted into a fierce snarl.


    The moment he recognized the person, Jeremy gripped his Mortal Combat weapon andunched an attack.


    Thest individual to jump from the helicopter was none other than Kean.


    Jeremy''s sudden action shocked everyone present. Liam was toote to stop him, while the members of the rescue team immediately stepped in to defend Kean.


    The rescue team captain swiftly deployed a tool, trapping Jeremy within a slow zone, a space that significantly reduced his movements.


    Kean stood calmly in ce, smiling faintly as he watched the enraged Jeremy struggle.


    Jeremy and Kean, bound by a history of deep-seated hatred, erupted into conflict the moment they crossed paths. Jeremy, unaware of the trap Kean had set for him, acted impulsively and attacked in a fit of rage.


    Kean, however, remainedposed. He had other ns to execute and needed to stay in control of the situation.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I don''t know what kind of grudge exists between the two of you," the rescue team captain said sternly, addressing both Kean and Jeremy. "But I''ll remind you that it''s not the time or ce for this. Our mission is to rescue Bonnie, and everything we do must serve that purpose!"


    With that, the captain deactivated his tool, allowing Jeremy to escape from the slow zone.


    Even as he regained his freedom, Jeremy''s fiery re remained fixed on Kean.


    "Bonnie''s disappearance is because of Kean!" Jeremy spat angrily. "If you let him join us in searching for her, it will only make finding her even less likely!"


    Jeremy, of course, did not want to engage in conflict with the members of the rescue team, so he quickly tried to exin himself. However, the members of the rescue team didn''t believe his exnation at all. From their perspective, Kean had been consistently helping them, while it was Jeremy who was interfering with their efforts to rescue Bonnie.


    The captain of the rescue team wore a slightly helpless expression. He sighed deeply and slowly spoke, "I understand that you have your own views, Jeremy. I also know that you and Bonnie share a very close rtionship. I can understand your desire to rescue her as quickly as possible. But I hope you realize that, given the current situation, we shouldn''t be fighting among ourselves. Since you''vee to the abandoned cathedral, it means you believe there might be a clue about Bonnie here. So why can''t we work together? If we find a clue, doesn''t that bring us one step closer to finding Bonnie?"


    The captain spoke with a sense of reason and calm conviction. His words made sense, and Jeremy, after hearing them, decided not to continue arguing. He nodded in agreement and said, "Fine. We''ll do things your way. We''ve already been searching here for a while, and all we''ve found is this scroll. We haven''t found any other clues."


    With that, Jeremy handed the scroll to the captain of the rescue team.


    As the captain examined the scroll, Jeremy added, "But I don''t think this scroll should be given to Kean. I don''t trust him. After you''ve looked it over, just ry the information to him. That''s all."


    When Kean heard this, he merely sneered. He wasn''t concerned with Jeremy''s actions at all. In fact, in Kean''s mind, the trap he had set hadn''t been triggered yet.


    The captain of the rescue team examined the scroll that Liam had found. While the scroll certainly contained the power of the Sun, and he could confirm that it was definitely linked to one of the Apocalypse Game nners, the captain felt that it had no direct connection to the missing Bonnie.


    After a moment of careful inspection, he spoke again, "This scroll¡­ it has the power of the Sun, no doubt about it. But as for Bonnie, I don''t see how this could be linked to her disappearance. This is something tied to the Apocalypse Game¡ªbut not Bonnie herself."


    "I don''t think this scroll provides us with any useful information," the captain of the rescue team said as he handed the scroll back to Jeremy. He then gave instructions to his team. "Let''s split up and go inside the abandoned cathedral to search for more clues."


    As the members of the rescue team began to move out, the captain turned back toward Kean.


    "I don''t know how intense the conflict between you and Jeremy is," he said, his tone serious, "but I want to make one thing clear: don''t get into a fight with him, especially not in this situation. I expect you to keep your cool."


    The captain''s impression of Kean was far from favorable. He wasn''t one of the Lannisters, so he had no reason to be overly polite to Kean.


    Kean smiled and nodded. "You don''t need to worry about that. I''ll make sure to avoid any conflict with Jeremy. After all, I''m the one who genuinely wants to rescue Bonnie."


    With Kean''s promise in hand, the captain also made his way inside the abandoned cathedral.


    The captain didn''t expect to find anything of value inside the cathedral. After all, the cathedral was located within the city of Capital. What kind of secret would be hidden here that would be connected to The Person in the Mirror or the nners of the Apocalypse Game?


    If there were a secret base of The Person in the Mirror here, it would mean that the security situation in Capital was already beyond dire. The city would be in a state of total copse.


    The captain of the rescue team didn''t search too thoroughly; he was mostly just waiting for his team members to return.


    Before the rescue team members came back, Ritchie suddenly rushed out from an underground passage, his face pale with fear.


    "There are some incredibly powerful monsters underground!" Ritchie said breathlessly to Jeremy. "I''m not strong enough to take them down!"


    Ritchie''s words were heard by four people: Jeremy, Liam, the captain of the rescue team, and Kean.


    The reactions from the four were very different.


    Jeremy and Liam immediately became very serious. They both understood the importance of finding key clues in the abandoned cathedral, and if monsters had appeared, it could very well mean that something important had been uncovered.


    The captain of the rescue team, however, was more skeptical. He wasn''t entirely convinced that there were powerful monsters deep inside the cathedral. He immediately thought that Ritchie''s strength was simply insufficient to deal with whatever was down there.


    Kean, on the other hand, wore an expression of surprise, but inwardly, he was very pleased. The monsters in the cathedral were part of the trap he had set. Their purpose was to create chaos and force a confrontation between Jeremy and the rescue team.

 Chapter 381 The Same Event from Different Perspectives

    Although everyone hadpletely different thoughts about the sudden appearance of monsters underground in the abandoned cathedral, they all understood one thing: they needed to move quickly and confront these monsters in the depths of the cathedral.


    Liam and Jeremy were the fastest to act. Without hesitation, they followed Ritchie and rushed into the underground passage.


    The captain of the rescue team and Kean weren''t as quick. The two of them followed behind Liam and Jeremy at a more cautious pace.


    Before long, they reached the lowest level of the cathedral. In this darkened area, one after another, monsters that emitted a golden-yellow glow charged at the humans who had just intruded.


    These monsters, glowing with a golden hue, were all at level 70, which meant they were far too powerful for Ritchie to handle on his own.


    The moment they saw these monsters, Liam and Jeremy immediately realized this was a trap. Both of them felt that aside from the monsters they could see, there must be more enemies hidden elsewhere. To ensure their safety, they decided it was best to retreat for now.


    Jeremy immediately turned and shouted at the captain of the rescue team and Kean.


    "Get out now! This ce is extremely dangerous! We can''t defeat these enemies easily here!"


    However, Jeremy''s warning didn''t convince the captain of the rescue team or Kean to leave. The captain, still unaware of the true strength of the golden-glowing monsters, simply thought Jeremy was trying to hide something from them.


    The captain quickly approached Jeremy, his gaze fixed on him. Slowly, he asked, "Why do you want us to leave? Do you not want us to see these monsters? Or is there something here, something to do with you, that you''re trying to keep hidden?"


    Jeremy was taken aback by the captain''s immediate suspicion. However, he didn''t have time to deal with it.


    "I don''t care what you think or whether you suspect me," Jeremy snapped, frustration in his voice. "What I need you to do right now is get out of here! This ce is too dangerous!"


    Jeremy still hoped to ensure the safety of the rescue team captain. If the captain of the rescue team were to die here, Jeremy wouldn''t be able to exin it. The people from the military headquarters would definitely be more inclined to trust Kean. Kean could easily shift the me for the captain''s death onto Jeremy.


    While Jeremy and the rescue team captain were in the middle of their argument, Kean bypassed the two of them.


    Kean moved to the front of the group and drew his weapon.


    "Since we''ve already encountered the monsters, why not attack them directly? Are you all too cowardly?" Kean taunted, his words aimed at Jeremy before attacking the level 70 monsters.


    Jeremy, however, didn''t take Kean''s taunts to heart. He saw it as just another act of bravado. Jeremy knew that Kean''s level couldn''t be higher than his own, which meant Kean was certainly not strong enough to take on monsters of level 70.


    How could an apocalypse game yer, with a level lower than 70, defeat a whole horde of monsters that were all above level 70?


    At that very moment, a realization hit Jeremy ¡ª he might have just walked into a trap. The high-level monsters were probably part of a trap set by Kean and The Person in the Mirror.


    Immediately, Jeremy decided to stop trying to hold back the rescue team captain. If the captain joined the fight, he would soon see that the monsters weren''t as powerful as they appeared. That way, the captain would stop suspecting Jeremy.


    However, what happened nextpletely ruined Jeremy''s n.


    Kean''s single strike wiped out all the monsters in an instant.


    Once thest of the monsters was defeated, Kean turned around with a smile.


    "It seems these monsters weren''t so strong after all. So, why did you say their strength was extraordinary? Is there really no hidden secret here that involves you?"


    Kean had finally found the opportunity to redirect the suspicion onto Jeremy.


    The captain of the rescue team, now eyeing Jeremy closely, began to narrow his gaze.


    Enjoy new adventures at empire


    The captain of the rescue team was already deeply suspicious of Jeremy''s actions.


    For a moment, Jeremy didn''t know how to exin himself. He quickly said, "I can assure you, those monsters are incredibly strong. They''re all above level 70. Kean was able to defeat them only because he deliberately ced them here."


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s exnation, the rescue team captainughed.


    "Do you expect me to believe your exnation? Don''t you think it sounds a bit absurd?"


    The captain clearly didn''t trust Jeremy''s words.


    Liam and Ritchie, who were not far from Jeremy, couldn''t help him either. They had no idea why Kean was able to defeat the monsters so easily. Even if The Person in the Mirror had left the monsters there on purpose, Kean should not have been able to eliminate them so smoothly.


    It was clear that, depending on the perspective, the situation could be interpreted inpletely different ways.


    Jeremy knew Kean''s true nature. He understood that Kean''s actions were part of a deliberate trap. But the captain of the rescue team had no idea about this. So, the captain was siding with Kean.


    He coldly spoke to Jeremy and the others, "You don''t need to exin yourselves just yet. Now that we''ve dealt with those monsters, we can continue deeper into the cathedral. I believe this is just the surface level."


    As soon as the captain finished speaking, Kean walked over to a hidden door and opened it.


    Behind the door was a chest.


    "It looks like there''s a secret area here after all!" Kean called out to the captain.


    The rescue team captain walked over to Kean''s side. Together, they opened the chest.


    Inside the chest were letters ¡ª fakemunications from The Person in the Mirror, forged to look like they were from Jeremy.


    Upon seeing the letters, the captain immediately began to prepare for battle.


    "Do you still have anything to say? Where have you hidden Bonnie?" he demanded, his voice sharp and filled with usation.


    The captain of the rescue team yelled at Jeremy in a harsh tone.


    At this moment, Jeremy was filled with intense anger. But he knew deep down that he couldn''t just attack the rescue team captain. If he did, he would definitely be an enemy of the military headquarters. And that, clearly, was exactly what Kean wanted to see.


    Liam, who was also confused, trusted Jeremypletely. Without hesitation, Liam addressed the captain directly.


    "I trust Jeremy''s innocence. You can''t just decide that Jeremy kidnapped Bonnie based on a single chest! We need to rify everything before jumping to conclusions."


    If this had happened in Moonlight City, Liam''s words would have had weight. He held a respected position there. But in Capital, Liam''s influence was nowhere near as strong.


    The rescue team captain dismissed Liam entirely. Coldly, he retorted, "This isn''t your ce to speak! And since you''re Jeremy''spanion, how do I know you haven''t been aiding him in his actions? Now, you''re my enemy too!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The captain had already prepared himself to fight both Liam and Jeremy at the same time.


    Ritchie, of course, was also considered an enemy, but the captain didn''t think much of Ritchie''s strength. In his mind, Ritchie wasn''t much of a threat.


    Kean, meanwhile, was also ready for battle. While he believed that Jeremy wouldn''t act recklessly against the captain, he still hoped for an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. If Jeremy failed to respond as expected, Kean would make the first move.


    The atmosphere in the underground area of the abandoned cathedral became tense. Everyone was ready forbat, but none of them were willing to strike immediately.


    Although the captain was starting to suspect Jeremy and hispanions, he believed that taking Jeremy back to the military headquarters was the best course of action. Only then could everything be sorted out and the truth revealed.


    Jeremy was weighing the pros and cons of his options. He could choose to go back with the captain to the military headquarters, and he believed that he could exin everything there. But if he did that, he would have no time left to rescue Bonnie.


    Bonnie''s danger was only going to grow greater.


    After agonizing over it for a while, Jeremy finally made a decision.


    "I want to exin everything, but doing that would be a waste of time! I need to rescue Bonnie first, that''s my priority!"


    With that, Jeremy activated his The King of Time and Space talent. A portal suddenly materialized in front of him.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy stepped into the portal. Ritchie and Liam followed right behind him.


    The captain of the rescue team wanted to stop them, but his reaction was far too slow.


    In front of the captain, Jeremy and the others had already disappeared through the portal.

 Chapter 382 The Spreading Chaos

    In the lowest level of the abandoned cathedral, the leader of the rescue team stood with a grim expression, staring at the spot where Jeremy and his group had just been. He hadn''t expected Jeremy and the others to escape so easily. He wasn''t sure how he would exin this to the higher-ups at military headquarters.


    Kean, standing beside the rescue team leader, appeared emotionless on the outside, but inside, he was brimming with excitement. After thinking for a moment, he spoke directly to the team leader.


    "You should be starting to believe me now, right? I told you before, Bonnie might have been kidnapped by Jeremy and the others."


    The rescue team leader didn''t look at Kean. He simply nodded in resignation.


    "It''s too early to jump to conclusions. In any case, we need to find Jeremy and his group as soon as possible. Along with Jeremy are Liam and Ritchie. I don''t know much about Ritchie''s background, but I know Liam. Liam is the head of the Special Situations Bureau in Moonlight City. We should send a message immediately and get an exnation from Moonlight City."


    After speaking, the leader of the rescue team turned and headed back toward the surface. Kean followed closely behind him.


    Just as they were about to leave the underground area, Kean nced back at the ce they had been. A golden figure was faintly outlined in the air, clearly one of


    The Persons in the Mirror


    .


    The rescue team members and Kean did not continue their search for Bonnie. They quickly made their way back to military headquarters.


    Meanwhile, at the same time, Jeremy and his group had appeared on the outskirts of the capital. Jeremy had positioned the exit of the portal as far away from the military headquarters as possible.


    As they stepped out of the portal, Liam''s expression showed a hint of hesitation. As a member of an official organization, Liam was acutely aware of how unfavorable the current situation was for them. He felt it was necessary to exin things to the military headquarters.


    During the recent battle, Liam had considered that Bonnie was the most important issue at hand. But, whether rescuing Bonnie or dealing with the military headquarters was the greater priority, Liam couldn''t immediately decide.


    Jeremy, on the other hand, wasn''t as conflicted as Liam. He had always believed that saving Bonnie was the most important thing. He simply didn''t care about the suspicions the military headquarters had about him.


    "We should search the outskirts of the capital for any clues rted to Bonnie. Besides that, we also need to look for anything rted to


    The Person in the Mirror


    and Kean," Jeremy said calmly.


    Liam and Ritchie could both tell that Jeremy was under a tremendous amount of pressure. His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable weight to it.


    "Why are you just standing there staring at me? Get moving and start searching for clues! I know what you''re worried about. The situation is bad, but that''s exactly why we need to find Bonnie as soon as possible. Only after we find her will we have the time to exin things to the military headquarters. And Bonnie will help us exin," Jeremy said, his words finally easing the unease that had been gnawing at Liam.


    With that, Jeremy and the others immediately set out to search the outskirts of the capital for useful clues.


    What they didn''t realize was that


    The Person in the Mirror


    was not far from them.


    As soon as Jeremy and the group arrived on the outskirts of the capital,


    The Son of the Sun


    detected their presence immediately. However,


    The Son of the Sun


    did not intend to attack them directly. They knew all too well that their current strength was insufficient to defeat Jeremy. They needed to lure him into a trap first.


    "Have the preparations I asked for beenpleted?"


    The Son of the Sun


    coldly asked


    The Person in the Mirror


    standing beside them.


    The two


    Persons in the Mirror


    quickly nodded in agreement.


    "We''vepleted all the preparations. As soon as Jeremy steps into the trap, we can slowly lead him toward the final battleground we''ve set up," one of them replied.


    The Son of the Sun was very pleased with the answer.


    "Good! This time, I will make sure everyone knows that my strategies are just as effective as those of any human!"


    The Son of the Sun had always wanted to prove his strategic mind. By seeding in this, he would not only gain the trust of


    The Sun


    even more but could also go so far as to dismiss Kean from his side.


    Just as The Son of the Sun was preparing for the next phase of action, a message suddenly came from Kean.


    "Don''t target Jeremy just yet! I have a much better n! We can use this opportunity to create even more chaos in the capital."


    The message from Kean caused The Son of the Sun some irritation. He felt that Kean was showing ack of respect for him.


    The Son of the Sun had been following the pre-arranged n, and now Kean was trying to alter it. This sudden change could jeopardize everything and risk their entire operation falling apart.


    "Stop disrupting our ns! We will stick to the original n! I will lure Jeremy to the final battleground we''ve set up," The Son of the Sun snapped back.


    "I will notify you when Jeremy arrives at the final battleground. All you need to do is join the battle at the right time! Do not take any other actions except preparing for the fight," The Son of the Sun directly rejected Kean''s proposal.


    However, Kean did not give up.


    "I know you won''t agree to my n," Kean replied bluntly to The Son of the Sun. "But I also want you to understand something: I''m not asking you for permission. I''m giving you an order! My n has already been approved by the great


    Sun


    ."


    Kean''s words immediately angered The Son of the Sun.


    "How would I not know about this? You must be lying! I won''t tolerate your arrogance and deceit any longer!"


    The Son of the Sun immediately prepared to end themunication with Kean. However, before he could act, the ethereal voice of


    The Sun


    echoed in his mind.


    "Execute Kean''s n! His strategy is more favorable to us. This time, we can not only eliminate Jeremy but also make humanity pay a heavy price!"


    Upon hearing the voice of


    The Sun


    , a look of shock spread across The Son of the Sun''s face.


    "But we already have a n in ce. Won''t changing the n now lead toplete chaos? The preparations we''ve made could fall apart!"


    Despite his doubts, The Son of the Sun still didn''t want to give up. He believed his judgment was more urate.


    However, his arguments were ineffective. The voice of


    The Sun


    came through again.


    "Stop wasting time! Follow Kean''s orders! We must create a massive chaos in the capital!"


    The voice of


    The Sun


    grew fainter, but The Son of the Sun understood that


    The Sun


    had made up its mind.


    In this situation, The Son of the Sun had no choice but to follow Kean''s orders.


    "What is your n? Speak now!" The Son of the Sun asked, a trace of frustration in his voice.


    "My n is simple," Kean quickly outlined. "You''ll teleport all of your trusted subordinates into the heart of the capital. I need them to create chaos within the city. Meanwhile, I''ll take the opportunity tounch an attack on the military headquarters. If everything goes as nned, we may even acquire some very valuable weapons.


    You don''t need to enter the city yourself. Just stay on the outskirts and keep Jeremy upied. Remember, under no circumstances should you allow Jeremy to return to the capital''s city center."


    Kean''s instructions were clear and direct.


    The Son of the Sun didn''t hesitate. He immediately turned to


    The Person in the Mirror


    standing next to him.


    "You must have heard about the new n from the great


    Sun Continue reading at empire


    , right? In that case, follow the new n. I''ll get you all teleported into the capital''s city center as soon as possible!"


    After speaking, The Son of the Sun led


    The Person in the Mirror


    away.


    Using the magical array thatn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The Person in the Mirror


    had set up at their secret base on the outskirts of the capital, arge number of


    Persons in the Mirror


    were teleported into the heart of the capital.


    However, these


    Persons in the Mirror


    didn''t immediatelyunch an attack on the city. They were waiting for Kean''s signal. Only when Kean had made all his preparations would they be able to take action.


    While


    The Person in the Mirror


    was being teleported into the capital''s city center, The Son of the Sun chose to set up a series of disruptive signals around Jeremy and hispanions.


    The Son of the Sun hoped that these disturbances would hinder Jeremy''s movements. However, he knew that his strategy wouldn''t be able to hold Jeremy for long. Therefore, he had already prepared himself for a direct confrontation with Jeremy if necessary.


    Everyone was putting the final touches on the n to create chaos in the capital.


    When Kean and the leader of the rescue team arrived at the military headquarters, Kean immediately issued his orders.


    The Persons in the Mirror


    burst out from their hidden base in the capital''s city center and began a fierce assault on the area.


    The chaos quickly spread from the heart of the capital.


    Neither the generals at the military headquarters nor the senior officials of the Federation were prepared for such a crisis. They had all assumed that the threat of the monsters to the capital had beenpletely neutralized. Even Bonnie''s sudden disappearance hadn''t been enough to put them on alert again.


    Kean, being someone intimately familiar with the military headquarters and the Federation''s senior leadership, knew this was the perfect time to strike.


    Once


    The Persons in the Mirror


    seeded in their attack, the military headquarters and the Federation''s leadership would be upied and distracted.


    At that point, Kean would be able to take action in a way that would benefit him the most.

 Chapter 383 Defenseless Ordinary People

    The helicopter carrying the rescue team and Kean flew over the entire capital city, eventuallynding on the helipad at military headquarters.


    The moment the helicopter touched down, Kean immediately instructed the


    Person in the Mirror


    to take action. However, on the surface, Kean did not show any signs of agitation. He quickly followed the rescue team members into a conference room at military headquarters.


    At the head of the room sat a middle-aged general. This general was the one responsible formanding the search for Bonnie.


    "What exactly happened here? How could you make such a massive mistake? Didn''t I warn you not to cooperate with outsiders so easily?" the middle-aged general demanded as soon as he saw the leader of the rescue team.


    The rescue team leader''s face was filled with guilt. He felt deeply regretful. If he could go back, he would never have agreed to cooperate with Jeremy.


    The general studied the rescue team leader for a moment, and seeing the man''s remorse, he decided there was no need to press the issue further. For them, the most important thing now was to continue searching for Bonnie.


    "I have most of the details now. Jeremy was only transferred to us recently from Moonlight City. We don''t know much about him. It''s possible that he could betray us. But Liam is not someone who would betray us," the middle-aged general continued.


    He paused for a moment before adding, "Liam was once my student. Even though I haven''t seen him since his graduation, and he''s been serving as the head of the Special Situations Bureau in Moonlight City, I''m certain that he would never betray humanity."


    Kean hadn''t expected that Liam was a former student of the general. However, he maintained hisposure. In Kean''s eyes, even though Liam might be the general''s student, it was clear that the general would never direct suspicion toward him.


    After a brief silence, the general turned his gaze to Kean.


    "When did you start working with the rescue team? Do you know every move they make?" The general''s tone was imposing, demanding respect.


    Kean felt an immense amount of pressure in the face of the general''s questions. However, he didn''t believe that his actions had been discovered.


    He answered calmly, "Bonnie is my friend. She''s gone missing, so of course, I should help find her. I''ve been working with the rescue team for a long time now. If you believe that my cooperation with them has led to a failure in their mission, then I am willing to withdraw."


    Kean''s response was wless, leaving no room for further questioning.


    The middle-aged general studied him again. Although he held some slight prejudice against Kean, the man''s performance was indeed impable.


    "We can''t take reckless actions before we get word from Moonlight City," the general said after a moment. "We can''t just assume that Liam, Jeremy, and Ritchie have already betrayed humanity. For now, you don''t need to worry about this. I will handle this matter personally. What you need to focus on is continuing the search for Bonnie."


    The general had made his decision. He would deal with the issues regarding Liam himself, while the rescue team would continue their efforts to find Bonnie.


    The leader of the rescue team spoke solemnly, "Don''t worry, General! I''ll lead my team to find Bonnie as quickly as possible! We won''t let you down!"


    After saying this, the rescue team leader prepared to head out.


    Kean followed behind the rescue team members.


    He didn''t intend to continue searching for Bonnie. However, he didn''t have a clear reason to leave the group either.


    But Kean wasn''t worried. He knew that the


    Person in the Mirror


    ''s attack in the city would soon be a sess.


    At the same time as the rescue team met with the general,rge numbers of


    The Person in the Mirror


    began appearing throughout the capital''s urban area.


    Although each


    Person in the Mirror


    wasn''t particrly powerful on its own, they were up against ordinary humans, most of whom were unprepared.


    The capital had many military camps, but the soldiers stationed there were of varying strength. Against the


    Person in the Mirror


    ''s assault, these unprepared civilians and soldiers had no chance to defend themselves.


    The attack by


    The Person in the Mirror


    quickly caused massive damage. Several districts in the core area of the capital descended into utter chaos. The main buildings in one of the districts closest to military headquarters were engulfed in mes.


    With the capital suddenly thrown into turmoil, both military headquarters and the Federation''s top brass were thrown into a state of panic. The Federation''s high-ranking officials were forced to convene an emergency meeting.


    At the same time, the members of military headquarters quickly sprang into action. They ordered their subordinate armed forces to return to the capital immediately to deal with the threat posed by


    The Person in the Mirror


    .


    The rescue team, being part of the military headquarters'' direct subordinate forces, was also mobilized. As the members of the rescue team boarded their helicopter, theirmunicators began shing with urgent messages.


    Upon receiving thetest updates, the rescue team leader''s expression became filled with uncertainty.


    "What should we do now? The situation in the capital is extremely chaotic! I think we need to prioritize securing the capital first! Once the city is safe, we can continue searching for Bonnie."


    Experience more content on empire


    One of the rescue team members spoke up immediately.


    Kean said nothing, standing quietly behind everyone.


    The rescue team leader didn''t hesitate long, knowing that the current situation left no room for indecision.


    "You''re right! We need to secure the capital first! We won''t head to the outskirts anymore. Our team must first eliminate the enemies nearest to military headquarters!"


    After saying this, the rescue team leader turned his gaze toward Kean.


    "You don''t need to continue with us. I''m sure you''re worried about the safety of your family, right? I remember that members of the Lannister family live in the core area of the capital. Go protect your family."


    Kean nodded quietly, then left.


    As Kean disembarked from the helicopter, the rescue team''s helicopter took off.


    However, Kean didn''t leave immediately. He merely stood watching the helicopter as it ascended.


    Just a few secondster, the helicopter carrying the rescue team suddenly exploded in mid-air.


    Watching the helicopter transform into a fireball, Kean''s lips curled into a slight smile.


    "You are my enemies too! Eliminating you will reduce the forces avable to military headquarters, which will increase the chances of my sess!" Kean muttered to himself before quickly leaving the scene.


    Kean had no intention of directly attacking military headquarters just yet, as the area was still heavily guarded. Instead, he decided to first eliminate his biggest rival within the Lannister family¡ªhis cousin.


    At that very moment, Kean''s cousin was also in the core area of the capital, surrounded by


    The Person in the Mirror


    . Kean, while ordering


    The Person in the Mirror


    to take action, made sure to pass on his cousin''s location to them.


    Though Kean''s cousin wasn''t as powerful as Kean himself, he was still a yer in the


    Apocalypse Game


    . This meant that


    The Person in the Mirror


    wouldn''t be able to easily eliminate him.


    After killing two of


    The Person in the Mirror


    , Kean''s cousin managed to escape to a secure room within the family''spound. He had sustained some injuries, though they weren''t severe, they were enough to affect his ability to fight.


    As Kean''s cousin pondered his next move, Kean suddenly appeared in front of him.


    Seeing Kean, his cousin smiled.


    "Cousin, you''re finally here! The situation is dire! Let''s quickly return to the family''s secret base."


    Kean also smiled, but as the two were just a step apart, Kean suddenly drove a long sword through his cousin''s chest.


    "Why? Why are you doing this?" His cousin looked up at him, shocked.


    He couldn''t understand why his cousin would suddenly attack him. In a situation like this, shouldn''t they be uniting to face the enemy together?


    "Why? You''re asking me that? You''re my greatest rival! As long as I can eliminate you, no one in the Lannister family will be able to pose a threat to me. No matter what trouble I get into, the Lannisters will never abandon me," Kean said with a smile, looking down at his cousin.


    He then pulled his sword out, and his cousin copsed to the floor.


    After confirming that his cousin was dead, Kean made his decision. He was ready to lead


    The Person in the Mirror


    to military headquarters.


    "You all must execute my orders perfectly," Kean instructed, his tone serious. "There must be no mistakes in the operation at military headquarters. The enemies we''re facing are strong."


    Before the operation began, Kean made sure to give clear instructions to


    The Person in the Mirror


    .n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The uing mission at military headquarters was extremely dangerous. While Kean had made up his mind, he didn''t have absolute confidence in his sess. This made it crucial for him to avoid any unforeseenplications.

 Chapter 384 The Heavily Guarded Military Headquarters

    In the highest-level conference room of the military headquarters, Marshal Daniel stared coldly at his subordinates.


    "Why is it that none of you are speaking?" he asked, his voice steely. "Didn''t you all promise me that there would be no more chaos in the capital? Where did these


    Persons in the Mirror


    Discover stories with empire


    suddenlye from?"


    None of the generals dared to answer Daniel''s inquiry.


    "If you''re not going to answer me, then how am I supposed to respond to the questions from the federal leadership?" Daniel continued, his tone sharp. "The federal government is holding an emergency meeting right now, and I have to attend it in fifteen minutes."


    Daniel was under immense pressure. The higher-ups in the federal government were furious about the chaotic situation in the capital. They believed that the military headquarters should be held responsible for what had happened.


    Under the weight of Daniel''s pressure, one of the generals finally spoke up.


    "Marshal, the situation has indeed caught us off guard. However, this doesn''t seem to be a normal urrence. These


    Persons in the Mirror


    who suddenly appeared¡ªit''s clear they''re trying to deliberately disrupt the capital. There must be a hidden agenda behind this. We need to figure out their real n before we act. We can''t rush into anything."


    The general''s reasoning was sound, but Daniel was not about to take his advice. The capital had to be brought back under control¡ªimmediately.


    Both the military headquarters and the federal leadership were united on this point.


    Marshal Daniel slowly stood up, his expression as cold as ever.


    "No matter what their real n is, you must stop the chaos in the capital at once. If we don''t bring order to the capital quickly, the crisis will only escte."


    Having said this, Daniel turned and walked out of the room.


    He had to attend the emergency meeting with the federal government''s high-ranking officials.


    After Daniel left, the generals at the military headquarters were left in a state of helplessness. They didn''t know what action to take next.


    Some of the generals began discussing the possibility of shifting defensive forces from other cities, but they knew this wouldn''t help in the short term. It was a case of too little, toote.


    Even if they were to move defensive forces from other cities, the chaotic situation in the capital wouldn''t be resolved immediately.


    "We have to concentrate all our forces! I think we should give up the defense lines on the outskirts of the capital," one of the generals proposed.


    The outer defenses of the capital were extremely important, but in recent days, the monsters on the outskirts of the capital hadn''tunched any attacks. So, temporarily abandoning these outer defenses wouldn''t pose too much of a risk.


    However, the other generals appeared hesitant in response to this suggestion.


    "Keep hesitating, then! If we don''t solve the chaos in the capital right away, the federal government will make us pay a heavy price. Marshal Daniel won''t forgive us," one of the generals even mocked.


    As the generals continued to argue over their next move, Kean, leading


    The Person in the Mirror


    , arrived at a more secluded entrance to the military headquarters.


    While the entrance was somewhat remote, there was still a significant defensive presence there. Several tanks and armored vehicles were stationed at the entrance, and Kean could see a familiar face ¡ª a fellow


    Apocalypse Game


    yer.


    The yer noticed Kean right away.


    "What are you doing here? Are you here for a meeting at the military headquarters?" the


    Apocalypse Game


    yer asked, eyeing Kean and then ncing at the


    Person in the Mirror


    behind him.


    The yer didn''t immediately recognize the true identity of those behind Kean, and he wasn''t particrly suspicious of Kean at the moment.


    Kean smiled and nodded.


    "You''re right. I am here for a meeting. The people I''ve brought with me are very strong. We might be working together on a mission soon."


    Upon hearing this, the


    Apocalypse Game


    yer visibly rxed.


    "It''s good to hear you can help! You have no idea how much worse the chaos in the capital has gotten. In addition to the


    Person in the Mirror


    , other monsters have appeared, and they''ve caused even more damage to the city. We need to eliminate these monsters immediately."


    Upon hearing these words, a hint of confusion appeared on Kean''s face.


    Kean''s intention was only to have


    The Son of the Sun


    deploy


    The Person in the Mirror


    to create chaos in the capital. He had never instructed


    The Son of the Sun


    to send out monsters. Moreover, Kean didn''t believe that


    The Son of the Sun


    could fully control the creatures within the instance.


    "Is that so? I just received this news. Looks like we''ll need to speed up our actions," Kean said, his words carrying a double meaning.


    The


    Apocalypse Game


    yer in front of him, however, didn''t pick up on the underlying message. He was still eager to discuss the situation further with Kean. But before he could speak another word, Kean killed him without hesitation.


    Kean immediatelyunched an attack on the soldiers at the entrance.


    Though a few soldiers reacted quickly, their strength was far inferior to Kean''s. He easily wiped them out.


    With the soldiers taken care of, Kean and


    The Person in the Mirror


    could now enter the military headquarters.


    The interior of the military headquarters was heavily guarded, with a sentry post at every corner. But Kean wasn''t concerned about the soldiers on guard. He could control


    The Person in the Mirror


    and directed them to attack the soldiers.


    Taken by surprise, the soldiers stood no chance against the coordinated assault, and Kean, along with


    The Person in the Mirror


    , swiftly broke through several lines of defense.


    In less than half an hour, Kean had reached the deepest part of the military headquarters.


    Here, there was a massive gravity wall. Beyond the wall was a hidden warehouse that stored the most valuable weapons and equipment of the military headquarters.


    "It seems I won''t be able to pass through this gravity wall so easily," Kean muttered to himself. "Perhaps I should try to get the code to deactivate it."


    Faced with the imposing gravity wall, Kean was momentarily stumped.


    In truth, even if Jeremy were here, he wouldn''t be able to simply walk into the warehouse. The gravity wall not only provided physical defense but also disrupted spatial connections, making it nearly impossible to bypass without the proper ess code.


    This meant that


    The King of Time and Space


    ''s abilities couldn''t open a portal and directly enter the warehouse either.


    After struggling for about half an hour, Kean finally managed to deactivate the massive gravity wall.


    However, the moment the wall opened, Kean instantly regretted his decision.


    Behind the gravity wall, there wasn''t just a warehouse as he had expected. There was also a giantbat robot.


    "Hostile forces detected! Full firepower, eliminate immediately!" the giant robot emitted a screeching rm.


    Immediately, a barrage of bullets began firing from the robot''s weapons.


    Kean, facing the robot''s relentless assault, found himself momentarily unable to block the iing fire.


    The only thing he could do was retreat, but this retreat slowed him down and prevented him frompleting his mission in the shortest possible time.


    As soon as the gravity wall was deactivated, rms rang throughout the entire military headquarters.


    Every room within the facility immediately went into alert mode.


    Two of the more powerful generals even made their way directly to the lower levels of the headquarters.


    But when they arrived, all they found was the giant robot still firing relentlessly.


    "What''s going on here? Why are there only robots? Didn''t we just hear an rm? Doesn''t that mean someone has breached the facility?" one general asked, confusion written all over his face.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The other general said nothing in response. He was too busy furrowing his brow, studying the situation around them with suspicion.


    As the two generals were observing the situation, Keanunched his attack from behind them.


    The dagger in his hand was coated with a potent poison.


    The moment the de struck, both generals were instantly killed.


    However, Kean knew he could no longer continue with his n. He needed to leave the area as quickly as possible, as more powerful forces from the military headquarters would soon arrive.


    Kean gathered all the weapons and items he could carry, but left behind the remaining


    Persons in the Mirror


    . His intention was to leave clues behind, hoping that the military would focus their investigation on the


    Persons in the Mirror


    and not on himself.


    Once he had everything prepared, Kean swiftly made his exit.


    Not long after Kean left, several powerful generals arrived at the deepest part of the military headquarters.


    Upon seeing the scene, their faces grew extremely serious.


    "This doesn''t look right at all! The scale of the crisis we''re facing is far greater than we anticipated! We must immediately enter the highest state of alert!" one of the generals said grimly.


    All of the generals were in agreement.


    They believed the military headquarters had to go into full lockdown. They needed to find out who had infiltrated the deepest levels of the facility as soon as possible.


    However, their primary suspects were still the


    Persons in the Mirror


    , given that several of them had been found in the depths of the headquarters.


    Though these


    Persons in the Mirror


    had already been killed, the generals hoped to gather some intelligence from them.

 Chapter 385 Mutual Restraint, Action Paused

    Although Kean sessfully escaped from the military headquarters before most of the generals arrived, he quickly encountered an unexpected enemy after leaving the premises.


    The leader of the rescue team, covered in wounds, coldly stared in Kean''s direction. At this point, he considered Kean his sworn enemy.


    The rescue team leader knew very well that only Kean had the opportunity to nt the bomb on their helicopter. While the bomb hadn''t killed him, it had imed the lives of the other members of the rescue team¡ªhis close friends. The leader was now determined to take vengeance for them.


    The moment Kean saw the leader, he understood exactly what had happened.


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    Kean spoke coldly to the leader, trying to reason with him.


    "You shouldn''t attack me now. Our most important task is to deal with the chaos in capital! Even if you and I have personal grievances, we should put them aside until after the situation in capital is resolved."


    Kean hoped his words would convince the leader to dy the confrontation. However, to Kean''s surprise, the rescue team leader charged at him without hesitation.


    As the leader rushed toward him, he unleashed his strongest weapon. Lightning struck from the sky, one bolt after another, all targeting Kean.


    Faced with the onught of attacks, Kean had no choice but to fight back while retreating.


    "Are you out of your mind? I just told you¡ªwe have more important matters to attend to!" Kean shouted as he continued to fall back, finding himself gradually pushed onto the defensive.


    Although Kean wasn''t injured yet, he had already expended a considerable amount of energy during his earlier operations. Now, facing the full force of the rescue team leader''s assault, Kean found it increasingly difficult to keep up.


    He hoped his words would be enough to convince the leader to stop the attack, but his efforts were in vain. The leader was resolute in his desire for revenge, and his attacks grew even more intense.


    Kean''s hope for a ceasefire quickly evaporated, as the fight continued to escte.


    The leader of the rescue team kept his eyes locked on Kean. At this point, revenge was the only thing on his mind. He was no longer thinking about anything else, and this single-minded obsession led him to restrain Keanpletely.


    Kean found himself unable to continue with his ns, as the rescue team leader had effectively trapped him. The actions of The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror were also forced to pause. This was devastating news for both The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror.


    "What''s going on? Didn''t Kean say he''d be able to return in time? It''s been so long already, why hasn''t hee back yet?" The Son of the Sun''s mood was filled with anxiety.


    Under normal circumstances, Kean should have alreadypleted his mission in capital. Moreover, The Son of the Sun knew that capital was currently in chaos. If Kean couldn''tplete his mission in such a state, it would only mean one thing: Kean was in serious trouble!


    "We can''t wait for him much longer! If he doesn''t show up within the next hour, we''ll have to act on our own," The Son of the Sun decided, his patience running out.


    But just as he made up his mind to take action independently, he received more bad news. Jeremy, Ritchie, and the others had already seeded in their mission.


    Although The Son of the Sun had set up a series of misleading clues, Jeremy and Ritchie had quickly deduced Bonnie''s location.


    "Bonnie must be in one of the instances on the outskirts. I can even sense her presence now," Jeremy said, smiling as he spoke to Ritchie and Liam.


    The news thrilled Ritchie and Liam.


    "Then we should split up to search. It''ll be faster that way," Liam suggested, confident that with Jeremy''s confirmation, they should hurry up and cover more ground.


    However, Jeremy shook his head, signaling his disagreement.


    "We can''t do that. Splitting up would put us in great danger. The Person in the Mirror and Kean are probably already nearby."


    Jeremy''s concerns werepletely reasonable. As a result, Liam and Ritchie didn''t press the issue further.


    However, just as they were preparing to move out, Liam''s phone suddenly rang. He opened it and immediately saw a flood of messages. All of them were from Benjamin.


    Although Benjamin was in Moonlight City, he had clearly gotten wind of the situation in capital. He filled Liam in on everything that had been happening there.


    Liam, unable to believe what he was reading, turned to Jeremy and Ritchie. "Capital has descended into chaos. It seems that The Person in the Mirror hasunched an attack on the city center. The military headquarters has already gone into emergency mode."


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy and Ritchie were both taken aback.


    "What''s going on? Isn''t The Person in the Mirror supposed to be targeting us? How can they still have the resources tounch an attack on the city center of capital?" Jeremy asked, utterly confused.


    Jeremy was puzzled because, in his mind, he was the primary target for The Person in the Mirror. They should be dealing with him first, not attacking the city.


    However, Ritchie wasn''t nearly as perplexed as Jeremy. To him, The Person in the Mirror and Kean were both just a bunch of lunatics. It seemed entirely normal for them to do something as unpredictable as attacking the capital''s city center. After all, the city center was the heart of the Federation. Wasn''t it perfectly reasonable for The Person in the Mirror to strike there?


    "So, what should we do now?" Ritchie asked, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Are we going to abandon our n to search for Bonnie?"


    Under normal circumstances, Jeremy would, of course, want to return to the city center of capital immediately to ensure its safety. However, he had just shed with the rescue team members. His frustration with the military headquarters and the Federation high-ups was at its peak.


    "These things have nothing to do with us!" Jeremy said firmly. "What we need to do right now is find Bonnie. Once we have her, then we can go back and make sure the city center is secure."


    Since Jeremy had made up his mind, Ritchie and Liam didn''t object. The three of them continued their search for Bonnie''s location in the outskirts of capital.


    They soon arrived at the entrance of the


    Endless Abyss


    instance. As Jeremy stood before the entrance once again, his expression grew somewhat serious.


    To Jeremy, if Bonnie was truly inside this instance, the situation would be moreplicated than he had hoped.


    "This is the entrance to the


    Endless Abyss


    instance. The difficulty of this instance is extremely high. Thest time I entered, I barely managed to get out alive," Jeremy said, his voice tinged with concern.


    Ritchie and Liam both grew worried upon hearing this. However, Ritchie quickly shook off his unease. Since they were already here, they couldn''t just turn back.


    "At any rate, we have to rescue Bonnie!" Ritchie said nonchntly. "And now that we''vee all this way, why hesitate? We''re more than prepared for this."


    Liam, while agreeing with Ritchie''s goal, still felt the need to voice a cautionary thought. "I think we need to be more careful. Rescuing Bonnie is important, yes, but this instance is just too dangerous. Shouldn''t we wait for backup before going in? Perhaps we should head back to the city center first, help the military restore order, and then they''ll assist us."


    Although Liam was frustrated with certain orders from military headquarters, as a member of an official organization, he still felt that ensuring the safety of capital''s city center should take priority.


    Jeremy paused, conflicted by the differing opinions from hispanions. He wanted to save Bonnie, but he also wanted to protect the innocent people in the city. After a moment''s hesitation, he made up his mind.


    "I don''t think we can afford to go back to the city center now," Jeremy said decisively. "Going back would waste too much time. Besides, the city may have already calmed down. The military headquarters is powerful, and they''re likely working to restore order. We need to focus on the task at hand. Let''s prepare ourselves for the uing fight. Once you''re ready, we''ll head into the


    Endless Abyss


    instance. No matter what enemies we face inside, we''ll be able to handle them."


    Since Jeremy had made up his mind, neither Ritchie nor Liam argued further. They began their final preparations to enter the instance.


    As they were making their preparations,


    The Son of the Sun


    and


    The Person in the Mirrorn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    also entered the


    Endless Abyss


    instance. While they had made some adjustments to the instance, it was still a dangerous ce for them. Up to this point,


    The Son of the Sun


    had still not located the boss of the


    Endless Abyss


    instance.


    "We can no longer prepare any further!"


    The Son of the Sun


    said with a grave expression to


    The Person in the Mirror


    . "From here on out, we will have to rely on our strength to face Jeremy head-on."


    The Son of the Sun


    wasn''t particrly confident, but he believed that during the battle, he could tap into the power of the


    Sun


    to aid him.

 Chapter 386 Chaos Intensifies, The Situation Gets Out of Control

    Just as Jeremy and the others were about to enter the


    Endless Abyss


    instance, the battle between Kean and the leader of the rescue team had entered an extremely intense phase.


    In terms of strength, the two were actually quite evenly matched, so it was nearly impossible to determine a clear victor in their fight. Although the leader of the rescue team had sustained some injuries during the previous helicopter explosion, Kean had also exhausted a considerable amount of his own physical strength in the previous actions.


    During the battle, Kean began to realize that the situation was bing increasingly unfavorable for him. Although


    The Person in the Mirror


    ''s actions in the capital had thrown the city into chaos and dyed the movements of other forces within the capital, the


    Persons in the Mirror


    themselves weren''t particrly powerful. Once the military headquarters and the federal authorities realized what was going on, the


    Persons in the Mirror


    would quickly be wiped out.


    Kean absolutely couldn''t afford to stay in the capital for too long. Moreover, he could not allow his true identity to be discovered by anyone else.


    Therefore, as the battle progressed, Kean continuously moved toward the outskirts of the capital. The leader of the rescue team quickly realized Kean''s intentions.


    Coldly, he asked, "You not only betrayed me. You''ve betrayed all of humanity, haven''t you?"


    Kean, of course, gave no response to the leader''s question. Instead, he smiled and said, "Do you want to know the answer? If you do, thene and catch me!"


    As soon as Kean finished speaking, a dazzling beam of sunlight shot directly toward the leader of the rescue team. Although the leader had prepared himself, he was still affected by the blinding light.


    For a moment, he couldn''t see where Kean had gone. When the blinding light dissipated, Kean had already vanished.


    The leader of the rescue team''s mood was now extremely foul. He quickly scanned his surroundings. Although Kean had disappeared, he still had the distinct feeling that Kean was nearby. Kean must have just hidden himself.


    While the leader of the rescue team remained on high alert, scanning his surroundings, he continued to move cautiously toward the military headquarters. Although he believed he should hurry to avenge his fallen teammates, after his battle with Kean, he hade to realize that Kean was not someone who could be easily eliminated.


    So, the leader of the rescue team moved at a very slow pace. While this approach would waste a lot of time, it at least ensured his safety.


    After more than ten minutes, the leader of the rescue team finally reached the vicinity of the military headquarters once again. However, at that moment, the sound of a violent explosion erupted from within the building.


    The military headquarters had been destroyed by a massive bomb. Although the building itself was incredibly sturdy, once a powerful explosion went off inside, the people within had no chance of escaping.


    The leader of the rescue team stared in disbelief at the thick, billowing smoke rising from the wreckage of the headquarters.


    "This... How is this possible?!"


    In that instant, the leader felt as though his entire worldview had copsed. He never in a million years would have imagined that the military headquarters would fall into such chaos.


    And as the leader of the rescue team stood frozen, Kean made his move.


    Surging with the power of the sun, Kean appeared instantly at the leader''s side.


    "You actually dared to let your guard down while fighting me! Seems like you really don''t care about your own life!"


    By the time the leader heard Kean''s voice, it was already toote.


    Kean''s powerful strike severed the leader''s left arm in an instant. The searing pain from the injury caused the leader to falter, unable to continue fighting for the moment.


    In desperation, the leader of the rescue team threw a device from his backpack.


    This was an item he had acquired during a previous instance, and its effect was to create a dense fog upon activation.


    The leader of the rescue team nned to use the fog to escape. However, his n ultimately failed.


    Before he could activate the device, Kean seized the opportunity and attacked. Under the relentless assault from Kean, the leader of the rescue team eventually couldn''t hold on any longer. Kean sessfully killed him.


    But Kean didn''t leave right away. He felt that he needed to burn the body of the rescue team leader as well.


    "O mighty


    Sun


    ! Grant me your powerful strength! Let me turn all the evil in the world to ash!" Kean prayed aloud.


    A brilliant beam of sunlight shot toward the leader''s body. Under the searing light, the leader''s remains quickly turned to dust.


    With that, Kean lifted his gaze toward the military headquarters. All the exits of the building were spewing thick, ck smoke. Though some sounds still came from inside, it was clear that the casualties within were catastrophic.


    "I''ve been preparing for this operation for a long time! You think you can easily handle my attack? Impossible! The chaos has only just begun! You will soon loseplete control of the capital!" Kean said with a smile, before transforming into a beam of light and vanishing.


    Kean''s words were indeed urate. After the military headquarters came under attack, neither the military nor the extraordinary individuals directly controlled by the federal government could maintain order in the capital. The capital quickly descended into total chaos.


    Meanwhile, the federal leadership was still in the midst of an emergency meeting. The faces of everyone present were grim.


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    Marshal Daniel, themander of the military headquarters, was in an extremely foul mood. He had already heard the deafening explosionsing from the direction of the headquarters. Although he didn''t yet know the full extent of the situation, there was no doubt that the military headquarters had sustained a serious blow.


    "Why is everyone suddenly silent? Didn''t you all have so much to say earlier? Weren''t you constantly pushing your own ns in front of me before? So why is everyone mute now?"


    Edgar, the highest-ranking leader of the federal government, asked in a furious tone, his voice filled with anger.


    The room was filled with the most powerful individuals in the Federation. Before this crisis, each of them had beenpeting for control over the Federation''s resources. Each person believed their own n was the most reasonable and effective.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    But now, with the crisis upon them, the most powerful people in the Federation had chosen to shift the me. None of them said a word.


    Edgar''s questions, naturally, went unanswered.


    The atmosphere in the meeting room grew unnervingly tense.


    Just as Edgar was about to say something further, the door to the meeting room was suddenly mmed open.


    The unexpected intrusion caused a moment of panic among everyone in the room. Only Marshal Daniel remained calm, as his power and experience allowed him to stayposed.


    It was a colonel who had burst through the door. The colonel quickly walked up to Marshal Daniel and spoke in a low voice.


    Daniel''s expression didn''t change at all as he listened. When the colonel finished speaking, Daniel waved his hand, signaling for the officer to leave.


    After the colonel departed, the door to the meeting room was mmed shut once more.


    Marshal Daniel slowly stood up.


    "You must have all heard the explosion just now. The military headquarters has been attacked. The situation there is dire, and we can no longer send any reinforcements. The situation in the capital haspletely spiraled out of control. I strongly urge everyone to relocate to a safe zone immediately."


    Marshal Daniel''s words sent the room into a state ofplete panic.


    For these individuals, the capital was not a ce that could be abandoned. Even after the onset of the


    apocalypse game


    , the capital had never been left behind.


    The room erupted into chaotic chatter, only adding to Edgar''s growing fury.


    Edgar mmed his fist on the table.


    "Enough! Do you all still want to waste time here? Since the situation in the capital is already out of control, we need to leave immediately!"


    Under Edgar''s directmand, all the top leaders of the Federation began making their way toward the safe zone.


    The safe zone was located in a mountain peak not far from the capital. The entire mountain had been hollowed out, and even after the onset of the


    apocalypse game


    , it remained nearly impossible to breach.


    Although the Federation''s high-ranking members had started moving toward the safe zone, the journey would not be without danger. As a result, the remaining military forces and the


    apocalypse game


    yers under the Federation''s control began to provide protection to ensure the leaders'' safety.


    At this point, no one was concerned about the nowpletely uncontroble capital.


    Even though many family members of the various powerful factions within the capital had failed to escape in time, the families themselves had no means to rescue those left behind.


    At this moment, the capital was not only under attack by


    The Person in the Mirror


    , but humans were also turning on each other. With orderpletely lost, the capital had devolved into a city of madness.


    Though chaos reigned, there were still some individuals within the capital who hoped to restore some semnce of order.

 Chapter 387 Ellas Action

    In amercial street located in the heart of the capital, many civilians were hiding inside a sturdy building. Outside the building,


    The Person in the Mirror


    were relentlessly attacking humans. Alongside them, there were also various monsters and lunatics roaming the area.


    Faced with these monsters and madmen, the civilians were terrified. While the building they were hiding in was quite solid, no structure, no matter how strong, could withstand the attacks from


    The Person in the Mirror


    and the monsters for long, especially as the capital had descended intoplete chaos.


    Sure enough, under the relentless assault from


    The Person in the Mirror


    and the monsters, the outer walls of the building were soon destroyed. The civilians trapped inside were thrown into a state of panic.


    Just then, the sound of an arrow slicing through the air broke the tension. Before anyone could react, a rain of fire arrows descended, blocking the path between the civilians and the attacking monsters.


    Everyone turned toward the direction of the arrows and saw a young woman, wielding a bow, shooting at


    The Person in the Mirror


    and the monsters with impressive precision.


    This young woman was none other than E.


    E had returned to the capital from Moonlight City several months ago. Although she was once engaged to Kean, after a series of events, her feelings toward him had soured. E no longer intended to marry Kean, nor did she n to involve herself in any more dangerous operations.


    For the past few months, E had stayed at home, resting and recovering. However, when the capital descended intoplete chaos, E felt she could no longer sit idly by. She decided to step up and offer help to those in need.


    But there was a problem: she had given all her weapons away to others in the past. As a result, E found herself without any truly suitable weapons at hand.


    The bow and arrows she now wielded were not well-suited to her natural abilities. Consequently, E wasn''t able to fully unleash her true strength.


    After sessfully repelling


    The Person in the Mirror


    and the monsters, E called out to the civilians nearby.


    "This ce is too dangerous! You can''t stay here! I remember there''s a safe zone on another street. You should head there for shelter."


    With those words, E turned and continued her journey deeper into the heart of the capital.


    E didn''t inform anyone of her actions because she believed that, given the current situation, it would be nearly impossible to find anyone she could coborate with.


    E already knew that the military headquarters had been attacked. She wanted to get there quickly, hoping to uncover some useful clues about what had happened.


    However, she hadn''t gone very far before she saw a very familiar figure.


    That figure, unmistakably, was Kean.


    Seeing him caused a swirl ofplicated emotions in E''s heart. Although she had numerous grievances with Kean''s past actions, she was unaware that he had already betrayed humanity. E had always believed that the conflict between Kean and Jeremy had been the result of both of them being highly talented


    apocalypse game


    yers, but nothing more.


    When E spotted Kean, he saw her as well.


    Kean''s feelings were simrly mixed, though less out of personal attachment and more out of concern for his ns. While he no longer cared for E, her sudden appearance here meant that his ns might be at risk.


    After a brief pause to consider the situation, Kean walked over to her.


    "What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone still calm but tinged with a hint of concern. "The situation is dire. The capital has descended into total chaos. You should head to the safe zone as soon as possible. I''m sure the members of the Federation''s leadership have already made their way there."


    Kean still hoped to persuade E to leave.


    E nodded, then shook her head.


    "I think I can still help others here," she replied. "What''s going on at the military headquarters? You''ve got a lot of injuries... It looks like you''ve been in a fierce battle with the monsters, haven''t you?"


    Despite everything, E couldn''t help but show concern for Kean. From her perspective, his wounds must have been from fighting the monsters.


    Kean smiled faintly.


    "It''s nothing," he said casually. "For


    apocalypse game


    yers like us, we''re always facing great danger. A few wounds here and there are nothing to worry about."


    But after saying this, his expression quickly became more serious.


    "I need to tell you again¡ªthis situation is much worse than you think. You can''t stay here. You need to get to the safe zone, now!"


    With that, Kean gripped his weapon tightly.


    In Kean''s mind, he couldn''t afford to let anyone jeopardize his mission, no matter who they were. So if E refused to leave, he was fully prepared to take action against her.


    E couldn''t understand why Kean insisted on driving her away. She thought his reluctance to have her around was because she hadn''t fully sided with him in his conflict with Jeremy.


    After thinking for a moment, E slowly spoke.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "I hope you understand that I''m not your enemy. The reason I didn''t take your side in the conflict with Jeremy is simply because I didn''t think you needed to fight him at all. Jeremy may be talented, but his background is far inferior to yours. Youe from a much more noble lineage. Why do you have to go up against him like this?"


    Upon hearing E''s words, Kean let out a cold, bitterugh.


    "I don''t care about Jeremy!" he snapped. "I''m not trying to push you away because of him! I just want you to be safe!"


    His tone had turned icily sharp.


    E didn''t notice the change in his demeanor. She simply assumed that Kean was still angry with her.


    So, she went on, still trying to reason with him.


    "I hope you''ll stop being upset. I can help you in battle. I know you''re much stronger than I am, but facing so many monsters alone, you won''t be able to win quickly."


    As she spoke, E began moving closer to Kean.


    At that point, Kean could no longer hold back his frustration.


    With a cold re, he said to E, "If that''s how it is, don''t me me for being harsh."


    Without another word, Kean quickly closed the distance between them. Without hesitation, he raised his weapon and attacked E.


    E was caught off guard, but as an


    apocalypse game


    yer, her reflexes were fast enough to evade the strike.


    In disbelief, she looked at Kean and asked, "You''re really attacking me? Have youpletely lost your mind?"


    Kean responded coldly, "I''m not the one who''s crazy. It''s all of you who are insane."


    As soon as Kean finished speaking, heunched another attack on E.


    With each relentless strike, E found herself unable to defend. The gap between theirbat skills was too wide, and she was being pushed to her limits. In the end, the only option left for her was to flee.


    However, Kean didn''t pursue her. To him, chasing after E was a secondary concern. There were more important matters at hand. The situation at the military headquarters had be even worse. The defensive forces inside had been all but wiped out, leaving the building vulnerable. Kean knew that if he wanted to secure the valuable weapons and items stored there, now was the time to strike.


    He quickly made his way toward the military headquarters, focusing on his mission.


    Meanwhile, E had been running for about half an hour before she finally reached a rtively safe location.


    She found herself in themercial district of the capital, an area where the number of monsters and


    The Person in the Mirror


    was not overwhelming. The buildings here were stillrgely intact, and the area seemed less chaotic than the rest of the city. For the first time in a while, E was able to catch her breath.


    She couldn''t quite process what had just happened.


    "What was that about? Why did Kean attack me? Did my actions really upset him that much? The situation can''t be as simple as it seems," she thought, her mind racing with confusion.


    E hadn''t yet figured out Kean''s true motives. After all, she had very little information, and without a clear understanding of the broader picture, she could only guess at his reasoning.


    After thinking for a while, she made up her mind to head to the safe zone.


    Although this decision was final, she knew that getting there on her own would be no easy task. The journey would be difficult, and the dangers in the capital were far from over.


    E''s strength was far from weak, but along her journey, she encountered monsters whose power was on par with hers. All she could do was pray that she wouldn''t run into too many of them as she made her way through the dangerous capital.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy, Liam, and Ritchie had finally entered the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    .


    The moment they stepped inside, they were immediately struck by the overwhelming brightness of the sunlight. The resurgence of


    The Sun


    had intensified, and its rays were blinding.


    It was clear to all three of them that the dangers within the instance would be immense. But they had been prepared for this moment. They had made up their minds¡ªthis mission would seed, no matter the cost.


    It wasn''t only Jeremy and his team who were ready. Their enemies were also prepared for what was toe.


    The Son of the Sun


    had set an almost unsolvable trap deep within the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    for Jeremy, while


    The Person in the Mirror


    would work in tandem with


    The Son of the Sun


    to ensure its sess.


    As for Bonnie, she remained unconscious, unaware that she had been brought into the deepest part of the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    . Of everyone involved, she was the only one who was currently the most at ease.

 Chapter 388 The Abyss Forged by the Sun

    Once they had fully entered the instance, Jeremy and hispanions finally broke free from the oppressive influence of


    The Sun


    ''s power.


    Though the strength of


    The Sun


    hadn''t inflicted any severe damage on them, Liam and Ritchie still felt a slight unease.


    "You all felt that intense sunlight, right? This must be one of the


    Apocalypse Game


    nners'' tricks.


    The Sun


    is warning us," Liam said, his voiceced with lingering unease.


    This was the first time Liam had directly confronted the power of the


    Apocalypse Game


    ''s nners.


    Ritchie and Jeremy both nodded slowly. They had faced direct attacks from the game''s creators before, so they weren''t too surprised by this new development.


    Jeremy scanned their surroundings. He quickly realized that the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    had changed dramatically since thest time he''d been here. Previously, he had encountered a beautiful little town in the instance. But now, the town had vanished without a trace. In its ce stretched a vast, endless forest.


    The forest was alive with countless sounds¡ªrustling leaves, distant howls, and eerie calls. There was no doubt in Jeremy''s mind that this forest was teeming with monsters.


    "What should we do next? Are we supposed to just walk right into the forest? Isn''t that a little too dangerous?" Ritchie said, still eyeing the darkening trees with caution.


    In truth, there was no other option for them. The forest was all that surrounded them.


    After a moment of silence, Jeremy made up his mind.


    "We don''t have a choice but to move forward. There will definitely be a lot of monsters in the forest. But don''t panic when we encounter them. Any monster that''s too powerful, I''ll handle," he said, his voice steady and confident.


    With that, Jeremy took the first step into the dense woods. Liam and Ritchie followed close behind.


    The three of them moved swiftly through the forest, their senses alert. As expected, they soon encountered several monsters.


    However, these monsters weren''t particrly strong, and they seemed somewhat reluctant to attack Jeremy and his group. This puzzling situation left the trio slightly confused.


    "Why is this happening? Are the monsters in the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    really this docile? Have they all beenpletely softened by


    The Sun


    ''s power?" Liam asked, his tone tinged with worry as he turned to Jeremy.


    Although Liam hadn''t faced


    The Sun


    directly before, he understood the nature of the


    Apocalypse Game


    nners well enough. He knew that any one of them was capable of immense malice. Even if the name of the nner sounded as benign as


    The Sun


    , the power it represented was terrifying and devious.


    "


    The Sun


    does indeed have the power to alter both humans and monsters on a mental level," Jeremy replied, his voice calm but serious. "But do you really think


    The Sun


    would make these monsters friendly toward us? Right now,


    The Sun


    only wants to destroy us. It''s not some kind old man selling ice cream on the street. It''s not going to reward us with any mental bonuses."


    Jeremy didn''t offer any further exnation, and Ritchie tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but Liam didn''t find it funny. The atmosphere felt too eerie for him tough.


    They had been traveling through the forest for what felt like a long time, but there was no sign of an end in sight. The path ahead remained obscured by dense trees, and Liam and Ritchie could both feel the strange presence of more sounds around them. Some were definitely from monsters, while others were from things unknown.


    "We can''t keep going. We''ve probably fallen into an illusion. Everything around us might just be a hallucination," Jeremy said, finally sensing that something wasn''t right. He immediately gestured for the others to stop.


    The three of them halted in the forest. As soon as they did, the scene around them began to shift. More light began pouring through the trees from above, brightening the area. The trees around them suddenly burst into mes.


    The sounds that had been subtle before grew much louder, now joined by others more terrifying and unnerving. Some of these new sounds were the anguished cries of humans, while others were the crackling and snapping of burning trees.


    "The great


    Sun


    has finally decided to use its power to attack us. Everyone, get ready¡ªwe must face the scorching heat of the sun!" Jeremy dered, pulling out


    Mortal Combat


    .


    With this, he summoned a special space using


    Mortal Combat


    , a space that would help the group weaken the attack they were about to face.


    At the same time that Jeremy took action, blinding sunlight blotted out the entire sky. The whole forest was engulfed in a sea of mes.


    Even though Jeremy had taken some precautions, Liam and Ritchie could still feel their bodies being scorched by the intense heat. They quickly used their respective items to counter the oing danger.


    Liam pulled a small bottle from his pocket, inside which was a block of ice. The moment the ice was taken out, the temperature around them dropped rapidly.


    Ritchie, on the other hand, used his talent to hide in the shadows. While hiding in the shadow didn''t fully shield him from the heat, it at least blocked some of it.


    Jeremy, however, wasn''t just focusing on defense. He immediately used the


    Goddess of Life


    summoning scroll.


    As the scroll tore apart, a green light enveloped Jeremy and his group. The


    Goddess of Life


    appeared before them.


    With her arrival, the dead nts around them rapidly came back to life. Trees, burning fiercely, began to grow again, eventually forming a barrier. This nt-made shield stopped the


    Sun


    ''s continuous attack.


    With the


    Goddess of Life


    ''s assistance, Jeremy and his group finally escaped the first wave of danger.


    "Thank you so much for your help!" Jeremy said, grateful. "Can you continue to assist us, or was that your only intervention?"


    The


    Goddess of Life


    smiled gently.


    "I can, of course, continue to help you. The scroll you used contains immense life force. As long as there is life energy left, I can keep aiding you."


    With the


    Goddess of Life


    ''s confirmation, Jeremy finally allowed himself a smile.


    "Then let''s move forward!" Jeremy said, determination in his voice. "As long as we reach the deepest part of the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    , we can rescue Bonnie. And by destroying this instance, we can significantly weaken the power that the


    Sun


    now possesses."


    Under Jeremy''s leadership, the group quickly advanced deeper into the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    . Despite the constant onught of the


    Sun


    ''s power, the


    Goddess of Life


    kept intervening, shielding them from the attacks.


    At this point, the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    had turned into a burning hell. The entire instance was unnaturally bright, but it could still be described as an abyss¡ªan abyss forged by sunlight.


    While Jeremy and the others pressed on, at the deepest part of the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    , the


    Son of the Sun


    was making his final preparations for the battle. He believed that Jeremy and his team would not be easily stopped, so he had to make ready for the ultimate confrontation.


    Just as the


    Son of the Sun


    God of War


    .


    During their journey, the


    Goddess of Life


    ''s energy had been entirely spent. To avoid furtherplications, Jeremy chose to use the summoning scroll for the


    God of War


    .


    The


    God of War


    ''s power was far greater than that of the


    Goddess of Life


    . With his help, Jeremy and the others finally reached the deepest part of the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    .


    "The battle from here on is yours!" the


    God of War


    said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "My strength has beenpletely depleted. But I believe you will certainly be able to defeat the monsters at the core of this instance."


    As the


    God of War


    spoke, he nced at the


    Son of the Sun


    . Upon seeing him, a look of deep disgust crossed his face.


    "A twisted monster formed entirely of the


    Sun


    ''s power," the


    God of War


    muttered in contempt.


    Though the


    God of War


    despised the


    Son of the Sun


    , he knew he could not participate in the uing fight. After he disappeared, the


    Son of the Sun


    took the initiative andunched an attack.


    With the aid of the


    Person in the Mirror


    , the


    Son of the Sun


    ''s attack seeded innding a blow.


    Jeremy was forced to use his


    King of Time and Space


    ability to evade the


    Son of the Sun


    ''s strike.


    As Jeremy evaded the attack, he unknowingly stepped directly into the trap set by then/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Son of the Sun


    .


    "I''ve finally seeded! No matter how clever you were before, you couldn''t outsmart me in the end!" The


    Son of the Sun


    ''s voice was filled with excitement. "You''ve walked right into my trap, and now I can help the great


    Sun


    im all the power you possess!"


    Liam and Ritchie exchanged worried nces, their eyes fixed on Jeremy.


    At this moment, Jeremy had fallen into quicksand. The sand around him was infused with an intense power from the


    Sun


    , one so potent that it distorted the surrounding space. This powerful force made it impossible for Jeremy to use his


    King of Time and Space


    ability to escape.


    Yet, Jeremy''s expression remained calm. He had long anticipated that trouble woulde his way. With a slight smile, he pointed


    Mortal Combat


    at the


    Son of the Sun


    .

 Chapter 389 No One Will Come to Save You

    The


    Son of the Sun


    watched Jeremy''s actions in confusion. He couldn''t understand why Jeremy was aiming


    Mortal Combat


    at him. Although


    Mortal Combat


    could create a special space, within that space, Jeremy would still be unable to escape the grip of the quicksand.


    Moreover, the


    Son of the Sun


    could channel his power directly into the quicksand, further amplifying its strength.


    "You think your


    King of Time and Space


    ability poses any threat to me?" The


    Son of the Sun


    said coldly. "The power of the


    Sun


    can pierce through both time and space. Now


    this


    is true strength."


    A faint smile curled at the corner of Jeremy''s mouth.


    "You really think I came to the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    without making more preparations? You honestly believe you can trap me so easily?" Jeremy''s words had barely left his lips when a special space formed, trapping both him and the


    Son of the Sun


    Continue your adventure at empire


    inside.


    The


    Son of the Sun


    wasn''t the least bit panicked. He had anticipated something like this. Moreover, he had already deduced that this situation posed no real threat to him.


    "You''re wasting your effort," the


    Son of the Sun


    sneered. "There is no way you can defeat me like this! Even in this special space, you can''t escape the control of the quicksand."


    Jeremy didn''t refute the


    Son of the Sun


    ''s words. He simply replied, his tone indifferent, "You''re right. There''s no way for me to escape the situation I''m in using this method. But as long as I trap you, mypanions will be able to take action."


    The


    Son of the Sun


    paused, and a look of terror finally spread across his face. He understood now what he had overlooked.


    Throughout the previous battle, Ritchie and Liam had appeared extremely weak. The


    Son of the Sun


    had dismissed them entirely. He had simply left the two of them for


    The Person in the Mirror


    to deal with.


    But now, with Jeremy and the


    Son of the Sun


    trapped in the special space, Ritchie and Liam were free to act.


    Outside the special space, Ritchie immediately used his shadow maniption ability. The remaining


    Persons in the Mirror


    were swiftly cut down by this power.


    Once they were in, the


    Persons in the Mirror


    were converted into


    Puppets


    by Ritchie.


    At this moment, Liam used one of his items to open a portal.


    "We can enter the deepest part of the instance through this portal. Bonnie must be there! Let''s move quickly!" Liam said as he stepped through the portal, with Ritchie following closely behind.


    The portal didn''tst long. The immense power of the


    Sun


    quickly shattered it, but it wasn''t enough to stop Ritchie and Liam.


    When they emerged at the deepest part of the instance, the


    Persons in the Mirror


    surrounding Bonnie were thrown into a state of panic. These


    Persons in the Mirror


    were very weak. They were notbatants; their sole purpose here was to maintain the traps.


    Without hesitation, Ritchie attacked the


    Persons in the Mirror


    , while Liam hurried over to Bonnie.


    "Can you hear me? Can you wake up?" Liam urgently tried to rouse Bonnie.


    However, his efforts were in vain. Under the influence of the


    Sun


    ''s power, Bonnie was trapped in an eternal sleep.


    Liam had no choice but to take another item from his pocket. It was an rm clock. As soon as he pulled it out, he shouted toward Ritchie.


    "Get ready! We''re about to hear a very loud noise!"


    As soon as Liam activated the rm clock, a deafening noise echoed through every corner of the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    .


    Even Bonnie, who was in an eternal slumber, was greatly affected by the sound.


    She frowned, struggling to open her eyes.


    "What''s going on? Why is there such a loud noise? Jeremy, where are you? Turn off the rm!" Bonnie mumbled, her voice weak and blurry.


    Naturally, her words couldn''t be heard by anyone, as the noise from the rm was overpowering.


    However, Liam saw Bonnie''s movements and quickly turned off the rm.


    "Jeremy isn''t here! He''s fighting somewhere else! We need to get out of here quickly! If we move too slowly,


    Sun''s


    minions will definitely catch up!"


    Liam said, pulling Bonnie along with him as they hurried out.


    Bonnie was still in a state of confusion. She couldn''t understand what was happening. Her memory was stuck at the moment when she was traveling with Jeremy! She had no knowledge of what had happened since then.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    However, Bonnie trusted Liam deeply. She didn''t think Liam would harm her. So, she followed Liam and Ritchie as they moved swiftly through the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    .


    Meanwhile, within the special space, The Son of the Sun was filled with anxiety. He had learned that the


    Persons in the Mirror


    had been wiped out. Clearly, Bonnie had sessfully been rescued.


    Jeremy looked at The Son of the Sun with a smile.


    "Panicking now won''t help you! You can''t escape the special space! You won''t be able to support your subordinates. And I''ll be free from the quicksand''s control soon."


    The Son of the Sun stretched out, trying to reach Jeremy.


    The power of the quicksand in Jeremy''s area was already dissipating. It wouldn''t be long before Jeremy would be free from its grip.


    Once that happened, The Son of the Sun would have no choice but to face Jeremy in a one-on-one showdown within the special space.


    "Don''t think your little scheme has worked! The great


    Sun


    will never allow you to seed this easily! And I have other alliesing to my aid!"


    The allies The Son of the Sun referred to, of course, were Kean.


    Jeremy, however, wasn''t concerned at all. He knew exactly what The Son of the Sun meant.


    "But Kean could very well show up here. Do you really think he''ll help you, though? If I''m not mistaken, your rtionship with him isn''t as good as you''d like to believe. You two must be rivals, right?"


    Jeremy''s words made The Son of the Sun''s mood even worse. He couldn''t understand how Jeremy had managed to figure out that his rtionship with Kean wasn''t good.


    "I knew I was right. The look on your face says it all¡ªwhat I said was true," Jeremyughed, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.


    "Kean is a very selfish person. He''s incapable of true cooperation with anyone. His coboration with you was only about gaining power. Now that you''ve failed, how could he possibly want to help you? He won''t being to the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    . So, you might as well stop counting on him. All your hopes now rest on your great deity."


    As Jeremy spoke, The Son of the Sun felt an increasing sense of threat. The power of the quicksand hadpletely dissipated, and Jeremy was finally free to move.


    Meanwhile, Liam and Ritchie had sessfully brought Bonnie to the exit of the


    Endless Abyss Instance


    .


    "We''ve seeded! Hurry up ande with us!" Liam contacted Jeremy, hoping he could join them and leave the instance as quickly as possible. Although most of the monsters inside the instance had been wiped out, Liam still had a nagging feeling that the longer they stayed, the greater the risk of encountering even more threats.


    However, Jeremy didn''t agree with Liam''s proposal.


    "You guys can leave without me. I still have a lot of things to take care of! At the very least, I have to take down The Son of the Sun!"


    Jeremy didn''t bother lowering his voice, so The Son of the Sun could hear every word clearly.


    At that moment, Jeremy held


    Mortal Combat


    in his hand and looked at The Son of the Sun as if he were staring at a dead man.


    The Son of the Sun felt the immense threat, but he wasn''t about to give up so easily.


    "You think defeating me will be that easy?" The Son of the Sun snarled. "Let me show you what true sunlight power looks like!"


    With those words, The Son of the Sun unleashed all of his power.


    In that instant, he transformed, his body glowing with a radiance that made him resemble the very sun itself.


    However, both The Son of the Sun and Jeremy knew the truth: The Son of the Sun wasn''t the real sun. In fact, the true


    Sun


    couldn''t provide The Son of the Sun with any more power.


    "Since you''re ready, then let''s settle this once and for all!"


    Jeremy tightened his grip on


    Mortal Combat


    and immediatelyunched himself at The Son of the Sun.


    Meanwhile, back at the military headquarters, Kean was gathering every weapon and item he could find.


    He had received The Son of the Sun''s distress signal, but he had no intention of rescuing him.


    "If you''re eliminated by Jeremy, I''ll be the only one left that


    The Sun


    can count on. After this, I''ll receive unimaginable power from


    The Sun


    ," Kean muttered to himself, a smile creeping across his face.

 Chapter 390 Difficult to End

    The battle deep within the Endless Abyss instance did notst long.


    The Son of the Sun, realizing that he could not seed, dissipated into a beam of sunlight.


    Jeremy did not intend to pursue him any further.


    He could sense that a significant change had urred within the Endless Abyss instance.


    If he continued chasing, he might encounter unforeseen circumstances.


    Moreover, Jeremy''s objective this time was simply to rescue Bonnie.


    Since Bonnie had already been saved, there was no need to focus on anything else.


    Jeremy chose to follow in the footsteps of Liam and Ritchie.


    By this time, Liam and Ritchie had already brought Bonnie to the entrance of the Endless Abyss instance.


    They did not immediately leave, as they nned to wait for Jeremy.


    When they first entered the Endless Abyss instance, they had realized that it was a very peculiar ce. If they left without Jeremy, they could very well encounter additional trouble.


    "We''ll wait here for a bit. The Endless Abyss instance is extremely special, and to ensure our safety, it''s best if we all leave together," Liam said gently to Ritchie and Bonnie.


    Ritchie nodded in agreement.


    Bonnie, however, still wore an expression of confusion.


    She had no idea what was going on or how she ended up deep within the Endless Abyss instance.


    Although Bonnie had many questions, she had refrained from asking during their escape, knowing that wasting time might put everyone at risk.


    But now that they had some time to spare, Bonnie decided to ask everything she needed to know.


    After a moment of hesitation, Bonnie slowly asked,


    "What exactly is going on? Why am I with you two? And how did I end up deep inside this instance? If I heard correctly, the name of the instance we''re in is the Endless Abyss instance, right? As far as I know, this is one of the highest difficulty instances in the suburbs of Capital. Why are we here? I clearly remember driving around the streets of Capital with Jeremy not long ago."


    Bonnie''s words left both Liam and Ritchie feeling somewhat confused as well.


    Ritchie wasn''t sure how to exin things to Bonnie.


    Liam quickly spoke to Bonnie, saying, "The answers to your questions, Jeremy will give you. Let''s wait for him to return, and once he''s back, everything will be exined."


    Liam didn''t n to say much more.


    In his view, Bonnie''s rtionship with Jeremy was much closer, and if he told her everything now, Jeremy would have nothing left to say afterward.


    Liam knew very well that Bonnie was more concerned about Jeremy than anything else.


    As soon as Liam finished speaking, Jeremy appeared before them.


    "I know you have many questions," Jeremy said, his tone gentle. "But those answers willeter. For now, let''s leave the instance as quickly as possible. Don''t return to Capital; go back to Moonlight City with Liam instead."


    Although Bonnie was even more confused than before, she didn''t ask any more questions.


    With that, Jeremy and the others left the instance, taking Bonnie with them.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    At the same time, Kean had received very clear information.


    He now knew that The Son of the Sun''s n had failed.


    He also understood that he was now facing a situation that would be extremely difficult to resolve.


    Kean hadpletely fallen out with E.


    While E still didn''t know many of Kean''s secrets, her family''s influence was not insignificant.


    Moreover, Kean knew that when he attacked the military headquarters, there would inevitably be a trail of evidence left behind.


    He was deeply worried that the military headquarters and the higher-ups in the Federation would soon figure things out.


    Kean was now desperately racking his brain, trying to think of a way to resolve this situation.


    It wasn''t just Kean who was in a difficult position.


    The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror were also facing situations they couldn''t easily get out of.


    Before this operation began, The Son of the Sun had promised the great Continue your adventure at empire


    Sun


    that this mission would seed.


    But not only had the operation failed, it had led to even greater losses.


    The


    Sun


    was now extremely angry.


    The Son of the Sun had already met with the


    Sun


    .


    The Son of the Sun didn''t say a word in defense.


    He simply waited for the


    Sun


    ''s wrath.


    However, after a long while, the


    Sun


    still didn''t be angry.


    The Son of the Sun began to feel that something was off.


    Finally, he directly asked the


    Sun


    , "Aren''t you angry with us? Our n haspletely failed. We haven''t fulfilled the promise we made to you."


    The


    Sun


    ''s voice, both authoritative and gentle, echoed.


    "Why should I me you? Yes, your n failed. But from the very beginning, I didn''t believe the chances of sess were high. You greatly underestimated Jeremy''s strength. The power he disyed during the operation far exceeded what you imagined. In fact, it even surpassed my expectations. If I had known Jeremy could act with such decisiveness and possess such intelligence, I wouldn''t have allowed you to take such a risky course of action."


    The


    Sun


    didn''t seem overly concerned about the failure of this one mission.


    To the


    Sun


    , the failure wasn''t a big deal.


    The overall situation hadn''t spiraled out of control.


    As long as The Son of the Sun and Kean could perform better in the next steps, the human world would be more and more chaotic.


    The Federation''s higher-ups and the military headquarters had shown themselves to bepletely ipetent when faced with this crisis.


    If the Federation and the military couldn''t make the necessary adjustments in time, the


    Apocalypse Game


    ''s attacks on the real world would only escte.


    Humankind wouldn''t be able to withstand for long.


    The fact that the


    Sun


    didn''t express anger was, for The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror, an unexpected stroke of luck.


    The Son of the Sun now felt he should dedicate himself even more fully to serving the


    Sun


    .


    "So, what should we do next? Capital is in a state of utter chaos. Should we attack Capital directly? If I coordinate closely with Kean, we might be able to take control of Capital."


    The Son of the Sun was unwilling to ept failure.


    Although their n hadn''t seeded in eliminating Jeremy, The Son of the Sun still hoped to use this failure as a stepping stone to gain even greater advantages.


    The


    Sun


    slowly shook its head.


    "You don''t need to take simr actions anymore. For now, you should keep yourselves hidden. The failures of the Federation''s higher-ups and the military headquarters are only temporary. We merely caught them off guard. Once they''ve made the necessary preparations, they will definitely be able to respond immediately. So, in theing period, you must be cautious and careful."


    After saying this, the


    Sun


    disappeared.


    The Son of the Sun, although still wishing to say more, ultimately held his tongue.


    He decided to gather The Person in the Mirror together.


    "This mission may have failed, but the great


    Sun


    did not me us. In the uing actions, we must be extra careful. To avoid bing the target of our enemies, I have decided that, for the next two weeks, we will not take any further actions. All of you must hide."


    After giving these orders, The Son of the Sun vanished.


    The Person in the Mirror, in turn, returned to the most hidden locations they knew.


    Thest person to receive relevant information was, of course, Kean.


    At that moment, Kean was still on the outskirts of Capital, hesitating over whether to head to the safe zone and meet up with the others.


    If he went to the safe zone, he might be able to prove that he hadn''t acted alone.


    However, doing so could also lead to the opposite result.


    As Kean was pondering, his phone suddenly rang.


    The caller was his older uncle.


    "Where are you right now? Do you realize how dire the situation in Capital is?"


    "I''m in Capital! I''m doing everything I can to help restore order here. I''ve already eliminated many of the monsters I''ve encountered," Kean answered.


    His uncle was somewhat surprised by Kean''s response.


    From his uncle''s perspective, Kean was a veryzy person, and he didn''t think Kean would actively try to help restore order in the city.


    However, the tone of Kean''s uncle softened a bit after hearing this.


    "Forget about restoring order in Capital for now. You need to head to the safe zone immediately. We must prioritize the safety of the high-ranking officials in the Federation. Your strength is top-notch, and once you get there, you''ll definitely be able to increase the security of the safe zone."


    "I understand! I''ll head to the safe zone right away," Kean replied.


    After hanging up the phone, a smile appeared on Kean''s face.


    His uncle''s call had sessfully helped him out of a difficult situation. He no longer needed to think about how to handle his escape.

 Chapter 391 Arguments and Shifting Blame

    Kean moved quickly.


    After hanging up the phone, it took him less than an hour to reach the safe zone.


    When he arrived, the situation inside the safe zone was chaotic.


    Although the facilities in the safe zone were well-equipped, the people inside were panicked.


    Despite the fact that everyone here was an important figure, they were reacting to the crisis with much lessposure than ordinary people.


    Everyone was deeply concerned that the safe zone might also be attacked, so they were all desperately trying to gather information about the outside situation.


    Kean''s arrival immediately drew the attention of many.


    "What''s the situation outside?"


    "Are there still a lot of monsters wandering around the outskirts of Capital?"


    "I heard that the city center of Capital has beenpletely destroyed. Is that true?"


    "Are you here because you couldn''t handle the monster attacks and had to escape here?"


    Faced with these questions, Kean smiled and replied,


    "I''vee here only to ensure the safety of the safe zone. Yes, I did encounter some monsters on the outskirts of Capital, but the real threat to me came from humans who took advantage of the chaos.


    Although I did everything I could to end the disorder in Capital, my strength alone wasn''t enough. I''vee here hoping to gain the help of others."


    Kean''s answer was wless.


    After hearing his words, everyone began to view him as a polite and considerate gentleman.


    E, however, was not far from the group of people.


    Her eyes were fixed on Kean.


    She had to admit that she couldn''t figure him out.


    "Are you a good person or a bad person? If you''re a good person, why are you targeting Jeremy? What was the purpose of your actions in Capital? If you''re a bad person, why are you here now trying to protect everyone in the safe zone?"


    E''s mind was in turmoil.


    After thinking for a while, she ultimately decided to return to her room.


    E''s room was luxurious.


    After all, she wasn''t someone who needed to fight in the first ce.


    Kean, of course, did not notice E''s presence. After addressing the questions from the crowd, he quickly met up with the members of the Lannister family.


    "The situation outside is as follows. The military headquarters has likely been hit hard by monster attacks, and there probably aren''t any survivors left inside," Kean described what he knew in detail.


    Of course, he conveniently omitted all the bad things he had done.


    After hearing Kean''s description, the expressions of the Lannisters became very grave.


    Everyone understood that the human world had fallen into a massive crisis.


    "What should we do now? If even the military headquarters has been destroyed by monsters, what forces can we rely on to ensure our safety?" Kean''s uncle asked, pacing back and forth in frustration.


    As a member of the Federation''s high-ranking officials, Kean''s uncle was deeply concerned about this issue.


    Kean didn''t give an answer.


    He felt he had already said enough, and his next task was to blend in with the others, staying out of the spotlight.


    "Since you''re already here, don''t go anywhere else. Stay here and help defend the safe zone along with the other


    Apocalypse Game


    yers and the military''s elite forces. I need to attend a very important meeting immediately," Kean''s uncle instructed him.


    The urgent meeting his uncle had to attend was the first emergency meeting held by the Federation''s high-ranking officials after they arrived at the safe zone.


    At this meeting, the only thing the Federation''s top brass did was shift the me onto each other.


    Everyone believed that the crisis was caused by someone else.


    The military headquarters argued that Capital''s attack and subsequent copse were entirely due to the Federation''s failure to provide enough resources.


    If the Federation had provided adequate support, the military could have mobilized an elite force capable of securing Capital.


    The intelligence agency, on the other hand, believed that the military headquarters was the real culprit behind the disaster.


    They argued that the military had been given plenty of resources, but wasted them, leading to the catastrophe.


    The argument between the intelligence agency and the military headquarters had left the Federation''s top officials feeling extremely frustrated.


    After two hours of heated debate and me-shifting, the Federation''s leaders finally reached a reluctant consensus.


    Everyone agreed that the safety of Capital was the most crucial priority, so all


    Apocalypse Game


    yers and elite forces from other cities had to be deployed to Capital.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Immediately issue the corresponding orders! The current situation no longer allows us to waste any more time!" President Edgar said angrily.


    After speaking, Edgar mmed the door and stormed out.


    Marshal Daniel, on the other hand, coldly red at the others in the meeting room.


    "I am deeply disappointed by your performance. In the face of this crisis, can none of you take responsibility?"


    Faced with Daniel''s sarcastic remarks, the others remained silent.


    None of them wanted to provoke the military headquarters.


    Although the military had suffered significant losses in this crisis, they would inevitably receive abundant resources afterward.


    With no one responding to his words, Daniel could only leave the meeting room, fuming with anger.


    "I never imagined the Federation would sink to this level. It seems none of us have a future left," Kean''s uncle muttered to himself in a mournful tone.


    Beside Kean''s uncle was the head of another prominent family.


    "Perhaps what you say is true for most, but not for the


    Lannisters


    . With someone like Kean, you should have a future," the other family head remarked.


    "Kean is indeed a genius. But he also has the ws thate with genius. He refuses to listen to my orders, and he refuses to follow the family''s arrangements."


    "That''s not a small issue, but as long as Kean can demonstrate his immense power in theing days, no one will care about those little ws."


    After saying this, the other family head walked away.


    Kean''s uncle watched the figure disappear, and his expression gradually darkened.


    He didn''t want Kean to be too powerful.


    Kean''s uncle hoped to leave the position of family patriarch to his own son. Kean still didn''t even know that his son had already died.


    After the others had left the meeting room, Kean''s uncle had no choice but to exit as well.


    Although the emergency meeting had mostly been filled with arguing and finger-pointing, the situation in the capital was indeed improving.


    In the city center of the capital, the soldiers and the Apocalypse Game yers who were still engaged in battle suddenly noticed that the number of monsters and the Person in the Mirror they were encountering had steadily decreased.


    This, of course, meant that the crisis was finally being resolved.


    When the news reached the safe zone, the residents there didn''t immediately believe it.


    Instead, they sent out arge number of scouts to observe the situation in the capital.


    Only after confirming that the capital had returned to normal did the people in the safe zone begin to make ns to gradually return.


    As Kean was leaving the safe zone, he crossed paths with E once again.


    When they met, both of them looked slightly awkward.


    E didn''t know what kind of person Kean truly was, and Kean didn''t understand E''s true intentions either.


    Neither of them spoke; they were simply exchanging curious nces and trying to learn more about one another.


    "Why did you attack me in the city center of the capital? Why didn''t you want to cooperate with me to eliminate the monsters there?"


    E finally broke the silence.


    She asked the question that had been bothering her the most.


    Kean didn''t respond immediately. After thinking for a while, he slowly began to speak.


    "I refused to cooperate with you because I believe your actions are not reasonable. You''ve been focusing on fighting weaker enemies. I think that only by eliminating the stronger enemies can order in the capital be restored quickly."


    Kean''s exnation was certainly a bit forced.


    Explore hidden tales at empire


    However, E eventually epted it.


    After all, in E''s eyes, the fact that Kean had returned to the safe zone meant that he hadn''t been deemed inhuman.


    "Perhaps. Anyway, this crisis has been temporarily resolved. I just hope the capital won''t face another simr crisis in the future."


    E''s words carried a deep sense of sadness.


    Kean didn''t respond.


    He knew all too well that the capital would inevitably face another crisis. And when it did, it wouldn''t be as easily resolved as this time.


    The two of them remained silent as they followed the others back to the capital.


    Although most of the monsters and the Person in the Mirror had been wiped out, the capital itself had been almostpletely destroyed by the battles. When the people saw the city in ruins, their faces were filled with profound sorrow.


    Even Marshal Daniel, who usually maintained a stern expression, couldn''t help but sigh deeply several times.

 Chapter 392 One Crisis Ends, Another Begins

    The events that transpired in Capital after that point had little to do with Jeremy and the others. The armed forces directly controlled by the military headquarters and the federal leadership were enough to restore Capital to some semnce of peace. However, the damage done to the city was so extensive that it couldn''t be repaired in the short term.


    Jeremy and the others had already returned to Moonlight City.


    Once back, they immediately brought Bonnie before Benjamin.


    Upon seeing his daughter, Benjamin finally let out a sigh of relief.


    "I''m so d to see you return safely. But this situation isn''t your fault or Jeremy''s. If I hadn''t insisted that you go back to Capital, you wouldn''t have been kidnapped by those who meant to harm you."


    Benjamin spoke with a gentle tone.


    He understood that Bonnie''s danger wasn''t caused by any mistake on her or Jeremy''s part.


    Although Benjamin wasn''tpletely sure that Kean had been the one to kidnap Bonnie, his hostility toward Kean had grown significantly.


    Benjamin''s response surprised everyone.


    Jeremy hadn''t expected Benjamin to let the matter go so easily.


    "Father, are you really not ming me? Does that mean I don''t have to go back to Capital?" Bonnie asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.


    She wasn''t sure what her next steps should be. And she also didn''t know if Jeremy would be returning to Capital.


    If Jeremy decided to go back to Capital, Bonnie would want to follow him.


    Before Benjamin could answer, Jeremy smiled and spoke up.


    "After everything that''s happened, I don''t think Capital is a ce I belong anymore. I''m not nning on going back there. I''ve decided to stay in Moonlight City. Moonlight City still needs my protection."


    When Bonnie heard Jeremy''s words, she smiled and nodded in agreement.


    "It seems like I don''t need to say anything more. You and Jeremy should stay in Moonlight City. After all, all the remaining armed forces in Moonlight City will be sent to Capital. From now on, Moonlight City will have to rely on its own strength to protect its safety."


    Benjamin took out a document directly.


    This document was jointly issued by the federal leadership and the military headquarters.


    The issuance time was only half an hour ago.


    To ensure the safety of Capital, all soldiers from other cities were to be dispatched to Capital.


    Even General Howard, who had been stationed in Moonlight City, would be recalled to Capital.


    "If there''s nothing else, you can go and rest. After everything that''s happened recently, you''ve faced a series of crises. I think you both need some time to adjust," Benjamin said calmly.


    He didn''t say much more, simply sending Jeremy and the others on their way.


    After they left, Benjamin''s expression slowly turned cold.


    In fact, the order he had just shown them wasn''t the only one he had received. There was another order, and it was specifically targeting Jeremy.


    Due to the series of events that had urred, the military headquarters suspected that Jeremy was deeply involved in the attacks on Capital.


    The military headquarters wanted to apprehend Jeremy and bring him back for questioning.


    However, for Benjamin, he wasn''t going to let Jeremy be taken so easily.


    So, Benjamin outright refused the orders from the military headquarters and the federal leadership, which led to a new round of turmoil.


    While the crisis in Capital had yet to subside, the new storm created by Jeremy''s actions was already brewing.


    Many in the military headquarters believed that Jeremy had joined forces with the architects of the Apocalypse Game.


    As a result, the military headquarters immediately took action.


    Several powerful generals were personally sent to Moonlight City.


    Kean yed a significant role in this process.


    He had been constantly insinuating that Jeremy was the one responsible for the crisis in Capital.


    Since everyone who knew about Kean''s misdeeds was already dead, no one coulde forward to refute what he was saying.


    Jeremy and Bonnie, of course, had no idea about all of this.


    The two of them were still contemting what to do next.


    Now that they had returned to Moonlight City, the pressure on them had lightened considerably.


    "Although Moonlight City needs our protection, the difficulty of the instances around it isn''t that high. During the time we''ve been gone, Moonlight City hasn''t faced any monster attacks either. So I think we can spend a few days visiting the nearby attractions," Bonnie directly suggested to Jeremy.


    Jeremy didn''t object. He simply replied with a calm tone.


    "I think it''s a good idea to explore the surroundings. But before we do that, we still need to take care of some other matters. Now that we''ve returned to Moonlight City, we should meet up with our friends. I''m sure they''re eager to see us as well."


    Bonnie followed Jeremy to the ce where ire and Emma were staying.


    When ire and Emma saw Jeremy, both of their faces lit up with joy.


    During the time Jeremy had been away, ire and Emma had been working hard to improve their abilities. Now, their strength had improved slightlypared to when Jeremy hadst seen them.


    "We''ve been working hard to improve our strength, so that we can fight alongside you sooner. We thought you''d be staying in Capital for a long time," ire said with a smile.


    Jeremy smiled back. "I also thought I''d be in Capital for a long time. But the hostility from the people there was too obvious. I felt that staying there any longer would have a huge negative impact on me. So I decided to leave."


    Jeremy''s exnation had a lot of holes in it, but clearly, his friends didn''t mind those gaps.


    For the rest of the day, Jeremy and his friends chatted about everything that had happened to him in Capital.


    Although most of the events had been filled with crises, Jeremy had managed to ovee them all.


    They talkedte into the night.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "It''s getting reallyte now; you should all head home," Jeremy said, of course, addressing Bonnie.


    After all, ire and Emma had lived with him for a long time.


    Ritchie, too, was one of his closest friends.


    Bonnie felt a little disappointed.


    However, she quickly adjusted andposed herself.


    Bonnie was well aware that it would be best for her to return to her own home. Only then could she avoid worrying her father too much, allowing him to have some peace of mind.


    After Bonnie left, Emma and ire also made their exit.


    Jeremy''s house was now left with just him and Ritchie.


    Ritchie, a bit contemtive, couldn''t help but ask Jeremy,


    "Do you really think those people in Capital will just allow you to return to Moonlight City on your own?"


    "They absolutely won''t allow it!" Jeremy replied without hesitation. "But I couldn''t care less! If they force me to go back, I''ll show them just how powerful I really am!"


    Jeremy''s tone was firm and resolute as he spoke.


    He had already considered the people of Capital as his enemies.


    And when it came to his enemies, Jeremy felt no need for mercy.


    Ritchie finally cracked a smile upon hearing Jeremy''s words.


    "I think you should have had that determination from the start! You shouldn''t have gone to Capital in the first ce. If you hadn''t gone, we would have already cleared all the instances around Moonlight City. My level would have been high enough to reach level 50 and awaken by now."


    Jeremy''s expression softened a little at Ritchie''s remark.


    "So, your real reason for wanting me toe back wasn''t to help me, but just so you could level up faster, huh?" Jeremy teased with a smile. "Looks like you''re not my best friend after all!"


    Ritchie raised an eyebrow, his grin widening.


    "If I''m not your best friend, then who is? Do you think Kean is your best friend? Or maybe you believe that Liam from the Special Circumstances Bureau can be your friend?"


    Kean was certainly not Jeremy''s friend. In fact, Kean was Jeremy''s arch-nemesis. However, Liam, on the other hand, could very well be Jeremy''s friend. Jeremy himself hoped that he could build a strong rtionship with Liam, as that would mean he could gain Liam''s full support.


    Although Liam had been offering help to Jeremy, it felt like he was still hiding some very important information. The cooperation between Liam and Jeremy seemed to be more of a formal arrangement than anything based on genuine trust or friendship.


    "Let''s not talk about this anymore. I''m starting to get tired," Jeremy said, wanting to change the subject. "Aren''t you going to head home? Or do you n to stay here?"


    Experience tales at empire


    Liam nodded.


    "Of course, I''m staying at your ce. If you''re tired, then rest up! Tomorrow morning or noon, we still need to clear the instances around Moonlight City. Now that you''ve decided toe back, I''ll naturally have to urge you to get to work. I''m really hoping to unlock my awakening instance as soon as possible."


    After everything that had happened, Ritchie, too, began to feel increasingly anxious about his own strength.


    He desperately wanted to level up to 50 so that he could unlock his awakening instance immediately.

 Chapter 393：The Second Awakened Companion

    Jeremy naturally hoped that Ritchie couldplete his awakening as soon as possible because only then would Ritchie be able to offer him real help in critical battles. So, early the next morning, Jeremy and Ritchie headed straight for the nearest instance.


    There were no high-difficulty instances left around Moonlight City. As a result, the nearest instance was rtively low-level, which meant that the experience it provided was also quite limited. Because of this, Jeremy didn''t y a major role in clearing the instance. His main responsibility was ensuring that Ritchie wouldn''t encounter too many threats during the run.


    It only took them less than two hours toplete the first instance. At this point, Ritchie was still half a level away from reaching level 50.


    "The speed of leveling is way too slow," Ritchie said with a frown. "Maybe we should look for higher-difficulty instances, but the ones around us are all too easy. And traveling to other cities would be way too risky."


    Ritchie was clearly frustrated.


    Jeremy, unsure of a solution for the moment, could only respond with a calm tone, "Don''t worry too much about it for now. If we clear all the nearby instances, you should still be able to reach level 50. Leveling speed isn''t the most important thing right now. The key issue is your awakening instance. I think your awakening instance is going to be harder than mine."


    Ritchie looked confused at Jeremy''s words.


    "Why? Aren''t you the first one toplete your awakening? Shouldn''t your awakening instance be the hardest one of all?"


    Ritchie was puzzled by Jeremy''s statement. In Ritchie''s mind, Jeremy was the first toplete the awakening, and he had also gained a unique talent. Doesn''t that mean Jeremy''s awakening instance would have been the hardest of all?


    It wasmon knowledge among all


    Apocalypse Game


    yers that the harder the instance, the better the rewards.


    Jeremy didn''t fault Ritchie for his confusion.


    Jeremy knew that Ritchie didn''t yet fully understand the mechanics of the awakening instance.


    "You''re right," Jeremy said, "I was the first toplete my awakening, and the talent I gained is indeed very rare. Normally, this would mean that my awakening instance should have been the hardest. However, the awakening instance mechanism is different from regr instances."


    Ritchie listened closely, clearly intrigued.


    "The difficulty of the awakening instance actually depends on your condition when you reach level 50," Jeremy continued. "If your condition is excellent, the difficulty of the awakening instance will be very high. On the other hand, if you''re in poor condition, the difficulty will be lowered ordingly."


    Ritchie thought about this for a moment, then spoke up. "So, if that''s the case, I could just make my condition worse before I reach level 50, right? That way, my awakening instance difficulty will drop, and it''ll be easier for me to awaken."


    Jeremy''s expression immediately darkened. He quickly responded, "You can''t do that! If your condition worsens, your awakening instance will indeed be easier, but the talent you gain will also be weaker."


    Jeremy''s tone was firm¡ªhe didn''t want Ritchie to exploit a loophole in the system. Although


    ss Change Goddess


    Janna was his ally, and he had saved her before, he knew that Janna would never tolerate yers trying to game the system like that.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Ritchie frowned, feeling a little frustrated. "Then what should I do? You''re not telling me that my awakening is going to be a huge danger, are you? Didn''t you promise me you''d help?"


    By this point, Ritchie was beginning to lose his patience. In his mind, Jeremy should be able to ensure that he could awaken safely.


    Jeremy felt a little speechless. He had been hoping that Ritchie would be the second member of their team toplete the awakening, significantly boosting their overall strength. Now, he wasn''t so sure.


    "I can''t guarantee that you''ll bepletely safe during the awakening process," Jeremy admitted. "But what I


    can


    do is make sure that no one will interfere with your awakening."


    Ritchie raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"


    Jeremy''s gaze darkened. "Kean will definitely try to prevent your awakening. Once youplete it, the strength we gain will far surpass anything Kean has. Do you think he''ll ept that? Do you really believe he''ll let us grow stronger than him?"


    Upon hearing this, Ritchie''s expression shifted dramatically.


    Ritchie understood Kean well. In fact, Ritchie''s interactions with Kean were far more extensive than Jeremy''s. Ritchie knew that Kean was the type of person who would always seek revenge for the smallest grievances. His narrow-mindedness was infamous, and he absolutely would not allow anyone''s strength to surpass his own.


    Ritchie also knew that, judging by the timing, Kean''s level couldn''t be very high right now. However, if Ritchie couldplete his awakening in the near future, his level would be very close to Kean''s, and Kean would definitely take action against him.


    "You''re right," Ritchie said, his voice firm. "I will need your help to avoid Kean''s interference. Since you''ve already made most of the ns, I''ll just follow your instructions. What do you think I should do next toplete my awakening?"


    To Ritchie, it was clear that Jeremy wouldn''t betray him. Since Jeremy had already worked out the majority of the n, Ritchie trusted himpletely.


    Jeremy smiled and nodded. "You''re already very close to level 50. In the next two to three days, you should reach it. Once you do, don''t rush into your awakening instance right away. First, I''ll take you to the space where


    ss Change Goddess


    Janna resides."


    Ritchie raised an eyebrow at that name. He had heard of Janna, but he didn''t know much about her.


    "ss Change Goddess Janna will provide you with some assistance. After that, you can think carefully about how you want to proceed. I can''t offer you too much advice, because my understanding of the current awakening mechanism is not entirelyplete."


    Jeremy''s words were slightly humble, but it was clear that his understanding of the awakening mechanism was deeper than anyone else''s. The only ones who knew more than him were


    ss Change Goddess


    Janna and a few of the apocalypse game developers.


    Ritchie, however, didn''t question Jeremy. He trusted himpletely and was eager to follow his lead. He nned to spend the next few days working with Jeremy to quickly reach level 50.


    While Ritchie and Jeremy were busy exploring instances together, envoys sent by the military headquarters and the Federation highmand also arrived in Moonlight City. Their mission was to bring Jeremy back to Capital.


    They didn''t go directly to Jeremy but first sought out the mayor of Moonlight City, Benjamin.


    Upon learning of the envoys'' purpose, Benjamin responded bluntly.


    "That''s not possible! Jeremy will not be going back with you. He has more important things to do. The instances around Moonlight City are not yet fully cleared. Even if they were, he must stay here to ensure the safety of Moonlight City. You''ve already removed all the soldiers from here¡ªwhy take Jeremy as well?"


    Benjamin wasn''t afraid of these envoys. While they held significant power, Benjamin had the backing of his own family forces. The envoys, facing Benjamin''s firm stance, could only resort to persuasion, hoping he would help them with their task. Discover more content at empire


    However, Benjamin ultimately sent them all away.


    "If you truly want to bring Jeremy back to Capital, have Marshal Daniele and speak to me directly. If hees in person, I will give him the respect he deserves."


    Benjamin had made his position clear. The envoys sent by the Federation and military headquarters had no other option but to leave.


    Though they weren''t able to bring Jeremy back, the envoys would surely speak ill of Benjamin once they returned. Benjamin was prepared for the bacsh.


    After his daughter had been kidnapped, Benjamin had be indifferent to most matters. In his view, the only one capable of ensuring his daughter''s safety was Jeremy. To ensure his daughter''s safety, he couldn''t allow Jeremy to be taken back to Capital.


    As Benjamin had predicted, when the envoys returned to Capital, the senior officials of the Federation and military headquarters were shocked beyond belief.


    They hadn''t expected Benjamin to defy their orders.


    Marshal Daniel''s face turned dark as he said, "If only I can personally bring Jeremy back, then I''ll go myself. Jeremy is a very key figure. He must know a lot of important information."


    Daniel was furious at this point, but Federation President Edgar remained calm.


    Edgar had heard of the ongoing conflict between Jeremy and Kean.


    After carefully considering the situation, Edgar spoke decisively.


    "Since Benjamin believes that Jeremy should stay in Moonlight City, then let Jeremy remain there. Moonlight City is indeed a very important city, and we need Jeremy there to ensure its safety."


    Edgar''s position surprised everyone.


    However, the officials quickly adjusted their attitudes. Even those who hadn''t been paying much attention to Jeremy before began to take notice, realizing that he might be a more significant figure than they had initially thought.

 Chapter 394 Allies in Recovery

    As Jeremy and Ritchie continued their efforts, Ritchie was getting closer and closer to reaching level 50.


    The Goddess of ss Change, who had been keeping an eye on Jeremy and hispanions, had already prepared to help Ritchie with his awakening. However, for the Goddess of ss Change, there were still more pressing matters that required her attention.


    Inside the special space where the Goddess of ss Change resided, World was slowly recovering from his injuries. Unlike before, when he had been rxed andposed, World now appeared more like a tiger stripped of its teeth¡ªvulnerable and far from his usual formidable self.


    "Do you really think you can heal on your own?" the Goddess of ss Change asked with concern. "I think we still need Jeremy''s help. At the very least, he could get the Goddess of Life to heal you."


    To the Goddess of ss Change, World''s injuries could only be healed by the Goddess of Life. Of course, there were other Apocalypse Game developers who could quickly treat World, but those developers were their absolute enemies.


    Despite the severity of his current condition, World believed that he had not yet reached the point where he needed to seek Jeremy''s help.


    "I''ve told you already, I can recover on my own," World replied, his voice tinged with a hint of defiance. "I just need some time. I''ll be fully recovered before Ritchie reaches level 50."


    At the mention of Ritchie, the Goddess of ss Change seamlessly continued the conversation.


    "Ritchie is about to reach level 50. During our recent missions, he''s already shown some solid strength. After hepletes his awakening, he should be able to help us. But I''m not sure what kind of awakening talent to give him. Do you think I should give him a talent that enhances his existing skill damage? Or perhaps something that expands the range of his abilities?"


    Although the Goddess of ss Change was responsible for everything rted to ss changes and awakenings, she still had to operate within the framework of the rules. She couldn''t control exactly what talents a person would receive during their awakening.


    The Goddess of ss Change could only make slight adjustments.


    When the Goddess of ss Change asked for her opinion on Ritchie''s awakening talent, World did not immediately respond. After thinking for a moment, he gave an answer that greatly surprised the Goddess of ss Change.


    "I think this matter should be left to them to decide. Once Ritchie reaches level 50, Jeremy will likely bring him to you. Then, you can discuss it carefully."


    The Goddess of ss Change had originally thought that World would make every decision himself. She never expected that World would respect the decisions of others.


    World noticed the surprised look on the Goddess of ss Change''s face.


    "What''s the matter? You seem very surprised. Don''t you think their own choices should be respected?" he asked.


    "I''m not saying that their choices shouldn''t be respected. I just didn''t expect you to say something like that," the Goddess of ss Change replied. "Aren''t you someone who likes to be in control of everything?"


    World''s expression became a little awkward.


    "I am indeed someone with a strong desire for control. But that control is focused only on the ns I need to carry out. My goal is to make the Apocalypse Game developers pay a price! I absolutely will not allow my ns to fail!"


    World made his stance clear.


    The Goddess of ss Change decided not to press further.


    As World continued to focus on healing his injuries, the Goddess of ss Change began to consider how to structure Ritchie''s awakening instance.


    Though the specifics of an awakening instance were determined by the individual yerpleting it, the Goddess of ss Change could still influence certain aspects. Of course, she hoped Ritchie''s awakening instance would be rtively simple.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy and Ritchie, after clearing four instances, had finally brought Ritchie''s level up to 50.


    Both Jeremy and Ritchie were in high spirits.


    "I''ve finally reached level 50! I can start my awakening right away! Aren''t you supposed to take me to the space where the Goddess of ss Change is now?" Ritchie asked with a smile on his face.


    After all, Jeremy had previously mentioned that before Ritchie could begin his awakening, he would first need to take Ritchie to meet the Goddess of ss Change, Janna.


    "I will, of course, take you to the space where the Goddess of ss Change is," Jeremy said. "But before that, I need to contact her and get her approval."


    With that, Ritchie followed Jeremy back to his home. Once inside, Jeremy immediately began preparing a ritual.


    The Goddess of ss Change, Janna, had no objections and agreed to Jeremy and Ritchie''s visit.


    When Jeremy and Ritchie appeared in Janna''s space, World had already healed his wounds and left.


    "Your leveling speed is definitely faster than I expected," Janna said with a smile as she addressed Ritchie. "I thought it would take you at least half a month to reach level 50."


    Ritchie smiled in response.


    "This is all thanks to Jeremy''s help," Ritchie said. "If it weren''t for him, I wouldn''t have been able to level up this quickly."


    Ritchie certainly needed to express his gratitude to Jeremy.


    However, Jeremy wasn''t particrly interested in the conversation between Ritchie and Janna. In fact, he thought it was a bit of a waste of time.


    "I don''t think we need to waste any more time," Jeremy said directly. "The most important thing now is to help Ritchieplete his awakening as soon as possible. While I understand the general pattern of awakening, I don''t know all the details. So, I hope you can help us. You should be able to help Ritchiee up with the best approach for clearing the awakening instance."


    Janna, understanding Jeremy''s urgency, also agreed not to waste any more time.


    In truth, she had already prepared a n for Ritchie''s awakening.


    "You''re right," she said. "We should focus on Ritchie''s awakening instance. I''ve alreadye up with a method for him to clear the awakening instance. Of course, the actual clearing will be up to him. We can only offer him assistance while he''s going through it."


    As soon as Janna finished speaking, an ethereal map appeared in Ritchie''s hands.


    This map was the map of Ritchie''s awakening instance.


    Although Ritchie had not yet found the Awakening gemstone, the Goddess of ss Change, Janna, had already determined Ritchie''s awakening instance in advance.


    "What you need to do next is follow the practice as shown on the map I''ve given you," Janna said. "Your awakening instance will be very difficult, because I want you to gain a very powerful awakening talent."


    Janna sincerely hoped that Ritchie''s strength would grow far greater than before. She had a growing sense that things were rapidly deteriorating. The Apocalypse game nners were likely to target her and World again, and she needed stronger allies to ensure her survival.


    Upon hearing this, Ritchie''s expression grew somewhat worried.


    "I really don''t need such a powerful awakening talent," Ritchie said directly to Janna. "Can you lower the difficulty of my awakening instance?"


    Ritchie''s request left both Janna and Jeremy feeling a bit taken aback.


    "You should be more confident," Janna said gently. "Your strength is more than enough to handle the higher difficulty awakening instances. Don''t you want your power to increase significantly?"


    Ritchie hesitated for a moment before responding.


    Explore stories at empire


    "Of course, I want my strength to improve drastically," he said. "But I''m worried that going through a higher difficulty awakening instance will take up a lot of time. I have a feeling that Jeremy and I might soon face a huge crisis."


    Ritchie''s words caused Jeremy to freeze, a bit shocked.


    He hadn''t expected Ritchie to think so far ahead.


    Suddenly, Jeremy became moreposed. He began to seriously consider the situation they were facing.


    He had to admit that Ritchie''s concerns were very reasonable.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Jeremy had already more or less severed ties with both the military headquarters and the federal government. This meant that the military and the higher-ups in the federation would likely begin targeting him soon.


    Moreover, Kean had not been weakened during their previous encounter¡ªif anything, Jeremy suspected that Kean''s strength had increased.


    Given this, it was very possible that Kean would attack him soon.


    Jeremy''s expression changed rapidly, his mind working through the various implications of Ritchie''s words.


    The Goddess of ss Change, Janna, also noticed that something was off. However, she didn''t speak. She simply waited for Jeremy to make the final decision.


    All eyes were on Jeremy, and after several long minutes of silence, he slowly spoke.


    "Your concerns are indeed very valid," Jeremy said, his voice steady but serious. "However, I believe I can face the uing crisis on my own. You can focus onpleting your awakening instance with peace of mind."


    Having heard Jeremy''s words, Ritchie nodded, understanding that the decision had been made. Since Jeremy had said so, Ritchie wouldn''t continue to resist.


    "Alright then! Let''s proceed with the original n."

 Chapter 395 Keans Expanding Ambition

    In the heart of the capital, at the Lannisters'' hall.


    All the members of the Lannister family had gathered for a grand funeral. The subject of the ceremony was, of course, Kean''s cousin¡ªhis uncle''s son.


    Everyone''s expression was deeply sorrowful, but there was an undercurrent of hidden motives beneath the surface. Only Kean''s uncle appeared truly heartbroken. He had not only lost his son but also his heir. The more serious consequence was that he now had to choose a new sessor from among the other rtives.


    The most widely epted candidate to be the Lannisters'' next heir was Kean. On one hand, he was widely recognized as a genius; on the other, he was the closest in bloodline.


    However, Kean''s uncle had yet to make a final decision. The head of the Lannister family still resided with Kean''s grandfather, meaning that Kean''s uncle had not officially assumed the position of family head.


    The grand funeral eventually reached its conclusion. Afterward, the Lannisters gathered to discuss who should take up the role of sessor.


    Kean''s uncle remained silent during the discussion, seemingly still mourning his lost son. Kean also said nothing, feeling that he didn''t need to speak. The discussion continued without any immediate conclusion, but the majority seemed to have no objections to Kean being named the sessor.


    After the meeting ended, Kean chose to leave alone.


    Upon returning to his home, the butler, Farmer, greeted him with an unusually obsequious tone.


    "Sir, you''ve finally returned! I was beginning to think you had encountered a serious danger recently. I nearly went out to look for you myself."


    Kean snorted coldly at the remark.


    He knew very well that his butler had been in contact with his uncle. And Kean was certain that Farmer was notpletely on his side. It was even possible that the butler had been covertly plotting against him all along.


    However, the current situation was very favorable for Kean.


    Kean did not want any unforeseen circumstances to arise.


    Thus, a mocking smile appeared on his face as he replied with a calm yet slightly sarcastic tone, "It''s true that I''ve encountered some danger recently. But you wouldn''t be able to help me get rid of it. I can only rely on my own strength to escape these threats."


    Upon hearing this, Butler Farmer immediately responded, "You''re absolutely right, Sir! After all, you are a genius! The power you possess is far beyond what we can even imagine! If you can''t deal with the danger yourself, then our efforts would be pointless."


    Butler Farmer was clearly doing his best to gain Kean''s trust.


    Kean smiled and nodded, clearly satisfied with Farmer''s response.


    "Master, where are you nning to go next? Will you be returning to your vi in the suburbs, or are you going to the city center?" Farmer asked, clearly concerned about Kean''s next move.


    Kean didn''t intend to hide his ns. After all, for the time being, there was no need to take any action.


    The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror had already hidden themselves away. Without their cooperation, Kean''s actions were unlikely to achieve any meaningful results.


    Kean decided that for the time being, he would maintain his connections in the capital. At the very least, he would meet with his friends.


    Although Kean was an extremely proud person, he still had some friends.


    "I''m not going back to the vi in the suburbs," Kean said. "Too much has happened recently, and I feel the vi there is no longer safe. Go and collect all the daily necessities from the vi for me."


    Kean gave the butler his orders.


    Farmer immediately set off to carry out the task, leaving Kean to his thoughts. Once Farmer was gone, Kean made his way alone to the heart of the capital.


    After Kean left, Butler Farmer once again dialed Kean''s uncle''s number.


    "How is the situation? Has he shown any unusual behavior? Is he desperately trying to be the heir to the Lannisters now?"


    Kean''s uncle''s voice came through the phone. It was much colder than before, his tonepletely devoid of emotion, as though all feelings had vanished.


    "Butler Farmer replied, "Master, he hasn''t shown any signs of abnormal behavior. He hasn''t mentioned anything about the heirship. He only said he needed to go to the city center to meet some friends."


    Kean''s uncle, upon hearing this, seemed slightly reassured.


    "I understand. Keep watching him closely. Do not let him get into any kind of trouble. Though he has not yet be the heir to the Lannisters, he is already the most important person in the family."


    After saying this, Kean''s uncle hung up the phone.


    Butler Farmer''s expression tightened, a sense of inner conflict creeping in. He couldn''t help but feel uncertain about his own fate. There was something in the back of his mind telling him that Kean had not forgiven him.


    Just as Farmer was lost in thought, his phone rang again.


    This time, it was Kean calling.


    "After you collect my things, make sure to thoroughly clean the vi in the city center. I''ll be staying there for the time being," Kean instructed.


    "Rest assured, sir, everything will be handled perfectly! I will clean the vi thoroughly and quickly!" Butler Farmer responded enthusiastically.


    Once the call ended, Farmer quickly got to work. Meanwhile, Kean was already plotting his next moves.


    His ambitions had grown far more inted than before.


    Kean now truly believed that he was the rightful heir to the Lannisters.


    Kean no longer believed that he should simply control the Lannisters¡ªhe now felt he should control the entire Federation.


    "The high-ranking officials of the Federation are truly foolish. If they are allowed to retain such immense power, the Federation will inevitably faceplete destruction. We must take action," Kean said with a smile, addressing the group in front of him.


    The people in front of Kean were a mix of scions from prominent families and gifted yers from the apocalypse game. Kean had gathered them to build a stronger force for himself.


    These individuals were all deeply dissatisfied with the powerful figures in the Federation. They believed that the series of crises facing the capital were entirely the result of the ipetence of the Federation''s leaders.


    "So what should we do? These high-ranking figures will never give up their power willingly. Perhaps we should take more forceful measures," one of them proposed directly.


    Kean looked at him with approving eyes.


    "You''re right. The powerful figures in the Federation will never relinquish their power. That''s why we must show them that they no longer have the right to control such immense power," Kean replied.


    Kean had already devised a n of action. Since the military headquarters wouldn''t be able to return to its previous state in the short term, he and his group could take advantage of the Federation''s temporary weakness and make the high-ranking officials pay a heavy price.


    Kean even believed that with the help of The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror, he couldpletely seize control of the Federation''s leadership and the military headquarters.


    At that time, Kean would not only be able to exact his revenge on Jeremy, but he could even ruin Jeremy and his friends, ensuring their names were tarnished forever.


    Although Kean had already devised some ns, he wasn''t ready to put them into action just yet. Kean remained very calm.


    He knew he had to wait for a more advantageous moment. At the very least, he needed to have full control over the Lannisters before he had enough leverage to take further steps.


    "The timing is not yet right," Kean said with a smile, addressing the group. "We need to be patient. Once those high-ranking figures in the Federation have made the situation so bad that it''s beyond repair, we will have every right to take action."


    The people in front of him fully believed in Kean''s promise. They knew that such an operation woulde with immense risks, but they all agreed that, if sessful, the rewards would be great.


    After discussing matters with the group for a while, Kean dismissed most of them. After all, the majority of them didn''t have particrly strong abilities. Kean had gathered them just to give the impression of being an influential leader, someone capable of rallying people to his cause.


    Once most of the people had left, only a few remained. These were the powerful ones, the ones with exceptionally high talent, mostly from the apocalypse game.


    "You should understand why I kept you here," Kean said to them. "Your strength is formidable, and with your help, I will be able to clear the instances around the capital."


    If Jeremy had heard this, he would have been shocked. In Jeremy''s view, Kean was an extremely selfish person. He shouldn''t be focused on eliminating the instances around the capital, because it provided no immediate benefit to him.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The reason Kean wanted to do this was that he was looking to build his reputation. He wanted everyone to see him as a person of responsibility and power. This way, when the time came to seize control of the Federation''s leadership, it would be much easier for him to gain support.

 Chapter 396 The Shadow Power of the Instance

    Although Kean''s series of actions in the capital could pose a certain threat to Jeremy and the others, they werepletely unaware of this at the moment.


    After returning from the special space of the ss change goddess, Janna, Jeremy and Ritchie began searching for a suitable awakening instance. Discover stories at empire


    An awakening instance is essentially a transformation from an already existing instance.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    To ensure that Ritchie would receive an awakening talent that most aligns with the skills he previously possessed, Jeremy and Ritchie had to choose an instance imbued with a strong presence of shadow power.


    After all, all of Ritchie''s skills were rted to shadows.


    Whether it was his shadow maniption skills or his soul-stealing abilities, they both required an immense amount of shadow power.


    Around Moonlight City, Jeremy and Ritchie could not find any instances that met their requirements.


    This was because the higher-difficulty instances near Moonlight City had already been cleared.


    Thus, Jeremy and Ritchie had no choice but to risk traveling to another city located further away from Moonlight City.


    The city had long been abandoned, so the instances surrounding it had never been cleared.


    "We''re going to face a lot of risks on this mission. I expect you to follow my orders at all times. Do not act on your own," Jeremy said, giving Ritchie a serious warning before they headed to the chosen abandoned city.


    Ritchie smiled reassuringly.


    "I don''t think you need to remind me. I''ll definitely follow your lead. After all, this mission is crucial for me, and I''ll be extremely cautious in how I handle things."


    Ritchie''s response finally put Jeremy at ease.


    "Alright then, let''s head out! We need to return before nightfall. After dark, the strength of the monsters in the instances will increase."


    Normally, the strength of monsters in the instances would remain the same during the day and night.


    However, since the changes brought about by the Apocalypse Game, monsters in the instances gained a significant boost in power after nightfall.


    Jeremy didn''t know exactly what force empowered the monsters during the night, but he suspected the culprit was one of the creators of the Apocalypse Game, [Moon].


    [Moon] had previouslyunched an attack on Jeremy.


    However, after the failure of that attack, Moon and the power they possessedpletely vanished. This left Jeremy very confused, and he was unable to continue searching for any further clues rted to Moon.


    Although Jeremy suspected that Moon was the most likely culprit, he would not voice his suspicions to others until he had more concrete evidence.


    Jeremy and Ritchie quickly arrived at the edge of the abandoned city.


    There, they were met with a staggering number of instances¡ªfar more than either of them had expected.


    "To think there could be so many instances here? If all the monsters in these instances came out, wouldn''t Moonlight City be in grave danger?" Ritchie muttered, his voice filled with surprise.


    Jeremy remained silent, but the serious expression on his face made it clear that he also sensed the immense threat.


    "We''ll ignore these low-level instances for now. Our priority is to find a suitable awakening instance first. After you''vepleted your awakening, we cane back and clear all the instances around this abandoned city," Jeremy said slowly, outlining his n.


    Of course, Jeremy wasn''t going to simply disregard therge number of instances here. He was eager to clear them as quickly as possible. But he also understood that the most important task right now was to find the right awakening instance for Ritchie. That had toe first.


    Ritchie nodded in agreement.


    "You''re right! There''s no way we''ll find any high-level instances here. Should we take a risk and head into the heart of the abandoned city? I have a feeling there must be some high-level instances there."


    As Ritchie spoke, his gaze was fixed on the direction of the abandoned city. Even though they were still on the outskirts, he could already feel the immense power emanating from the city center.


    Jeremy, with a neutral expression, nodded in agreement.


    "You''re right! But before we do that, you need to be fully prepared. I think the moment we step into that city, we''re very likely to encounter extremely powerful monsters."


    Ritchie skillfully put on his gloves.


    "I''m ready for battle! You don''t need to worry, I''ll be able to give it my all!" Ritchie said in a serious tone.


    Since Ritchie was already prepared for the fight, Jeremy was naturally reluctant to waste any more time. The two of them quickly headed towards the center of the abandoned city.


    As they advanced, they passed several entrances to different instances. While the difficulty of these instances wasn''t too high, the closer they got to the center of the abandoned city, the faster the difficulty of the instances began to increase.


    When they reached the very center of the city, both Ritchie and Jeremy''s expressions became serious. They had indeed found a high-difficulty instance at the heart of the city, but the problem was that the difficulty level was far too high.


    The instance at the very center of the abandoned city had a difficulty of level 66. Jeremy''s own level had just reached 62, and Ritchie''s was barely at level 50. Their levels were simply too lowpared to the difficulty of the instance.


    Under normal circumstances, they would only be able to challenge instances that were 1 or 2 levels higher than their own.


    "What should we do now? A level 66 instance is way too difficult to serve as my awakening instance, right? There''s no way I can clear a level 66 instance on my own," Ritchie said after observing the entrance for a moment, slowly expressing his thoughts.


    Jeremy looked at the entrance to the instance with a serious expression.


    He actually agreed with Ritchie''s assessment, but he wasn''t ready to give up so easily. He could feel the thick shadow power emanating from within the instance. This instance was perfect for Ritchie''s awakening.


    "The difficulty of the instance is indeed very high, but this instance has an incredibly strong shadow power. If we can somehow lower its difficulty, this instance would be the perfect one for your awakening," Jeremy said slowly, his eyes still fixed on the entrance.


    Ritchie certainly agreed with Jeremy''s analysis, but he felt that there was no way to lower the difficulty of the instance. At least, he didn''t know of any method to do so.


    "You''re right, but we have no way to lower the difficulty of the instance. Let''s not waste too much time here; perhaps we''ll find a more suitable awakening instance elsewhere," Ritchie suggested, hoping to search for an alternative awakening instance.


    Jeremy thought for a moment before agreeing. He too felt that if they could find a more fitting instance elsewhere, it would be good news for everyone.


    So, they quickly left the area.


    Not long after they had departed, a vague shadow suddenly shed at the entrance of the high-difficulty instance in the center of the abandoned city. The shadow appeared and disappeared in an instant.


    Jeremy and Ritchie didn''t notice the abnormality at the instance entrance.


    The two of them circled around the abandoned city, but the instances they encountered either had too low a difficulty or were far too high. There were no instances with a suitable level of difficulty.


    By this point, the sun was already nearing the horizon.


    Jeremy realized that they needed to return quickly. If they wasted any more time, they might end up having to spend the night in a dangerous area.


    "We should head back for now. Tomorrow we''ll search elsewhere for an instance that''s suitable for your awakening. If we still can''t find one, then we''ll need to consider other strategies," Jeremy said.


    In truth, Jeremy was hoping to seek help from the ss Change Goddess Janna and World. He believed these two might be able to assist him in lowering the difficulty of a specific instance.


    However, Jeremy intended to rely on his own strength first to find a solution. If they couldn''t find a suitable instance by tomorrow, it wouldn''t be toote to seek assistance from his allies.


    With that decision made, Jeremy and Ritchie returned to Moonlight City.


    As they approached Jeremy''s home, they found Bonnie and Liam already waiting at the door. The moment Bonnie and Liam saw Jeremy, their expressions turned slightly awkward.


    Both Jeremy and Ritchie had a strong feeling that the two standing before them had brought bad news.


    "What''s going on? Why are you waiting outside my house? And judging by your expressions, it looks like you''re here to deliver some very bad news," Jeremy asked bluntly, looking directly at Liam and Bonnie.


    The two exchanged a hesitant nce.


    It was clear that the news they carried was so dire that neither of them wanted to be the one to say it out loud.

 Chapter 397 A Warning from the Capital

    The four of them stood in silence at the doorstep, exchanging uncertain nces. Ritchie and Jeremy both felt that the situation had be ufortably awkward.


    So, Ritchie decided to speak up.


    "You must have some news for us, right? If it''s not convenient to talk here, we can go inside and discuss it," Ritchie said, then turned his gaze toward Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded slightly, pushing open the door to his house.


    The others followed him inside.


    It seemed that Liam and Bonnie had finally gathered their thoughts on how to begin.


    Liam was the first to speak, directly addressing Jeremy. "I do have some very bad news. The thing is, it''s only bad news for you."


    Jeremy didn''t say a word. He didn''t make any move either. He simply waited for Liam to continue.


    Liam hesitated for a moment before finally revealing the bad news he had brought.


    "I just received a new order from the capital. While they don''t intend to force you to return, they have instructed all official organizations to cease any cooperation with you. This includes the Special Circumstances Bureau, which will no longer provide you with any assistance. As the director of the Bureau, I am forbidden from cooperating with you. However, if you find yourself in danger, I can still offer some help in a personal capacity."


    After saying this, Liam anxiously looked at Jeremy.


    Jeremy''s expression remained unchanged. He seemed to be waiting for Liam to say more.


    Experience more on empire


    Once it became clear that Liam had no further information to share, Jeremy calmly asked, "Is that all the bad news you brought?"


    "Isn''t that bad enough? You can no longer rely on our help. From now on, you''ll have to face things on your own. And keep in mind that the difficulty of the apocalypse game''s instances and monsters has greatly increased. Going solo will bring you a lot of trouble. Not only that, but yourpanions won''t receive any assistance from us either. The dangers they face will likely be even greater than yours."


    Liam spoke with a somewhat anxious tone, expecting that Jeremy would be deeply worried.


    Liam had even prepared manyforting words for Jeremy. However, he never expected that Jeremy would bepletely indifferent to the capital''s actions against him.


    After hearing Liam''s words, Jeremy simply smiled.


    "Stop with the jokes. You''ve indeed helped me in some ways. But even without your help, I would still be able to rely on my own strength to solve any problems thate my way.


    Mypanions may not be strong enough, but I''m confident I can ensure their safety. And I believe the capital hasn''t just stopped at this little bit of targeting, right? There must be more actions against me, isn''t there?"


    Jeremy''s response left both Liam and Bonnie stunned. While they both knew Jeremy was someone who wouldn''t panic in the face of danger, they never expected him to be so unafraid when facing the direct threat from the capital.


    "You''re right," Liam finally admitted. "The capital has not only ordered all official organizations to cease assisting you. They''ve also asked me to deliver a personal warning to you. The people at the capital do not want you to head there. If you go to the capital, you''ll be a direct target of the military''s headquarters and the high-level federal forces. Additionally, all the major families within the capital will also turn their forces against you."


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy let out a coldugh.


    "Tell them not to worry! If they don''t bother me, I won''t go to the capital! But, of course, I still hope you''ll remind Kean. He won''t be my opponent, no matter what kind of schemes he tries, he can never defeat me."


    With that, Jeremy turned to leave, intending to head to his bedroom to rest. After all, he and Ritchie had been all over the ce today.


    Liam and Bonnie watched him leave in silence.


    At that moment, Ritchie slowly spoke up.


    "Do you have anything else to say? If not, I''ll also be heading to rest. I need to head out with Jeremy tomorrow."


    Bonnie nced at Ritchie and slowly shook her head.


    "We don''t have anything else to say. But, could you tell me what you and Jeremy will be doing tomorrow?"


    Bonnie seemed deeply concerned about Jeremy''s actions the next day.


    To Bonnie, it seemed that whatever Jeremy was doing now was crucial.


    After hearing Bonnie''s question, Ritchie smiled and said, "My level has already reached 50."


    With that, Ritchie turned and walked away.


    He felt that the information he had shared was enough for Bonnie and Liam to make their own conclusions.


    Ritchie''s assumption was correct.


    Upon hearing Ritchie''s words, Bonnie and Liam immediately reacted.


    "Ritchie has already reached level 50?" Liam eximed, his voice filled with shock and a bit of envy. "Doesn''t that mean he''s about to undergo his awakening? Are Jeremy and Ritchie looking for a suitable awakening instance for him?"


    Liam spoke quickly, his tone a mix of surprise and admiration. He hadn''t expected Ritchie''s level to rise so rapidly. Liam himself wished he could reach level 50 and ess his own awakening instance as quickly.


    Bonnie didn''t respond to Liam''s question. She was feeling quite distressed.


    She had always thought that, aside from Jeremy, she would be the first to undergo her awakening. She never imagined that Ritchie would surpass her in progress.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Since we''ve delivered the message, we should head back and report," Bonnie said, clearly anxious. "We shouldn''t waste any more time on this. I need to level up quickly."


    It was obvious that Bonnie was growing impatient. She felt that Ritchie''s progress had left her behind, and now she had to make up for lost time by leveling up as quickly as possible.


    Liam nodded, and he and Bonnie returned to the city center of Moonlight City.


    The first thing they did was meet with Benjamin and recount Jeremy''s reaction in full.


    Benjamin sighed deeply after hearing their report.


    "I honestly don''t know whether the current situation is good or bad for us. Jeremy seems incredibly confident. But his confidence may not necessarily be a good thing."


    Although Benjamin had always had great faith in Jeremy, he couldn''t shake the feeling that the crisis Jeremy was facing now was immense.


    Benjamin wished he could help Jeremy resolve some of his troubles. However, the informationing from the capital made him feel as though he couldn''t be of any use at all.


    "I think your concern is a bit unnecessary," Liam said. "Jeremy is absolutely a genius. He will definitely be able to solve all the problems he faces. All we need to do is watch from the sidelines."


    Liam was trying to reassure Benjamin, believing that Jeremy would handle everything on his own.


    Benjamin silently nodded.


    Liam and Bonnie both understood that it was time for them to leave. However, just as Bonnie was about to walk out of the office, Benjamin''s voice called out from behind.


    "Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Do you have something important to take care of?"


    Bonnie, without turning around, replied calmly, "Of course. My level is now far behind that of mypanions. I need to level up quickly. Once I do, I''ll be able to protect Moonlight City."


    Her tone was t, almost as if the matter was not of much significance to her.


    Benjamin didn''t say anything further. He simply nced at his daughter before waving his hand.


    Under normal circumstances, Benjamin wouldn''t want his daughter to take risks in order to level up. But the situation had escted beyond his expectations.


    Reluctantly, Benjamin had to allow his daughter to focus on leveling up because the higher her level, the safer she would be.


    Bonnie left Benjamin''s office and headed straight home to organize her gear and weapons.


    She had made up her mind: she would go to an instance alone. Clearing instances by herself would allow her to gain more experience points.


    In Bonnie''s view, the high-difficulty instances around Moonlight City had already been thoroughly cleared. She didn''t anticipate encountering much danger during her actions.


    Her sense of urgency was strong.


    Bonnie didn''t even wait until dawn to head out to an instance; she went out at night.


    Although the difficulty of the instance wasn''t particrly high, the monsters within would still get a boost at night.


    During her clearance of the instance, Bonnie did encounter some danger. However, in the end, she managed to handle the situation through her own efforts and sessfully cleared the entire instance.


    By the time the sun rose, Bonnie realized that her level had finally reached 49.


    "I just need to push a little more, and I''ll reach level 50. Maybe Ritchie will take longer than me toplete his awakening. If I reach level 50 and unlock my awakening instance, I might even surpass him!" Bonnie muttered to herself, a bit excited.

 Chapter 398 Emergency Rescue - Bonnie

    In the suburbs of Moonlight City, within a rtively low-difficulty instance, Bonnie''s face was tense as she gripped her staff. She was currently hiding in a corner deep within the instance, her heart racing.


    Not far from her, a level 60 monster was relentlessly searching for her.


    As the seconds ticked by, Bonnie''s anxiety grew, and regret flooded her thoughts. She had never imagined that acting alone would lead her into such a perilous situation. She had initially believed the instance she entered was going to be an easy one, but once she ventured deeper, Bonnie realized with growing dread that the instance boss had been significantly enhanced.


    At her current level, which was still under 50, facing off against a level 60 monster was an impossible task. Her survival seemed out of the question.


    All she could do now was buy time, hoping that someone woulde to her rescue. As she continued to evade the boss''s search, she quickly sent out an emergency distress signal.


    The distress signal was immediately received by Jeremy.


    However, Jeremy was still resting, as it was only early morning, before the sun had even risen.


    Half an hourter, Jeremy was woken by the persistent sound of his phone ringing.


    "Who''s calling me at this hour? Is there another crisis brewing?!" he muttered groggily as he reluctantly answered the phone.


    On the other end of the line, Liam''s voice was filled with fear and urgency.


    "What''s going on? Did you get Bonnie''s distress signal?"


    The question confused Jeremy at first, but within a split second, he sensed something was wrong.


    "What do you mean? What happened to Bonnie?" he asked, his voice rising in concern.


    "She just sent me a distress signal. I''m sure she didn''t only send it to me. You should''ve gotten it too, right?" Liam repeated, his voice shaky.


    Jeremy quickly checked his phone, his pulse quickening as he saw the distress message from Bonnie, sent just thirty minutes ago.


    "She did send me a message, but I was asleep! I''m heading out right now! You should leave immediately as well!" Jeremy said, his voice firm despite the early hour.


    Without another word, he hung up the phone, quickly throwing on his clothes and grabbing his weapon, preparing to head out at full speed.


    Jeremy''s actions created a great deal of noise, and soon, Ritchie, who had been peacefully asleep, was abruptly awoken.


    "Why are you up so early? Didn''t we agreest night that we''d rest until noon today? Are we already heading out to search for an appropriate awakening instance for me? Isn''t that rushing things a bit too much?" Ritchie asked, still groggy, assuming Jeremy was up early to find the right instance for his awakening.


    "We can''t look for an awakening instance for you today!" Jeremy snapped back, his voice urgent. "I have to head out immediately to rescue Bonnie! She''s in danger in some instance right now!"


    Ritchie, still half-asleep, waspletely confused by Jeremy''s sudden deration.


    "Bonnie? Why would she be in an instance? Did she go in alone to clear it? Mayor Benjamin would never approve of that, would he?" Ritchie fired off a series of questions, his mind racing to make sense of the situation.


    But Jeremy didn''t have the time to entertain those questions.


    "Stop asking questions!" he shot back, his frustration growing. "The most important thing right now is rescuing Bonnie! If I don''t get there in time, she could be killed by the monster in that instance!"


    With that, Jeremy grabbed his weapons and rushed out the door without another word.


    Stunned, Ritchie hesitated for a moment before quickly scrambling to gather his things. He realized that he needed to go with Jeremy. But it was clear that Jeremy wasn''t going to wait for him, so Ritchie hurriedly packed, hoping to catch up as quickly as possible.


    Jeremy was already moving with incredible speed. In just thirty minutes, he reached the entrance of the instance where Bonnie was trapped.


    The instance Bonnie was in turned out to be abyrinthine maze, and despite Jeremy''s attempts to contact her, she had been unable to pinpoint her exact location. All he knew was that she was somewhere deep within the instance.


    "You don''t need to worry!" Jeremy sent a quick message to Bonnie. "I''ming in now! As soon as I kill the instance boss, you''ll be able to safely leave!"


    With that, Jeremy readied himself. Taking a deep breath, he gripped his weapon tightly¡ªhis "Mortal Combat"¡ªand dove into the instance.


    Inside the instance, Jeremy''s movements were swift and decisive, each step calcted as he raced toward Bonnie. He couldn''t afford to waste a single moment.


    After all, the level of the entire instance wasn''t that high, and the monsters Jeremy encountered in the upper levels of the instance were all rtively weak.


    It only took Jeremy a quarter of an hour to reach the deepest part of the instance. However, once there, he didn''t find the instance boss, nor did he find Bonnie.


    The deepest part of the instance appeared empty. But Jeremy''s keen senses detected the lingering presence of some very powerful monsters.


    This indicated that the instance boss had probably been there for quite some time.


    "This doesn''t seem right. Where could Bonnie have gone? Did the instance boss take her? Normally, the instance boss shouldn''t be able to leave the instance," Jeremy muttered to himself, deep in thought.


    Unable to find any immediate clues, Jeremy decided to take some time to think things over.


    As he was contemting, Liam suddenly appeared in front of him.


    "How''s it going? You haven''t found Bonnie yet?" Liam asked, panting heavily.


    Jeremy slowly shook his head.


    "When I reached the deepest part of the instance, I didn''t find Bonnie or the instance boss. It seems like both of them have disappeared for some unknown reason."


    Liam was taken aback by this.


    "So what should we do now? We''ve reached the deepest part of the instance. And if the instance boss is gone, then doesn''t that mean we''ve cleared the instance? It should automatically close after that."


    Liam''s words made something click in Jeremy''s mind.


    He suddenly realized he had overlooked the most important detail.


    "You''re right!" Jeremy eximed, his eyes widening. "If the instance boss has left, the instance would automatically shut down. Since it hasn''t closed, that means the instance boss hasn''t left. It must have hidden somewhere. The entire instance is like a maze, so the instance boss must have some sort of spatial ability. I''ll activate my ''The King of Time and Space'' ability right away to find the hidden space."


    Liam was even more confused after hearing Jeremy''s exnation.


    He didn''t really understand how Jeremy hade to that conclusion, but it didn''t matter. Since Jeremy had made up his mind about their next move, he would act on it immediately.


    Jeremy activated his King of Time and Space talent, and under its influence, he quickly located a hidden, special space.


    "I was right! The instance boss really created a hidden space! Let''s go into it now!"


    As he spoke, Jeremy grabbed Liam''s hand and pulled him along. Before Liam could react, both of them had already entered the hidden space together.


    Not long after they entered the hidden space, Ritchie appeared deep within the instance. At this moment, Ritchie was even more confused than Liam. At least Liam had seen Jeremy deep inside the instance, but Ritchie, upon entering, had encountered no one.


    In fact, Ritchie hadn''t encountered any monsters in the instance because all the monsters had already been eliminated by Jeremy, Liam, and the others.


    "What''s going on here? Where did everyone go? Could it be that this instance isn''t the one where Bonnie encountered danger?"


    Ritchie carefully examined his surroundings. He didn''t see a single person, which left him puzzled. At the same time, he had no idea what action to take.


    He tried reaching out to Jeremy, but received no response.


    "What''s happening? Did Jeremy get into trouble as well? Should I leave the instance and seek help from someone else?"


    Ritchie was utterly bewildered. He didn''t know what to do next.


    As he was thinking, a shadow slowly began to drift toward him from behind.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Ritchie, who actually had the Shadow Talent, was able to sense the shadow behind him, but he didn''t take any immediate action. He wanted to see if the shadow would reveal more information.


    The shadow came to a stop when it was only about five meters behind him. It rapidly expanded, and Ritchie felt himself beingpletely enveloped by it.


    In that instant, Ritchie immediately activated his Shadow Maniption skill, attempting to use it to disperse the shadow that had surrounded him. However, his attempt failed.


    The reason his actions failed was that what surrounded him wasn''t a mere shadow. It was a special kind of space.


    The instance boss had never actually left. Jeremy and the others hadn''t noticed the instance boss because it had been in a highly folded space the entire time. The special space that Jeremy had found wasn''t a hidden refuge, but rather a trap specifically set by the instance boss.


    Jeremy and hispanions had unknowingly walked straight into a deadly situation.

 Chapter 399 Not the Right Time for Apologies

    In the darkness, Ritchie felt a powerful, crushing pressure. He knew exactly what it was¡ªthe space was rapidly folding in on itself. Although Ritchie didn''t possess any spatial abilities, he had spent a long time with Jeremy, and during that time, he had gained some understanding of spatial distortions.


    Ritchie tried to use his shadow-rted skills to counteract the folding of the space. But in the end, he failedpletely.


    Just before losing consciousness, Ritchie caught sight of a faint light within the ck shadow. Though he had made this additional discovery, he had no time to analyze the light or its characteristics.


    As Ritchie lost consciousness, Jeremy and Liam arrived in a special space.


    In this unique space, the two of them couldn''t feel the presence of gravity. This meant that they were free to move in any direction within the space.


    Without gravity, up and down were difficult to distinguish.


    "This space is really strange. You''d better not wander too far from me. If you do, you''ll likely getpletely lost," Jeremy said, noticing the unusual properties of the space.


    Liam quickly nodded in agreement.


    Although Liam didn''t have spatial perception abilities, theck of gravity made him feel uneasy. He understood that the space they were in was highly unusual.


    "Even though there''s no gravity here, I can simte it by adjusting the direction of the space. Get ready, I''ll make you feel gravity in a moment," Jeremy said, before activating his The King of Time and Space talent.


    With this ability, Jeremy manipted the space to create a simted gravitational field.


    As the simted gravity took effect, both Jeremy and Liam quickly began to fall in one direction.


    Soon, they reached the bottom of the space.


    At this point, they could continue moving forward.


    It took Liam some time to adapt to the new environment.


    "What''s going on here? How can there be such a special space? Is this space even part of the real world?"


    Liam''s confusion waspletely understandable.


    Liam had previously been to several instances withplex spatial features, but in all of those instances, gravity had always been present. This was because those instances were essentially part of the real world. Gravity could prate through to them.


    Jeremy didn''t respond, because, in truth, he didn''t know the answer himself.


    "We just need to keep moving forward! Our first priority is to find Bonnie! Once we''ve found her, we can think about how to get out of here," Jeremy said.


    At this point, Jeremy still believed that Bonnie was somewhere in the special space.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Liam didn''t object to Jeremy''s n. After all, they hade here with the sole purpose of rescuing Bonnie. If they couldn''t save her, then leaving the special space wouldn''t mean anything.


    The two of them continued moving forward for about fifteen minutes.


    "Do you notice that it seems like we''vee back to where we started?" Jeremy asked slowly, observing their surroundings.


    Liam shook his head. "Have wee back to the same ce? I feel like the scenery around us is very different from what I saw before."


    Liam wasn''t lying¡ªwhat he saw around them was indeed very different from what he had seen earlier. However, the scene Jeremy saw was the same as before.


    This meant that the two of them were seeing drastically different things.


    When Jeremy heard Liam''s response, his expression changed dramatically. He began to worry that he had fallen into some kind of illusion.


    "What does the environment around you look like?" Jeremy asked anxiously.


    "The surroundings look like a normal cave. We passed several forks in the road earlier. Didn''t you see the cave scene?" Liam answered, his tone uncertain.


    Liam was genuinely puzzled because, to him, Jeremy''s behavior seemed very strange.


    Liam''s answer only confirmed to Jeremy that they were indeed seeing illusions. What Jeremy saw wasn''t a cave, but instead a maze-like underwaterndscape.


    "What''s going on? You look really distressed! Did I say something wrong?" Liam quickly asked, his concern growing.


    Liam was now deeply worried about their situation.


    He couldn''t shake the feeling that Jeremy was hiding some very important information.


    Jeremy''s expression grew serious, and he nodded.


    "You''re right. My face must look pretty bad right now. We''re not just trapped in a special space¡ªwe''ve also been caught in an illusion."


    When Liam heard this, his own expression darkened.


    Both of them could feel the enormous threat looming over them, but they didn''t take immediate action. They didn''t know what steps to take next.


    As they hesitated, Bonnie suddenly appeared before them.


    "You guys are finally here! I''ve been saved!"


    Bonnie, looking incredibly relieved, ran towards them.


    However, Jeremy and Liam''s faces grew wary.


    They had just realized they were in an illusion when Bonnie appeared so suddenly. The two of them immediately understood that this Bonnie was not real.


    Without wasting any time, Jeremy and Liam prepared for a fight.


    "Don''te any closer! We can''t be sure if you''re the real Bonnie or an illusion! You need to answer our questions first!" Jeremy''s voice rang out, firm and urgent.


    Bonnie froze in ce.


    "What are you talking about? Of course, I''m the real one. My reckless actions caused you toe rescue me. I''m really sorry for that. If you want me to apologize, I will apologize right now."


    Bonnie assumed that Jeremy and Liam were acting this way because they were upset with her.


    Liam quickly spoke up.


    "This isn''t the right time for an apology. And I don''t think you need to apologize either. We really can''t be sure if you''re real or not. So please, just answer a few questions for us."


    Since Liam had said this, Bonnie didn''t move forward any longer.


    "Alright then, ask me whatever you want! I can definitely prove that I''m the real one!" Bonnie replied without hesitation.


    Jeremy and Liam were beginning to believe that Bonnie was indeed real, but they still wanted to be sure.


    Over the next few minutes, the two of them fired off several questions at Bonnie, hoping for confirmation.


    These were all questions that only Bonnie and the two of them would know the answers to.


    Bonnie quickly provided her answers, and they were wless. This meant that the Bonnie standing in front of them was indeed the real one.


    "You are the real Bonnie. But why did you suddenly appear in front of us? And what does the scene around you look like?"


    After realizing that Bonnie was indeed real, Jeremy asked a series of questions.


    "I didn''t suddenly appear in front of you. I''ve been watching you for a while. I even tried to get your attention. But no matter how loudly I called, you seemed unable to hear me."


    Bonnie paused for a moment before continuing, "The scene I see is just an ordinary cave. What else would it be? Aren''t we in a cave right now? It''s just a veryplex one."


    Bonnie''s answers left Jeremy very confused.


    He couldn''t understand why Bonnie and Liam were seeing the same scene, while he was seeing something different. "What exactly is going on? Why are you two seeing the same scene, but I''m seeing somethingpletely different? Could it be that because I''m stronger, I''m not being fooled by this illusion as easily?"


    Jeremy furrowed his brow, speaking more to himself than to anyone else.


    Bonnie and Liam both stared at him, their gazes fixed and intense. They both quickly realized something was off with Jeremy''s behavior.


    Liam moved closer to Bonnie, lowering his voice so Jeremy wouldn''t overhear.


    "I think Jeremy might have fallen into some kind of abnormal state. If ites down to a fight between me and him, you need to run. You won''t be able to defeat him."


    Bonnie looked at Liam, her expression one of disbelief.


    "I never thought I''d be in a situation like this. I finally find Jeremy and Liam, and now I''m faced with even more trouble."


    "Even if Jeremy''s mental state is unstable, I don''t think he''d ever attack us. He''s ourpanion, he''s always been there to help us, and he would never harm us."


    Bonnie spoke with full conviction, her belief in Jeremy unwavering. The idea that he might turn on them felt impossible.


    Liam sighed deeply, running a hand over his face in frustration.


    "I hope you''re right. But the truth is, we can''t know what''sing. I just want you to be ready for the worst."


    He fell silent after that, and both Liam and Bonnie kept their eyes fixed on Jeremy, their tension mounting with each passing moment.


    Bonnie, despite her confidence in Jeremy, couldn''t shake the growing unease inside her. She had hoped that finding him would bring an end to the danger, but now it seemed they were trapped in an even worse situation.


    She still didn''t want to believe that Jeremy would ever harm them, but the situation had shifted. Her trust in him was nowced with doubt, even if just a little.

 Chapter 400 The Monster Specifically Designed to Counter Jeremy

    Jeremy had been so focused on his thoughts that he hadn''t heard a word of the conversation between Liam and Bonnie. However, even if he had, it wouldn''t have mattered. The situation he was facing required his immediate attention and action.


    After a few moments of contemtion, Jeremy turned his gaze toward Bonnie and Liam. His tone was slightly urgent when he spoke.


    "Both of you, describe in detail the environment around us. I need to understand what we''re seeing and what differences there might be in our surroundings. Only then can I make the next decision."


    Bonnie and Liam exchanged nces, both silently weighing the request. Finally, it was Liam who spoke up first.


    "I''ll go first, since I''m the one who entered this special space with you. What I''m seeing looks like a cave system with endless branching paths. At first, there was no gravity in the cave, but by using The King of Time and Space''s ability, I was able to introduce gravity so we could move more easily. We''re currently in arge cavern, and there are some strange, inexplicable lights in the area that allow us to see clearly."


    Liam quickly summarized the scene he was observing.


    Jeremy furrowed his brow, nodded slowly, and then turned his attention to Bonnie. "What about you?"


    Bonnie hesitated for a moment before responding. Her voice wasced with concern. "The scene I''m seeing isn''t much different from what Liam described. At least in the area we''re in right now, the surroundings match exactly. As for the areas Liam and you passed through earlier, I haven''t been there myself, so I can''t say what it''s like."


    There was an underlying tone of worry in Bonnie''s voice. She was clearly anxious about Jeremy''s state of mind. If Jeremy were to crack under the pressure, Bonnie wasn''t sure she and Liam would be able to get out of this predicament on their own.


    Once Jeremy had received their clear answers, his confusion only deepened.


    "What is going on here? The scenes they''re describing seem much more coherent than what I''m seeing. Could it be that I''m the only one under some kind of illusion? But I thought I was the strongest among us all¡­"


    Jeremy fell into a state of muttering again, his thoughts racing. His mind kept circling back to the same question, and with every new consideration, his unease grew.


    Bonnie and Liam''s concern only intensified as they watched Jeremy struggle.


    "What should we do? Should we try to leave here with Jeremy?" Liam asked, lowering his voice as he turned to Bonnie.


    Bonnie didn''t respond immediately. She didn''t have an answer, because like Liam, she was just as uncertain about what they should do.


    As the three of them stood there, frozen in indecision, something else started to emerge from the shadows. Not far from them, a creature made entirely of geometric shapes was slowly floating toward their location, its form twisting and shifting in a way that didn''t seem to belong to this reality at all. The shapes that made up this creature were strange, some even folding into different dimensions.


    The moment the creature came closer, Jeremy, who had been deep in thought, suddenly sensed its presence.


    He abruptly looked up, his eyes locking onto the approaching figure.


    "Get ready for battle, immediately!" Jeremy''s voice was urgent. "There''s a very strange space nearby. I don''t know what''s inside that space, but any anomalous space we encounter poses a serious threat to us."


    Hearing Jeremy''s warning, Bonnie and Liam immediately prepared forbat. Jeremy tightened his grip on Mortal Combat, the weapon that had been his constantpanion in battle.


    At that exact moment, the creature made of geometric shapes materialized right in front of them.


    All three of them froze, their expressions filled with shock and disbelief.


    "What... is this thing? Is this really some kind of monster that exists in the real world?" Liam muttered to himself in disbelief.


    Bonnie, too, was at a loss for words. She had seen many terrifying creatures ever since the apocalypse began, but none of them were aspletely illogical as this one. The creature didn''t just defy her expectations¡ªit seemed to mock the veryws of nature itself.


    Jeremy''s reaction, however, was different from Liam and Bonnie''s.


    While they were stunned, Jeremy''s face showed deep concern.


    He had quicklye to realize something unsettling. The creature in front of them was specifically designed to counter his abilities.


    A monster made entirely of geometric shapes would be impervious to the effects of his King of Time and Space ability. Jeremy knew that The King of Time and Space was incredibly powerful, allowing him to control time and space to his advantage. However, this creature, made of geometry, existed in a way that made it immune to those very maniptions. Thews of time and space didn''t apply to it the same way they did to other creatures. Jeremy''s unique ability would have no effect on it.


    His mind raced as he quickly began to assess the situation, realizing that the fight ahead was going to be far more difficult than he had anticipated. The creature wasn''t just another enemy¡ªit was a direct counter to everything he could do. This would be a battle where The King of Time and Space might not be enough.


    The King of Time and Space ability could create special spaces and open portals. Under normal circumstances, when facing monsters, this ability would grant Jeremy a significant advantage.


    However, the monster made of geometric shapes existed in a different dimension.


    This meant that any attacks using The King of Time and Space ability would have no effect on this creature.


    Furthermore, the monster could quickly fold its body between different spaces, meaning it could move faster than Jeremy.


    "We need to attack first! We can''t let the monster gain the upper hand!" Jeremy said, tightening his grip on Mortal Combat and charging toward the creature.


    Jeremy didn''t activate his The King of Time and Space ability because he knew it wouldn''t provide any advantage against the monster.


    Once Jeremy made the decision to attack, Liam and Bonnie wasted no time. They followed him,unching their own attacks at the distant creature.


    The geometric monster did not attempt to avoid their attacks. Instead, it simply reconfigured its form.


    As the creature shifted between positions, the space around it distorted violently.


    Jeremy and the others suddenly felt the gravity around them vanish once more.


    Even more unsettling, Jeremy felt as though he and the other two were in separate spaces entirely.


    He looked over at Bonnie and Liam and realized that they seemed to be in a special folded space.


    He couldn''t see them fully anymore; only parts of their bodies were visible.


    "What''s going on? It feels like my body is in a different space. I can''t even feel the left half of my body."


    Liam''s voice came through, fragmented and disoriented.


    After hearing Liam''s voice, Jeremy became even more certain that the creature before him was specifically designed to counter him.


    "Which Apocalypse Game nner created you? Could it be from The White Tower? So The White Tower is trying to defeat me using this method. I will never let them seed!"


    Jeremy gritted his teeth, tightened his grip on Mortal Combat, andunched an attack at the creature.


    However, none of Jeremy''s attacksnded.


    The monster evaded by shifting its form through various geometric transformations, weaving its body in and out of different spaces.


    With each transformation, the space around the creature warped and shifted.


    Liam and Bonnie''s situation was rapidly deteriorating.


    Jeremy couldn''t even hear Liam''s voice anymore. He could only see Liam''s mouth moving, as if speaking, but no sound reached him.


    Jeremy could tell that both Liam and Bonnie were in danger, but there was nothing he could do to help them.


    At the same time, Liam and Bonnie were struggling to make sense of their surroundings.


    Though Liam couldn''t feel the left side of his body, he didn''t feel immediate danger.


    That was because he could see the left side of his body in a mirror-like space not far from him. His left half seemed capable of moving, almost as if it were still functioning.


    To Liam, it seemed like Jeremy would defeat the creature soon.


    After hearing Liam''s voice, Jeremy became even more certain that the creature before him was specifically designed to counter him.


    "Which Apocalypse Game nner created you? Could it be from The White Tower? So The White Tower is trying to defeat me using this method. I will never let them seed!"


    Jeremy gritted his teeth, tightened his grip on Mortal Combat, andunched an attack at the creature.


    However, none of Jeremy''s attacksnded.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The monster evaded by shifting its form through various geometric transformations, weaving its body in and out of different spaces.


    With each transformation, the space around the creature warped and shifted.


    Liam and Bonnie''s situation was rapidly deteriorating.


    Jeremy couldn''t even hear Liam''s voice anymore. He could only see Liam''s mouth moving, as if speaking, but no sound reached him.


    Jeremy could tell that both Liam and Bonnie were in danger, but there was nothing he could do to help them.


    At the same time, Liam and Bonnie were struggling to make sense of their surroundings.


    Though Liam couldn''t feel the left side of his body, he didn''t feel immediate danger.


    That was because he could see the left side of his body in a mirror-like space not far from him. His left half seemed capable of moving, almost as if it were still functioning.


    To Liam, it seemed like Jeremy would defeat the creature soon.

 Chapter 401 A Perfect Coordination

    As Jeremy, Bonnie, and Liam found themselves on the brink of despair, Ritchie''s consciousness suddenly awakened in a peculiar, isted space.


    Ritchie felt as though he was trapped within a mirrored dimension.


    "What kind of creature just attacked me?" he wondered. "Why didn''t its attack kill me? Instead, it seems to have transported me into this mirrored space."


    At that moment, Ritchie was filled with confusion, carefully observing his surroundings.


    In this mirrored space, Ritchie could use his shadow maniption abilities to safely explore the area. His power allowed him to control the shadows with precision, keeping himself secure as he searched for answers.


    After a brief period of observation, Ritchie concluded that he was in some sort of cave.


    "This must be the interior of the special space," he thought to himself. "If my guess is correct, I''m probably not too far from Jeremy and the others. The next step is to escape from this mirrored space."


    Ritchie''s guess was actually quite close to the truth. The mirrored space was indeed located near where Jeremy and hispanions were. However, escaping from it would not be easy. Ritchie would need to exert considerable effort to break free.


    Without hesitation, he used his shadow maniption skills. He sent his shadow beyond the confines of the mirrored space, and with a subtlemand, the shadow gripped a massive stone and smashed the reflective surface.


    As the mirror shattered, Ritchie merged his physical form with the shadow, and in an instant, his body was transported into the cave.


    The moment he materialized in the cave, Ritchie immediately sensed a fragmented space not far ahead. He could feel it due to the abundance of shadows surrounding the area.


    Each shadow carried its own unique information. When many of the same shadow appeared together, the information from those shadows would converge. This caused individuals with shadow maniption abilities to notice the presence of these identical shadows.


    Aside from using his shadow control to confront enemies, Ritchie could also navigate through different mirrored spaces by manipting the shadows. This was how he had managed to escape earlier from the mirrored instances.


    Upon detecting the existence of the special space ahead, Ritchie quickly pressed forward.


    Before long, Ritchie found himself in close proximity to Jeremy and the others, who were in the middle of a perilous situation. However, it was not Jeremy who first noticed Ritchie''s presence, but rather Bonnie.


    The moment Bonnieid eyes on Ritchie, she immediately realized that he might be able to offer Jeremy significant help in this dire moment. Without hesitation, Bonnie cast a frost spell, but this time, instead of using it as an offensive weapon against the monster, she used it differently. The energy from the spell wasn''t absorbed by the creature, as it would have been had it been intended for an attack.


    Not far from Ritchie, the walls of the cave suddenly began to shift and a line of text materialized, appearing as if etched from ice. The frost-carved message read:


    "We''re trapped in a strange space. This space is extremely fragmented. Jeremy is currently fighting the monster responsible for this, but I fear that he may not be able to defeat it quickly. You must find a way to help him."


    Upon reading these words, Ritchie immediately made his decision. Without wasting any time, he activated his shadow maniption ability,manding the shadow of arge stone to move. Under his control, the shadow entered the fragmented space.


    At first, Ritchie had nned to use the shadow to explore the conditions of this strange space more carefully. However, to his surprise, the moment the shadow entered the space, he lost all contact with it.


    Within the shattered space, the shadow of the stone seemed to multiply, splitting into countless identical copies. These countless shadows began to converge, gathering into an immense force. Thebined power of the shadows began to push back against Ritchie, affecting him with an overwhelming force that he hadn''t anticipated.


    Realizing that his initial actions had been reckless, Ritchie quickly understood his mistake. He had underestimated theplexity of the situation. The power of the shadows now pulling at him was unlike anything he had dealt with before.


    Immediately, Ritchie used every ounce of his strength to counter the powerful force drawing him into the fragmented space. He wasn''t about to allow himself to be sucked in.


    At the same time, Jeremy finally sensed Ritchie''s presence. He could also see the countless duplicates of the stone''s shadow that had been created. A n began to form in Jeremy''s mind, one that would perfectly coordinate his efforts with Ritchie''s to defeat the monster.


    "Can you hear my voice?" Jeremy called out, activating his The King of Time and Space ability. His voice rippled through the shattered space, breaking through the barriers and reaching Ritchie''s ears. "If you hear me, follow my instructions!"


    The moment Ritchie heard Jeremy''s voice, he immediately responded, nodding vigorously. The n had begun, and the two of them were ready to cooperate wlessly to defeat the creature and ovee the shattered space.


    "Good! Quickly enter the fractured space! We must coordinate perfectly if we''re going to defeat this monster!" Jeremy''s voice came through again.


    This time, Ritchie didn''t hesitate at all. He immediately stopped resisting the powerful pulling force.


    He was drawn into the fractured special space.


    The instant Ritchie entered the broken space, he dove into one of the shadows within it.


    Ritchie''s actions sessfully prevented him from being split across different spaces.


    "Very good! Now what you need to do is control my shadow! You must scatter my shadow across different spaces! You have to move fast! I don''t have much time left!" Jeremy''s voice came through again, full of urgency.


    Although Ritchie didn''t understand why Jeremy wanted him to do this, he remained loyal and followed the instructions without question.


    Ritchie continued to manipte Jeremy''s shadow.


    Soon, Ritchie had ced Jeremy''s shadow in several different special spaces, at least a dozen in total.


    Once Jeremy confirmed that his shadow was spread across multiple special spaces, he activated his The King of Time and Space ability. At the same time, his shadow also activated The King of Time and Space.


    A multitude of portals appeared across different spaces.


    These portals allowed Jeremy to teleport back and forth through the fractured spaces.


    This meant that Jeremy could now finally attack the actual body of the creature made of geometric shapes.


    The creature almost simultaneously realized Jeremy''s intention.


    In response, the creature began altering its body again, re-arranging and rbining the geometric shapes.


    The special space became even more fractured than before, and the distances between the different spaces shifted.


    However, this time, the creature''s movements were not as fast as Jeremy''s.


    Jeremy moved through the many portals with incredible speed.


    Finally, he found the specific space where the creature was located.


    The moment he entered the creature''s space, Jeremy immediately activated The King of Time and Space. He channeled all of his power to enhance his ability.


    "The space we''re in has beenpletely sealed! You can''t leave this space anymore! Now, it''s time for us to have our final showdown!"


    Jeremy had indeed exhausted most of his power.


    But he had sessfully trapped both himself and the monster in the same space.


    With that, Jeremy gripped Mortal Combat andunched an attack on the creature.


    Although the creature had previously posed a significant threat to Jeremy, it only had the ability to counteract Jeremy''s The King of Time and Space ability.


    When faced with Jeremy''s assault, the creature, made up of geometric shapes, had no means of resistance.


    After relentless attacks from Jeremy, the creature''s body waspletely shattered.


    Arge number of geometric shapes dissolved into the real world.


    At the moment the creature''s body copsed, the shattered special space also vanished.


    Bonnie, Ritchie, and Liam returned to the real world, but Jeremy remained trapped in the original special space.


    Once Bonnie, Ritchie, and Liam found themselves back in reality, they didn''t immediately celebrate.


    They were all deeply concerned about Jeremy''s situation.


    "How can we help Jeremy? He''s still trapped in that special space!" Bonnie asked Ritchie urgently.


    Bonnie believed that Liam wouldn''t be able to offer much help, and only Ritchie could potentially provide some assistance.


    Ritchie''s expression was grave.


    Ritchie shook his head and said, "I don''t know either! I can only control shadows. It''s only when the space is extremely fragmented that I can sense the existence of anomalous spaces. So right now, I can''t offer any help to Jeremy."


    As soon as Ritchie finished speaking, Jeremy appeared in front of the three of them.


    "You''re right, you can''t help me, but I don''t need your help. I can leave the special space on my own."


    Jeremy''s sudden appearance made the three of them breathe a collective sigh of relief.


    "We need to leave quickly. Once the monster is eliminated, the special space will copsepletely. The entire instance will be wiped out soon," Jeremy said, his tone calm.


    Naturally, the other three didn''t hesitate at all. They followed Jeremy, moving as quickly as possible to exit the instance.


    As soon as they had just passed through the entrance of the instance, the entire instance copsed in front of them.


    Once the instance shattered, three treasure chests appeared in front of the group.


    Clearly, the monster they had just defeated was one of high difficulty and level. The loot it dropped would undoubtedly be of significant value.N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 402 Three Different Clues

    The three people, excluding Jeremy, didn''t pay attention to the treasure chests in front of them. They were simply relieved that they had managed to escape.


    "I almost thought I was going to die in there! Thatst monster we encountered was just too powerful! And I still have no idea what that monster actually looked like," Bonnie said in a tone filled with disbelief.


    Liam nodded in agreement.


    Though Liam tried to appear calm, his voice trembled slightly as he spoke. "I couldn''t make out the exact appearance of that monster either. I just felt like it was made up of different geometric shapes. And those shapes seemed to be scattered across different spaces."


    Bonnie nodded heavily. "That''s exactly what I saw!"


    After confirming that they had indeed witnessed the same thing, the two of them turned their gaze toward Jeremy. It was then that they realized Jeremy was staring at the three treasure chests at the entrance to the instance.


    "Is this our reward for defeating the instance boss?" Ritchie, who had been silent up until now, asked Jeremy.


    Jeremy slowly nodded. His expression was one of slight hesitation.


    Under normal circumstances, by now he should have received a prompt from The Eye of Omniscience.


    When they first saw the treasure chests, Jeremy hadn''t heard the usual prompt from The Eye of Omniscience, so he had waited a little longer. But even now, no prompt hade.


    This meant that The Eye of Omniscience was actually unable to see through these three treasure chests.


    "Then what are you waiting for? Why not open them right away? Maybe there are powerful weapons and items inside," Liam quickly urged. He was eager to see what was inside.


    Liam was convinced that since the monster they had defeated in the instance was so strong, the rewards from the treasure chests would undoubtedly be very valuable.


    Bonnie didn''t say anything, but she too was curious about whaty inside the chests.


    Jeremy''s face grew serious as he nodded. "Alright. I''ll open them now."


    Jeremy approached the nearest treasure chest and, after taking a deep breath, opened it.


    The moment the chest was opened, a blinding white light burst forth from inside.


    The white lightsted only a few seconds, and once it faded, everyone was able to see the contents of the chest clearly.


    Inside the chesty a perfect octagonal shape, crafted from crystal.


    "This item looks really high-end. Jeremy, can you quickly determine its properties?" Ritchie asked urgently, his eyes fixed on the crystal octagon.


    Ritchie''s urgency stemmed from the feeling that there was something inside the crystal octagon. What they were seeing now might only be a container, not the actual item.


    Jeremy nodded. Since the Eye of Omniscience hadn''t provided an automatic prompt, it was up to him to actively use the skill.


    He immediately activated The Eye of Omniscience, but the information he received was nothing short of shocking.


    [Analysis failed. No useful information avable.]


    [Hint: ce the item in an area where at least three forces converge to obtain additional clues.]


    The Eye of Omniscience hadn''t provided specific details. Instead, it only gave a method to obtain further clues.


    After taking a moment to regain hisposure, Jeremy turned to the others. "The Eye of Omniscience didn''t tell me the properties of this item. All I know is that in order to learn more about it, we''ll need toplete the corresponding task."


    He then shared the hint from The Eye of Omniscience.


    Upon hearing this, everyone''s expression turned serious.


    "Finding an area where at least three forces converge will be very difficult. I don''t know of any such ces. Maybe only certain special instances have them," Liam said slowly, after a thoughtful pause, his brow furrowed.


    Bonnie and Ritchie remained silent. Neither of them could provide any useful information about this matter.


    Jeremy nodded and then turned his gaze to the second chest.


    The moment this chest was opened, everyone felt the temperature around them drop several degrees.


    As the temperature around them suddenly dropped, Bonnie became very focused on the contents of this treasure chest. After all, the talent she had activated was rted to the Frost Spell.


    If the item inside this chest turned out to be a powerful Frost Spell artifact, Bonnie could significantly enhance her strength without having to level up much.


    Inside the chesty a block of ice, glowing with a faint white light. Mist swirled around the ice, and it was this mist that caused the temperature to drop around Jeremy and the others.


    Jeremy once again activated The Eye of Omniscience.


    This time, the skill''s prompt wasn''t much different from thest one.


    [Analysis failed. No useful information avable.]


    [Hint: ce the Everfrost Ice in the Eternal me to obtain useful clues.]


    "It''s the same as before! The Eye of Omniscience still can''t analyze the properties of this item. But at least this time, I''ve learned the name of the item," Jeremy said, his tone a little lighter. "This item is called Everfrost Ice. To gain useful clues, we need to ce it in the Eternal me. Perhaps the Eternal me is rted to [The Sun]. At least we now have a more concrete lead."


    Jeremy spoke these words with a faint smile on his face, but the others didn''t share his light-heartedness.


    Although they all agreed with Jeremy''s assessment, they all felt that it would be unwise to go after [The Sun] again anytime soon.


    [The Sun] may not yet have fully resurrected as the apocalypse game''s nner, but the power he wielded was already formidable.


    The series of dangers Bonnie had encountered in the capital had been caused by [The Sun].


    After saying this, Jeremy turned his attention to the final chest.


    When thest chest was opened, Jeremy felt all the sunlight around him vanish. Inside the chesty a ck spherical object.


    The moment Jeremy saw the ck sphere, he knew exactly what it was. This ck sphere was the Dark Core.


    "This time, there''s no need to use The Eye of Omniscience," Jeremy said, his voice steady. "The item in thest chest is the Dark Core. The Dark Core possesses immense dark powers. These powers should be directly tied to [The Fool]. I''m certain that the Dark Core can make [The Fool]''s angels pay a heavy price in battle. It will be a great help to us in the uing fights. Among these three items, only the Dark Core can truly provide us withbat strength."


    Both Ritchie and Bonnie recognized the Dark Core.


    Liam, though he hadn''t encountered the Dark Core in person, was familiar with it from the Special Situations Bureau''s database.


    "I think it''s best if you take charge of all three items," Liam said bluntly after all three chests had been opened. "If anyone else tries to keep them, we''ll run into all sorts of problems."


    In Liam''s view, only Jeremy was qualified to safeguard these items. Since Jeremy was the only one who had ever used the Dark Core, it naturally meant that its full power could only be unlocked in his hands.


    The crystal octagon and the Everfrost Ice were shrouded in mystery. They knew very little about these two items, so it was safest to leave them with the strongest member of their group. By entrusting them to Jeremy, they could minimize the risk of any idents.


    Bonnie and Ritchie, of course, agreed with Liam''s assessment.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    After everyone had expressed their agreement, Jeremy smiled and nodded.


    "Alright then. I''ll take responsibility for keeping these three items safe. They''re not just powerful artifacts we''ve acquired¡ªthey are also the clues we''ve gathered."


    "These three clues should be able to point us toward the mastermind behind the apocalypse game. Even if they don''t lead directly to the game''s creators, we can still determine the origins of the monsters we encountered in that particr instance based on these three items!"


    Jeremy''s judgment was the most urate.


    Since Jeremy had already decided to safeguard the three items, the others naturally should prioritize escorting Bonnie back to her home. After all, the main purpose of their mission was to rescue Bonnie, and the three items were merely incidental spoils.


    Liam immediately ryed the good news of Bonnie''s rescue to Benjamin. Benjamin instructed Liam to hand the phone over to Bonnie.


    Once Bonnie picked up, Benjamin''s fury erupted.


    "Stay at home for the next week! You''re not allowed to leave unless I give the order! How dare you enter such a dangerous instance alone? You must be out of your mind!"


    Benjamin issued an immediate house arrest order for Bonnie.


    Bonnie did not argue, as she knew she was indeed at fault.


    "The three clues from the items should be enough to point us towards the nners behind the Apocalypse Game. Even if they don''t lead directly to the masterminds, these three objects alone can help us determine the true nature of the monster we encountered in that instance!"


    Jeremy''s deduction was the most urate.


    Since Jeremy had decided to secure these three items, the others agreed it was best to escort Bonnie back home as soon as possible. After all, the main goal of their mission had been Bonnie''s rescue¡ªthese three objects were merely an added bonus.


    Liam immediately ryed the news of Bonnie''s rescue to Benjamin. Without hesitation, Benjamin instructed Liam to hand the phone over to Bonnie.


    When Bonnie picked up the call, Benjamin''s voice erupted with fury.


    "You stay at home for the next week! Unless I give you permission, you are not to leave the house! How dare you enter that dangerous instance by yourself? Do you have a death wish?"


    Benjamin gave Bonnie a strict house arrest order.


    Bonnie didn''t argue. She knew deep down that she had made a serious mistake and that she was indeed responsible for what had happened.

 Chapter 403 Proper Arrangements

    In the end, Jeremy, Liam, and Ritchie chose to apany Bonnie all the way to her home.


    When they reached the doorstep of Bonnie''s house, she turned around, offering a sincere smile to the group.


    "I''m really sorry for being so reckless and getting everyone involved in rescuing me. I promise I won''t do something like this again. Next time, I''ll make sure to consult with all of you before I act," Bonnie said, her tone very earnest.


    Everyone believed that Bonnie wouldn''t make such a mistake again.


    Jeremy, Ritchie, and Liam didn''t say much in response. They felt that Bonnie''s apology was indeed warranted.


    "It''s gettingte. You should all go and get some rest," Bonnie continued, her voice tinged with regret.


    After saying this, she turned her gaze toward Ritchie.


    Bonnie was well aware that if it hadn''t been for rescuing her, Ritchie and Jeremy would likely have found the appropriate awakening instance for Ritchie today. So, Bonnie felt that Ritchie was the one she owed the most apology.


    "I''m so sorry! If it hadn''t been for rescuing me, you should have already found your awakening instance by now. I made you miss a day of your awakening."


    After saying this, Bonnie gave Ritchie a deep bow.


    Ritchie''s expression became slightly awkward.


    He didn''t know what to say. To him, Bonnie was his friend, and rescuing a friend seemed like a perfectly normal thing to do. He didn''t understand why she was apologizing and bowing to him.


    As Ritchie stood there in embarrassment, Jeremy smiled and spoke up.


    "You really don''t need to apologize to him. We weren''t necessarily going to find an awakening instance for him today, anyway. And even if we had, there''s no guarantee he would''ve cleared it on the first try."


    Jeremy''s words caused Ritchie to feel a bit irritated.


    He turned to Jeremy and said, "Do you really have so little faith in me? I''m the only other person, besides you, who has reached the awakening level. Doesn''t that mean my strength is almost on par with yours?"


    "Your strength is indeed only slightly weaker than mine. But it''s still not much stronger than anyone else''s. I think Bonnie and Liam will reach level 50 very soon. They might even awaken before you," Jeremy replied with a grin.


    Jeremy and Ritchie immediately began to argue with each other.


    Both of them knew that the other didn''t mean any harm. They were just trying to keep Bonnie from feeling too much pressure.


    As she watched Jeremy and Ritchie bicker, a smile finally appeared on Bonnie''s face. This time, her smile was genuine and natural.


    "Alright, alright, you two, stop it now. It''s gettingte, and if there''s nothing else, I''ll head back to the Special Situations Bureau. There''s still a lot I need to take care of there," Bonnie said.


    Liam felt that there was no need for him to get involved in the yful exchange between the two.


    Since Liam had spoken up, Jeremy and Ritchie naturally stopped their bickering.


    "Alright then, we should get going too! We need to prepare for tomorrow''s operation!" Jeremy and Ritchie both said their goodbyes.


    Bonnie watched them leave. Once they were out of sight, she sighed and walked back into her house.


    "I''m really useless. I guess I should listen to Jeremy''s advice from now on. Whenever I act rashly, I just end up causing trouble," Bonnie muttered to herself as she entered her bedroom.


    Although the incident was caused by her impulsive actions, Bonnie had indeed paid a heavy price during the course of the mission.


    Not only had she lost her strongest weapon, but she had also missed the opportunity to level up.


    For the next week, Bonnie would have to pass her time in the house, bored and idle.


    Meanwhile, Ritchie and Jeremy were discussing tomorrow''s operation as they made their way back to their residence.


    "Didn''t you just get three new clues? I think you should start looking into them," Ritchie asked with mild curiosity.


    In Ritchie''s mind, his own awakening didn''t seem all that important. Jeremy would surely be more focused on the new clues they had obtained.


    Jeremy shook his head slowly.


    "The three new clues we''ve got will take a long time to investigate. And during the investigation, we can''t afford to be distracted."


    "So, I want to help youplete your awakening ritual before I start investigating the three clues," Jeremy said, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Once you''vepleted your awakening, you''ll be able to provide me with much more assistance during the investigation."


    He paused, ensuring they were not being overheard.


    "We''ll discuss the details of the n once we''re back at our ce. If we talk about it on the way, someone might overhear, and I don''t want our strategy getting exposed," he added, still keeping a vignt eye on their surroundings.


    Ritchie felt that Jeremy was being overly cautious.


    In Ritchie''s mind, there was no one in the area who could possibly overhear their conversation. But in reality, Ritchie''s judgment was wrong.


    There were indeed people nearby who were carefully listening to their conversation. Some were members of the Special Situations Bureau, while others were Jeremy''s enemies.


    Once they arrived at their residence, Jeremy first ensured that there were no enemies in the vicinity.


    Only after confirming this did he sit down and begin exining his detailed n to Ritchie.


    "My n for the next steps will require your full cooperation. So, I need to make sure you understand the details clearly, and you have to pay close attention," Jeremy said as he unrolled a map and spread it out on the table.


    Ritchie nodded seriously.


    "We need to confirm your awakening instance within three days," Jeremy continued, pointing to specific locations on the map. "During these three days, we''ll investigate several abandoned cities that could potentially have the right instance for you."


    He paused, making sure Ritchie was following.


    "Once we find the right awakening instance, we''ll spend two days devising a strategy to clear it. After that, you''ll have two days toplete the awakening instance. As long as you clear it, your awakening will beplete, and you''ll be able to level up further. Then I won''t have to worry so much."


    Ritchie listened intently, his mind running through the details of the n. ording to Jeremy''s n, he wouldplete his awakening within the next week.


    The timing of his awakening would coincide with Bonnie''s house arrest being lifted.


    This meant that Jeremy''s uing operations could be supported by both Bonnie and Ritchie at the same time.


    Jeremy noticed the look in Ritchie''s eyes and smiled slightly.


    "It seems you''ve figured out why I set the n for you toplete your awakening within a week. Once you''vepleted it, Bonnie will be able to join us in action," he said.


    He leaned forward, the smile fading as he grew serious.


    "After your awakening, we''ll have to use the three new clues to investigate things rted to the Apocalypse Game''s creators. Dark Core doesn''t provide much information, and it''s directly tied to [Fool]. [Fool] is the most powerful of the Apocalypse Game''s creators. We shouldn''t directly challenge him yet."


    Jeremy paused and tapped the map with his finger.


    "The crystal octagon requires a region where at least three different powers converge to give us more clues. Such ces are incredibly hard to find. So, I think our first investigation should focus on the clue rted to the Eternal Ice."


    He sighed, his expression serious.


    "I''ve never heard of Eternal me before, but I''m sure it''s closely tied to [The Sun]. That means we''ll need to return to Capital. However, we must go back secretly. There are many enemies of ours in Capital."


    He looked up at Ritchie, his gaze hardening.


    "Once we''re back in Capital, we can investigate the Eternal Ice, but more importantly, we''ll also have the opportunity to make our most hated enemy pay."


    Jeremy''s voice grew colder as he spoke about their most hated enemy¡ªKean.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    When Jeremy mentioned Kean, a look of deep hatred crossed Ritchie''s face as well. He too saw Kean as an enemy that they needed to eliminate.


    Ritchie believed that if he could defeat Kean, he would strike immediately. However, Ritchie''s strength had always been inferior to Kean''s. Even if Ritchiepleted his awakening, his power wouldn''te close to Kean''s.


    "You understand my n now, right?" Jeremy asked, looking at Ritchie. "Do you have any questions about it?"


    Ritchie shook his head.


    "I don''t have any questions about your n! I think it''s perfect! We''ll proceed as you''ve outlined. I''m confident that I canplete my awakening within a week. If I finish early, we''ll have a few extra days to strengthen my awakening abilities."


    Ritchie understood that their current situation was quite dire. He knew that he had to work even harder in theing days. He wanted to be a real asset to Jeremy and help him tackle the challenges ahead.

 Chapter 404 Hard Work Pays Off

    Over the next two days, Jeremy and Ritchie tirelessly scoured the cities surrounding Moonlight City, in search of a suitable instance for Ritchie''s awakening.


    As the saying goes, "hard work pays off," and by the evening of the second day, they discovered an instance located in a small city about 50 kilometers away from Moonlight City. This instance possessed an incredibly powerful shadow energy¡ªexactly what Ritchie needed for his awakening. What made it even more perfect was that the instance was level 51.


    A level 51 instance was considered ideal for an awakening. Instances at level 50 or below, if used for awakening, would result in a weaker talent post-awakening. This would only diminish Ritchie''s strength. On the other hand, instances above level 51 were far too difficult. If Ritchie attempted one of these, his chances of sess would be incredibly low.


    Even if Ritchie managed to barelyplete an awakening instance above level 51, the toll it would take on him would be immense. He might not even be able to maintain his consciousness throughout the process, which was something Jeremy, having gone through an awakening himself, understood all too well.


    "I think this instance is perfect for your awakening," Jeremy said. "Since it''s your awakening instance, I won''t be able to enter. If I do, the instance will be locked to you."


    Jeremy patiently exined, his tone serious. Although Jeremy wanted nothing more than to help Ritchie breeze through the awakening, he knew that if he interfered, the result would be disastrous. Even if Ritchie somehow gained his awakening talent, it would be a weak one.


    Ritchie nodded resolutely.


    "I understand! I''ll clear the awakening instance on my own, using only my own strength. Should I go in now, or do I need to first acquire the awakening gemstone?" Ritchie asked, remembering what he had heard from Jeremy about the awakening gemstone.


    He mistakenly believed that the gemstone was needed to open the awakening instance. But in truth, this belief was wrong. The awakening gemstone was a critical item found deep within the awakening instance, not something used to open it. To ess the awakening instance, Ritchie actually needed the key from the ss-change goddess, Janna.


    Jeremy smiled gently at Ritchie''s eagerness. "You''re almost there. But remember, the gemstone is not what opens the instance. You''ll need to meet Janna for that. The gemstone is important, but itester, deep within the instance. Focus on finding the goddess first."


    Ritchie absorbed this new information, his mind racing with the steps ahead. He had a clear path now¡ªfind Janna, enter the instance, and conquer the trials that awaited him. He was ready for the challenge.


    "The awakening gemstone is deep within the awakening instance! What you need to do now ise with me to the space where the ss-change goddess, Janna, resides. You must have her provide you with the key. Only an instance opened with the key can be an awakening instance," Jeremy exined.


    Ritchie finally understood the situation after hearing this.


    With a smile, Ritchie said, "Then I don''t think I''ll run into any major trouble from here on out. The ss-change goddess Janna is on our side, right? She shouldn''t cause me any problems."


    "She won''t cause you any problems, but you must have enough strength to back it up. If your strength isn''t enough, the ss-change goddess Janna won''t be able to provide you with the key to the awakening instance. And you''ll also have to answer two questions from her," Jeremy replied.


    Ritchie felt his nerves tighten again at Jeremy''s words.


    "My strength should be sufficient, right? I''m level 50 now, and the weapons and items I have are all quite strong. My shadow control skill is also at a very high level," Ritchie said, still worried his strength wouldn''t be enough.


    However, Jeremy wasn''t concerned about Ritchie''s strength. What worried him more was whether Ritchie could answer the two questions the ss-change goddess Janna would ask.


    "I think your strength should be enough to pass. But you might not be able to answer the questions Janna will ask. The questions will be rted to the talent you''re about to awaken," Jeremy said, his tone filled with concern.


    But Ritchie didn''t feel that he would have trouble answering such questions.


    "Of course, the talent I''m awakening is rted to shadow control. I''m very familiar with shadow control and the other rted skills. I won''t be stumped by any questions, you can rest easy," Ritchie said seriously.


    Jeremy gave a hesitant nod. He really hoped Ritchie would be able to easily answer Janna''s questions.


    "If you''re truly ready, then let''s head to the space where the ss-change goddess Janna resides," Jeremy said, extending his hand toward Ritchie.


    Ritchie grasped Jeremy''s hand, and together they transformed into a streak of light, vanishing from the spot.


    After the light faded, Ritchie and Jeremy arrived in the space where the ss-change goddess, Janna, was located.


    At this moment, the ss-change goddess Janna appeared somewhat different from before.


    Her current form was much closer to that of a deity.


    Janna''s body was surrounded by pure white light, and within that light seemed to be a powerful force.


    "Awakener, you have finally arrived," Janna''s voice rang out from ahead.


    Both Jeremy and Ritchie''s expressions changed slightly when they heard this voice.


    Jeremy''s change was subtle, as he had already gone through a simr experience before. The voice of the ss-change goddess Janna now reflected her divine nature. Her voice was hollow, as if it wereing from a distant ce.


    Ritchie''s reaction, however, was much more intense.


    He had never imagined that the ss-change goddess Janna would speak to him in such a tone.


    For a moment, Ritchie was stunned.


    Jeremy quickly reminded him.


    "Answer her quickly! What are you standing there for?!"


    Prompted by Jeremy''s words, Ritchie hastily responded.


    "Yes! As the awakener, I am ready for my awakening. I hope you will grant me the qualification for awakening," Ritchie quickly repeated the words Jeremy had told him.


    Janna''s voice echoed once more.


    "Very well, you must answer two of my questions before I can give you the awakening key."


    "I understand! You may ask your questions now! I will answer all of them immediately!"


    After the initial shock, Ritchie finallyposed himself.


    Jeremy, seeing Ritchie''s tone, let out a slight breath of relief. From the way Ritchie spoke, Jeremy could tell that Ritchie had regained some confidence.


    "My first question is: How can you use shadow control to bind the soul of someone stronger than you?" Janna asked her first question.


    Upon hearing the question, Ritchie''s expression became more rxed.


    He thought that this question was very easy for him to answer.


    "I would first use other skills to weaken the person stronger than me. If I seed in weakening them, I would then use my shadow control to bind their soul. If I fail to weaken them, I would hide in the shadows. After that, I would find another way to achieve my goal," Ritchie answered.


    His response was wless.


    The ss-change goddess Janna nodded. "Very good, your answer is indeed without issue. Now, I will ask you the second question."


    Although Ritchie had answered the first question perfectly, it didn''t necessarily mean he would easily answer the second one. After all, the second question was likely rted to the talent he would gain after the awakening.


    "How do you think you can truly merge with the shadows?" Janna''s question echoed in the air.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    After hearing the second question, Ritchie didn''t immediately respond.


    He furrowed his brow, deep in thought.


    Although the question didn''t sound particrly difficult on the surface, for someone like Ritchie, who had an extensive understanding of shadow control, truly merging with the shadows was a challenging concept.


    Shadow control only allowed Ritchie to hide in the shadows, but it didn''t enable him to be one with them.


    Ritchie felt he needed to find the perfect answer to this question.


    During Ritchie''s silence, Jeremy couldn''t help but feel a little anxious.


    "You aren''t going to be unable to answer this question, are you? You''d better be able to answer it! I can''t offer you any help! I haven''t said a word this whole time!"


    Jeremy''s concern grew, as he realized he couldn''t offer Ritchie any assistance. He wanted to help, but suddenly found that he couldn''t speak at all.


    After a few minutes of silence, Ritchie finally spoke.


    "To truly merge with your shadow, you mustpletely empty your mind. And when necessary, you must merge a part of your soul with the shadow."


    After giving his answer, Ritchie felt a little uneasy. He wasn''t sure if his response was correct.


    The ss-change goddess Janna didn''t reply immediately. After a short pause, she smiled and said, "Your answer may not be perfect, but it has some merit. You have now earned the right to challenge the awakening instance. Take this key and use it to challenge your own awakening instance."


    As Janna spoke, a key that emitted a strange, otherworldly glow floated in front of Ritchie.


    Ritchie excitedly grasped the key in his hand.


    "I will seed! I will clear the awakening instance for sure!"

 Chapter 405 Unable to Fully Relax

    Ritchie spoke with great confidence about his goal.


    Both Jeremy and the ss-change goddess Janna were quite satisfied with Ritchie''s determination. With a smile on her face, Janna said, "Hurry and take action! The sooner you clear the awakening instance, the better your awakening talent will be."


    Ritchie nodded enthusiastically, and together with Jeremy, they left for the next phase of their journey.


    Once they returned to the real world, Ritchie couldn''t stop staring at the awakening key in his hand.


    "Stop staring at it," Jeremy said, sensing Ritchie''s distraction. "The awakening key is only for opening the awakening instance. Once you use it, the key will disappear. What you need to focus on now is figuring out how to clear the awakening instance."


    Jeremy quickly reminded him, though his concern was clear.


    Jeremy couldn''t help but feel uneasy about Ritchie''s readiness. He still wasn''t entirely sure that Ritchie would be able to handle the challenges awaiting him in the awakening instance.


    Ritchie nodded, slightly distracted from his thoughts. "You''re right. I should focus on how to clear the awakening instance. I know a bit about the one we''ve chosen. It''s filled with shadows. Almost all the monsters inside are in the form of shadows. So, I''ll just need to bring items that enhance my shadow maniption skills. I don''t think I''ll need to carry many other survival tools or weapons. In this instance, I''m not expecting to face too many serious threats."


    Ritchie''s confidence was evident as he spoke. He waspletely sure of himself, but Jeremy couldn''t shake the feeling that Ritchie was being overconfident.


    "Don''t underestimate the danger," Jeremy warned, his tone stern. "The instance we''ve found may be ideal for you, and it may be only level 51, but once it bes an awakening instance, its difficulty will increase dramatically. You need to be prepared for a tough battle."


    Jeremy''s words seemed to prate Ritchie''s arrogance, and for a moment, he took them seriously. But only for a moment.


    "I understand," Ritchie said, though his confidence remained unshaken. "I''ll get ready as quickly as possible. I feel like I can enter the awakening instance tomorrow. I''m sure my actions will lead to sess. I''ll clear it andplete my awakening in no time."


    Though Ritchie had be slightly more thoughtful, he still didn''t fully appreciate the gravity of the situation. In his mind, he believed that clearing the awakening instance would be a quick and easy task. Jeremy, however, could not shake the feeling that Ritchie was underestimating the challenges ahead, and he knew that no matter how well-prepared Ritchie thought he was, things might not go as smoothly as he hoped.


    At this point, Jeremy felt a bit helpless.


    He had already warned Ritchie numerous times, and if Ritchie ultimately failed, there would be nothing Jeremy could do to help.


    After a night of rest, Jeremy and Ritchie set off.


    At the entrance to the chosen instance, Jeremy gave Ritchie a few final reminders.


    "Make sure you make full use of your shadow control skills inside the instance. If you use them well, you''ll be able to clear the awakening instance," Jeremy advised. "And if you encounter danger in the awakening instance, don''t panic. You must trust yourself and stay calm. Don''t let yourself fall into a state of confusion. If you feel you can''t clear the awakening instance, just ask for my help. I can enter the instance with the help of the ss-change goddess Janna. But, in that case, the awakening instance will be a normal instance, and your awakening will failpletely."


    Jeremy had made all the preparations.


    He didn''t believe Ritchie would necessarily seed, so he had prepared a fallback n for him.


    Ritchie nodded.


    "I understand! Thank you so much for everything you''ve done for me! I''ll give it my all! If I run into something I can''t handle, I''ll definitely ask for your help."


    After saying these words, Ritchie walked up to the entrance of the awakening instance.


    Ritchie took out the awakening key, which was glowing with a strange light.


    The moment the key appeared, the instance before Ritchie transformed into the awakening instance.


    Ritchie looked at Jeremy onest time.


    Jeremy nodded, signaling Ritchie to go ahead.


    Taking a deep breath, Ritchie stepped into the awakening instance.


    As Ritchie entered the awakening instance, Jeremy immediately arrived at the space where the ss-change goddess Janna was.


    "You''ve finallye. Do you have so little faith in yourpanion?" The ss-change goddess Janna asked, her voice full of concern. "Do you think he will definitely fail?"


    "I do have faith in mypanion, of course," Jeremy replied. "But I also have to be prepared for the worst. You told me before that you can teleport me into any awakening instance at any time, right?"


    Jeremy asked directly.


    The ss-change goddess Janna nodded.


    "I can indeed do that," the ss-change goddess Janna replied, "but if I do, the awakening instance will turn back into a regr instance. Do you really want yourpanion''s first awakening to failpletely?"


    "Of course, I don''t want mypanion''s awakening to fail," Jeremy answered firmly. "But I also can''t ept mypanion falling in the instance."


    For Jeremy, the life of hispanions was far more important than anything else.


    It was true that hispanions could offer him help, and he appreciated that, but he would never abandon apanion just because they couldn''t provide help. Even ire and Emma, who had never been particrly strong, had never been left behind.


    Ritchie, in particr, was someone Jeremy could never abandon.


    The ss-change goddess Janna was slightly moved by Jeremy''s response.


    "It seems you and yourpanions have a very strong bond," she said, her tone softening a little. "But don''t worry. If he runs into real trouble, I can pull him out of the instance. You won''t need to go in yourself."


    The ss-change goddess Janna had the power to transform an awakening instance back into a regr one at any time. She could also erase all the monsters inside.


    However, doing so came at a cost. Every time she interfered, her strength would be slightly diminished. And given her current weakened state, she was reluctant to intervene in the awakening instance unless absolutely necessary.


    Jeremy nodded, his expression unreadable.


    He and the ss-change goddess Janna were both watching Ritchie''s every move.


    At that moment, Ritchie had only just entered the awakening instance.


    He hadn''t encountered any particrly powerful monsters yet, but even the weaker ones were already posing a certain level of threat.


    The monsters in the awakening instance were all specially enhanced, making them more dangerous than normal. The shadow monsters in Ritchie''s awakening instance had also gained a form of resistance to control, which severely limited the effectiveness of Ritchie''s shadow maniption skills.


    "This seems a bit worse than I thought," the ss-change goddess Janna said, her voice tinged with concern. "His performance isn''t as good as I expected. But I still think he has a chance to clear the awakening instance."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Jeremy nodded, his expression unchanged.


    Jeremy had no intention of speaking. He simply wanted to watch Ritchie''s every move.


    Inside the instance, Ritchie also felt an overwhelming pressure.


    He suddenly realized that he couldn''t even defeat the monsters that were lower level than him. This seemed almost impossible for Ritchie toprehend.


    "Why are these lower-level monsters able to pose a threat to me? Is this the additional difficulty of the awakening instance? If I had known this would happen, I should have prepared more thoroughly," Ritchie thought, already feeling a bit of regret.


    But no matter what, he wasn''t going to quit easily. He felt that Jeremy had already provided him with a lot of help, and he couldn''t just give up now.


    Ritchie took a deep breath. After calming himself, he decided to continue deeper into the awakening instance.


    Though Ritchie was nervous, there were two people who were even more anxious than him: the ss-change goddess Janna and Jeremy.


    Not far ahead of Ritchie, hidden in a ce he couldn''t see, was a very powerful monster.


    Ritchie was getting closer to that powerful enemy.


    At this moment, both ss-change goddess Janna and Jeremy were silent. Their hearts were filled with anxiety.


    They both could tell that Ritchie was absolutely not strong enough to defeat the powerful monster ahead.


    Step by step, Ritchie moved closer to an enemy that he stood almost no chance against.


    Just as Ritchie was about to step into the enemy''s attack range, he suddenly stopped.


    He sensed the danger around him.


    Ritchie had no idea what kind of danger surrounded him. He cautiously scanned his surroundings, instinctively taking a step back.


    It was because he took that step back that he narrowly avoided the most dangerous situation.


    When ss-change goddess Janna and Jeremy saw this, they finally let out a sigh of relief.


    "It seems yourpanion still has enough sharp awareness to sense danger. If he had taken one more step forward, he wouldn''t have been able to clear the awakening instance," ss-change goddess Janna remarked with a hint of admiration.


    Jeremy nodded slowly.


    Although he felt a little more at ease than before, he knew it was still too early to rx. After all, Ritchie had yet to clear the awakening instance.


    "I hope Ritchie''s performance improves from here on out. If he can''t clear this awakening instance, the next chance won''te until a week from now," Jeremy said with a hint of concern in his voice.

 Chapter 406 Living Up to Everyones Expectations

    ss Change Goddess Janna could clearly sense the pressure Jeremy was under, but she didn''t know how tofort him. After all, this was a crucial moment for Ritchie, and there was little anyone could do but wait and watch. So, in the end, ss Change Goddess Janna quietly stayed by Jeremy''s side, both of them watching Ritchie''s progress with a mix of hope and anxiety.


    Inside the Awakening Instance, Ritchie had already noticed a powerful monster not far from him. However, he didn''t intend to retreat. For Ritchie,pleting the Awakening Instance was a non-negotiable goal.


    Taking a few deep breaths to calm his nerves, Ritchie made his decision. The first thing he did was to retreat into the shadows. He used his shadow maniption ability to create a shadow, then hid his body within it. Using this cover, Ritchie began to move quickly, staying concealed while advancing toward his objective. His n was simple: he needed to gather as much information as possible about the formidable creature ahead of him before making his next move. Only by understanding the monster''s characteristics and abilities could he hope to defeat it.


    When Jeremy saw Ritchie''s actions, he finally exhaled in relief. "It looks like Ritchie hasn''t forgotten thebat techniques I taught him," he said, a hint of pride in his voice.


    ss Change Goddess Janna nodded in agreement, but she was more cautious. Although Ritchie''s current actions were correct, that didn''t guarantee he would be able to defeat the monster ahead. Both she and Jeremy knew full well that the creature Ritchie was about to face was no ordinary foe. The monster was level 54, while Ritchie was only level 50. There was a four-level gap between them, and even if this were just a standard 54-level monster, it would still be an extremely tough fight for Ritchie. But this wasn''t just any regr monster¡ªit was a creature within the Awakening Instance, and those monsters were far stronger than their counterparts in normal instances.


    Ritchie, still hidden within the shadows, advanced cautiously. With the help of his shadow maniption skill, he was able to get a clearer sense of the monster''s general situation. What he learned, however, was both surprising and troubling. The monster in front of him didn''t exist in the physical world¡ªit was a mass of shadows, with its form scattered across multiple spaces. This meant that Ritchie''s usual shadow maniption technique, which worked well against typical shadow-based creatures, was unlikely to pose a significant threat to this particr monster. Moreover, even if he tried to fight the creature head-on, relying solely on brute force to defeat it would be practically impossible.


    Jeremy and ss Change Goddess Janna exchanged a look of concern. They knew that Ritchie''s path to victory wasn''t going to be easy. The creature''s ability to manipte multiple spaces and shadows meant that defeating it required a strategy far beyond simple strength.


    Ritchie was feeling a severe headache.


    "How on earth am I supposed to defeat this monster? Even if I can control its shadow, I can''t control its shadows spread across different spaces. And once I manipte part of its shadow, it''ll definitely react immediately."


    Ritchie''s mind was filled with worry.


    It wasn''t just Ritchie who was anxious.


    Both Jeremy and ss change goddess Janna, who were observing Ritchie''s actions, were also extremely concerned.


    "Do you have any ideas? What kind of attack would you choose when facing a monster like this?" Janna asked Jeremy directly.


    Jeremy let out a bitterugh and said, "If I were facing a monster like this, I would use my ''The King of Time and Space'' talent to gather the shadows from different spaces. Once the shadows from different spaces converge, I could quickly eliminate the monster.


    But that''s something Ritchie can''t do. He doesn''t have any spatial abilities. He can only rely on his shadow control skills to figure something out."


    Jeremy clearly didn''t have much hope for Ritchie.


    Hisck of confidence in Ritchie made Janna a little worried too.


    "He... he won''t really fail, will he? If he does, our next steps will face huge trouble. Our enemies are numerous," Janna reminded Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded.


    He certainly knew that they were up against many enemies.


    But he couldn''t just enter the Awakening Instance to help Ritchie.


    "We can only hope that Ritchie can perform beyond his limits. Without that, I can''t think of any other way to solve the problem," Jeremy said, not wanting to dwell on it too much.


    He simply hoped Ritchie woulde up with a way to defeat the monster. If Ritchie couldn''t figure it out, they would have to wait for the next opportunity to clear the Awakening Instance together.


    So, Jeremy and ss change goddess Janna silently watched every move Ritchie made.


    At the beginning, Ritchie had no idea what to do.


    However, after carefully observing the monster, Ritchie felt that he still had a chance to defeat it.


    He immediately used the shadow he controlled to move quickly toward the monster.


    Naturally, Ritchie''s actions caught the monster''s attention. The creature gathered arge number of shadows, and a pitch-ck orb appeared in front of Ritchie.


    This orb, in reality, was the powerful monster''s eye, formed by the shadows converging together.


    Although the monster''s eye was entirely ck, the creature could use it to observe everything around it.


    The monster quickly locked onto Ritchie''s position.


    A massive number of shadows rushed toward Ritchie''s direction.


    Under normal circumstances, Ritchie would have chosen to avoid this attack.


    But for Ritchie, this was not a normal situation.


    He knew that in the Awakening Instance, he couldn''t afford to waste a single moment.


    So, instead of dodging, Ritchie made a bold move. He controlled his own shadow and propelled it directly toward the monster.


    Ritchie had decided to take a desperate gamble to defeat this creature.


    He nned to merge his shadow with the monster''s, which would allow him to be one with it.


    Once he did that, he could use his immense willpower topete with the monster for control over the many shadows.


    What Ritchie was attempting was incredibly dangerous.


    When Jeremy saw this, he shouted angrily.


    "How dare you do that?! If you fail, your soul will bepletely devoured by this monster!"


    Jeremy''s voice was so loud that it startled Janna, who was standing nearby.


    However, Janna didn''t scold Jeremy. She understood that Ritchie''s actions were extremely risky.


    What Jeremy said, however, was something Ritchie couldn''t hear.


    And even if Ritchie could hear it, he had no other choice.


    Once Ritchie''s shadow merged with the monster''s, their wills would directly sh.


    Ritchie could feel a barrage of deafening roars echoing in his mind.


    The roaring sounds were clearlying from the shadows of the monster.


    In the face of these deafening roars, Ritchie did not retreat at all.


    "No matter what methods you use, you can never break my will! I will not let mypanions down! I will clear the Awakening Instance!" Ritchie kept repeating these thoughts in his mind.


    In this situation, Ritchie''s determination grew stronger with each passing moment.


    Finally, he seeded in defeating the powerful monster.


    After defeating the creature, Ritchie was now able to use its shadow to quickly clear the Awakening Instance.


    The monster he had faced was, in fact, the most powerful one in the Awakening Instance.


    There were no more monsters ahead of him to block his path.


    When Jeremy and ss change goddess Janna saw this, they both finally smiled.


    "He really didn''t let us down! He seeded in the end! And he used a method beyond my expectations!" Jeremy said with a smile.


    ss change goddess Janna nodded.


    "His approach really exceeded my predictions. He should be able to clear the Awakening Instance quickly. What we need to do next is help him choose a suitable Awakening Talent for him. However, the Awakening Talent will only appear after he clears the Awakening Instance. We can''t rush things before then."


    Both Janna and Jeremy waited for Ritchie''s final sess.


    Ritchie didn''t keep them waiting long.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Just 15 minutester, Ritchie had cleared the Awakening Instance.


    The moment he obtained the Awakening Gemstone, a smile finally appeared on Ritchie''s face.


    "I''ve finally seeded! Now, I just need to obtain my Awakening Talent!" Ritchie said with excitement.


    As soon as Ritchie held the Awakening Gemstone, ss change goddess Janna''s voice rang out.


    "Congrattions! You''ve cleared the Awakening Instance. You can choose to awaken immediately or wait for a while before you do."


    "I choose to awaken immediately! I''m really looking forward to the Awakening Talent I''ll receive!" Ritchie responded eagerly.


    Ritchie''s choice didn''t surprise either ss change goddess Janna or Jeremy.


    Ritchie quickly returned to the space where ss change goddess Janna was located.


    However, this time, he didn''t see her directly.


    Around Ritchie''s body, there were numerous columns of light. Within these columns, one Awakening Talent after another floated up and down.


    "You need to wait a bit!" ss change goddess Janna''s voice came through again. "I''m trying to pick the strongest Awakening Talent for you."


    Ritchie nodded.


    Although he hadn''t received his Awakening Talent immediately, he wasn''t worried at all. He believed that even if he ran into some trouble, Jeremy would be there to help him solve it.

 Chapter 407 The Unfit Awakening Talents

    Ritchie no longer had to worry, because Jeremy and the ss Change Goddess Janna were helping him select his Awakening Talent.


    The moment Ritchiepleted his Awakening Instance, a vast array of Awakening Talents appeared in front of ss Change Goddess Janna. She needed to sift through these talents and select three that would be avable for Ritchie to choose from. However, as she scrolled through the list, she found herself in a dilemma.


    The number of talents in front of her was overwhelming, but none of them seemed to suit Ritchie. In fact, most of the Awakening Talents werepletely unrted to his shadow maniption abilities.


    "I never expected this. I can''t find a single suitable Awakening Talent for Ritchie," ss Change Goddess Janna said with an anxious tone, her voice tinged with concern. "Most of these talents don''t rte to shadow maniption at all."


    Jeremy looked at her, clearly confused. He couldn''t understand why things had turned out this way.


    "Why is this happening?" Jeremy asked, furrowing his brow. "Every Apocalypse Game yer I know gains an Awakening Talent that is rted to theirbat style or their skills. Why is Ritchie the exception?"


    Before Janna could answer, a voice, calm and neutral, cut through the air nearby. It was The World.


    "There''s an issue with hispletion method," The World said, drawing both Janna''s and Jeremy''s attention.


    "What do you mean by that?" Jeremy responded quickly, a bit defensive. "His method was perfectly normal. Didn''t he use his shadow maniption skills toplete the Awakening Instance?"


    The World approached them, his expression as impassive as ever.


    "Do you remember your own experience when youpleted the Awakening Instance?" The World asked, his gaze steady.


    Jeremy furrowed his brow, thinking for a moment.


    "Of course, I remember," Jeremy replied, still puzzled. "But what does that have to do with what''s happening now? I didn''t use that many space and time-rted skills in my Awakening Instance."


    The World nodded in acknowledgment, but didn''t offer a full exnation. "That''s true. You didn''t rely heavily on space and time skills. But the reason you were able to defeat the final boss of your Awakening Instance was because you used tactics that involved space and time."


    There was a brief pause. The World stopped speaking, allowing the weight of his words to sink in.


    Because he knew that Jeremy was an extremely intelligent person, he only needed to give Jeremy a few hints, and Jeremy would be able to figure it out on his own. As expected, just as World had predicted, Jeremy quickly understood.


    "So what you''re saying is that the strategy used toplete the Awakening Instance is what actually determines the Awakening abilities, right? If that''s the case, then it all makes sense now. Some of my earlier questions can be answered."


    Jeremy finally understood why Kean''s Awakening abilities were so vastly different from his previous skills. Originally, Jeremy had thought that Kean''s unusual situation was merely the result of receiving help from the Apocalypse Game''s developers.


    "It seems there''s still more to Kean''s situation than meets the eye. But that''s a matter for another time," Jeremy continued, his tone shifting. "Since you''re already here, could you help us pick out some suitable Awakening abilities for Ritchie?"


    In Jeremy''s eyes, World''s arrival was sure to provide them with significant help.


    World nodded in agreement. His purpose for being there was precisely to assist Jeremy.


    World went directly to therge collection of Awakening abilities and chose three. These three abilities were: Mental Reinforcement, Soul Division, and Spell Immunity.


    At first, Jeremy found it hard to ept these choices.


    "Are you sure these three Awakening abilities are the best fit for Ritchie? I don''t think any of these are really suitable for him," Jeremy said, his voice filled with doubt.


    It wasn''t just Jeremy who felt that these Awakening abilities might not be appropriate for Ritchie. Even ss Change Goddess Janna believed that they weren''t the right fit for him.


    But World, undeterred by their skepticism, stood firm.


    "These abilities are the most suitable for Ritchie," World said, his tone unwavering. "If you want to select other abilities, take your time, but this is all I can do for you."


    After delivering these words, World turned and left without further discussion.


    For a moment, both Jeremy and ss Change Goddess Janna were at a loss for words.


    After some contemtion, Jeremy finally made up his mind.


    "I think World might be right after all," he said. "We don''t have the same level of power he does. Let''s trust his judgment, at least for now."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    With that, they decided to proceed, though still unsure about what the future held.


    "I believe his judgment does have some merit," Jeremy said thoughtfully. "Besides, our strength doesn''t match his, so let''s summon Ritchie. Let him choose the final Awakening ability."


    Once Jeremy had spoken, it was only natural for ss Change Goddess Janna to summon Ritchie.


    When Ritchie appeared in the ss Change space, he immediately noticed that none of the three Awakening abilities in front of him had anything to do with his shadow maniption skill.


    "What is going on here? Why aren''t any of these abilities rted to my shadow maniption skill? This isn''t what we had discussed before."


    Although Ritchie felt panic rising within him, there was nothing he could do but face the situation alone. The final decision about his Awakening abilities had to be his alone.


    After thinking for a moment, Ritchie finally made up his mind. He chose the Soul Division ability.


    To Ritchie, it seemed like this was the only ability that could enhance hisbat effectiveness. The other two abilities mainly boosted his defensive capabilities, but Ritchie already felt that his shadow maniption skill was enough to ensure his safety. What he needed now was a way to significantly increase his offensive power.


    Once Ritchie selected Soul Division, the ability transformed into a beam of white light and entered his body.


    Ritchie quickly familiarized himself with the specifics of the Soul Division ability. As the name suggested, this ability enhanced Ritchie''s ability to attack the souls of his enemies.


    When activated, it could tear apart the souls of monsters whose levels were lower than Ritchie''s. Even against enemies who were stronger than Ritchie, Soul Division could still cause significant damage to their souls.


    Moreover, whenbined with Ritchie''s already mastered shadow maniption skill, hisbat strength was significantly increased.


    "It seems I misjudged this ability," Ritchie thought to himself. "The Soul Division ability is actually perfect for me. I should hurry and inform Jeremy about my Awakening ability."


    Feeling a sense of satisfaction with his choice, Ritchie regained his awareness and immediately contacted Jeremy to share the details of the ability he had just acquired.


    Jeremy had not expected the Soul Division ability to have such a significant impact on Ritchie''sbat power.


    "As long as you''re satisfied," Jeremy said with a smile. "We finished the Awakening instance quite some time ago. You have three days to get familiar with your new Awakening ability. Once you''refortable with it, we can move forward with our next steps."


    Ritchie nodded solemnly in agreement.


    The two of them then bade farewell to ss Change Goddess Janna and returned to the real world.


    "I need to quickly familiarize myself with my new ability, so I won''t stay here any longer," Ritchie said, before choosing to leave. He felt that practicing at home would allow him to master his Awakening ability more quickly.


    Jeremy didn''t stop him. He understood that Ritchie would be able to adjust to his new ability more efficiently in thefort of his own home. Besides, Jeremy had other things he needed to attend to as well.


    Jeremy decided to head to Bonnie''s house in the city center. He was curious about her current situation and hoped to find out what was going on.


    When Jeremy arrived at Bonnie''s door, she was taken by surprise. She had no idea why he would show up so suddenly.


    But she was still very happy because of Jeremy''s sudden appearance.


    Bonnie quickly opened the door for him.


    "Why did you suddenlye to find me? Did you run into trouble and need my help? I''m yourpanion, and whenever you need me, I''ll be there to assist you."


    Bonnie really hoped she could help Jeremy.


    In her mind, she had always been the one receiving Jeremy''s help unterally.


    Although Jeremy didn''t mind, Bonnie felt that she should contribute in some way as well.


    Jeremy smiled and shook his head.


    "I didn''te here seeking your help. I just wanted to give you some very important news. Just now, Ritchiepleted his awakening instance. He''s now gained a new awakening ability."


    Upon hearing this, Bonnie''s expression slightly faltered.


    She wasn''t sure whether she shouldugh or not.


    Although Bonnie had always hoped that herpanions would be stronger, she actually considered Ritchie as apetitor.


    Bonnie had hoped to awaken before Ritchie.


    But the reality was that Ritchie had already surpassed her by a significant margin.


    After thinking for a moment, Bonnie smiled and said, "In that case, he''ll be able to offer you great support in the uing actions. I also wish to congratte him. Please make sure to pass on my congrattions to him."


    Jeremy smiled and shook his head.


    "I won''t pass on your congrattions to him, because I know you''re not being sincere. I didn''te here to hear that. I came here to tell you that I will help youplete your awakening as soon as possible."

 Chapter 408 The Urgent Need for Stronger Combat Power

    When Bonnie heard Jeremy''s words, a bright smile spread across her face.


    Bonnie truly wished that her strength could be rapidly improved. She was eager toplete her awakening as quickly as possible. If Jeremy could offer help, the chances of herpleting the awakening swiftly would increase significantly.


    However, the smile on Bonnie''s face quickly faded, reced by a look of mild disappointment.


    With a slightly dejected tone, she said, "Even if you''re willing to help me, there''s no way for me to level up right now. My father won''t allow me to continue fighting for the time being."


    Jeremy shook his head firmly.


    "Mayor Benjamin will definitely agree. I''ll take responsibility for convincing him."


    Bonnie was taken aback by Jeremy''s confidence, her surprise evident on her face.


    She asked, almost in disbelief, "How are you going to convince him? My father may appear kind on the surface, but in reality, he''s extremely stubborn. Once he has made up his mind, he doesn''t change it easily."


    Bonnie knew her father, Mayor Benjamin, all too well. She had grown up with him and understood his nature deeply.


    However, Jeremy thought that Bonnie was missing the most crucial point.


    "You''re right," he acknowledged. "Mayor Benjamin is indeed a very stubborn person. Once he decides something, it''s almost impossible to change his mind. But there is one exception."


    At this, Jeremy suddenly paused, leaving his words hanging in the air.


    Bonnie, who had been eagerly waiting for him to continue, was slightly irritated by his abrupt silence.


    "Come on, hurry up and tell me! Don''t just stop halfway through!" she urged, frustration creeping into her voice.


    Jeremy smiled and leaned in slightly, his voice low but firm as he finally continued.


    "The exception is the safety of Moonlight City," he said. "The military has pulled all its forces back to the capital. The security of Moonlight City can no longer be guaranteed. I believe that Moonlight City urgently needs strongerbat power right now."


    "If you canplete your awakening, the safety of Moonlight City will be more or less secured. So, all we need to do is find Mayor Benjamin and present our reasoning. Once we exin everything to him, he''ll agree to let you continue fighting."


    Jeremy finishedying out his n, a sense of quiet confidence in his voice.


    Bonnie did not immediately respond.


    In her mind, she couldn''t help but think that Jeremy''s idea was a bit far-fetched.


    "My father does care deeply about Moonlight City''s safety," Bonnie admitted, her tone thoughtful. "But I still don''t think he would allow me to take such risks. He''s always believed that I should stay in a safe ce, away from danger. He doesn''t even want me to participate in the apocalypse game in the first ce."


    Bonnie''s words were filled with a certain amount of hopelessness, making it clear that she had little faith in the sess of Jeremy''s n.


    At this point, Jeremy quickly said, "How can you know it will fail if you don''t even try? We should at least try to convince your father. What if he agrees to our n?"


    Persuaded by Jeremy, Bonnie eventually agreed to try.


    So, Bonnie and Jeremy went to Benjamin''s office.


    When Benjamin saw them, there was no change in his expression. It seemed like he had already anticipated that these two would show up.


    "Didn''t I tell you to rest at home? Why are you here in my office again?" Benjamin asked, not looking at Jeremy but instead directing his question to Bonnie.


    "Dad, I believe I have to protect the safety of Moonlight City. I can''t just stay at home. I need to fight," Bonnie said, speaking her true thoughts.


    Upon hearing this, Benjamin didn''t argue. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Jeremy.


    "Did you put these words into her mouth?" he asked.


    Jeremy quickly shook his head.


    Bonnie hurriedly added, "No, this is what I truly think. I just wanted Jeremy toe with me to try and convince you. Although I''ve faced danger in previous battles, every apocalypse game yer faces danger. I''m no exception. I can''t just give up fighting because of danger. I have to ovee it. Only then will I be stronger and be able to offer more protection to Moonlight City."


    Bonnie spoke all of this in one breath, hoping that her words would convince Benjamin.


    Benjamin quietly looked at his daughter, seemingly thinking about what kind of answer he should give.


    Neither Bonnie nor Jeremy said anything.


    The office suddenly became eerily quiet.


    After several minutes, Benjamin slowly spoke.


    "I understand what you''re thinking. I won''t oppose it. But I want you to understand that continuing to fight will bring even more danger. The awakening, in particr, will put you in a state close to death."


    Bonnie was slightly surprised by his words.


    She had never known that awakening would bring her to the brink of death.


    Bonnie turned her gaze to Jeremy.


    Jeremy shook his head and slowly spoke to Benjamin.


    "Mayor, I''ve alreadypleted my awakening. The awakening doesn''t put apocalypse game yers in a state close to death. Only a failed awakening results in such a situation."


    Jeremy felt that Benjamin might not fully understand the awakening process, so he specifically exined it.


    Benjamin listened calmly to everything Jeremy said.


    "I know everything you''re saying, and you are indeed the first one toplete the awakening. However, your understanding of the awakening process is certainly not as thorough as mine, because I have ess to additional intelligence from the capital."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    With that, Benjamin opened the drawer of his desk.


    He took out a thick stack of documents.


    This stack of documents was the information that the intelligence agency had provided him regarding the awakening process.


    At this point, Jeremy had already reached level 62, and his awakening had happened quite some time ago. During this period, many apocalypse game yers hadpleted their awakenings. Among those yers, the majority were directly controlled by the military headquarters.


    The military headquarters and the intelligence agency had coborated to analyze the situation surrounding awakenings.


    Their conclusion was that the awakening would indeed bring apocalypse game yers to a state close to death.


    Jeremy quickly skimmed through the entire document.


    The information contained in it was something Jeremy hadn''t noticed before.


    It seemed Jeremy finally understood why he and hispanions hadn''t encountered any problems during their awakenings.


    The reason they hadn''t faced issues was that they had received the protection of the ss change goddess, Janna.


    Other apocalypse game yers didn''t have the same privilege of Janna''s protection.


    "Now do you understand why I oppose Bonnie continuing to fight?" Benjamin''s tone was firm. "Even if she reaches level 50, the awakening will put her in great danger. Such a risk is something I cannot ept."


    Benjamin''s voice left no room for argument.


    Bonnie''s face fell as she heard his words.


    She felt as though sess was out of her reach now. Bonnie even considered turning around and leaving right then.


    But just as Bonnie was about to walk away, Jeremy grabbed her arm.


    "I can guarantee one thing to you. If Bonnie can reach level 50, I can ensure that her awakening will face no issues," Jeremy said, his gaze steady as he looked at Benjamin, his tone filled with sinceremitment.


    Benjamin''s expression remained unchanged.


    He simply askedµ­µ­ly, "What if something goes wrong with her awakening? How can you make me believe that your guarantee is absolutely foolproof?"


    Benjamin wasn''t fully convinced by Jeremy. Although he greatly admired him, that didn''t mean he was willing to gamble his daughter''s life.


    "Have I ever failed to fulfill a promise I made before?" Jeremy didn''t answer Benjamin''s question directly. Instead, he asked one in return.


    "I will not let my daughter bear any risks. No matter what, I absolutely will not allow her to go through the awakening." Benjamin had made up his mind¡ªhe was resolute in his refusal.


    "So, you''re willing to sacrifice the safety of Moonlight City for your daughter''s?" Jeremy finally delivered the most impactful blow.


    Upon hearing this, Benjamin''s expression shifted dramatically.


    For the first time, an angry look appeared on Benjamin''s face.


    "What are you even saying? As the mayor of Moonlight City, how could I possibly give up on the safety of the city? Are you saying that if my daughter doesn''tplete her awakening, the safety of Moonlight City can''t be ensured?" Benjamin shouted angrily at Jeremy.


    At this point, Bonnie was terrified. She was deeply worried that her father and Jeremy were on the verge of a violent confrontation.


    In the face of Benjamin''s furious shouting, Jeremy merely replied calmly.


    "Everyone must contribute their strength, and your daughter is no exception. And as I''ve said, I can ensure her safety. Why are you being so stubborn?"


    Jeremy''s words only made Benjamin angrier.


    Although Benjamin wanted to retort, he suddenly found himself at a loss for words.


    Benjamin realized, after a moment of reflection, that he might have been a little selfish.


    After thinking it through carefully, he concluded that he should indeed allow his daughter to fight for Moonlight City. Moreover, Jeremy''s guarantee would likely minimize the dangers Bonnie might face.


    "I''ve said everything I need to say. If you still disagree, then I have nothing more to add," Jeremy said, a hint of resignation in his voice.


    The office fell into silence again.


    After an unknown amount of time, Benjamin slowly spoke.


    "Then... do it your way."

 Chapter 409 The Even Harder-to-Find Awakening Instance

    Outside the door of Benjamin''s office, Bonnie looked at Jeremy in disbelief.


    "I really didn''t expect that you''d manage to convince my father at thest minute. During your conversation with him, I honestly thought you two were about to have a direct confrontation. I was already preparing to step in and break things up."


    Jeremy, standing next to Bonnie, gave a helpless smile.


    In truth, he hadn''t wanted to provoke a serious confrontation with Benjamin either. If Benjamin could be easily persuaded, Jeremy would have preferred to avoid saying anything that would anger him. But now that they had reached this point, Jeremy wasn''t nning to overthink things any longer.


    "Your father probably hates me now, but I don''t think there''s any need to dwell on that. The important thing is that he''s agreed to let you proceed with your awakening. So, let''s focus on discussing the details of your awakening process."


    Jeremy was eager to get things moving and wanted to make sure Bonnie''s awakening instance was arranged as soon as possible. Bonnie was already very close to reaching level 50, and once they found a suitable awakening instance for her, she could begin her awakening immediately.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Bonnie nodded quickly, her excitement evident.


    In fact, she was very eager to experience her awakening instance. She hoped it would be an extremely challenging instance, as that would allow her to obtain a much stronger awakening talent.


    "I remember that you and Ritchie spent a long time searching for the right awakening instance for him. Does that mean we''ll have to spend several days searching for the one that''s right for me?" Bonnie asked, smiling at Jeremy.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "I''m not sure. When I was helping Ritchie search for his awakening instance, I also kept an eye out for ones that might be suitable for you. But, clearly, I didn''t find one that matched you. I think we should check a few of the abandoned cities around here and see if we can find something that fits your needs."


    With Jeremy already having a n in mind, Bonnie decided not to argue.


    She agreed to follow his n and nodded resolutely.


    "It''s gettingte today, so let''s start our search tomorrow. For now, why don''t youe with me to visit ire and Emma?"


    What Jeremy said next caught Bonniepletely by surprise.


    "Why are we going to ire and Emma''s ce? Shouldn''t we be focusing onpleting my awakening instance next?" Bonnie asked, her voice filled with surprise. She hoped Jeremy would exin his reasoning clearly.


    Jeremy slowly nodded, then slowly shook his head.


    Bonnie''s confusion only deepened at Jeremy''s actions.


    "We definitely shouldplete your awakening instance first," Jeremy agreed. "But the skills you have are rted to the frost spell, so your awakening instance should also be rted to the frost spell."


    Bonnie fully agreed with Jeremy''s point. As he spoke, she nodded slowly in understanding.


    "The thing is, frost spell-rted awakening instances are incredibly rare. Finding one is not only going to take more time, but it also requires a bit of luck. And once we begin our search, we can''t afford to stop halfway through. So, before we start that, I need to take care of a few things."


    Jeremy''s n was to make sure ire and Emma were settled.


    Bonnie didn''t push further this time. While she felt a twinge of jealousy toward ire and Emma, she knew that they were indeed the weakest members of their group. If Jeremy couldn''t settle things with them, he would be distracted during the mission, and that would be dangerous.


    "Alright, let''s go to their ce then," Bonnie agreed, epting the n.


    And so, Jeremy and Bonnie made their way to Emma and ire''s residence.


    Just as they left, Benjamin stepped out of his office. He watched Jeremy and Bonnie''s retreating figures and sighed deeply.


    "I wonder what will happen in the future¡­" Benjamin murmured to himself.


    Though his family held some influence within the Federation, the situation in the Federation was rapidly deteriorating. Benjamin knew that the future was uncertain, and he had no way of guaranteeing the safety of his daughter, Bonnie, let alone the safety of Moonlight City.


    Jeremy and Bonnie, of course, were unaware of Benjamin''s musings. Even if they did know, they would likely think his worries were excessive.


    It took Jeremy and Bonnie about an hour to reach Emma and ire''s residence. When they arrived, Emma and ire were thrilled to see them.


    "You finally have time to visit us!" Emma eximed excitedly, rushing over to greet Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded and said, "I''m really sorry. Over the past few days, I''ve been tied up with various matters. Ritchie has alreadypleted his awakening instance, so now I finally have time to meet with you all."


    Emma and ire epted Jeremy''s exnation. They had already heard that Ritchie hadpleted his awakening instance. After leaving Jeremy''s house, Ritchie had told them about his sessful awakening.


    "Ritchie has alreadypleted his awakening, so our strength is much greater than before. You don''t have to face powerful enemies alone anymore," ire said with a smile.


    "Ritchiepleting his awakening is still not enough. You all need toplete your awakenings. Your levels aren''t high enough yet. I hope you can level up as quickly as possible," Jeremy said directly, stating his thoughts.


    Emma and ire''s expressions darkened slightly. They did want to level up quickly, but neither of them was particrly good atbat. Without Jeremy''s help, their leveling speed was incredibly slow.


    "We also want to level up quickly, but the skills we''ve acquired aren''t suited for directbat. So, we can''tplete instances on our own," Emma said hesitantly.


    Jeremy nodded. "I know that. It''s not your fault. If anyone should be med, it should be me. After all, I was the one who chose those skills for you."


    Jeremy took full responsibility. He didn''t want to put any pressure on others.


    "If Ritchie has alreadypleted his awakening, then he can challenge instances around level 50. When he does, you two can join him. In those level 50 instances, your leveling speed will definitely increase quickly. I hope you canplete your awakenings as soon as possible. Only then will we be able to barely ensure our safety."


    Jeremy''s words shocked everyone present.


    "Are you saying we''re about to face a huge crisis?" Bonnie asked, picking up on the underlying meaning in Jeremy''s words.


    Jeremy nodded.


    "You''re right," Jeremy said. "We''re indeed going to face a massive crisis soon. Kean''s strength has increased significantly. I believe he won''t sit idly by."


    Jeremy''s main concern was the threat posed by Kean.


    Upon hearing this, Bonnie''s expression became slightly guilty. In her view, she had an opportunity to help Jeremy and Kean reconcile.


    ire and Emma, however, hadpletely different expressions from Bonnie. Their faces showed a mix of anger and a trace of concern.


    "You don''t need to worry too much," Jeremy reassured them. "Even if Keanes after us, I can at least hold my ground against him. What I need from you all is to level up quickly. Because I won''t always be able to look after you."


    What Jeremy said made a lot of sense.


    ire quickly responded, "I understand. We''ll level up as fast as we can. What kind of goals will you set for us? How fast do you expect our leveling speed to be?"


    At ire''s question, Jeremy didn''t answer right away. He paused for a moment to think.


    "I think you should aim to get your levels to at least 40 within half a month," he said finally. "I''m not expecting you toplete your awakenings within that time."


    The goal Jeremy set was actually not unreasonable.


    Under normal circumstances, a yer in the Apocalypse Game who excels inbat would be able to level up by one level in a week.


    Although Emma and ire weren''t particrly skilled inbat, they had been traveling alongside Ritchie. The high-level monsters, around level 50, provided arge amount of experience. Therefore, it shouldn''t be an issue for the two of them to reach level 40 within two weeks.


    Emma and ire both nodded eagerly.


    "We''ll definitely meet the target you''ve set for us! We absolutely won''t hold you back!"


    Jeremy, hearing their clear and confident promises, finally felt a sense of relief.


    "You don''t need to feel too much pressure, though," he added kindly. "Even if you don''t manage to reach the goal I''ve set, I won''t be angry. Just do your best, and that''s all I ask."


    Jeremy made sure to lighten their burden, not wanting them to feel overwhelmed.


    After saying this, Jeremy and Bonnie left. From here on out, the rest of the n was something only the two of them needed to discuss.


    Jeremy felt that Emma and ire didn''t need to know about the awakening instance just yet, and Bonnie was also not eager to share too many details of her personal journey with them. It was best to keep some things between themselves for now.

 Chapter 410 Trust is Mutual

    After taking care of the issues with Emma and ire, Jeremy and Bonnie could finally focus their attention on finding the right awakening instance for Bonnie.


    The two of them headed straight to Jeremy''s house. Jeremy pulled out a map covered with a lot of information. He had used this very map when helping Ritchie find his awakening instance. Over the course of the search, Jeremy had gathered more intelligence, so he marked all the new information on the map.


    By the time Bonnie saw it, the map was already filled with markings indicating the locations of instances near Moonlight City and the surrounding abandoned cities.


    "From this map, it''s clear that if we want to find an awakening instance suitable for you, we''ll have to travel quite a distance," Jeremy said, pointing at the map as he spoke to Bonnie.


    Bonnie nodded thoughtfully.


    "I understand. So, should we leave now, or do you think it would be better to wait until tomorrow morning? I feel like waiting until tomorrow might be a bit toote, don''t you think?"


    In fact, Bonnie was more anxious than Jeremy. She felt that time was of the essence and that she needed to find the right awakening instance as soon as possible. Unlike Ritchie, she wasn''t confident that she would be able toplete an awakening instance quickly.


    "There''s no need to rush," Jeremy replied. "I think we can afford to take a night''s rest. Plus, we might gather more information tonight. Ritchie''s already at another abandoned city. He should be able to provide us with some valuable intel."


    Just as Jeremy finished speaking, the phone rang. He picked up the call, and Ritchie''s voice came through the line.


    "I''m about 100 kilometers away from Moonlight City, in an abandoned little town. I''ve found an instance here filled with ice frost powers. If you think this instance might suit Bonnie, you can pass the message on to her. Oh, and don''t forget to remind her that she owes me a meal."


    Ritchie didn''t mince words as he spoke on the phone.


    "Send me the details first," Jeremy responded bluntly. "I can''t make a judgment until I''ve seen the information."


    Ritchie quickly sent over the details of the awakening instance he had discovered, one filled with frost energy.


    "This is all the information I have. If you want to know more, you''ll have to visit the instance in person," Ritchie said, and then hung up the phone.


    For Ritchie, there were more pressing matters at hand. He needed to familiarize himself with the awakening ability he had recently acquired as quickly as possible. Jeremy had warned him that they would soon face a significant threat.


    The information Ritchie sent was veryprehensive.


    The instance he had found, filled with frost energy, was a level 52 instance, and Ritchie had even seen the instance boss.


    The instance boss was a level 55 frost giant.


    Theyout of the instance itself wasn''t particrlyplicated and didn''t resemble a maze.


    If this instance were to be used for Bonnie''s awakening, her biggest challenge would be the level 55 frost giant boss.


    After reviewing the specific details of the instance, Jeremy didn''t immediately make a decision. He simply looked at Bonnie.


    "What do you think? Do you believe you can clear this instance?" Jeremy asked, posing the question to Bonnie.


    Bonnie thought for a moment and then nodded.


    "I think with my abilities, I can clear this awakening instance. But I haven''t reached level 50 yet. I''ll need to clear an instance of lower difficulty first to level up to 50."


    Bonnie was very confident in her abilities.


    However, as soon as she finished speaking, Jeremy sighed.


    "I don''t think this instance is suitable for you. Even if you reach level 50, your skills and abilities aren''t suited for a direct confrontation with the frost giant.


    I think we should look for another awakening instance that''s more appropriate for you. Although it will take some time, it will ensure you don''t run into too much trouble when going through your awakening."


    After saying this, Jeremy turned his attention back to the map.


    Bonnie suddenly felt like, in Jeremy''s eyes, she was nothing more than a failure.


    She felt a little hurt.


    "Even if my strength isn''t as great as yours or Ritchie''s, that doesn''t make me a useless person," Bonnie said, her voice filled with a tinge of hurt.


    Jeremy was slightly surprised.


    "What are you talking about? When did I ever think you were useless? I recognize your strength; I just think that particr instance isn''t suitable for you," Jeremy exined.


    He felt that Bonnie had misunderstood him.


    Bonnie pressed further, "Why do you think that instance isn''t suitable for me? Didn''t you just say that I wouldn''t be able to defeat the level 55 frost giant boss? Doesn''t that mean you think I''m useless?"


    Bonnie''s emotions were bing more heated.


    Jeremy realized he needed to calm Bonnie down first.


    "Don''t be so upset! What I said was just a statement of fact; I didn''t mean anything else. Everyone has a different role, and you don''t need to focus solely on directbat abilities like Ritchie or me."


    Jeremy''s exnation didn''t seem to help, and Bonnie grew even more agitated.


    "So, what you''re saying is that I can only y a supportive role inbat? In all the previous missions, haven''t I already proven my strength?"


    Bonnie wasn''t willing to ept being seen as just a support character.


    In Bonnie''s view, only Emma and ire were purely supportive. And the only reason they were support was because their awakened talents and skills had nothing to do with directbat.


    Bonnie''s skills were all frost-based spells.


    Frost spells could be highly effective in directbat.


    Moreover, Bonnie''s talent was casting-based, meaning she was meant to be a powerful mage.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Bonnie''s retort left Jeremy at a loss for words.


    After thinking for a moment, Jeremy finally asked, "What exactly are you trying to say? What''s your point?"


    "My point is simple! I want you to trust me! I believe trust is mutual. I''ve always trusted your abilities, so you must trust that I can clear this instance," Bonnie said seriously.


    Jeremy hesitated slightly.


    He truly believed Bonnie might not be able to clear this instance, but he also realized that Bonnie was very emotional right now.


    If he continued to oppose her, Bonnie''s thoughts were likely to spiral out of control.


    After thinking for a while, Jeremy finally relented.


    "Maybe you''re right. I might have lost a bit of trust in you. Since you believe you can clear the instance Ritchie found, let''s consider that one as a provisional awakening instance."


    Jeremy''s words finally allowed Bonnie to breathe a sigh of relief.


    "Even though we''ve found an awakening instance, there''s no need to rush. Take the rest of the day to rest, and tomorrow we''ll head over to the instance to check it out," Jeremy said, and then returned to his room.


    Bonnie didn''t try to find Jeremy again; she simply settled into the guest room.


    However, Bonnie didn''t immediately rest.


    She spent the time thinking about what kind of strategy she should adopt for the uing actions.


    At the same time, Jeremy was also deep in thought about what he should do next.


    Although Jeremy had said he trusted Bonnie, in reality, he still didn''t fully believe in her.


    In his mind, he had to find an awakening instance that was more suitable for Bonnie.


    But time was running out, and Jeremy eventually decided to seek help from Goddess Janna of ss Change and the "World." These two individuals had extensive knowledge about awakening instances.


    Jeremy went straight to the space where Goddess Janna of ss Change resided.


    "What are you doing here again? Didn''t Ritchieplete his awakening? Is he dissatisfied with the ability he got?" Goddess Janna was slightly surprised by Jeremy''s arrival.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "Ritchie is very satisfied with the ability he received. I came here to ask for your help. Another one of mypanions is also nning to clear an awakening instance. But I think the one she''s chosen is going to be really difficult to clear. Could you help her choose an awakening instance that would be easier to clear?"


    Upon hearing Jeremy''s words, Goddess Janna of ss Change quickly understood.


    "The person you''re referring to must be Bonnie, right? You don''t want her to face any danger, so you''re hoping to find an awakening instance that''s easy to clear," she asked with a smile.


    Jeremy nodded.


    He felt there was no need to hide the truth.


    In addition to being hispanion, Bonnie was also the daughter of Mayor Benjamin. If Bonnie were to face any serious danger, Benjamin would certainly hold him responsible.


    That was why Jeremy wanted to ensure that Bonnie wouldn''t encounter any risks during the process of clearing her awakening instance. After all, once inside an awakening instance, he wouldn''t be able to assist her in any way.

 Chapter 411 Trust is Mutual

    After taking care of the issues with Emma and ire, Chu Tian and Bonnie could finally focus their attention on finding the right awakening instance for Bonnie.


    The two of them headed straight to Jeremy''s house. Jeremy pulled out a map covered with a lot of information. He had used this very map when helping Ritchie find his awakening instance. Over the course of the search, Jeremy had gathered more intelligence, so he marked all the new information on the map.


    By the time Bonnie saw it, the map was already filled with markings indicating the locations of instances near Moonlight City and the surrounding abandoned cities.


    "From this map, it''s clear that if we want to find an awakening instance suitable for you, we''ll have to travel quite a distance," Jeremy said, pointing at the map as he spoke to Bonnie.


    Bonnie nodded thoughtfully.


    "I understand. So, should we leave now, or do you think it would be better to wait until tomorrow morning? I feel like waiting until tomorrow might be a bit toote, don''t you think?"


    In fact, Bonnie was more anxious than Jeremy. She felt that time was of the essence and that she needed to find the right awakening instance as soon as possible. Unlike Ritchie, she wasn''t confident that she would be able toplete an awakening instance quickly.


    "There''s no need to rush," Jeremy replied. "I think we can afford to take a night''s rest. Plus, we might gather more information tonight. Ritchie''s already at another abandoned city. He should be able to provide us with some valuable intel."


    Just as Jeremy finished speaking, the phone rang. He picked up the call, and Ritchie''s voice came through the line.


    "I''m about 100 kilometers away from Moonlight City, in an abandoned little town. I''ve found an instance here filled with ice frost powers. If you think this instance might suit Bonnie, you can pass the message on to her. Oh, and don''t forget to remind her that she owes me a meal."


    Ritchie didn''t mince words as he spoke on the phone.


    "Send me the details first," Jeremy responded bluntly. "I can''t make a judgment until I''ve seen the information."


    "You''re right, your concerns are very valid, but I cannot help you. Doing so would attract the attention of the Apocalypse game''s nners," Goddess Janna said.


    As soon as her words fell, Jeremy felt an overwhelming, terrifying, and corrupting presence filling the air around him.


    It was unmistakably the aura of the Abyss.


    "Did you previously suffer an attack from The Hanged Man?" Jeremy asked directly.


    Goddess Janna nodded.


    "In that battle, I almost died. If The World hadn''t helped me in time, I might never have had the chance to see you again."


    Jeremy lowered his head in thought.


    He had to admit that the risk Goddess Janna faced was enormous. He felt that he shouldn''t let her bear such a tremendous risk.


    "Alright, let''s forget I ever mentioned this. Even though you can''t help me, I still have to thank you. You at least provided me with useful information."


    After saying this, Jeremy intended to leave immediately.


    However, before he could go, Goddess Janna called out to him.


    "I know your intentions, and I understand that you''re doing this for Bonnie''s sake. But I hope you understand¡ªthis is something you should let her decide for herself. Only Bonnie has the right to choose which instance is her awakening instance."


    Goddess Janna spoke in a very serious tone.


    Jeremy nced at her but didn''t respond. He simply turned and returned to the real world.


    By the time he returned, it was already 5:00 in the morning.


    Jeremy decided to start organizing his weapons and equipment. He and Bonnie were about to head to the instance that Ritchie had informed them about.


    Just as Jeremy finished organizing his gear, he heard a knock on the door.


    "Jeremy, are you ready? I''m all set, and I can leave at any time," Bonnie''s voice came through the door.


    "I''m ready too! Just give me a moment, and I''ll be ready to go!"


    As Jeremy stepped out of his room, he immediately saw Bonnie, fully equipped and prepared.


    This time, Bonnie not only brought all the weapons she had with her, but she also took some powerful weapons and items from the Moonlight City government warehouse.


    "These are weapons and items my father specifically taught me how to use. He knows I''m about to attempt my awakening instance, so he wanted me to bring all of them with me," Bonnie exined with a smile.


    Jeremy nodded without saying much else.


    The two of them left Moonlight City.


    Once they left the safety zone of Moonlight City, they came across many instances. Some of these instances already had monsters surrounding them. It was clear that these monsters hade out of the instances.


    "The situation is getting worse. If I don''tplete my awakening soon, I won''t be able to contribute much in the uing battles," Bonnie said, carefully choosing her words.


    Jeremy nodded.


    The current situation made it clear that the difficulty of the Apocalypse game had been ramped up again.


    Bonnie really did need toplete her awakening and level up as quickly as possible.


    However, Jeremy still didn''t think Bonnie should make that more difficult instance her awakening instance.


    "You really shouldplete your awakening as soon as possible, so I think we should choose a more suitable awakening instance. Of course, the final decision is yours. If you believe a certain instance is your awakening instance, then it will be. I won''t say anything more about it."


    Jeremy''s words touched Bonnie deeply.


    Bonnie had originally thought that Jeremy wouldn''t respect her decision.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "That''s good! Don''t worry, I know myself very well. I know which instances are suitable for me, and I also know which ones I definitely cannot clear," Bonnie said, hoping to reassure Jeremy.


    On the surface, Jeremy seemed calm, but inside, he was still very worried.


    Although he didn''t say a word, he still hoped that Bonnie might change her mind.


    When they arrived near the instance, the two of them didn''t immediately begin to assess the entire instance.


    Jeremy spoke softly to Bonnie.


    "I hope you understand. Once you choose this instance as your awakening instance, you won''t be able to receive help from anyone during the process. Also, the difficulty of the instance will increase dramatically."


    Jeremy hoped that by saying this, Bonnie would reconsider her decision.


    However, Bonnie smiled and replied, "I understand. But I don''t think this instance will be too difficult for me. Even if the difficulty is increased, I won''t fail. What we need to do now is simply familiarize ourselves with the instance. Once I understand the situation inside, I can begin my awakening ceremony."


    Bonnie was still very confident.


    On one hand, she felt that her strength was enough to clear the awakening instance. After all, she thought her abilities were stronger than Ritchie''s. Since Ritchie had easily cleared his awakening instance, why couldn''t she do the same?


    On the other hand, Benjamin had provided Bonnie with a much more powerful staff.


    The staff she held now was a level 57 staff.


    This staff didn''t belong to Moonlight City; it was a precious weapon from the White Family. Benjamin had spent a long time convincing his family to entrust this staff to Bonnie.


    Since Bonnie was so confident, Jeremy realized that there was nothing more he could say to dissuade her.


    "Alright then. Let''s split up and investigate the surrounding area. Before we begin the awakening instance, you need to gather as much relevant information as possible," Jeremy suggested.


    At his reminder, Bonnie quickly sprang into action.


    The two of them swiftly collected more intelligence. While the information Ritchie had provided was fairlyprehensive, it was still somewhat vague and general. On the other hand, the intelligence Jeremy and Bonnie gathered was far more detailed and specific.


    They even managed to uncover the exact details about the instance boss¡ªthe Frost Giant.


    The Frost Giant was indeed a formidable opponent for Bonnie. Its magical immunity to frost spells meant that Bonnie''s usual attacks would be ineffective against it. This discovery made it clear that Bonnie would need to bring a weapon with fire properties if she were to stand any chance of defeating the boss.


    "It looks like this instance is definitely going to be quite challenging. But still, I''m confident I can get through it," Bonnie said, her gaze firm as she looked at Jeremy.


    This time, Jeremy did not voice any objections.


    After gathering enough information, Jeremy believed that Bonnie could indeed clear this awakening instance. The only issue was that she needed to be properly equipped with the right weapon.


    "You''re right," Jeremy responded calmly. "But before you enter the awakening instance, you must find a fire-based weapon powerful enough to deal with the Frost Giant. After all, your own skills won''t do much against it."


    Jeremy''s words were clear¡ªhe wasn''t opposed to Bonnie using this instance as her awakening trial. He simply wanted to make sure she was fully prepared before venturing into it.

 Chapter 412 Preparing for the Dungeon

    Since Jeremy and Bonnie had already decided to undertake the Awakening Instance, it was only natural for them to start preparing for the dungeon.


    Both Jeremy and Bonnie were very aware that the Instance Boss, the Frost Giant, possessed formidable resistance against Frost spells. Therefore, they had to prepare fire-based equipment in order to increase their chances of sess.


    "I think we should head straight back to Moonlight City," Jeremy suggested. "There might be fire-based equipment in the city''s warehouse. If not, our only option is to seek help from Liam. The Special Circumstances Bureau should have the necessary items."


    Bonnie nodded in agreement.


    "You''re right," she said. "To save time, let''s contact Liam before we head out. We can ask him to prepare all the fire-based items for us in advance. That way, we can move through the Awakening Instance more quickly."


    Bonnie was thinking ahead, covering more ground than Jeremy had.


    "You''re right. Let''s call Liam directly," Jeremy agreed.


    Once they were in agreement, they wasted no time in taking action.


    Jeremy dialed Liam''s number without hesitation.


    At that moment, Liam was in the Special Circumstances Bureau''s office, dealing with a series of unusual incidents that had recently urred in Moonlight City. Although the more difficult instances around the city had already been cleared, there were still some monsters lurking nearby. These creatures were even stronger than those that had been defeated previously.


    Liam strongly suspected that the appearance of these monsters was linked to an increase in the difficulty of the Apocalypse Game. However, he hadn''t yet been able to make a final judgment, so for now, he was just gathering more intelligence.


    When Jeremy''s call came in, Liam immediately answered.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Is something wrong?" Liam asked with a smile. "If you weren''t in trouble, you wouldn''t be calling me."


    "Is our rtionship so distant in your eyes?" Jeremy teased lightly. "Can''t I just call you because I want to chat?"


    Liam chuckled. "Alright, so you''re calling just to talk, huh?"


    "Of course not!" Jeremy replied, his tone growing more serious. "We''re all busy, aren''t we? I wouldn''t bother you just to chat."


    Jeremy''s tone grew more serious than before as he continued, "I need you to provide fire-based equipment. If you don''t have anything with fire attributes, anything rted to the power of the Sun will work as well."


    Jeremy was direct and clear about his request.


    Liam nodded, not hesitating for a moment, and responded confidently, "Of course, no problem at all. The Special Circumstances Bureau does have fire-based equipment avable. As for items rted to the power of the Sun, I''m not entirely sure, but I can look into it for you."


    Liam''s quick and positive reply made Jeremy finally breathe a sigh of relief.


    "Thank you so much for your help," Jeremy said over the phone, genuinely appreciative. "If you run into any trouble and need my assistance, I''ll be there to help."


    Liam chuckled lightly. "You don''t need to thank me. Actually, there''s something I''m curious about that I wanted to ask you."


    Jeremy''s tone remained casual as he responded, "Feel free to ask. We''re allies, and I don''t think there''s anything I need to hide from you."


    Liam hesitated for a moment before speaking again, a note of curiosity in his voice. "My question is¡ªwhy do you need fire-based equipment? Are you about to face a monster with extremely strong frost resistance?"


    Given Liam''s vast knowledge of various situations, it didn''t take him long to piece together the context behind Jeremy''s request.


    Jeremy didn''t hesitate to answer. He was straightforward as always. "You''re right. But the equipment isn''t for me; it''s for Bonnie. Her level has already reached 50, and she''s ready to undertake her Awakening Instance."


    Jeremy paused for a moment, making sure Liam was following, then continued. "Bonnie and I have already chosen an instance for her awakening. The final boss of this instance is the Frost Giant, who is over level 50. The Frost Giant has an extremely high resistance to Frost spells, which is why Bonnie will need fire-based equipment to defeat it. If we can''t get fire-based items, then she will need something with the power of the Sun instead."


    Liam''s face lit up with surprise upon hearing this.


    He hadn''t expected that Bonnie had already reached level 50. Just recently, he had learned that Ritchie hadpleted his own Awakening Instance.


    If Bonnie were toplete her Awakening Instance as quickly as she had reached level 50, Jeremy and hispanions would be incredibly powerful. Their strength would even surpass that of the Special Circumstances Bureau.


    Liam''s shock at the news left him momentarily stunned.


    On the other end of the phone, there was an unusual silence, which made both Jeremy and Bonnie feel uneasy.


    They were both concerned for Liam''s well-being.


    "Do you think Liam could have been attacked?" Bonnie asked quickly, her voice filled with worry. "Is it possible that while we were talking, he didn''t notice any enemies around him and got defeated? He might be in danger right now. We need to go rescue him immediately."


    Bonnie had a closer rtionship with Liam than Jeremy did, given that Liam was Benjamin''s subordinate, and Bonnie had often seen him whenever Benjamin and Liam met.


    "I don''t think we need to rush into action just yet," Jeremy said, trying to calm her down. "Let''s give it a moment. Maybe Liam will speak up again soon."


    As soon as Jeremy finished speaking, a voice came through the phone.


    "I''m sorry," Liam said, his voice sounding a bit distant. "I spaced out for a moment. I''ve got the fire-based equipment you requested. You cane pick it up anytime."


    Liam had found three items that were suitable for Bonnie.


    However, it was up to Bonnie to decide which one to use for her Awakening Instance. Neither Liam nor Jeremy could make that choice for her. Only Bonnie herself could decide which item to take.


    "Alright, we''ll be there as soon as we can," Jeremy replied, relieved. After hanging up the phone, he and Bonnie quickly made their way to the Special Circumstances Bureau.


    It took them less than an hour to reach the Bureau''s headquarters.


    "You''re finally here," Liam greeted them as they entered. "These three items are the fire-based ones I found for you." Heid out the items in front of Jeremy and Bonnie.


    Among the three, one was a pair of gloves, and the other two were staves.


    "This pair of gloves is a level 45 item," Liam exined, pointing to the gloves. "Although it''s not very high in level, it''s the most convenient one to use. When you wear these gloves, you''ll be able to cast Fireball spells. These gloves allow you tounch scorching fireballs at enemies, dealing significant damage."


    Liam first introduced the glove-shaped item.


    Bonnie nced at the gloves. While she acknowledged that the gloves were indeed very simple to use, she couldn''t overlook their obvious disadvantage: the level was just too low.


    Liam quickly noticed Bonnie''s thoughts, so he began to introduce the other two staffs.


    "The staff on the left is level 49. It''s a very high-level item, but it''s also extremely difficult to use. In order to wield this staff, you need to concentrate fully. If your attention wanders during use, there''s a high risk of being harmed by the staff''s bacsh."


    As Liam spoke, Bonnie picked up the staff. The moment her hand made contact with it, she felt a searing heat.


    The level 49 fire staff was constantly emanating powerful mes, and the energy radiating from it was intense. Bonnie realized that in order to use this staff, she would have to maintain a constant focus on her mental state. She found it difficult to wield.


    "The staff on the right is level 47. While its level isn''t as high, it has a special effect. When you use this staff, you gain a certain degree of immunity against control effects from enemies."


    Bonnie picked up the staff on the right as Liam continued his exnation. As she held it, she could clearly feel not only the firepower within the staff but also a strong presence of spatial energy.


    "This staff seems to have the ability to alter the surrounding spatial structure. Is that why, when using this staff, one can be immune to a certain degree of control effects from enemies?"


    Jeremy had also noticed the staff''s uniqueness, so he directly asked Liam about it.


    Liam smiled and nodded.


    "You''re right. That''s exactly the special feature of the Otherworld me Staff. Its active skill allows it to summon a portal that directly connects to a world filled with fiery energy. A massive amount of fire will pour out from the portal, causing immense damage to all enemies in front of it."


    Liam took the time to exin the special abilities of the Otherworld me Staff. He believed that it was the most suitable item for Bonnie.


    After carefully considering it for a moment, Bonnie nodded.


    "You''re right. I think I should take the Otherworld me Staff toplete my awakening instance!"

 Chapter 413 Being Well-Prepared but Still Nervous

    After receiving the Otherworld me Staff, Bonnie and Jeremy didn''t immediately head for the Awakening Instance they had chosen. Instead, they spent some time at Jeremy''s house, discussing potential challenges they might face once they entered the instance.


    "If, during the battle with the Frost Giant, you find yourself unable to gain the upper hand, I want you to call for help immediately," Jeremy said, his gaze intense as he looked at Bonnie. "Although I can''t enter the Awakening Instance with you, I can terminate your instance if things get too dangerous."


    Jeremy''s voice was firm, and his concern for Bonnie''s safety was clear. He didn''t want her to face any risks. In his eyes, Bonnie''s well-being was far more important than clearing the Awakening Instance.


    Bonnie didn''t respond right away. She understood how much Jeremy cared for her, but in her heart, she knew thatpleting the Awakening Instance was something she had to do. It wasn''t just a goal¡ªit was a necessity.


    "I understand," she finally said, her voice calm but resolute. "If I really can''t defeat the Frost Giant, I''ll call for help. But I''m confident I can take it down."


    Although Bonnie''s tone was steady, Jeremy could see the unwavering determination in her eyes. She wasn''t just speaking with confidence¡ªshe believed in herself.


    "Alright then, let''s get moving," Jeremy said, his expression softening a little. "If you want to clear the Awakening Instance, you need the Awakening Key first. I''ll take you to the space where the ss Change Goddess, Janna, resides."


    Without another word, Jeremy activated a portal and led Bonnie into the space where the ss Change Goddess awaited.


    Janna had already been informed that Jeremy and Bonnie would be arriving, and she was fully prepared by the time they stepped into her domain.


    "Apocalypse Game yers, you''ve reached level 50, and you are now eligible for your Awakening. Are you ready?" Janna''s voice was filled with a divine resonance, and it echoed with a calm, yet powerful, presence.


    Bonnie took a deep breath. Despite her preparations, she still felt a flutter of nervousness.


    "I''m ready. I can begin my Awakening Ceremony," Bonnie replied solemnly, her voice steady, though the nervous tension was evident in her posture.


    Janna nodded, acknowledging her determination. With a graceful gesture, she summoned a dazzling burst of white light that enveloped Bonnie''s body.


    As the light slowly faded, Bonnie was left standing there, holding a key that glowed with a purple aura. This key, of course, was the Awakening Key¡ªthe first crucial step in her journey toplete the Awakening Instance.


    "You have obtained the Awakening Key. You can now choose your awakening instance!" After the ss Change Goddess, Janna, finished speaking, she waved her hand.


    Jeremy and Bonnie were then returned to the real world.


    At this moment, Bonnie''s expression was slightly grim. She was clearly feeling very nervous.


    Jeremy noticed Bonnie''s anxiety and smiled at her reassuringly.


    "You''ve prepared very well. Even if you can''t clear the awakening instance, you''ll still be able to ensure your own safety. So, try not to put too much pressure on yourself."


    Bonnie gave Jeremy a faint smile. While she wanted to rx, she just couldn''t seem to calm herselfpletely.


    "Take your items. Now that you have the Awakening Key, there''s no turning back. You must open your own awakening instance," Jeremy said, his tone serious.


    In Jeremy''s mind, once someone reached level 50, they could choose whether or not to proceed with their awakening. If they decided to proceed and had the Awakening Key, there was no reason to hesitate.


    Bonnie nodded solemnly.


    Jeremy then led Bonnie to the entrance of the awakening instance they had chosen.


    "All you need to do is use the Awakening Key to open the instance. Once it''s opened, I won''t be able to offer you any help. Inside the instance, you''ll only be able to rely on yourself."


    Before entering the awakening instance, Jeremy gave Bonnie onest reminder.


    Bonnie nodded.


    "I understand. I will seed!"


    With that, Bonnie immediately used the Awakening Key. The key transformed into a beam of light, entering the instance, and the entire instance then shifted into the awakening instance.


    The entrance to the instance turned into arge gate. Only Bonnie could open it.


    As she reached the gate, Bonnie turned to look at Jeremy. She was still feeling a bit nervous.


    Even though she had prepared thoroughly and Jeremy had helped her n everything, she just couldn''t fully calm her racing heart.


    "Don''t worry about anything. Just do your best. I know you''ll seed," Jeremy said, smiling at Bonnie.


    Bonnie nodded and then pushed open the gate to the awakening instance.


    As Bonnie entered the awakening instance, Jeremy found himself once again in the space where the ss Change Goddess Janna resided. It was only here that Jeremy could witness everything happening inside the awakening instance.


    "It seems like your rtionship with Bonnie is definitely closer than with Ritchie. When Ritchie entered his awakening instance, you weren''t this tense," the ss Change Goddess Janna said with a smile, clearly recognizing the strong bond between Jeremy and Bonnie.


    Jeremy chuckled lightly.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "It''s not exactly what you think. The reason I''m so worried is because Bonnie''s strength is far weaker than Ritchie''s. Though Ritchie isn''t exactly reliable, he''s been through a lot of dangerous missions with me. I believe that in the awakening instance, Ritchie would be able to quickly deal with any dangers he faces. But Bonnie... I don''t think she can manage that."


    Jeremy''s exnation somewhat convinced the ss Change Goddess Janna.


    At that moment, Bonnie had just entered the awakening instance.


    With the Otherworld me Staff in hand, Bonnie quickly took care of the first few weaker monsters she encountered. However, this action led the instance boss¡ªthe Frost Giant¡ªto target Bonnie directly.


    The Frost Giant, now aware of her presence, began advancing from the deepest part of the instance toward Bonnie.


    Watching this unfold, Jeremy''s expression tightened with anxiety.


    "Her actions have put her in grave danger. I don''t think she can clear the awakening instance," the ss Change Goddess Janna said directly, voicing her opinion.


    Janna had never been particrly optimistic about Bonnie''s abilities. She believed that Ritchie was the only one who could potentially provide Jeremy with significant help during such missions.


    Jeremy remained silent.


    Truth be told, he wasn''t particrly confident in Bonnie''s chances either. But since Bonnie had already reached level 50, it was only natural for her to proceed with the awakening. If she seeded, it would undoubtedly offer Jeremy a significant advantage as well.


    Both Jeremy and the ss Change Goddess Janna watched Bonnie''s every move intently.


    At this point, Bonnie hadn''t yet realized that she was already in danger. She was simply progressing slowly through the awakening instance, unaware of the looming threat.


    As a Frost Mage, Bonnie naturally possessed a strong resistance to frost, and with the Otherworld me Staff in her hand, she was capable of enduring extremely low temperatures. However, even with these advantages, she could still feel the surrounding temperature dropping far too much.


    Suddenly, a multitude of ice crystals appeared on the walls surrounding Bonnie. These ice crystals were clearly formed by the spread of the Frost Giant''s icy power.


    Bonnie sensed the danger, but she couldn''t pinpoint where it wasing from.


    "What''s going on? Why does the environment around me feel so strange? Could it be that I''ve already been targeted by the instance boss? But that''s impossible! I''ve only just entered the instance. Shouldn''t the instance boss be in the deepest part of the instance?" Bonnie''s mind was filled with confusion.


    But now, she could only rely on herself to solve these questions.


    She couldn''t ask Jeremy for help. If she did, the awakening instance would disappear in an instant.


    After moving forward for a while, Bonnie suddenly saw a transparent wall in front of her. This wall seemed to be infused with a powerful frost-based energy.


    The moment she spotted the wall, Bonnie immediately gripped the Otherworld me Staff tighter.


    She held her breath, fully aware that ahead of her, there was likely an enemy she would find very difficult to defeat.


    However, she still couldn''t sense the enemy''s presence yet.


    Bonnie remained on high alert, carefully observing her surroundings and doing everything she could to avoid a surprise attack. But in the end, she failed.


    Before Bonnie could identify the source of the danger, a massive hammer came crashing down from the sky. This giant hammer, infused with intense frost power, froze everything around Bonnie, including herself.


    The powerful frost force impacted Bonnie directly.


    Bonnie could feel her movements slowing down significantlypared to before.


    "What''s going on? The passive effect of the Otherworld me Staff should be active. This means that if I didn''t have the Otherworld me Staff, my movement speed would be even slower. Is the enemy''s strength too overwhelming?!"


    Bonnie was extremely shocked. From the recent attack, she could tell that the enemy who had struck her was incredibly powerful.


    At this moment, Bonnie still didn''t realize that the enemy who had just attacked her was none other than the awakening instance''s boss¡ªthe Frost Giant.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 414 Narrow Escape

    Bonnie tightly gripped her Otherworld me Staff. Although she had no idea that she was about to face the boss of the awakened instance, the Frost Giant, she could sense that the enemy ahead of her was extraordinarily powerful.


    When faced with a particrly strong opponent, Bonnie would never act recklessly.


    Holding her breath, Bonnie carefully observed her surroundings.


    She hoped to gather detailed intelligence on the enemy ahead before taking any action.


    At this moment, Bonnie was extremely tense, but she wasn''t the most nervous person around.


    Two individuals were even more on edge than Bonnie. Naturally, these two were Jeremy, who was focused on Bonnie, and the ss Change Goddess, Janna.


    Jeremy clenched his hands tightly.


    He was deeply concerned that Bonnie might make a wrong decision.


    If Bonnie took just a few more steps forward, she would step into the Frost Giant''s absolute control zone.


    As the boss of the instance, the Frost Giant already possessed formidable power.


    But after the instance became an awakened instance, the Frost Giant had been significantly strengthened.


    A 5-meter radius around the Frost Giant''s body was permanently frozen.


    If Bonnie entered this permanent frozen zone, she would be unable to take any actions.


    If that were to happen, Jeremy would have no other option. He would have to enter the awakened instance to rescue Bonnie.


    Although doing so would result in Bonnie''s awakening being aplete failure, it would at least save her life.


    The ss Change Goddess, Janna, was also somewhat tense.


    Though she didn''t care whether Bonnie seeded or failed in the instance, she was deeply concerned about Jeremy''s emotional state.


    To Janna, if Bonnie failed to clear the instance, Jeremy''s mental state would be thrown off bnce. He was likely to do somethingpletely unexpected.


    In this highly tense situation, Bonnie slowly advanced.


    She was now very close to the permanently frozen zone.


    At that moment, Bonnie suddenly sensed that something was wrong.


    She gripped her Otherworld me Staff and quickly retreated.


    Bonnie''s retreat was swift, and she quickly distanced herself from the Frost Giant.


    Finally, Bonnie had reached a safe zone.


    However, this didn''t mean that she had escaped from the Frost Giant''s grasp.


    Bonnie''s recent actions had, in fact, provoked the Frost Giant.


    The Frost Giant charged rapidly toward Bonnie''s direction.


    Bonnie finally got a clear look at the Frost Giant''s appearance.


    "Did I really encounter the boss of the awakened instance now? Why is the boss of the awakened instance appearing in the first half of the instance?" Bonnie was deeply shocked.


    She had originally expected to encounter the boss of the awakened instance in thetter half of the instance.


    But now that she had already encountered the boss, Bonnie knew she had to take the appropriate action.


    She raised the Otherworld me Staff in front of her and activated its active effect.


    A Portal appeared in front of Bonnie.


    Beyond the Portal was a world filled with fiery power.


    The moment the Portal was created, a massive surge of me energy erupted from within.


    Although the Frost Giant was powerful, when faced with such a vast amount of fiery power, it chose to retreat for the time being.


    The Frost Giant dissolved into a puddle of water, blending into the surrounding environment.


    Bonnie was well aware that the Frost Giant wouldn''t be easily defeated.


    So, taking advantage of this moment, she continued to push deeper into the awakened instance.


    Jeremy and the ss Change Goddess, Janna, both watched this unfold, and they finally let out a slight sigh of relief.


    "It seems Bonnie really does have a wealth of experience in clearing instances. Most ordinary people, after pushing back an instance boss, would definitely choose to rest. But resting at that point is a huge mistake. The correct choice is to immediately advance deeper into the instance after fending off the boss. No instance boss ispletely unbeatable. If the boss of an instance is incredibly strong, there will surely be a way within the instance to help yers of the Apocalypse Game defeat it," Janna said slowly.


    Jeremy didn''t respond verbally. He simply nodded slowly.


    Although Bonnie''s actions had given Jeremy some relief, it didn''t mean that he had fully rxed yet.


    While Bonnie''s move had been sessful, the Frost Giant boss was still not eliminated.


    Until the Frost Giant boss was defeated, Bonnie wouldn''t be able to obtain the Awakening Gemstone.


    Janna also fell silent and continued to observe Bonnie''s every move alongside Jeremy.


    Bonnie advanced quite a long way through the instance in one go.


    At this point, Bonnie had already entered thetter half of the instance.


    Bonnie was separated from the area where the instance boss, the Frost Giant, had originally been by only a single wall.


    She could even feel the powerful frost energy emanating from behind the wall.


    "This must be the boss room! Since the Frost Giant appeared in the first half of the instance and is so strong, there must be a way to counter it inside the boss room," Bonnie thought quickly in her mind.


    She soon made an urate judgment.


    However, breaking through the wall ahead was going to be very difficult.


    In addition to the powerful frost energy, the wall was also sealed with a strong, nearly indestructible enchantment.


    Bonnie had initially nned to use the active skill of the Otherworld me Staff to break the wall.


    But after careful consideration, she decided to abandon this n. She realized that doing so would lower her chances of sess in the uing battle.


    The more the Otherworld me Staff''s active skill was used, the weaker it became.


    Bonnie needed to save the staff''s active skill for the final showdown with the Frost Giant.


    She was very aware that with just the skills she had, defeating the Frost Giant was impossible.


    Meanwhile, as Bonnie hesitated, the Frost Giant was quickly approaching her position.


    Although Bonnie didn''t yet sense the Frost Giant''s presence, she knew she had been wasting too much time. Find adventures on empire


    "I can''t keep wasting time! The Frost Giant must be taking action. If I don''t make a decision quickly, it will soon pose a huge threat to me," Bonnie muttered to herself.


    The expressions of Jeremy and the ss Change Goddess, Janna, who were observing Bonnie''s every move, had also turned extremely serious.


    From their perspective, they could see the Frost Giant rapidly closing in on Bonnie.


    "Take action now! If you keep standing still, the Frost Giant will definitely attack you!" Jeremy even spoke out in his urgency.


    However, of course, Bonnie couldn''t hear what Jeremy was saying.


    At this moment, Bonnie was still hesitating.


    Then, without warning, the Frost Giant smashed through the wall behind Bonnie.


    The Frost Giant gathered its immense frost power andunched a massive ice spike directly at Bonnie.


    Bonnie was startled by the sudden appearance of the Frost Giant.


    But Bonnie didn''t fall into a state of panic.


    She quickly chose to move in a different direction.


    The ice spike thrown by the Frost Giant missed Bonnie and instead shattered the wall in front of her.


    Upon seeing this, Bonnie had a bold idea.


    "Maybe I can take this opportunity to directly enter the boss room!" she thought.


    Just as this idea crossed her mind, the Frost Giant arrived right in front of Bonnie.


    The Frost Giant let out a furious roar.


    Bonnie could feel the temperature around her body rapidly dropping.


    "There''s no more time to think! I have to act immediately, no matter what!" Bonnie thought to herself as she gripped the Otherworld me Staff tightly and charged toward the Frost Giant.


    Just as they were about to collide, Bonnie suddenly lowered her head and dashed between the Frost Giant''s legs.


    She narrowly avoided the Frost Giant''s attack and entered the boss room.


    Inside the Frost Giant''s boss room, there was indeed a gemstone emitting a blue glow.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    However, this gemstone wasn''t the Awakening Gemstone¡ªthis was actually the Frost Giant''s Soul Gemstone.


    Bonnie immediately activated the active skill of the Otherworld me Staff.


    A Portal materialized in front of Bonnie, and the moment it appeared, an immense surge of me energy poured out from it.


    All of this fiery power was absorbed by the Frost Giant''s Soul Gemstone.


    The overwhelming fire energy shattered the Soul Gemstone in an instant.


    As the Frost Giant''s Soul Gemstone was destroyed, the Frost Giant''s body began to copse rapidly.


    Bonnie had sessfully and narrowly cleared the Awakened Instance.


    The Awakening Gemstone, glowing with a mysterious light, appeared before Bonnie.


    Back in the ss Change space, Jeremy and the ss Change Goddess, Janna, finally let out a sigh of relief.


    "Although she encountered many dangers during the instance, in the end, she seeded. Yourpanion really didn''t disappoint you. Both you and yourpanion have be much stronger than before," Janna said, smiling at Jeremy.


    Jeremy didn''t respond verbally. He just smiled and nodded.


    Watching Bonnie clear the Awakened Instance had ced an immense amount of pressure on Jeremy. He didn''t want to say anything right now. All he wanted to do was see Bonnie''s Awakening Talent.

 Chapter 415 The Magic Expert

    The moment Bonnie made contact with the awakening gemstone, the ss Change Goddess, Janna, sifted through countless awakening talents and selected three that were most suitable for Bonnie.


    "The three awakening talents I''ve chosen for Bonnie are: Ice Angel, Magic Expert, and Prophet," said ss Change Goddess Janna, smiling at Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded. He was waiting for Janna to borate on the specific details of these three awakening talents.


    "The first awakening talent is Ice Angel. This talent will greatly increase Bonnie''s damage output with frost spells. It will also make it easier for Bonnie to learn and master frost spells.


    In addition, the Ice Angel talent grants Bonnie enhanced resistance against frost-based attacks. This talent will also amplify all of Bonnie''s current abilities," Janna exined.


    The Ice Angel talent did indeed seem quite fitting for Bonnie. After all, all the skills Bonnie had learned before awakening were rted to frost magic. However, Jeremy felt that Ice Angel was a bit too ordinary. He was more interested in hearing about the other two talents: Magic Expert and Prophet.


    "The Magic Expert talent, as an awakening ability, reduces the mana cost of using magic. This will allow Bonnie to cast more spells duringbat. Furthermore, this talent enables Bonnie to learn magic from multiple schools, not just the frost-based magic she specializes in.


    Although Bonnie excels in frost magic, I believe she should learn spells from other magic schools as well. The more types of magic she masters, the greater her potential inbat.


    Additionally, the Magic Expert talent will grant Bonnie ess to a variety of useful spells for everyday life. For example, she could even use this opportunity to create a magical barrier to protect Moonlight City," Janna continued, describing the benefits of the Magic Expert talent.


    After hearing Janna exin the effects of Magic Expert, Jeremy immediately stood up.


    He was impressed. This talent seemed perfect for Bonnie. More importantly, it was extremely beneficial for Moonlight City. If Bonnie could indeed create a magical barrier to protect the entire city, Jeremy and the others would no longer be constrained to staying within Moonlight City.


    Noticing Jeremy''s reaction, ss Change Goddess Janna smiled.


    "It seems you''re quite satisfied with this talent. In that case, you can go ahead and help Bonnie choose it."


    When Jeremy heard these words, his smile suddenly disappeared.


    He really hoped that Bonnie would choose the Magic Expert talent. However, in Jeremy''s mind, he didn''t feel he had the right to help Bonnie make such a decision.


    So, Jeremy simply said in a calm tone, "This is something that Bonnie herself needs to decide. While I believe the Magic Expert talent is perfect for her, I''d also like to hear about the effects of the Prophet talent."


    "The Prophet talent is rtively simple," Janna began. "This talent allows Bonnie to foresee the future. However, predicting the future is very dangerous. What''s foretold might happen, or it might not. If the Prophet foresees something terrifying that will definitely ur, the Prophet herself will suffer a bacsh. And if the Prophet predicts something that won''t happen, but prepares for it, then what was once unlikely to happen might actuallye to pass."


    Janna clearly felt that the Prophet talent was far too dangerous.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement with Janna''s assessment.


    The Prophet talent was indeed very risky. And Jeremy believed that the future was highly uncertain.


    The developers of Apocalypse Game likely had the ability to foresee the future to some extent. Their powers would certainly be far greater than those of ordinary yers. So even if Bonnie gained the Prophet talent, her prophetic abilities would likely be suppressed by those in charge.


    "You''re right. The Prophet talent is far too dangerous," Jeremy said. "I think Bonnie should choose the Magic Expert talent instead. So I hope you can cooperate with me in this decision."


    Janna nodded, fully understanding how she should assist Jeremy.


    "Bonnie will be back here soon. I''ll do my best to convince her to choose the Magic Expert talent!" Janna promised directly.


    At that moment, Bonnie activated the Awakening Gemstone.


    Experience new tales on empire


    The gemstone transformed into a burst of light that entered Bonnie''s body. Shortly after, Bonnie was transported to the space where Janna was.


    Jeremy, seeing this, quickly hid himself.


    Jeremy certainly didn''t want Bonnie to see him.


    "Congrattions onpleting your Awakening! You now have the chance to choose one of the three Awakening Talents that I''ve provided for you," the voice of the ss Change Goddess, Janna, reached Bonnie''s ears.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Looking at the three talents presented by Janna, Bonnie didn''t hesitate for long.


    "I choose the Magic Expert talent," Bonnie said earnestly.


    Bonnie''s choice surprised both Jeremy and Janna.


    They had originally expected Bonnie to select the Ice Angel talent. But Bonnie''s decision meant that Jeremy and Janna no longer had to take any additional actions.


    "Is this your final choice? Once confirmed, you won''t be able to change it," Janna asked onest time, confirming with Bonnie.


    Bonnie nodded firmly.


    "This is my choice!"


    Once Bonnie confirmed her decision, a burst of light flooded into her mind.


    Bonnie gained the Magic Expert talent and, in an instant, she suddenly mastered a variety of spells.


    Afterpleting her Awakening, Bonnie quickly returned to the real world. Jeremy, naturally, had already returned ahead of her.


    "Congrattions! You''ve finallypleted your Awakening! What kind of Awakening Talent did you receive?" Jeremy asked Bonnie with a smile.


    Although Jeremy already knew everything, he pretended to be unaware.


    Bonnie smiled back.


    "I received the Magic Expert talent. From now on, I''ll not only be able to use frost spells, but I can actually use spells from all schools of magic. These spells will definitely help us!"


    Bonnie''s choice of the Magic Expert talent was not just for herself; she also did it for Jeremy.


    In Bonnie''s eyes, Jeremy''s teamcked a true magic expert. She was the best person to take on that role, so when she saw the Magic Expert talent, she made the decision immediately.


    Jeremy was deeply moved.


    "The Magic Expert talent will indeed provide us with a huge advantage! But mastering itpletely will take some practice. So, in the short term, you should avoid any more risky situations," Jeremy said to Bonnie with a smile.


    Bonnie nodded in agreement.


    "You''re right. In theing period, I''ll focus on familiarizing myself with my Magic Expert talent. I''ll make sure to learn and master it faster than Ritchie," Bonnie said, still eager to stay ahead of Ritchie in terms of strength.


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy merely smiled.


    "I believe both of you will quickly fully master your Awakening Talents. You''ll never disappoint me," he said with assurance.


    With that, Bonnie, like Ritchie, began to familiarize herself with her Awakening talent.


    After both of hispanionspleted their Awakening, Jeremy could finally start thinking about how to deal with Kean. Jeremy knew all too well that Kean had been plotting against him for some time. So, he decided it was time toe up with a detailed n.


    Jeremy wasn''t nning to face Kean head-on in the capital. The advantage Kean had there was simply too great, and Jeremy hoped to find a way to lure Kean to the outskirts of Moonlight City.


    Although such a n would be extremely difficult to execute, Jeremy was confident that it wasn''t impossible. After all, he had the help of the Goddess of Life and the God of War.


    The Goddess of Life and the God of War had spent a considerable amount of time strengthening their own states. Not only could they now appear in the real world, but they could also exert most of their power in it.


    With their assistance, Jeremy believed that he had a real chance to defeat Kean.


    Of course, whether or not he could actually defeat Kean would ultimately depend on how powerful the apocalypse game''s nners behind Kean truly were.


    Behind Kean, not only did he have the support of the Sun but also the backing of two Apocalypse Game developers. These two developers had not yet exerted much of their power, but Jeremy knew that they were a significant factor to consider.


    With this in mind, Jeremy realized that time was running out for him.


    "No matter what, I have to speed up my actions! Kean''s power is definitely increasing rapidly! If his strength surpasses mine, I will definitely lose in battle," Jeremy thought to himself, fully aware of the looming danger.


    Jeremy was deeply conscious of the looming crisis. Despite already moving at an incredible pace, he was still unable to quickly figure out a way to defeat Kean. The reason for this was that Kean, in this time, had also been taking countermeasures to prepare himself.


    Kean had already reached level 62. His level was now nearly equal to Jeremy''s, and with the assistance of the Apocalypse Game developers, Kean was beginning to believe that he could defeat Jeremy in a direct confrontation.


    Currently, Kean was focusing on acquiring powerful weapons. In fact, he was eager to eliminate Jeremy as soon as possible, knowing that every moment spent waiting only made the confrontation more dangerous for him.

 Chapter 416 The Secret Behind Permafrost Ice

    Although Jeremy hoped Bonnie could quickly master the Magic Expert awakening talent she had acquired, it was evident that gaining full control over such a talent would require significant time and practice. Therefore, it was impossible for Jeremy to continue his actions while bringing Bonnie along with him.


    Moreover, Jeremy had no intention of facing Kean alone. While he believed his own strength surpassed Kean''s, traveling to the capital would ce him in an isted and vulnerable situation. Kean, on the other hand, had the potential support of the Person in the Mirror. This made it clear to Jeremy that he could not afford to take unnecessary risks.


    Thus, Jeremy decided to first investigate the three spoils he had obtained from the special instance.


    The Dark Core was not something that could be investigated further, and the perfectly crafted crystal octahedron was tooplex to examine with any certainty. So, Jeremy chose to start with the Permafrost Ice.


    ording to the Eye of Omniscience''s guidance, the Permafrost Ice needed to be ced in an "eternal me" in order to reveal more information. However, Jeremy had no way of locating this "eternal me" on his own. So, he decided to seek help from his allies.


    The first two people Jeremy turned to were the ss Change Goddess Janna and The World. He shared the information he had received and asked them, "Do you have any thoughts? Where do you think this ''eternal me'' might be located? Or, what do you think the ''eternal me'' actually represents?"


    ss Change Goddess Janna slowly shook her head. As the goddess of ss changes, she was well aware that some talents were rted to mes. But she had never encountered anything like the "eternal me" mentioned in Jeremy''s clue.


    In Janna''s view, even the developers of the Apocalypse Game wouldn''t be able to create something as specific as the "eternal me."


    After Janna admitted she had no useful ideas, Jeremy turned his gaze toward The World. If The World could not provide any insight, Jeremy would likely have to seek Liam''s help in the real world.


    The World remained expressionless as he pondered the question for a moment.


    "I have two ideas," he said slowly, finally breaking the silence. "First, the ''eternal me'' might not refer to a traditional me at all."


    His suggestion caused both Jeremy and Janna to pause, their eyes widening in interest.


    "You''re right," Jeremy said directly, "The eternal burning mes could very well represent a certain will or way of thinking."


    [World] slowly nodded.


    "You''re correct, but the key point is eternity. As far as I know, aside from beings that are deities, no will or mindset can exist eternally," [World] said, carefully expressing his thoughts.


    Jeremy furrowed his brows and thought for a moment before replying, "So, you''re saying that this clue is definitely rted to the developers of the Apocalypse Game?"


    Although Jeremy was a little disappointed, he had actually anticipated that this might happen.


    Jeremy had originally thought that this clue was just rted to the Sun. He hadn''t expected it to be connected to all the developers of the Apocalypse Game.


    [World] slowly shook his head.


    "I don''t know. This is just my guess. I don''t know the final answer!" [World] answered honestly.


    He believed he was only offering Jeremy some assistance. He couldn''t deduce all the details just from this single clue.


    Jeremy nodded, acknowledging the answer.


    "Then what''s the second idea? You said you had two, right?"


    [World] nodded slowly and continued.


    "The key point of the eternal burning mes is eternity, but another keyword is ''mes.'' Where do you think we could find mes? Keep in mind, the mes mentioned here are not ordinary mes. These mes must possess immense power. Aside from the developers of the Apocalypse Game, the only other beings who could wield such powerful mes would likely be deities from other worlds."


    Your adventure continues at empire


    The two ideas [World] proposed were simr to Jeremy''s previous thoughts.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Now, aside from returning to the capital, Jeremy didn''t have many other options. He had to figure out the connection between the eternal burning mes and the Sun before he could further uncover the secrets behind Permafrost Ice.


    "I understand! Although the information you''ve provided isn''t very much, I still want to thank you. I hope that when I run into trouble, you''ll be there to help me out promptly," Jeremy stated directly,ying out his request.


    ss change goddess Janna immediately responded without hesitation.


    "Of course, there''s no problem at all. I''ll stay in the ss change space. If you run into any trouble, you can pray to me. I''ll make sure to assist you as quickly as possible."


    Since ss change goddess Janna had no other obligations, she could easily agree to this.


    [World], however, didn''t give a direct answer.


    There were many things [World] needed to do. He had been nning to counter [Fool], and although his previous efforts hadn''t been particrly sessful, he felt he couldn''t stop now.


    After contemting for a moment, [World] slowly spoke.


    "If it''s convenient for me, I will help you. But you should know, I usually have more important tasks to carry out."


    Jeremy, of course, expressed his understanding.


    "I understand! So if you don''t have time to help, I won''t hold it against you!"


    With those words, Jeremy turned and left.


    In his mind, he already had a rough n forming. He needed to work out the details quickly, then team up with hispanions to put it into action.


    After Jeremy left, ss change goddess Janna looked at [World] with a worried expression and asked,


    "What exactly is the secret behind Permafrost Ice? Do you really know nothing about it? I believe the special instance Jeremy went through must have been created by one of the Apocalypse Game nners. This nner wants Jeremy to act ording to their n. Don''t you worry that there might be a massive conspiracy behind all of this?"


    Upon hearing this, [World] gave a bitter smile.


    "Of course I know. This is very likely a huge conspiracy. But we can''t stop Jeremy. We also need to gather more clues through his actions."


    The nners of the Apocalypse Game had grown increasingly powerful. In the past, they could only infiltrate the real world through instances, but now, they were capable of directly exerting their influence into the real world.


    The time we have left is actually running out. That''s why Jeremy''s actions are crucial for us. Sending him on these adventures is something we have no choice but to do," [World] reflected, his thoughts deep and heavy.


    On one hand, he had to oppose the nners of the Apocalypse Game; on the other hand, he also had to ensure that the nners wouldn''t be fully provoked.


    [Fool] had not yet beenpletely angered, which was why it hadn''t used its most powerful abilities. However, once [Fool] was truly enraged, it could very well unleash its immense power to erase any remaining hope in the real world.


    Although such an action would significantly affect [Fool] itself, [Fool] was not a being governed byplete reason.


    [World] dared not ce the survival of the human world in the hands of such an evil deity, no matter how logical it seemed.


    As [World] spoke, a look of helplessness spread across his face.


    ss change goddess Janna could roughly understand why [World] would wear such an expression. She sighed deeply.


    "It seems that all of us are destined to face an immense crisis. All we can do is ensure our own safety. If Jeremy can''t use his own strength to uncover more clues, we will all fall into an irredeemable situation. I just hope that Jeremy''s actions will seed. I hope that in the end, we won''t have made all our efforts in vain," Janna said, her tone filled with deep despondency.


    She hadn''t expected that despite all the effort she and the others had put into fighting against the nners of the Apocalypse Game, they still couldn''t find a way to seed.


    [World] didn''t speak. He simply turned his gaze toward the distance.


    In the distance, there was an expanse of chaos, filled with all sorts of conflicting forces. The power represented by the nners of the Apocalypse Game mixed together, forming an unfathomable darkness. Anyone who saw this endless ckness would feel a deep, soul-shattering fear.


    [World] had already witnessed such darkness, and only he had the ability to continue fighting against the powerful nners of the Apocalypse Game.


    "Don''t be so pessimistic! Our actions have already made significant progress. At least we''ve temporarily caused two of the Apocalypse Game nners to fall. While they can seek resurrection, it will take them a long time. As long as we remain united, we will eventually make the strongest nners of the Apocalypse Game pay the price. Then we can finally end this disaster."


    Although [World]''s voice was soft, his tone was resolute and firm.


    ss change goddess Janna slowly nodded, seemingly convinced by his words.


    The two of them decided to continue their efforts to fight against the nners of the Apocalypse Game.

 Chapter 417 Individual Concerns and Plans

    Naturally, Jeremy was unaware of the concerns held by ss change goddess Janna and [World].


    After returning to the real world, Jeremy immediately set to work on devising a detailed action n. Since he had already learned that the eternal burning mes were connected to the nners of the Apocalypse Game, it was only logical for him to focus his efforts on the Sun.


    In his previous actions, Jeremy had already realized that the power of the Sun was rapidly recovering. If he didn''t act quickly enough, the Sun might soon possess a strength he couldn''t ovee.


    "I must head to the capital as soon as possible!" Jeremy muttered to himself. "Although I won''t be able to directly locate the Sun''s hiding ce in the capital, I can track down The Person in the Mirror. They must know where the Sun is hiding. If even they don''t know, then my only option will be to find Kean. As long as I defeat Kean, I''ll have enough clues to move forward."


    Jeremy spoke his n aloud, but as he reached the end, he suddenly chuckled to himself. He realized how far-fetched his n sounded.


    "How could I possibly defeat Kean so easily? I don''t even know how to find him. He definitely won''t fight me unless he''s forced to."


    Kean was Jeremy''s greatest enemy, and naturally, the person he understood the most. Jeremy knew that although Kean appeared arrogant on the surface, he was, in fact, very cautious. Kean wouldn''t cause trouble unless he had sufficient power, and until then, he would avoid conflict with Jeremy.


    Once Kean appeared before him, it would mean that Kean had gained a significant advantage over him.


    "Regardless, I have to tell Ritchie my n! Because from here on out, he''s the only one who can join me in taking action!" Jeremy quickly sent Ritchie a message.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Upon receiving Jeremy''s message, Ritchie rushed to Jeremy''s home. At this point, Ritchie had nearly mastered his awakening talent. He could easily use his shadow maniption skills to sever the souls of enemies whose levels were not higher than his own. Even if he encountered enemies stronger than him, he could still use his Soul Division skill to pose a significant threat to them.


    "Have you made up your mind already? I told you before, if the two of us team up, we can take down Kean!" Ritchie said bluntly when he arrived at Jeremy''s house.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "I didn''t call you here to discuss fighting Kean."


    Ritchie''s face showed a puzzled expression upon hearing this answer.


    "If we''re not going to fight Kean, then who are we going to fight? Isn''t he the only enemy we need to deal with right now? The nners of the Apocalypse Game may be powerful, but they can''t even enter the real world."


    Ritchie hadn''t quite adjusted his thinking yet.


    Although he knew that the Apocalypse Game nners were incredibly powerful, he didn''t consider them to be an immediate threat. He believed that as long as they didn''t enter special instances, they wouldn''t have to worry about attacks from the nners.


    Jeremy didn''t argue with Ritchie''s viewpoint. If he wanted to exin everything, it would require far too much time, and that wasn''t something they had right now.


    "I called you here because I want us to investigate the secret behind the Permafrost Ice. Don''t you remember the three items we discovered in the special instance?"


    Ritchie couldn''t possibly forget the items they found in the special instance.


    The mention of investigating the Permafrost Ice immediately got his attention.


    "Did you finally find the Eternal Burning me?" Ritchie asked eagerly.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "I haven''t found the Eternal Burning me, but I believe it''s closely rted to the Sun. That''s why I want to go to the capital with you."


    Jeremy shared his thoughts.


    Ritchie didn''t object.


    "That works too. We can use this opportunity to make Kean pay. Even if we can''t find the Eternal Burning me, we can at least find Kean."


    Ritchie was eager to fight Kean.


    He felt that, with his awakening talent, hisbat strength was now on par with Kean''s.


    Although Jeremy thought Ritchie might be getting a bit too cocky, his current state was actually quite useful for Jeremy''s ns. So, Jeremy didn''t say much more.


    "Maybe. But it all depends on whether our actions seed. If we really encounter Kean, we''ll have to fight him, of course," Jeremy said with a smile.


    After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two of them began to devise a detailed action n.


    Although their objective was simple, the n itself had to be thoroughly detailed. This was because, once they returned to the capital, they would face the risk of being isted and without support.


    While Jeremy and Ritchie were discussing their n, Kean had already taken action in the capital.


    Kean had entered an instance on the outskirts of the capital. This instance had only appeared recently, and all the monsters inside were connected to the Sun. The Sun itself resided deep within the instance.


    Thanks to the efforts of The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun, the Sun''s power had grown significantly stronger than before. The Sun was now on the verge of aplete resurrection. Only one more ritual remained.


    However, the resurrection ritual was highlyplex and required long preparation to seed.


    The Son of the Sun had summoned Kean to discuss the resurrection ritual.


    "The Sun finally has enough power to be resurrected. Once weplete the ritual, the Sun should be able to appear in the real world, right? Then we can eliminate Jeremy!" Kean asked with a smile when he saw The Son of the Sun.


    The Son of the Sun nodded seriously.


    "Jeremy must be eliminated, but before we can eliminate him, we need to be fully prepared for any challenge he might throw at us."


    The Son of the Sun''s words surprised Kean.


    "What do you mean by that? Didn''t Jeremy already return to Moonlight City? He won''t be able to threaten us anymore. We just need to wait for the great Sun to be resurrected."


    Although Kean spoke confidently on the surface, deep down, he already had some suspicions.


    The Son of the Sun didn''t contradict Kean''s words.


    "Jeremy won''t let us seed so easily. From what I know, Jeremy has already started developing a n against us. In a few days, he will arrive in the capital. What we need to do is eliminate him here, in the capital."


    "If we can''t eliminate him, then we must stop his actions. We absolutely cannot let him get close to this instance!"


    As The Son of the Sun spoke, Kean''s gaze shifted toward the depths of the instance.


    The instance was filled with the powerful force of the Sun.


    The entire instance seemed to be in a constant state of burning.


    Kean''s expression showed a slight hesitation.


    "Of course, I''ll cooperate with your n. But I still don''t understand¡ªsince the Sun is so close to being resurrected, why can''t it act directly? If the Sun simply used its power to eliminate Jeremy, we wouldn''t have to worry about all these things anymore, would we?"


    Kean appeared to be asking a question, but in truth, he was probing.


    Kean was notpletely loyal to the Sun.


    To him, the Sun and other apocalypse game creators were just powerful beings.


    As long as he raised his own strength, there woulde a day when he surpassed these apocalypse game creators.


    Therefore, Kean didn''t believe he needed to submit to these so-called deities.


    The Son of the Sun gave Kean a cold look.


    The Son of the Sun knew Kean well, and he could tell exactly what Kean was thinking.


    "The Sun is very close to resurrection. If it uses its great power to destroy Jeremy now, the time for its resurrection will be dyed again. That would be very unfavorable for all of us.


    If we leave everything to the great deity, then what is the point of our existence? We must fight for our deity. Only then will it bestow its power upon us.


    Don''t forget, the power you wield is also granted by the great deity."


    With these words, The Son of the Sun issued a subtle warning to Kean.


    Kean simply smiled nonchntly.


    "I understand. I''ll send someone to keep a close watch on Jeremy immediately. But I must remind you, Jeremy''s primary target may not be me."


    After saying this, Kean turned and walked away.


    The Son of the Sun watched Kean''s retreating figure, and his expression grew darker and darker.


    The Son of the Sun''s dislike for Kean was growing stronger.


    He believed Kean was scheming something.


    "You must keep a close eye on Kean. If he shows any unusual behavior, report back to me immediately." The Son of the Sun instructed the group of The Person in the Mirror behind him.


    The Person in the Mirrorpletely obeyed The Son of the Sun''s orders.


    A portion of them had been shadowing Kean''s every move. Kean had no idea they were keeping such a close watch on him.


    Kean had greatly overestimated his own intelligence. In terms of strategy, he was not only outmatched by Jeremy, but also by The Son of the Sun.

 Chapter 418 The Separate Intelligence Channels

    The Son of the Sun and Kean discussed many things.


    Although Kean''s rtionship with The Son of the Sun wasn''t particrly good, he had no intention of engaging in a direct confrontation with him.


    The two were merely engaged in a subtle power struggle behind the scenes.


    After returning to his vi in the capital city, Kean immediately dismissed all the servants.


    "My room should be ready by now, right? I need to rest. You all can leave now!" Kean coldly said to the servants.


    The servants promptly left Kean''s bedroom.


    Once all the servants had departed, Kean sealed off his bedroompletely.


    Kean was very aware that his butler had been spying on him.


    Moreover, the butler was working under the direct influence of Kean''s uncle.


    At this point, Kean couldn''t afford to openly sh with his uncle, so he chose not to expose his butler''s role as a spy.


    He sealed off his bedroom to prevent his uing actions from being observed by the butler.


    After securing the bedroom, Kean took out a crystal that emitted a red glow.


    He casually tossed the crystal into the center of the room.


    As the crystal touched the ground, an illusory projection materialized.


    This projection was, in fact, one of Kean''s subordinates.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "How are things going? How much intelligence have you gathered?"


    Keanzily asked as he sat down on the sofa.


    "I''ve gathered a lot of information regarding special situations in Moonlight City, but I haven''t been able to collect much on Jeremy."


    Kean''s subordinate responded slowly.


    Upon hearing this, Kean''s expression shifted slightly to one of disappointment.


    "I gave you so many resources, so much time. And yet, you still haven''t gathered enough intelligence on Jeremy? Are you really this ipetent?"


    Faced with Kean''s reproach, the subordinate could only respond helplessly.


    "You are right, I am indeed somewhat ipetent. But besides my own shorings, there are other reasons why I couldn''t gather enough information."


    The main reason is that Jeremy has a very close rtionship with Liam, the head of the Special Situation Handling Bureau. Liam has caused me a lot of trouble. If it weren''t for his interference, I would have definitely been able to gather enough intelligence."


    Facing his subordinate''s exnation, Kean didn''t say much.


    "How much intelligence have you gathered so far? Just tell me everything you''ve got."


    "I''ve learned about the cooperation between the Special Situation Handling Bureau and Jeremy. I also found out that Jeremy has been to the Tower of Exile. Recently, Jeremy, Liam, and Bonnie went to a special instance together.


    In that instance, they obtained three items. These three items seem to be very important. I only know of their existence, but I don''t know what they are."


    Finally, Kean''s subordinate revealed a very crucial piece of intelligence.


    Upon hearing this, a serious expression appeared on Kean''s face.


    "Do you know where Jeremy is right now? Do you know what his next move is?" Kean asked slowly.


    The subordinate shook his head.


    "I''m sorry, but I don''t know where Jeremy is. His movements are extremely confidential. Even the higher-ups in the Special Situation Handling Bureau don''t necessarily know everything.


    As for his next course of action, I believe it is most likely rted to the three items he obtained in that special instance."


    The intelligence gathered by Kean''s subordinate was indeed valuable.


    His reasoning also seemed very usible.


    However, for Kean, this information didn''t offer much immediate use.


    Kean slowly nodded.


    "I understand. Although you haven''t gathered much useful information, you''re still working hard. As long as you keep doing your best for me, I will reward you."


    After saying this, Kean immediately cut offmunication with his subordinate.


    Kean''s subordinate had infiltrated the Special Situation Handling Bureau.


    Although not enough intelligence had been gathered yet, Kean was already very satisfied with the progress.


    In recent times, Kean had been building his own separate intelligencework.


    Kean felt that he could never fully trust anyone else.


    Whether it was the high-ranking officials of the Federation or the military headquarters, or the mythological beings rted to the apocalypse game nning, such as The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror, none of them could be fully trusted.


    Kean hoped to cooperate with them, but in reality, he was just using them.


    "Based on the intelligence I''ve gathered, Jeremy should be returning to the capital soon. This time, I will make sure to give him a big surprise."


    Kean muttered to himself as he picked up a ss of wine.


    In Kean''s view, he had wasted a perfect opportunity during hisst operation.


    Although he had obtained many powerful items and weapons from the military headquarters, these items and weapons couldn''t be used directly.


    If the military headquarters discovered them, Kean would be in a situation from which he could never recover.


    So these items and weapons could only be used in secret.


    This made Kean''s actions less convenient.


    If, back then, Kean had aimed directly at Jeremy, he might have been able to eliminate him.


    But now, it was toote for regrets.


    Kean wasn''t the type of person to live in the past.


    He decided to set a trap for Jeremy in the capital, a trap from which he would have no way to escape.


    And setting such a trap naturally required the help of the military headquarters.


    Kean directly contacted a friend within the military headquarters.


    "I need your help. My biggest opponent is about to arrive in the capital." Kean said bluntly.


    "Your biggest opponent?" came the slightly confused voice from the other end of the line. "Didn''t the military headquarters and the Federation''s high-ranking officials already warn Jeremy not toe to the capital? Isn''t Jeremy already your biggest opponent?"


    "He is indeed my biggest opponent, and he is about to arrive in the capital." Kean replied with a slightly sarcastic tone.


    "What did you just say?! This is absolutely not allowed!" The voice on the other end became very angry. "If Jeremyes to the capital, the military headquarters will absolutely capture him."


    "Calm down for a moment. Do you really think the military headquarters will be able to take effective action?" Kean said with a hint of mockery in his voice. "The military headquarters couldn''t even take effective action when facing the monster attackst time."


    "Jeremy will definitely find a way to bypass the military headquarters. So this time, we must n everything in the shadows. Only then can we truly trap Jeremy in an inescapable situation."


    Kean expressed his thoughts vaguely.


    He only hinted that Jeremy might have some helpers within the military headquarters.


    There was silence on the other end of the phone.


    After what felt like an eternity, a hesitant voice finally came through.


    "If that''s the case, I won''t be able to take direct action myself. I can only offer you some conveniences, after all, I still have to follow the orders from the higher-ups in the military headquarters."


    This was the response Kean had been waiting for.


    To him, there was no need for direct reinforcements from the military headquarters. He only needed them not to create any problems for him.


    "Don''t worry, I don''t need you to take direct action. I can handle it on my own. I will be the one to trap Jeremy in an inescapable situation. All I need from you is a location, and for you not to interfere while I carry out my n!"


    Kean exined his idea.


    Without hesitation, the voice on the other end responded, "No problem. As long as it''s not in the core area of the capital city, any location is fine. You can also use any items or weapons from the military headquarters."


    Upon hearing this, a smile curled at the corner of Kean''s mouth.


    "I don''t need any of the items or weapons. It would be difficult for you to provide them to me anyway. The items and weapons I already have are more than enough. All I need is for you to give me control of the za on the outskirts of the south side of the capital."


    Kean directly chose a za on the outskirts of the capital''s southern district as the location for his battle with Jeremy.


    "No problem. Tomorrow, I''ll have someone hand over control of the za to you. For the next week, the military headquarters won''t interfere with anything that happens there."


    After saying this, the voice on the other end hung up the phone.


    Kean was satisfied that he had secured the location for the battle.


    Next, he needed to set up traps in that area.


    In order to defeat Jeremy, Kean knew he would need to prepare carefully.


    Kean decided to ce many items and weapons in the za.


    Finally, the items he obtained from the military headquarters would have their chance to be used.


    As long as Jeremy''s strength hadn''t increased too much since theirst encounter, the traps Kean set would not be easily bypassed.


    "Jeremy, no matter who''s helping you or how powerful you''ve be, you''ll still pay the price! There''s no way you''ll escape the trap I''ve carefully designed!"


    Kean muttered to himself with a smile.


    In Kean''s mind, his n had already seeded. He didn''t believe that Jeremy''s strength had improved significantly since theirst confrontation.


    Kean''s biggest mistake, however, was failing to anticipate that Ritchie and Bonnie had alreadypleted their awakenings.

 Chapter 419 The Clever Coordination of Numerous Props

    Kean spent the entire evening organizing all the props he would need.


    Early the next morning, Kean went directly to find the butler, Farmer.


    "I''ve obtained a very important piece of intelligence. Jeremy is about to arrive in the capital. This time, I must make sure that Jeremy goes and never returns!" Kean said with great seriousness to Butler Farmer.


    Upon hearing this, Butler Farmer''s expression shifted slightly, showing a trace of concern.


    "Young master, are you really sure that Jeremy ising to the capital so soon? Didn''t the military headquarters say that Jeremy is forbidden froming here?" Butler Farmer asked.


    Kean smiled lightly.


    "The military headquarters has said a lot of things. They also once imed that the capital was absolutely safe. Yet, not long ago, the capital was attacked by monsters!" Kean replied.


    At this, Butler Farmer nodded in acknowledgment.


    "What kind of method do you n to use to ensure that Jeremy has no way of returning? As far as I know, Jeremy''s strength should be quite simr to yours," Farmer asked, trying to be diplomatic.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    In reality, Butler Farmer thought Jeremy''s strength was likely far greater than Kean''s.


    "My strength and his are indeed simr. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn''t be able to easily defeat him. However, apart from personal strength, the oue of a battle also depends on the props and weapons used." Kean said as he took out the props he had prepared.


    Arge number of props were piled inside a box.


    These props had different characteristics and abilities.


    Kean was able to arrange them together because they made use of the mutual counteraction between the various items.


    Seeing so many props, Butler Farmer''s face showed a look of shock.


    He hadn''t expected Kean to actually possess so many props.


    "Young master, where did you find so many props? Did you acquire all of these in the instance?" Farmer asked in disbelief.


    "What else could it be? Do you think the Lannisters would provide me with so many props? My uncle certainly wouldn''t allow me to have so many of them," Kean replied, deliberately mentioning his uncle.


    He wanted to observe the change in Farmer''s expression upon hearing that.


    But to Kean''s disappointment, Farmer''s expression didn''t change at all.


    "You''re right, Young Master. However, acting alone could be a bit dangerous. I think it might be a good idea to coordinate with other members of the Lannister family. As far as I know, the Lannisters still have some powerful Apocalypse Game yers."


    Farmer hoped that other members of the Lannister family would join Kean in his mission. That way, he could ensure that every move Kean made would be immediately reported to Kean''s uncle.


    Kean chuckled when he heard this.


    "I don''t think any family members would want to join me. They consider me a dangerous person. They''d rather keep their power low than take the risk of working with me."


    With that, Kean gathered his items and left without another word.


    Farmer watched Kean leave until his figure disappearedpletely. Only then did Farmer make the call to Kean''s uncle.


    On the phone, Farmer fully exined Kean''s n.


    Kean''s uncle didn''t oppose it. In fact, he agreed that Jeremy posed a huge threat to the Lannisters.


    "I understand. You don''t need to stop him or help him. Just let him handle Jeremy. We''ll keep watching from the shadows."


    Kean''s uncle made the final decision.


    Farmer had no choice but toply.


    He sent a fewpetent scouts to follow Kean. These scouts, of course, didn''t manage to escape Kean''s notice.


    Kean wasn''t bothered by their presence.


    When Kean arrived at the za on the outskirts, he opened his toolbox right in the center of the za.


    From the toolbox, he pulled out an old clock.


    This worn-out clock was something Kean had obtained from a high-difficulty instance. Its official name was the Stagnation Clock.


    As an item, the Stagnation Clock had both active and passive abilities.


    Its active skill, when activated, would rapidly slow down the flow of time in the surrounding area.


    The passive skill caused the flow of time around the clock to constantly fluctuate. It could speed up or slow down, but in most cases, time would slow down.


    Kean ced the Stagnation Clock in the very center of the za, intending to trap Jeremy the moment he arrived.


    Kean was very clear about one thing: Jeremy possessed the ability of The King of Time and Space.


    If he couldn''t limit Jeremy''s movement, there was no way he could defeat Jeremy in battle.


    After setting up the Stagnation Clock in the center of the za, Kean ced four other distinct items around the perimeter of the za.


    Among these four items, two were statues of fallen angels.


    One of the fallen angel statues had the ability to petrify all nearby living beings. However, due to the low level of the statue itself, it could only slow down the movements and thought processes of an opponent like Jeremy, rather thanpletely immobilizing him.


    The other fallen angel statue could create illusions.


    Thebination of these two statues would cause Jeremy to fall into a dazed state the moment he entered the za.


    In the other two corners of the za, Kean ced purely offensive items.


    These two items had been given to him by The Son of the Sun.


    Once activated, these items could release powerful fire-based spells.


    However, these items had a significant drawback.


    They had no defensive capabilities, and if they were destroyed by the enemy, the powers within them would be released entirely, flooding the entire za with mes.


    With the main traps set, Kean felt that everything was ready.


    "The remaining items and weapons can only be used during the battle. This time, Jeremy will never be able to defeat me! I will definitely win in this fight!"


    Kean muttered to himself, his voice filled with conviction.


    Rather than being simply confident, it seemed that Kean was trying to rally himself.


    While Kean was preparing the battlefield, Jeremy was also finalizing his ns with Ritchie.


    The two of them had already decided to head to the capital immediately.


    But before they left, they needed to refine their n further.


    "We can''t take a ne to the capital. If we do, the military headquarters will definitely detect us. We can only travel bynd to reach the capital."


    "On this journey, we''re likely to encounter many monsters. When wee across monsters that aren''t too strong, we''ll just eliminate them. If we run into something too powerful, we''ll simply avoid it. After all, our goal this time is to locate the Eternal ze area," Jeremy shared his thoughts.


    Ritchie, of course, didn''t disagree.


    Ritchie wasn''t concerned about what kind of dangers they might face on their way to the capital. His main concern was what kind of dangers they would encounter once they arrived.


    "I don''t think that''s the real issue. The real issue is that when we get to the capital, we''ll be facing our greatest enemy¡ªthe one we''ve always feared," Ritchie said, his voiceced with concern.


    Jeremy nodded. He knew exactly who Ritchie was referring to¡ªKean.


    Jeremy also understood that Kean would surely have set up traps for them in advance.


    But no matter what, he knew he had to go to the capital.


    "I understand your concerns. Kean is definitely not an opponent who can be easily defeated. But haven''t we always managed to win against him before? Even if Kean can suppress us to some extent, we''ll figure out a way to get past it. As long as the two of us work together, we can ovee any obstacle," Jeremy reassured Ritchie, trying to calm his nerves.


    In truth, Jeremy hadn''t actually revealed any specific ns yet.


    "I know you want to hear a perfect strategy for dealing with Kean. But I have to tell you, there''s no perfect n to deal with him. We''ll just have to take it one step at a time, because right now, we don''t know what kind of traps Kean has prepared for us. But at least I think our ability to adapt is very strong."


    "This time, our operation will also have the support of others. I still have some friends in the capital, such as Kean''s fianc¨¦e, E."


    Jeremy directly mentioned E''s name.


    The moment Ritchie heard E''s name, a look ofplete shock appeared on his face.


    "You still trust E? She''s Kean''s fianc¨¦e! She will never help us. You mustn''t fall into her trap."


    Ritchie did not believe in E at all.


    Ritchie had once worked with E, but during their coboration, E had always looked down on him. Naturally, Ritchie didn''t have a favorable impression of her.


    "Don''t worry! When I work with E, I''ll be on guard. And with you around, I''m sure you''ll notice if anything is off with her," Jeremy said, his face breaking into a smile.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 420 Attempting to Remain Neutral

    After Jeremy and Ritchie finalized their n of action, they immediately decided to head to the capital.


    Before leaving, Jeremy made sure to call E.


    "We''re about to depart," Jeremy said straightforwardly, "and I hope you''ll keep your promise."


    E''s response over the phone was equally direct.


    "No problem at all," she assured him. "I can guarantee you won''t face much danger before reaching the capital. I''ve also left an entrance for you in the East District of the capital. When you arrive, just mention my name to the guards, and they''ll let you in."


    "Thank you so much," Jeremy replied. "Once we get to the capital, we''ll make sure to reward you."


    Jeremy didn''t think it was entirely expected of E to help him, so he felt it necessary to offer her a reward. However, E on the other end of the line refused to ept it.


    "You don''t need to worry about any reward," she said. "After all, Kean has targeted you in the past. Although I''m no longer his fianc¨¦e, I still owe it to him to apologize on your behalf."


    Jeremy was quite taken aback by this statement.


    "You''re no longer his fianc¨¦e? Does that mean your families have called off the engagement?"


    "Not yet," E replied, "but Kean and I both feel that we''re just not right for each other, so marriage is no longer an option."


    "I see," Jeremy said, now understanding. "Well, that''s fine. But in any case, I''ll still give you something in return. Once I reach the capital, we can discuss it further."


    "Alright then!"


    After hanging up, Jeremy turned to Ritchie, his voice tinged with confusion. "I don''t understand why E and Kean ended their engagement. I mean, while they might not be the best match, didn''t their families already arrange this marriage for them?"


    Ritchie shook his head slowly in response to Jeremy''s question.


    "You don''t know the answer, so how could I?" Ritchie said with a hint of bitterness. "Family disputes like theirs are always incrediblyplex. I''m just an ordinary person. I have no idea what kind of dirty dealings go on behind the scenes of those powerful families."


    Ritchie had never seen E as an ally, so naturally, he wasn''t going to defend her. Moreover, he saw both E and Kean as enemies, so he wasn''t particrly interested in their marriage situation.


    Jeremy nodded expressionlessly.


    In fact, he didn''t think he needed to worry too much.


    With that, Jeremy and Ritchie set off.


    After leaving Moonlight City, the two of them followed a small path leading toward the capital.


    Although this path would bring them into contact with more monsters, they could avoid any unwee eyes.


    Both Jeremy and Ritchie were well aware that, whether in Moonlight City or the capital, there were people secretly watching them.


    They had to avoid being detected by these spies.


    Jeremy and Ritchie''s n was highly effective.


    It wasn''t until the second evening that the spies Kean had left behind in Moonlight City realized that Jeremy and Ritchie had already departed.


    The spies immediately ryed the news to Kean.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    When Kean received the report, he didn''t show any signs of panic.


    "I see," he said calmly. "Stick to the original n. Continue staying in Moonlight City and keep an eye on every single person in the city."


    Kean instructed his spies to carry on with their previous task.


    After ending themunication, Kean summoned one of the most skilled Apocalypse Game yers from his family.


    "You must be the most talented Apocalypse Game yer in my family," Kean said with a smile.


    The man shook his head. "I''m not the most talented; you are. After all, you''vepleted your awakening and your level has surpassed 60. I''ve only just reached level 53."


    Although the man appeared to be humble on the surface, he wasn''t truly a modest person.


    He was known as "Bloody Andrew" in military circles.


    Unlike other Apocalypse Game yers, who often teamed up with others to level up andplete instances, Bloody Andrew always worked alone.


    Apart from epting resources provided by the Lannisters, he hadn''t formed any alliances.


    However, this didn''t limit his leveling speed.


    Though he didn''t have the strength of Kean or Jeremy, he was still one of the most powerful Apocalypse Game yers, second only to them.


    Kean nodded with a smile.


    "My level is indeed higher than yours, but that doesn''t necessarily mean my actualbat ability is stronger. After all, your talent is very well-suited for directbat."


    Bloody Andrew nodded heavily.


    He couldn''t maintain his humility for long.


    "I have a task for you," Kean continued, "I want you to eliminate my rival. He is on his way to the capital with hispanions."


    Keanid out his request directly.


    Upon hearing Kean''s words, Bloody Andrew furrowed his brow.


    He was very aware that Kean''s greatest enemy was Jeremy.


    Although he had never fought Jeremy face-to-face, he knew just how powerful Jeremy was.


    "Do you really think I can defeat your rival?" Bloody Andrew asked, his voice tinged with doubt. "If your strength is as great as you say, then your opponent must also be incredibly powerful. I fear I won''t be able to defeat him."


    Despite being a terrifying and ruthless individual, Bloody Andrew was not reckless.


    He knew the right strategies to use when facing a powerful enemy, and he understood when to retreat if victory was impossible.


    Kean smiled.


    "You don''t need to worry," he reassured. "To ensure you can defeat my rival, I''ll have others join you in this mission. I''ll also provide you with powerful tools and weapons."


    At this, Kean took out a bloodstained mask.


    This mask, stained with blood, was one of the powerful items Kean had obtained from the military headquarters.


    Anyone who wore this mask would instantly transform into a cruel and terrifying killer.


    The bloodstained mask not only made the wearer more brutal and lethal, but it also significantly enhanced their strength.


    This item was perfectly suited for Bloody Andrew.


    The moment Bloody Andrewid eyes on the mask, he was drawn to the aura it exuded.


    "If youplete this task, I''ll give you the mask," Kean said. "You should know, as a young master of the Lannisters, I''m certainly not stingy."


    Kean decided to use the bloodstained mask as his most important bargaining chip.


    Although Bloody Andrew still harbored some reservations, he couldn''t resist the allure of the bloodstained mask.


    "If you''re willing to give me this item, then I''m certainly willing to fight for you. But in addition to this item, I''ll need you to provide me with more help."


    Bloody Andrew finally relented.


    Although he had some additional conditions, Kean wasn''t bothered by them.


    Kean would absolutely fulfill all his demands.


    "Don''t worry," Kean assured him. "Whatever conditions you have, I will agree to. Defeating my rival is my top priority! I''m willing to pay any price!"


    Kean then agreed to fulfill all of Bloody Andrew''s requests.


    With that, Bloody Andrew began preparing for the uing battle.


    He left the capital with the items Kean had provided.


    After Bloody Andrew''s departure, Kean headed back to the battlefield he had chosen on the outskirts of the southern district of the capital.


    He had already set up many items on the battlefield.


    These items were sure to be useful, but Kean felt that they alone wouldn''t guarantee his victory.


    "Bloody Andrew can never defeat Jeremy. At best, he might be able to severely injure him. In the end, it will still be up to me to personally eliminate Jeremy!"


    Kean muttered to himself as he finished arranging everything in the square.


    Meanwhile, in the core district of the capital, E paced back and forth in her bedroom.


    Although E had already formed an alliance with Jeremy, she still felt that she couldn''tpletely betray Kean.


    Although Kean had done many terrible things to Jeremy and the others, at least he hadn''t done anything wrong to her.


    E felt that she should remain neutral between Kean and Jeremy.


    After thinking for a while, E decided to call Kean.


    The phone was answered quickly, and Kean''s voice on the other end sounded slightly surprised.


    "You''re calling me at this hour? Is there something important? It''s already veryte. Shouldn''t you be resting?" Kean asked coldly.


    E hesitated for a moment before replying, "I think there''s some misunderstanding between you and Jeremy. I hope you both can resolve it. After all, both of you are very powerful. If you can clear up the misunderstanding, it would make things much easier for the Federation in dealing with the crisis caused by the Apocalypse Game nners."


    As soon as E finished speaking, the call was abruptly disconnected.


    "What a pathetic woman who thinks too highly of herself!" Kean mocked as he ended the conversation.


    To Kean, E had no right to speak to him like that.


    She certainly didn''t have the authority to mediate the conflict between him and Jeremy.

 Chapter 421 The Town Under the Moonlight

    E never expected that Kean would refuse to listen to her for too long.


    She could only sigh and say, "It seems I''ve been overestimating myself. Neither Kean nor Jeremy really cares about me."


    Her mood, naturally, took a turn for the worse.


    When the apocalypse game first arrived, E gained an exceptionalbat talent.


    She had originally believed she would excel in the apocalypse game.


    However, after a series of battles, she soon realized that there were many people far more talented than her.


    At that point, feeling utterly disheartened, she identally learned that her fianc¨¦, Kean, had also acquired a powerful talent.


    Moreover, Kean was one of the heirs of the Lannisters.


    This realization made E feel that she could indeed leverage Kean''s strength to y a more significant role.


    Over the course of about half a year, E and Kean teamed up to handle arge number of troublesome monsters.


    But when Kean was stuck trying to clear a particrly difficult instance, E was assigned to a special operations team.


    It was during this time that E''s special ops team crossed paths with Jeremy.


    Jeremy had even greater talent than Kean, and he was much more approachable as well.


    At first, E couldn''t stand Jeremy, but in the end, she was swayed by his charisma.


    E ultimately decided to coborate with Jeremy.


    Together, their teamwork made Moonlight City much safer than before.


    Just when E thought she had aplished a great deal, disaster struck.


    Kean and Jeremy became bitter enemies.


    E had no idea what to do.


    Although she wanted to mediate the conflict between the two, she ultimately failedpletely.


    Not only did she fail to reconcile Kean and Jeremy, but their impression of her also rapidly deteriorated.


    Kean no longer intended to marry her, and Jeremy now saw her as one of his enemies.


    Heartbroken and disillusioned, E decided to return to the capital.


    She had thought she had no chance of turning the situation around, but then Jeremy unexpectedly proposed working together.


    This gave her a fleeting hope that she might still have a chance to fix things.


    But after tonight''s events, E suddenly became clear-headed.


    She realized she could no longer interfere in the conflict between Kean and Jeremy.


    The conflict between the two of them seemed to have reached a point where it could no longer be resolved.


    "Maybe I shouldn''t get involved in so many things. Let them settle it on the battlefield and let the best man win," E sighed, then decided to rest.


    For the next day, everyone was busy with their own tasks.


    Kean finished the final preparations for the battlefield.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The entire battlefield was set up perfectly. As soon as Jeremy stepped onto the field, Kean would have the upper hand in the fight.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy and Ritchie were moving quickly toward the capital.


    In a single day, they covered over a hundred kilometers, and just before nightfall, they arrived at a small town. They were now only a day''s journey away from their destination.


    "The sun is about to setpletely. We need to find a ce to set up camp before it gets dark," Jeremy observed the surroundings and said to Ritchie.


    Ritchie nodded, then followed Jeremy into the town.


    Both of them were well aware that traveling at night was extremely dangerous.


    Even inrge cities, nighttime operations were fraught with the risk of encountering sudden monsters. In a small, abandoned town like this, it was even more dangerous to move around after dark.


    After surveying the town, they found that although it had been abandoned for a long time, there didn''t seem to be any monsters in the area.


    The town''s buildings hadn''t suffered much damage.


    "It looks like this town really is just an ordinary one. When the Apocalypse Game arrived, the townspeople must have fled to the big cities. There haven''t been any monsters or instances here," Ritchie said cheerfully.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    Although he agreed with Ritchie''s assessment, he still felt that something was off about this town.


    Every building in the town seemed to have been specially modified.


    It seemed like someone had turned this town into a battlefield.


    When he thought about this possibility, Jeremy suddenly sensed a hint of danger.


    He decided against staying in the town. Instead, he chose to set up their camp at the entrance of the town. That way, if danger arose, he and Ritchie could quickly leave.


    "I don''t think we need to go into the town. We can set up camp right at the entrance. That way, we can get on the road as soon as possible tomorrow morning," Jeremy said with a smile, sharing his n.


    Ritchie was slightly surprised, but in the end, he followed Jeremy''s suggestion and began setting up their camp at the entrance of the town.


    "You should get some rest. I''ll take the first watch, and you can take the second half of the night," Ritchie said with a smile.


    Ritchie was ustomed to staying upte, so he preferred to handle the night watch during the early hours.


    Jeremy nodded.


    "Alright, I''ll leave it to you. If you run into any trouble that you can''t handle, just wake me up," Jeremy said before closing his eyes.


    Ritchie responded, "Okay, you get some rest. If you don''t, we might end up facing real danger."


    Ritchie didn''t sense anything unusual about the town, so he didn''t understand the deeper meaning behind Jeremy''s words.


    Though Jeremy had closed his eyes, he didn''t immediately rest. He remained alert, keeping a close eye on their surroundings.


    Night soon fell.


    A bright moon hung in the sky.


    Under the bright moonlight, the town became eerily strange.


    At first, Ritchie hadn''t noticed anything odd about the town, but now he suddenly felt that something was off.


    He felt as though the buildings in the town hade to life.


    Each building seemed like a terrifying monster, watching Jeremy and Ritchie with greedy eyes.


    "What''s going on here? Have I been reading too many horror novels?" Ritchie muttered to himself, somewhat puzzled.


    He shook his head, trying to dismiss the unfounded thoughts that had crossed his mind.


    "Guess I''ve really been reading too many horror novels! I need to focus!" Ritchie decided to concentrate on their current situation instead.


    Not far from Ritchie and Jeremy, Bloody Andrew was hiding in one of the buildings, closely observing the two of them.


    Andrew had chosen this small town the previous night.


    He was certain that Jeremy and Ritchie would end up here.


    So, he had set a trap here, turning the entire town into his hunting ground.


    "I really want to see for myself just how powerful Jeremy, the one with the so-called strongest talent, truly is!" Bloody Andrew muttered to himself.


    At that moment, he had put on the bloodstained mask.


    With the power granted by the mask, Bloody Andrew appeared unusually terrifying.


    His presence shed with the eerie atmosphere of the town, as if the two were made of entirely different forces.


    While Bloody Andrew was watching Jeremy and Ritchie, the bright moon in the sky was also watching him.


    The bright moon in the sky was actually a projection of the apocalypse game''s nner, Moon, in the real world.


    Moon had not given up on her n.


    Once again, she used her power to plunge the entire town into a strange atmosphere.


    Everything in the town would gradually be consumed by Moon''s influence.


    It wouldn''t take long before everything in the town transformed into terrifying monsters.


    Bloody Andrew''s presence was merely a bonus, a part of the chaos that was unfolding.


    As time passed, the eerie atmosphere of the town became more and more pronounced.


    Ritchie finally felt the immense threat.


    He pushed Jeremy gently.


    "What''s wrong? Did you sense something unusual?" Jeremy immediately opened his eyes and asked Ritchie.


    Ritchie didn''t answer. Instead, he gestured for Jeremy to look at the town.


    When Jeremy turned his gaze toward the town, he saw that all the buildings had suddenly lit up. There were numerous figures moving around inside those buildings.


    "What''s going on here? Are all those figures monsters?" Ritchie whispered, asking Jeremy.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "I don''t know! But no matter what, we have to be extra cautious! This town is definitely not ordinary. We need to make sure we''re safe!"


    Both Jeremy and Ritchie were now fully prepared for battle. They were ready to fight any monster that might suddenly appear. However, they wouldn''t encounter any monsters right away. The first person to face the monsters was Bloody Andrew.


    Bloody Andrew encountered the monsters chasing him through the town. At first, he thought he could easily defeat them.


    But when he actually fought them, he quickly realized that even if the monsters were killed, they would rapidly revive.


    What''s worse, the resurrected monsters were even stronger than before.


    Faced with this situation, Bloody Andrew found himself in a state of panic.


    He no longer had the energy to deal with Jeremy and Ritchie.

 Chapter 422 The Moon Messenger

    As arge number of monsters appeared in the town, Jeremy and Ritchie immediately sprang into action.


    Jeremy spoke directly to Ritchie, saying, "We can''t go into the town, nor can we get too far away. It''s dark now, and there are certainly many stray monsters roaming the outskirts. Our best option is to stay at the edge of the town and hold our ground."


    While speaking, Jeremy took out his weapon.


    He began setting up a series of traps around their makeshift camp, which had been set up at the outskirts of the town.


    Finally, he could use these traps to block any monster attacks.


    Jeremy and Ritchie''s response time was incredibly fast, almost rmingly so.


    Interestingly, the monsters inside the town did not initially target Jeremy and Ritchie.


    In fact, they didn''t even seem to notice the two of them.


    The monsters inside the town first set their sights on Bloody Andrew.


    Bloody Andrew found himself surrounded by arge number of monsters, each spawned from various items scattered around.


    These monsters were not particrly strong on their own, but when gathered in such numbers, Bloody Andrew felt a significant threat.


    "Damn it! The mission hasn''t even started yet, and we already have an unexpected situation! Forget about eliminating Jeremy and hispanions, I can''t even ensure my own safety right now!"


    Although Bloody Andrew was furious, he knew that anger would not solve anything.


    With his bloodstained mask securely in ce, the only thing left for him to do was fight off the monsters.


    He pulled out a massive cleaver and began attacking every monster within his reach.


    Ordinary monsters were no match for Bloody Andrew.


    He ughtered arge number of monsters, their blood staining the entire street of the town.


    During the battle, Bloody Andrew''s stamina began to slowly drain.


    However, he didn''t mind much, as he knew that after killing so many monsters, the experience points he would gain would be substantial.


    He could treat this battle as an opportunity to level up.


    On the other side of the town, under the bright moonlight, a seductive figure began to materialize in the pond.


    The moment this figure appeared, the levels of the surrounding monsters surged by 10.


    The figure that materialized in the pond under the moonlight was none other than the Moon Messenger.


    Through her connection with the moon in the real world, Moon was able to sessfully project her power into the physical realm.


    The pool, bathed in the intense glow of moonlight, became the birthce of the Messenger who directly served Moon.


    Though the Moon Messenger herself wasn''t particrly powerful, her role as the envoy of Moon granted her the unique ability to channel the immense power of the Moon into the world.


    With a focused intent, the Moon Messenger immediately locked onto Bloody Andrew.


    She began to move slowly toward him, each step deliberate and filled with purpose.


    As she advanced, every monster she passed grew stronger. With each encounter, the Messenger also drew upon an increasingly potent share of Moon''s power.


    The atmosphere within the town began to grow more and more unsettling.


    Monsters that had been in by Bloody Andrew began to slowly revive, returning to life as if they had never been killed.


    After a while of ruthless ughter, Bloody Andrew suddenly sensed something was off.


    He turned around to see the creatures he had killeding back to life.


    "What the hell is going on?! Didn''t I already kill these monsters? How are theying back to life?!" Bloody Andrew was absolutely stunned by this turn of events.


    But it wasn''t just Bloody Andrew who was shocked. On the edge of the town, Jeremy and Ritchie were also taken aback by what they were witnessing.


    From the very first moment of the battle between Bloody Andrew and the monsters, Jeremy and Ritchie had been observing carefully.


    Ritchie had initially suggested that they should work together to take out Bloody Andrew right away.


    In Ritchie''s eyes, Bloody Andrew''s presence in the town was clearly an attempt to ambush the two of them. Therefore, taking him out first seemed like the logical course of action.


    However, Jeremy had disagreed.


    To Jeremy, the situation in the town seemed highly suspicious.


    It would be best to stay in a safe spot and observe for a while, gathering enough information before making any moves.


    Now, as they saw the monsters revive, Ritchie couldn''t help butment in disbelief.


    "You were right after all. If we had acted earlier, we would''ve gotten ourselves into huge trouble. The fact that these monsters cane back to life so quickly... it''s beyond anything I imagined."


    Ritchie''s voice carried a tone of deep shock and awe.


    Jeremy remained silent, offering no response.


    He simply frowned and stared in the direction of Bloody Andrew.


    Jeremy believed that Bloody Andrew was about to face an extremely powerful enemy.


    While all three of them stood frozen, the Moon Messenger continued to move closer to Bloody Andrew.


    Though the Moon Messenger moved very slowly, the town wasn''t veryrge. So, it didn''t take long before she was right behind Bloody Andrew.


    At this moment, Bloody Andrew still hadn''t noticed the Moon Messenger''s presence. He was still frowning, trying to understand why the monsters he had killed wereing back to life.


    When the Moon Messenger was only about ten meters away from Bloody Andrew, he finally became aware of something.


    He suddenly turned around.


    In that instant, Bloody Andrew froze once again.


    He saw a woman of indescribable beauty.


    Her beauty was beyond belief.


    Her face seemed to be made of perfectly sculpted features, and an enchanting aura surrounded her body.


    For a moment, Bloody Andrew was mesmerized.


    "Why do you kill these lives?" the Moon Messenger asked as she drew closer to Bloody Andrew. "Don''t you think every life has the right to continue living?"


    Bloody Andrew stared at the Moon Messenger with rapt attention. "Of course, every life has the right to live. As long as you allow them to live, I won''t kill them anymore."


    "That''s not enough!" the Moon Messenger responded, her voice filled with authority. "Look up at the bright Moon in the sky. The Moon will shine on every life, and every life will grow abundantly."


    By now, the Moon Messenger had reached a mere three meters away from Bloody Andrew.


    He still hadn''t sensed the danger.


    In fact, he even looked up at the Moon in the sky, as the Moon Messenger had suggested.


    At that moment, he suddenly realized that the bright Moon almost filled the entire sky.


    "This isn''t right! The Moon shouldn''t be thisrge!" Bloody Andrew finally reacted¡ªbut it was toote.


    The Moon Messenger had already appeared just one meter away from him.


    She extended her arm, and it transformed into vine-like branches.


    Countless nt tendrils quickly wrapped around Bloody Andrew, binding him tightly.


    He cried out in pain as the tendrils rapidly absorbed the blood from his body.


    Bloody Andrew''s body rapidly weakened.


    "Anyone who tramples upon life will be punished by the messenger of life," the Moon Messenger said with a smile, watching Bloody Andrew struggle in pain.


    At this point, Bloody Andrew could no longer cry out in agony.


    Almost all the blood in his body had been drained by the Moon Messenger.


    Just like that, Bloody Andrew was killed by the Moon Messenger.


    The nt tendrils retracted back into the Moon Messenger''s body, transforming again into her arms.


    Bloody Andrew''s lifeless bodyy on the ground of the town, surrounded by a horde of monsters that began to feast on his corpse.


    In the next moment, the Moon Messenger turned her gaze toward Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Jeremy immediately spoke to Ritchie.


    "Prepare for battle! That monster ising for us! Her power is incredibly strong! We must give it everything we''ve got!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Ritchie nodded firmly. He was ready for battle.


    The gloves that enhanced his shadow maniption skills were already on his hands, and Ritchie had also prepared himself to use his Soul Division talent.


    Ritchie was eager to test the strength of his awakened talent in this fight.


    However, Jeremy, standing beside him, felt a tremendous amount of pressure.


    Jeremy had a strong sense that the Moon Messenger would be extremely difficult to deal with, as she seemed to possess some very strange abilities.


    The Moon Messenger moved closer to Jeremy and Ritchie.


    This time, her movement speed was much faster than before.


    After killing Bloody Andrew, the Moon Messenger had also gained the power that Bloody Andrew possessed.


    As the monster approached swiftly, Jeremy and Ritchie readied themselves for battle.


    Jeremy decided to take the first strike and activated his The King of Time and Space talent.


    The space around the Moon Messenger suddenly copsed, slowing her movements considerably. Moreover, the Moon Messenger herself was severely injured by the spatial copse.


    "Take this opportunity to split her soul! She''s been severely weakened; she shouldn''t be able to resist your Soul Division talent," Jeremy immediately told Ritchie.


    Ritchie nodded, then activated his Soul Division talent.


    He manipted the shadow of a nearby monster to possess the Moon Messenger, using the shadow to begin splitting her soul.

 Chapter 423 The Undying Monsters

    Ritchie''s actions had a very good effect.


    The shadow possessing the Moon Messenger immediately tore her soul apart.


    In that instant, Ritchie let out an excited cheer.


    Jeremy was also very pleased.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Originally, Jeremy had thought that Ritchie''s Soul Division talent might take some time to fully master.


    But the current situation showed that he had underestimated Ritchie.


    "Very good, it seems you''re quite skilled at handling the Soul Division ability," Jeremy said with a smile to Ritchie. "We should be able to kill this monster right now."


    Ritchie nodded.


    "You don''t need to intervene. With Soul Division and my shadow maniption skills, I can kill this monster. As long as I divide its soul into three or more parts, it won''t be able to resist at all!"


    Ritchie said to Jeremy, clearly excited.


    Jeremy, of course, had no objections.


    After all, this was Ritchie''s first official fight since his awakening.


    Jeremy hoped Ritchie would perform well in this battle, and he knew it would provide him with valuable experience.


    "Alright then, it''s all yours. I believe you can easily take down this monster!" Jeremy said, then waited for the battle toe to an end.


    Ritchie began repeatedly using his Soul Division ability to split the Moon Messenger''s soul.


    The Moon Messenger''s soul was divided into four distinct parts.


    After this, Ritchie started using his shadow maniption skills to gradually destroy the Moon Messenger''s soul.


    However, during this process, Ritchie suddenly realized something was wrong.


    Although the Moon Messenger''s soul had been split, each fragment of her soul was still strong enough to stand on its own.


    These different soul fragments even began to slowly take on physical forms.


    "What is going on here? Each fragment of the monster''s soul seems to be turning into an independent monster. I''m not weakening this thing; I''m actually creating more monsters!"


    Ritchie was now extremely panicked.


    He had not expected this monster to be able to ignore the damage done to its soul.


    Before Ritchie could speak, Jeremy already sensed that something was wrong.


    So, Jeremy immediately took action.


    He activated his The King of Time and Space ability once again and used Portal to teleport the different fragments of the Moon Messenger''s soul to distant locations.


    As long as the different fragments of the soul were far apart, it seemed that the Moon Messenger would not be able to maintain such overwhelming power.


    "Give up! You cannot oppose the Messenger of Life!"


    The three Moon Messengers turned their heads simultaneously toward Jeremy and Ritchie.


    They spoke in perfect unison, their voices identical.


    "I represent the very power of life itself. No matter what methods you use, you will never be able to destroy life."


    When Ritchie and Jeremy heard this, their faces grew incredibly serious.


    Both of them realized that the monster before them was far too powerful.


    It seemed there was no way they could kill it.


    "Don''t panic! Maybe we''re using the wrong methods, but there''s absolutely no monster that can''t be killed!" Jeremy said solemnly to Ritchie.


    As soon as the words left his mouth, Jeremy opened another Portal and teleported behind one of the Moon Messengers.


    Jeremy concentrated all his power and used Dark Core, mming an incredibly powerful blow into the Moon Messenger.


    The Moon Messenger was sessfully eliminated, and its body shattered into countless fragments that scattered across the surrounding area.


    However, what followed terrified both Ritchie and Jeremy even more.


    The fragments of the Moon Messenger''s body began to reassemble into new Moon Messengers.


    More than ten Moon Messengers had already appeared in the town.


    These Moon Messengers seemed impossible to kill, and they kept advancing toward Jeremy and Ritchie.


    As the Moon Messengers gathered, the Moon in the sky became even brighter.


    Jeremy instinctively looked up at the sky.


    He suddenly realized that the Moon had upied the entire sky.


    It seemed they were very close to the Moon now.


    Jeremy immediately realized the situation was far worse than he had imagined.


    "We must be dealing with something connected to the Moon from the Apocalypse Game. There''s no reason for us to keep fighting here! We need to move forward under the cover of night!"


    After Jeremy finished speaking, he quickly moved forward with Ritchie.


    Jeremy realized that fighting the Moon Messenger under the moonlight was absolutely impossible to win. The Moon Messenger could continuously draw immense power from the Moon in the sky, while Jeremy and Ritchie could only rely on their own strength in battle.


    As Jeremy and Ritchie fled from the entrance of the town, the number of Moon Messengers within the town had already reached forty. With so many Moon Messengers gathered together, they instantly possessed an extraordinarily powerful life force. This immense life force was so potent that it even reached the Goddess of Life, who was located far away near Moonlight City.


    At that moment, the Goddess of Life was still hiding within the instance. Although she was now able to move in the real world, she felt that being in the real world would expose her to great risks. So, she continued to hide in the instance.


    In the real world, the Goddess of Life had encountered many strange urrences, but she had never been overly concerned. It was only this time that she took special notice.


    For the first time, the Goddess of Life sensed such a powerful life force in the real world.


    "What is going on here? Could it be that the world Jeremy is in also has a Goddess of Life? Or is this something one of the Apocalypse Game nners has done?"


    The Goddess of Life had fought many times against Fool and the White Tower, but she had never had much interaction with the other Apocalypse Game nners. Therefore, she was unaware that one of them represented the power of life.


    After thinking for a while, the Goddess of Life decided tomunicate with this powerful being that seemed to embody such immense life force.


    She used her own life energy to construct a magical formation.


    When the formation waspleted, the ethereal image of the Goddess of Life appeared in the starry sky.


    "I request a conversation with you. You represent the power of life, and I also represent the power of life. Perhaps we can cooperate," the Goddess of Life said in her ethereal voice.


    No response came.


    Suddenly, the bright Moon in the sky turned pink.


    Endless life energy quickly transformed into the power of death.


    The Goddess of Life suddenly felt herself aging rapidly and approaching death.


    "Who are you? Why are you attacking me? I have no hostility toward you!" The Goddess of Life was extremely confused. She couldn''t understand why the other party had suddenly attacked her.


    However, within the attack, the Goddess of Life noticed something unsettling: the opponent not only wielded the power of life, but also the power of death.


    Moon, as a powerful Apocalypse Game nner, wielded not just the power to foster life, but also the power to cause it to wither and die. The Moon itself had its own cycle, and an Apocalypse Game nner named after the Moon naturally possessed both the life-giving and life-destroying aspects of power.


    The Goddess of Life had not anticipated that Moon could wield the ability to make life wither so rapidly.


    It took a great toll on the Goddess of Life before she was able to escape.


    Meanwhile, on Jeremy and Ritchie''s side, both of them suddenly felt the power of life withering.


    They both clearly felt themselves aging rapidly.


    Jeremy was forced to activate his The King of Time and Space talent, hoping to create a barrier for himself and Ritchie using this ability. However, he knew the barrier wouldn''tst long.


    The blood-red Moon in the sky was growing brighter and brighter.


    Under the light of the blood-red Moon, the shapes of the Moon Messengers became even more bizarre.


    They had now transformed into messengers of death.


    The Moon Messengers began to attack the monsters around them. They cruelly ughtered these creatures and devoured all the life energy they had.


    Soon, all the monsters in the town were ughtered.


    Jeremy and Ritchie, of course, were unaware of what was happening with the Goddess of Life. Even if they had known, they wouldn''t have cared, as they had already nned to kill all the monsters anyway.


    After running for some time, the two of them finally managed to escape the grip of the blood-red moon.


    Jeremy could finally activate his The King of Time and Space ability and open a portal.


    "We need to teleport to the nearestrge city! Even though it will expose us to others, there''s no time to worry about that now!"


    Jeremy made a quick decision and opened a portal, taking Ritchie to the nearestrge city.


    This city was a medium-sized one located between the capital and Moonlight City¡ªValley City.


    Valley City was situated within a massive valley, and after the Apocalypse Game had arrived, the entrances to the valley had been transformed into enormous barriers.


    Since the arrival of the Apocalypse Game, Valley City hadn''t faced much direct threat.


    As a result, the city was still thriving, so much so that its level of prosperity could rival that of the capital.

 Chapter 424 Valley City

    When Jeremy and Ritchie arrived at the outskirts of Valley City, the sun had yet to rise. The soldiers stationed along the defensive lines on both sides of the city were still on high alert.


    As soon as they spotted Jeremy and Ritchie, the soldiers immediately braced themselves for a potential confrontation.


    "Who are you two? Don''te any closer! If you keep moving forward, don''t me us for being harsh!" one of the soldiers shouted loudly at Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Though the soldier could clearly tell that Jeremy and Ritchie were both human, the arrival of the Apocalypse Game had led to the rise of creatures capable of assuming human forms.


    Jeremy and Ritchie didn''t take another step forward. While they could easily defeat the soldiers they encountered, both of them knew that once they engaged inbat, the situation would spiral out of control, and there would be no way to salvage it.


    "We''re humans! And we''re also Apocalypse Game yers! We came here just to seek temporary refuge! We were originally heading to the capital, but on the way, we ran into some extremely powerful monsters," Jeremy exined as he stepped forward, pulling out his identification.


    Before they left Moonlight City, Liam had specifically given Jeremy an identification pass. This pass not only confirmed that Jeremy was a yer in the Apocalypse Game, but also validated that he had permission from Moonlight City to be traveling.


    Since the sun hadn''t yet risen, the soldiers defending Valley City couldn''t immediately make out the details on the identification Jeremy presented. They sent one of their men to inspect it more closely.


    The soldier took a good look at the identification and then turned back to report, "Confirmed! The pass he holds is indeed issued by Moonlight City, and he is definitely an Apocalypse Game yer."


    Upon hearing this, the soldiers on the defense line exchanged words for a moment before the gates to the city slowly opened.


    Finally, Jeremy and Ritchie were allowed to enter Valley City.


    Once they passed through the gates, they were greeted by the true sight of Valley City.


    Protected by the defensive positions along the canyon''s edges, Valley City was still bustling and vibrant. The city''s urban area had remainedpletely intact, unaffected by the chaos brought on by the Apocalypse Game.


    What''s more, due to the unique geography of Hale Valley itself, there were no instances, or other game-rted anomalies, within the urban area of Valley City.


    Seeing the thriving city, Jeremy couldn''t help but let out a deep sigh.


    "If every city could be as fortunate as Valley City, that would be great."


    "Valley City wasn''t as lucky as you might think. When the apocalypse game first arrived, Valley City also faced attacks from monsters. The soldiers within the city fought with all their might to drive the monsters back."


    A major approached Jeremy and, with a smile, spoke to him.


    Jeremy felt that this major seemed very familiar, but he couldn''t quite remember who he was.


    "Don''t you remember me? Back in the capital, we fought side by side. We even entered the same instance. It was in that instance that you saved me."


    The major smiled as he spoke.


    Although Jeremy didn''t recall him, it wasn''t something that bothered him too much. After all, from the major''s perspective, Jeremy''s strength far surpassed his own. Jeremy had undoubtedly experienced much more than he had, so it made sense that he wouldn''t remember him.


    Jeremy felt a bit embarrassed.


    "I still don''t remember you. Could you give me a hint?" Jeremy asked, apologetically.


    "Actually, there''s no need to apologize. Although we fought side by side, I never told you my name. You can just call me Joseph, or Major Joseph."


    Joseph introduced himself. "I''m a level 47 apocalypse game yer. In about half a month, I should be able to level up to 50, and at that point, I''ll be able to unlock my Awakening Instance."


    Jeremy smiled and nodded.


    Joseph''s strength wasn''t particrly remarkable, but he was certainly capable of keeping up with the first tier. After all, yers as strong as Jeremy and Ritchie were in the minority.


    "Why are you here?" Joseph asked, his curiosity evident. "I thought you were in the capital. The situation in the capital is dire, so someone like you should be staying there."


    Joseph directly asked the question that had been on his mind since he first recognized Jeremy. He had kept quiet at first, but now, he couldn''t help but inquire.


    Joseph was puzzled by Jeremy''s presence in Valley City.


    Jeremy carefully exined the events he and Ritchie had gone through. However, he only mentioned their battle with the Moon Messenger; he obviously wouldn''t bring up the conflict with Kean.


    After hearing the exnation, Major Joseph let out a sigh of relief.


    "Good thing you were able to exin yourself clearly. If you hadn''t, I might''ve had no choice but to throw you into the Valley City prison. Recently, we''ve been dealing with a lot of monsters disguised as humans. It''s gotten to the point where I can''t even trust other humans who arrive at night."


    Joseph said, reflecting on the situation.


    Upon hearing this, Jeremy and Ritchie exchanged confused looks.


    They had never encountered such monsters before.


    "So, Valley City has faced many monsters disguised as humans? We''ve nevere across anything like that elsewhere."


    "Yes! I don''t know why you two haven''t encountered them. I''ve only worked with you once, and that was the only mission I had in the capital. Afterpleting that mission, I returned to Valley City. Though there are no instances within Valley City itself, there are always humanoid monsters roaming around the outskirts. These humanoid creatures have posed a significant threat to Valley City.


    At first, we had no idea how to deal with these creatures. But now that you''re here, I feel like we can finally eliminate all the roaming humanoid monsters outside Valley City."


    Major Joseph''s idea was simple. He believed that since Jeremy had arrived, it was only natural for him to help Valley City deal with the threat.


    Jeremy hesitated slightly.


    He and Ritchie had nned to get to the capital as quickly as possible. There were many matters awaiting them there. If they dyed in Valley City, they might not be able toplete their ns.


    Clues rted to the permafrost ice were hard toe by.


    Jeremy''s face showed a hint of indecision.


    Major Joseph noticed this and switched to a gentler tone.


    "If you''re unwilling to help us, that''s perfectly fine. After all, this is a problem that Valley City is facing on its own. If you want to leave, you can do so now. However, if you''d like to rest in Valley City for a while, I can arrange amodation for you. There are plenty of vacant inns here."


    Major Joseph spoke with genuine sincerity.


    Jeremy didn''t immediately agree; he felt that he needed some time to think things over.


    "Mypanion and I have encountered some dangers, and we do need to rest. We''ll stay in Valley City for at least two days, and during that time, I''ll consider your proposal carefully. If we believe that working with you will help eliminate the monsters threatening Valley City quickly, we will, of course, be willing to offer our help."


    Jeremy''s response made Major Joseph very pleased. He nodded eagerly.


    "Alright then, I''ll prepare a ce for you to rest immediately. You can take these two days to think things over. I''m sure you''ll decide to stay and help me."


    With that, Major Joseph led his subordinates to escort Jeremy and Ritchie into the urban area of Valley City.


    As they moved through the streets of Valley City, both Jeremy and Ritchie were amazed by the city''s prosperity. The urban area of Valley City was even more bustling than the capital.


    Although the capital had more impressive buildings and arge number of influential figures, those influential people were constantly at risk.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    In contrast, the ordinary people in Valley City seemed to live very peaceful lives. They appeared to bepletely unaffected by any threats.


    "The ordinary citizens don''t know about the danger posed by the humanoid monsters," Major Joseph exined. "Valley City is home to a lot of military-industrial enterprises. After the apocalypse game began, the weapons produced by thesepanies became crucial to humanity''s survival.


    That''s why we''ve kept the threat of the humanoid monsters in Valley City under wraps. But if these humanoid monsters continue to multiply, sooner orter, the ordinary people will find out."


    Jeremy and Ritchie naturally understood Major Joseph''s exnation.


    It wasn''t a good thing for ordinary people to know too much, especially after the apocalypse game began.


    In reality, ordinary people could only rely on the protection of apocalypse game yers. All they could do was produce weapons in the military factories.


    It was far better to allow these ordinary citizens to live in peace, without the burden of knowing too much.

 Chapter 425 Its Just a Surface Calm.

    Major Joseph led his subordinates and escorted Jeremy and Ritchie to a luxurious hotel in the heart of Valley City.


    "Whether it''s high-ranking officials from the Federation or powerful apocalypse game yers, everyone who stays in Valley City stays at this hotel. Your strength is the greatest among all the apocalypse game yers, so you''re more than qualified to stay here. Rest well, and tomorrow morning, I''ll have my subordinates bring you some supplies. If you''d like to explore Valley City, I can also have my subordinates guide you. If you need anything, just tell them, and they''ll report directly to me."


    After smiling and delivering this information, Major Joseph left the room.


    Jeremy and Ritchie, of course, expressed their gratitude to him.


    Once Joseph had left, Jeremy and Ritchie entered their room in the luxurious hotel.


    While the luxury of Valley City''s hotel wasn''t quite on the same level as those in the capital, it was still superior to those in Moonlight City.


    Ritchie immediately flopped onto the bed.


    "This is sofortable! I really wish we could stay in ces like this forever. Do you think we should just stay here in Valley City? Maybe we should forget about going to the capital."


    Ritchie said with a smile, ncing at Jeremy.


    Jeremy recognized that Ritchie was joking, so he decided to continue with the yful conversation.


    "Alright then! You can stay here, and I''ll head to the capital by myself in two days. I can handle the tasks on my own. You can stay here forever if you like."


    As Jeremy spoke, he began sorting through his belongings.


    The battle with the Moon Messenger had been a messy one, and Jeremy wanted to check if anything had been lost in the chaos.


    At that moment, Ritchie suddenly jumped up from the bed.


    "Even if I wanted to stay here forever, those people in Valley City wouldn''t let me. After all, my strength isn''t anywhere near as powerful as yours."


    "Don''t sell yourself short. You''re an apocalypse game yer who''spleted the Awakening. Your strength is definitely top-tier. You should be more than capable of helping them deal with the humanoid monsters around Valley City."


    Jeremy responded casually, as if it were no big deal.


    Ritchie''s expression changed slightly.


    "Do you think we should stay here and help them eliminate the humanoid monsters?" Ritchie asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.


    Jeremy didn''t give a direct answer. Instead, he posed another question.


    "What do you think? What do you think we should do?"


    "Honestly, I don''t know what we should do. Even though I want to stay and help them deal with the humanoid monsters, I can''t shake the feeling that Major Joseph is withholding something important from us."


    Ritchie said, a hint of worry in his tone. He couldn''t help but feel like something was off.


    Jeremy finally nodded.


    "It seems you''re not as foolish as you appear. The situation is indeed moreplicated than it seems. Major Joseph is definitely not being entirely truthful. Valley City isn''t as calm as it looks on the surface. There must be fierce internal strife here. Major Joseph probably doesn''t fully represent the views of Valley City. If he keeps us here and we help eliminate the humanoid monsters around the city, his influence within Valley City will grow stronger."


    Jeremy voiced his spection.


    Ritchie nodded in understanding.


    "So that''s it! Then we definitely can''t stay here! We should leave as soon as possible. If we stay too long, we''ll inevitably get caught up in the internal conflict of Valley City."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Ritchie was very worried. He didn''t want to get dragged into the internal politics of another city.


    In Ritchie''s mind, there was only one thing they should do now: head straight for the capital. Everything else could be ignored.


    Jeremy, however, felt the situation wasn''t so simple. They shouldn''t make a decision in haste.


    "What you''re saying does make sense. But we may have no choice but to get involved in the internal conflict here in Valley City. We''ll stay here for two days, and in that time, something unexpected will happen."


    Jeremy spoke with a serious tone.


    Ritchie''s face fell, his expression darkening.


    "Since you already know that, can''t we prepare in advance? As long as we handle things perfectly, the factions inside Valley City shouldn''t dare to openly oppose us."


    "They should all know that our strength is formidable. After all, both of us are awakened Apocalypse Game yers. It would be almost impossible to fight against two awakened yers," Ritchie still believed that they could rely on their strength to win.


    However, in Jeremy''s view, some factions within Valley City could potentially ally with Kean. Kean might also offer support from the capital to certain factions in Valley City.


    "There''s no need to jump to conclusions just yet. We need to stay here for two days anyway, so let''s just stick to the n and rest. As long as we''re in top shape, we''ll be able to handle whatever surprisese our way," Jeremy finally decided to take things one step at a time.


    Ritchie was still a bit worried, but he had no other options. He could only follow Jeremy''s n.


    So the two of them took a temporary rest in the luxurious hotel in Valley City.


    Meanwhile, Major Joseph returned to hismand center in the eastern district of Valley City.


    Although Major Joseph held a rtively low rank, he was responsible for the defense of the entire Valley City. He had the authority tomand all of Valley City''s military forces.


    Within Valley City, aside from the mayor and the president of the city council, his influence was the strongest.


    Major Joseph had been locked in a power struggle with both the mayor and the president of the city council. The three of them were locked in an intense battle for control over Valley City.


    During this struggle, each of them sought to gain support from other factions.


    The mayor of Valley City had direct support from the Lannisters. While the mayor had no direct contact with Kean, he would undoubtedly follow Kean''s orders. Without the support of the Lannisters, the mayor would not be able to maintain his position in Valley City.


    The president of the city council, on the other hand, had the backing of the Lin family. Although, as the president of the city council, his power was limited, he could still y a crucial role in the power struggle between the mayor and Major Joseph.


    Major Joseph was eager to make a significant achievement to elevate his rank. If he could be promoted to lieutenant colonel or brigadier general, he would gain the upper hand in the power struggle.


    When he returned to themand center, the soldiers were still hard at work.


    Every soldier who saw Major Joseph saluted him.


    Major Joseph returned the salutes one by one.


    After returning to his office, Major Joseph was finally able to take a moment to rest.


    He rubbed his temples and muttered to himself,


    "What a pleasant surprise! I never expected Jeremy to actuallye to Valley City. Now that he''s here, I have to make use of him. I must get him to help me eliminate all the humanoid monsters around Valley City. Only then will I have the upper hand in this power struggle."


    Major Joseph had already made his final decision.


    No matter what, he was determined to secure Jeremy''s help.


    If Jeremy refused to help, he would resort to other means.


    At that moment, the door to Joseph''s office was suddenly knocked on.


    "Come in!"


    "Sir, a new order from the military headquarters."


    A soldier handed over a ssified document to Major Joseph.


    Joseph rubbed his eyes and opened the document.


    The moment he saw the contents of the document, his expression turned to one of great difort.


    "This is absolutely impossible! Since the apocalypse game began, Valley City has never encountered any monsters that were too powerful! This intelligence must be false! Immediately inquire with military headquarters to confirm if this information is urate!"


    Major Joseph was extremely agitated.


    He had just read a piece of intelligence in the ssified document that left him in disbelief.


    Military headquarters had informed him that numerous powerful monsters had suddenly appeared near Valley City.


    Although these monsters had not directly targeted Valley City, their presence was getting closer and closer to the city.


    Major Joseph was unwilling to believe the information.


    So, he immediately assumed that it was false intelligence.


    Of course, the soldier promptly went off to carry out Major Joseph''s orders.


    After the soldier left, Major Joseph finally calmed down.


    He took some time to carefully think through the series of events that had transpired today.


    Suddenly, he felt that the monsters appearing around Valley City might very well be connected to Jeremy.


    So, he decided that first thing the next morning, he would go find Jeremy.


    Although he was very anxious, he thought it best to give Jeremy some time to rest. If he went to see Jeremy immediately, Jeremy would undoubtedly be furious.


    "No matter what, I must wait until tomorrow! I need to be patient! I have to calm down!" Major Joseph muttered to himself.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 426 The Unexpected Monster

    Major Joseph''s soldiers quickly returned with a report.


    In a firm and resolute tone, one of them said, "The military headquarters confirmed that the information we sent was entirely urate. Shouldn''t we start preparing for the uing battle now?"


    Major Joseph nodded reluctantly.


    "I understand. Gather all the soldiers immediately. I''ll organize a reconnaissance team to scout the situation around Valley City as soon as possible."


    Although Major Joseph was reluctant to ept the dire circumstances, as apetentmander, he made a swift decision.


    The reconnaissance team was dispatched, and it wasn''t long before they returned.


    Every team member wore an expression of utter panic.


    They reported encountering arge number of Moon Envoys just 30 minutes away from Valley City.


    These Moon Envoys were unmistakably the same beings that Jeremy and the others had encountered in the previous town.


    Although the Moon Envoys were not advancing rapidly, they were still expected to reach Valley City before dawn.


    Staring at the intelligence brought back by the reconnaissance team, Major Joseph frowned and remained silent.


    "Major! What are we supposed to do? Even if we gather all the soldiers, we still can''t stand a chance against so many monsters!" One of the soldiers asked anxiously, his voice trembling.


    Major Joseph gave no response.


    Instead, he ced all the gathered intelligence on his desk, deep in thought.


    The soldiers in Major Joseph''s office exchanged confused nces.


    They couldn''t figure out what was on his mind.


    However, they also knew better than to disturb him during such a critical moment.


    After about ten minutes of silence, Major Joseph finally spoke, his voice steady andmanding.


    "From the current situation, it seems that those monsters outside Valley City will reach the canyon''s defense line around 5:00 a.m. That gives us approximately 10 hours to prepare.


    For now, have all the soldiers ready themselves for the uing battle. I''ll go discuss our options with the mayor and the chairman of the city council."


    After delivering these orders, Major Joseph left the room, apanied by two of his guards.


    The other soldiers immediately began carrying out hismands, preparing for the impending fight.


    Although Major Joseph had told his subordinates that he would first discuss matters with the mayor and the speaker of the city council, he didn''t actually do so. Instead, he went straight to the luxurious hotel where Jeremy and Ritchie were staying.


    Upon arriving at the hotel, Major Joseph turned to his two guards and said, "Wait here. I''ll be down in about half an hour."


    "Yes, sir!"


    The two guards, of course, had no choice but to obey Major Joseph''s orders. Though they didn''t understand why he hade to this ce, they didn''t dare question him.


    Guided by the hotel owner, Major Joseph soon reached the door to Jeremy and Ritchie''s room. After knocking heavily for a while, the door finally opened, revealing a groggy Ritchie.


    "Who on earth is disturbing our rest? Don''t you know how crucial it is for us to get proper rest? We need to conserve energy for the uing battle!" Ritchie grumbled impatiently, not even bothering to look properly at who was standing outside.


    "My apologies," Major Joseph said with an apologetic tone. "I came to disturb you precisely because of the uing battle."


    Ritchie, upon hearing this, rubbed his eyes. It was only then that he got a clear look at the man standing before him.


    "Oh, it''s you!" he eximed, a hint of surprise in his voice. "What do you mean by ''uing battle''? Has Valley City been attacked by monsters?" Ritchie asked hurriedly.


    Major Joseph did not answer directly. Instead, he turned to the hotel owner who had led him there. "Let''s discuss this inside. The uing battle has nothing to do with ordinary civilians," he said.


    Hearing this, Ritchie quickly invited Major Joseph into the room, while the hotel owner, understanding the cue, tactfully took his leave.


    By the time Major Joseph entered the room, Jeremy was already awake. Although Jeremy hadn''t rested for long, he appeared to be in much better condition than before.


    "I overheard your conversation," Jeremy said in a calm tone. "The enemy we''re about to face must be extremely powerful, right? If they weren''t, you wouldn''t have rushed over here to find us."


    Major Joseph nodded.


    "You''re absolutely right. I''ve brought all the intelligence gathered by our reconnaissance team. Take a close look at the monsters we''re about to face."


    He ced a file folder in front of Jeremy and Ritchie.


    When Jeremy and Ritchie opened the folder, the contents inside left them utterly shocked.


    Midway through examining the documents, the two exchanged nces.


    They both instantly recognized the creatures depicted in the files¡ªthey were the Moon Messengers.


    Neither of them had anticipated that the Moon Messengers would track them all the way to Valley City, and what was even more rming was that their numbers hadn''t diminished in the slightest.


    The subtle exchange between Jeremy and Ritchie didn''t escape Major Joseph''s notice.


    He sensed that the two of them were familiar with these creatures, but he refrained from pressing the issue. Instead, he was preupied with another concern¡ªwhat if Jeremy and Ritchie deemed these monsters too formidable to confront and decided not to assist him in fighting them?


    After they finished reviewing the materials, neither Jeremy nor Ritchie said a word.


    The silence made Major Joseph uneasy. He asked quietly, "You''ve encountered these monsters before, haven''t you?"


    Jeremy and Ritchie turned their gaze toward Major Joseph.


    They were both unsure how to respond to his question.


    In their minds, they believed the presence of the Moon Messengers was an unfortunate ident, inadvertently drawn to Valley City.


    Jeremy was deep in thought, strategizing ways tobat such arge number of Moon Messengers. Meanwhile, Ritchie was preupied with figuring out how to distance himself from any me.


    Ritchie certainly didn''t want the people of Valley City to learn that these monsters had been drawn there because of him and Jeremy.


    Their silence only heightened Major Joseph''s anxiety.


    "Are these monsters incredibly powerful? Do youck the confidence to eliminate them?" he asked, his tone growing more urgent.


    Finally, Jeremy spoke.


    "These monsters are indeed extremely powerful," he admitted. "However, if we work together and give it our all, it''s possible for us to defeat them.


    But during the battle, you must follow my orders. These creatures are not only strong but also possess some highly unusual and dangerous abilities."


    Major Joseph finally let out a sigh of relief.


    He was more than willing to follow Jeremy''s orders during the battle. After all, he firmly believed that Jeremy''s abilities far surpassed his own, as well as those of his subordinates.


    "Don''t worry," Major Joseph responded quickly and earnestly. "During the battle, I will absolutely follow yourmands. As long as you are willing to help us defend Valley City, I won''t have anyints."


    Hearing such a swift agreement, Jeremy didn''t feel the need to say anything further.


    "To fight these monsters, we must rely heavily on defensive positions," Jeremy exined. "From what I''ve observed, Valley City''s defensive fortifications are solid, but we need to make full use of them.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ording to the intelligence, we still have a few hours to prepare. During these critical hours, we must strengthen Valley City''s defenses. Only then will the battle be less overwhelming, and the losses for you and your troops might be minimized."


    Jeremy''s words made Major Joseph a little uneasy, but he had no other choice. If he was determined to defend Valley City, he had to be prepared to pay the price.


    "I understand! You''ve rested enough, haven''t you? If so, let''s head to the defensive positions outside Valley City as soon as possible.


    Take a close look at the fortifications. With your insights, you can help us identify ways to reinforce them. Your suggestions will undoubtedly be of immense help to us," Major Joseph said.


    Neither Jeremy nor Ritchie refused.


    Thus, the three of them headed to the defensive positions outside the city.


    Although Valley City''s fortifications were already quite robust, Jeremy quickly identified several weaknesses.


    Under his guidance, the city''s defenses were further reinforced.


    Additionally, various tools and weapons specifically designed to counteract the powers of the Moon were ced within the fortifications.


    While these tools and weapons might prove somewhat effective, their overall grade and power were limited. Jeremy knew better than to ce his hopes for victory solely on them.


    Once all the preparations werepleted, Jeremy began formting specific battle strategies.


    At that moment, Major Joseph approached Jeremy.


    "I need to inform the mayor and the speaker of the city council about this matter. So, for now, you both stay here. Once I''ve notified them, I''ll return as quickly as possible," Major Joseph said.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement. He also believed it was crucial to notify Valley City''s mayor about the situation without dy.


    After giving a firm nod, Major Joseph turned and left.


    As Major Joseph departed, Jeremy suddenly noticed something peculiar about his shadow.

 Chapter 427 Pay Attention to Every Detail

    Although Jeremy felt that there was something odd about Major Joseph''s shadow, he didn''t directly bring it up.


    Jeremy believed that everyone inevitably carried some secrets.


    As long as a person''s secrets didn''t affect him, Jeremy had no inclination to probe into them.


    Lowering his voice, Jeremy spoke to Ritchie, "Have you noticed anything unusual about Major Joseph?"


    Ritchie looked up in surprise at the question.


    "What do you mean? Are you saying Major Joseph''s actions are strange?" Ritchie asked cautiously, scanning their surroundings in a low voice.


    "That''s not exactly what I mean," Jeremy replied just as softly. "I just think there''s something off about his shadow."


    "You are quite familiar with shadows. If there really was an issue with Major Joseph''s shadow, you would have noticed it, right? Since you haven''t, it likely means there''s nothing wrong with it. Maybe I''m just overthinking things," Jeremy muttered to himself.


    Ritchie didn''t offer any response.


    Instead, he furrowed his brows and began to think.


    Ritchie hadn''t noticed any problems with Major Joseph''s shadow.


    However, that didn''t mean Ritchie believed Major Joseph was entirely without issue.


    Even though Ritchie possessed shadow maniption abilities, using them effectively required him to maintain a high level of mental focus.


    The first time he encountered Major Joseph, Ritchie had been utterly exhausted.


    In that state, it had been impossible for him to concentrate properly.


    The second time he met Major Joseph, both Ritchie and Jeremy had received a shocking piece of news¡ªthe Moon Envoys were preparing a massive assault on Valley City.


    The gravity of that revtion had left Ritchie deeply unsettled.


    Consequently, he hadn''t been able to focus his mind on observing Major Joseph either.


    After arriving at the defensive perimeter outside Valley City, Ritchie''s attention had been entirely upied with the preparations for the fortifications. Naturally, he had no opportunity to scrutinize Major Joseph''s shadow.


    Jeremy noticed Ritchie''s momentary hesitation.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    But now wasn''t the time for prolonged discussion.


    Both Jeremy and Ritchie needed to be fully prepared for the impending battle.


    Even if Major Joseph did have some secrets, Ritchie and Jeremy could only wait until after the battle to investigate them.


    While Ritchie and Jeremy prepared for the uing fight, the vehicle carrying Major Joseph finally arrived at Valley City''s City Hall.


    The mayor, who had already been briefed over the phone, hurried to the entrance to greet Major Joseph.


    "What''s going on here? Since the apocalypse game descended, Valley City has never encountered such arge number of monsters. Are all these creatures here because of those two intruders?"


    The mayor sounded slightly irritated, immediately shifting the me onto Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Although he was trying to deflect responsibility, his guess was, in fact, correct.


    The monsters outside Valley City had indeed been brought by Jeremy and Ritchie.


    However, Major Joseph was unaware of this, and it was clear that he sided with Jeremy and Ritchie.


    "Mr. Mayor," Major Joseph quickly countered, "I don''t think your assumption holds any weight. Jeremy and Ritchie were simply passing through Valley City on their way to the capital. How could they possibly attract such arge number of monsters?


    "Besides, do you think they could have escaped unscathed from so many creatures? These monsters are extremely high-level.


    "Even if Jeremy and Ritchie are awakened apocalypse game yers, it''s impossible for them to confront such a horde of high-level monsters."


    Major Joseph''s reasoning was sound, leaving the mayor with no immediate rebuttal.


    However, this only made the mayor even more agitated.


    "Then what do you suggest we do? If even those two can''t handle the monsters, do you really think adding your forces will make a difference?


    "Are you trying to tell me that we should evacuate everyone? Should we just give up on Valley City, a major metropolis, without a fight?


    "The military headquarters and the federal leadership would never allow it! You know full well that our duty here is to ensure Valley City''s survival!"


    By the time the mayor finished speaking, his voice had risen to a near roar.


    At that moment, an elderly voice spoke from behind the mayor.


    "Stop arguing! Fighting here won''t do anything to solve the crisis we''re facing," an elderly man with snow-white hair said as he walked out of City Hall.


    The elderly man was the Speaker of the City Council.


    Although he had long sought to wrest more power from both the mayor and Major Joseph, on the surface, he still aimed to maintain a harmonious rtionship between the three of them.


    The mayor snorted coldly but chose to remain silent.


    Major Joseph quickly spoke up.


    "You''re absolutely right. In our current situation, we need unity more than ever! Valley City is under a grave threat, and we must stand together to confront it. I came here to discuss our strategy with you."


    "In that case, let''s move inside quickly. ording to the intelligence you''ve provided, those monsters are only a few hours away from Valley City," the Speaker said in a measured tone.


    The three of them soon entered the main hall of City Hall.


    The mayor, his expression still somewhat hostile, turned to Major Joseph and asked, "What resources do you need? I''ll send all my men to assist you. Whatever you need to defeat those monsters, just say the word, and I''ll make it happen."


    The Speaker of the City Council immediately chimed in as well.


    "The City Council will provide its support too. As long as we can keep the monsters outside the city walls, we will spare no effort."


    It was evident that neither of them fully grasped the severity of the situation.


    They seemed to believe that the monsters were simply strong but still within the realm of being repelled.


    Major Joseph let out a bitter smile and said, "I came here to request that you call for reinforcements from the capital. We need more powerful apocalypse game yers if we''re to ensure Valley City''s safety. Alternatively, if you can summon more soldiers, that would also help."


    As soon as Major Joseph finished speaking, both the mayor and the Speaker hesitated, their expressions shifting to uncertainty.


    The mayor, barely containing his anger, looked as if he might erupt at any moment.


    The mayor stood up abruptly and berated Major Joseph.


    "If I could bring in stronger apocalypse game yers from the capital, do you think I''d still be wasting my time here with you? Don''t you realize that after the capital was put in danger, all high-level apocalypse game yers were summoned there?


    "And as for soldiers¡ªdon''t even think about it! Military headquarters has already deployed nearly all its elite forces to the capital! Do you think a mere mayor like me can influence the decisions of military headquarters?"


    It was obvious that the mayor''s words were driven by frustration.


    What he said contributed nothing toward solving the current crisis.


    The Speaker of the City Council coughed twice, drawing attention to himself.


    "What you''re saying might be true, but now is not the time for arguing," he said firmly before turning his gaze to Major Joseph.


    "The mayor isn''t wrong. We have no way of securing more external support. Can''t you manage to repel those monsters with the resources we already have?


    "We''re not asking you to eliminate all of them. You just need to drive them back. That doesn''t seem like an impossible task, does it?"


    Major Joseph''s expression grew even more grim.


    "That task is incredibly difficult, but I''ll do everything I can. That''s precisely why I sought Jeremy and Ritchie''s help. With their assistance, there''s about a fifty percent chance of sess."


    Joseph''s answer left both the mayor and the Speaker visibly stunned.


    "Only a fifty percent chance of sess?" The mayor frowned deeply and pressed further. "Why is the chance of sess so low? Didn''t you tell us before that Jeremy and Ritchie are incredibly powerful apocalypse game yers? Are they really unable to handle the monsters we''re facing?"


    The Speaker said nothing, choosing instead to wait for Major Joseph''s response.


    Major Joseph nodded.


    "Jeremy and Ritchie are indeed very powerful. However, the threat we''re facing this time in Valley City is equally immense. A single monster can be easily defeated.


    But the crisis Valley City is facing isn''t caused by just one monster. Based on the intelligence gathered by the reconnaissance team, it''s estimated that there are as many as 20 high-level monsters outside Valley City.


    When faced with 20 high-level monsters, even experts like Jeremy and Ritchie won''t be able to handle them alone. At best, I can barely hold the line alongside them.


    That''s why I previously urged you to call for additional reinforcements from the capital! You need to act now. If you dy any longer, it may be toote to save Valley City."


    After saying this, Major Joseph turned and left without waiting for a response.


    He hadn''t expected much from the mayor or the Speaker of the City Council in the first ce.


    All he hoped for was that they would mobilize the resources and influence at their disposal.

 Chapter 428 Vastly Disparate Power Comparison

    While Major Joseph was rushing toward the defensive position outside Valley City, Jeremy and Ritchie were engaged in a serious discussion about the tactics they would need in the imminent battle.


    Both of them understood perfectly well how difficult the uing confrontation would be.


    The power wielded by more than twenty Moon Envoys was absolutely overwhelming.


    Such arge gathering of Moon Envoys could potentially allow [Moon] to project its power directly into the real world.


    If [Moon] truly managed to project its power into Valley City, everyone within the city would be transformed into monsters by the moonlight''s influence.


    Should that happen, the disparity in strength would grow even more extreme.


    "I don''t think we stand a chance at all! We should just take this opportunity to flee while Major Joseph is away!"


    Ritchie, already somewhat disheartened, voiced his pessimism.


    He believed that the difference in power had reached an irreparable level.


    If the Moon Envoys appeared outside Valley City, the situation would spiralpletely out of control.


    Thus, Ritchie hoped he could persuade Jeremy to flee with him.


    Though Ritchie knew Jeremy was unlikely to agree, he feltpelled to share his thoughts.


    Jeremy chuckled softly.


    "I would never do that. If we just walk away, Valley City will be utterly destroyed. That would be incredibly irresponsible," Jeremy stated firmly.


    He knew full well that Ritchie was joking¡ªat least partially.


    "Think harder. Maybe we can use your Soul Division ability to counter the Moon Envoys," Jeremy suggested as a potential n came to mind.


    Ritchie was visibly startled by the idea and responded in a slightly exasperated tone, "You still want me to use my Soul Division ability? Have you forgotten what happened during the fight in thest town? Not only did my Soul Division fail to eliminate the Moon Envoys, but it also created more of them.


    "Twenty Moon Envoys are already beyond what we can handle. If even more of them are created, we won''t even have a chance to escape."


    Though Ritchie was exining, his tone carried a hint of irritation.


    Ritchie had essentially fallen into a state of deep despair.


    Jeremy, however, showed no sign of anger at Ritchie''s frustrated response.


    Jeremy simply furrowed his brows, deep in thought, trying to devise the next battle n.


    At that moment, Major Joseph approached the two of them.


    "I''ve already informed the mayor about the situation. The mayor assured me he''ll reach out to the federal authorities for reinforcements. However, I don''t think we can ce all our hopes on that support arriving in time," Major Joseph said as he looked at Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Jeremy nodded in acknowledgment, while Ritchie stood off to the side, his expression nk.


    "You''ve probablye up with some kind of n to fight back, haven''t you? Can you share it with me? The monsters will be here in three hours!"


    Major Joseph had already noticed the despair etched across Ritchie''s face, but he refused to give up hope. Deep down, he believed Jeremy might have a strategy to turn the tide.


    Jeremy let out a bitterugh upon hearing Major Joseph''s question and then sighed heavily.


    "I''ve been thinking for a long time, but my conclusion is that there''s simply no way for us to defeat these monsters. Even a single one of them is incredibly powerful. With twenty of them gathered together, it''s beyond our ability to prevail."


    Jeremy''s words struck a heavy blow to Major Joseph''s resolve, leaving him momentarily devastated.


    "What are we supposed to do, then? Are you telling me to abandon Valley City? Even if we were willing to give up the city, we don''t have the means to evacuate everyone in such a short time.


    "Evacuating so many people would require a massive amount of transportation. Even if the federal authorities and military headquarters were willing to help, there''s no way they could get that many vehicles here in three hours," Major Joseph said, his voice trembling slightly.


    At that moment, a change finally flickered across Ritchie''s face.


    Ritchie found himself growing irritated with Major Joseph''s persistence.


    "The situation is indeed as dire as you''ve described. Facing them head-on is absolutely out of the question. But I never said we had to abandon Valley City," Jeremy said slowly.


    Jeremy''s words left both Major Joseph and Ritchie a bit surprised. They turned their eyes toward him in unison.


    "We cane up with a n to prevent these monsters from approaching Valley City. While we don''t know exactly why they''re heading here, we can send someone to lure them away."


    "As long as we can draw these monsters away from Valley City, the crisis will bepletely resolved. This way, we won''t need reinforcements, nor will we have to evacuate the civilians in Valley City," Jeremy stated his idea clearly.


    A faint smile finally appeared on Major Joseph''s face.


    However, that smile quickly faded.


    Although Jeremy''s n had a chance of sess, it required someone strong enough to capture the monsters'' attention and lure them away.


    In Valley City, only three people had the necessary strength: Major Joseph, Jeremy, and Ritchie.


    Before Major Joseph could respond, Ritchie spoke up.


    "So, what you''re suggesting is that we take on the task of distracting those monsters?" Ritchie asked, feigning surprise. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that is? Even if we are stronger than most, we shouldn''t be taking such a huge risk."


    Jeremy sighed slightly, clearly a bit exasperated.


    Ritchie''s point was valid, but given the current circumstances, there was no avoiding the risk.


    If they refused to bear that risk, it would fall upon the civilians of Valley City instead.


    "You''re absolutely right. Carrying out this n will involve immense danger. That''s why I won''t force anyone to act with me. If you''re unwilling to join, I''ll take action alone," Jeremy dered, his tone resolute.


    It was evident that Jeremy had already made up his mind.


    Even if no one volunteered to apany him, he was determined to lure the Moon Envoys away by himself.


    To Jeremy, the Moon Envoys were targeting him specifically.


    If he and Ritchie had nevere to Valley City, the Moon Envoys wouldn''t have either.


    Jeremy''s response didn''t surprise Ritchie, but it caught Major Joseph off guard.


    From Major Joseph''s perspective, Valley City''s crisis had nothing to do with Jeremy.


    The fact that Jeremy was even willing to offer his help already moved Major Joseph deeply.


    What Joseph had never expected was that Jeremy would willingly put himself in such immense danger to protect Valley City.


    Major Joseph, deeply moved, spoke directly.


    "I''ll go with you! I''ll do everything in my power to ensure your safety! You''re doing this for Valley City, and I won''t let you face it alone!" Major Joseph dered passionately, his voice trembling with emotion.


    For a moment, Jeremy was at a loss for words.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He wasn''t sure how to respond, and the intensity of Joseph''s statement left him feeling awkward.


    As Jeremy struggled to find something to say, Ritchie spoke up slowly.


    "If Major Joseph is willing to join the operation, then, of course, I''ll go too. With the three of us working together, we should be able to minimize the danger, right?"


    Ritchie had already been leaning toward this decision for some time.


    The reason he hadn''t spoken earlier was that he wasn''t sure if Major Joseph would agree to join them.


    Now that Major Joseph had made his stance clear, Ritchie saw no reason to waste any more time.


    "Since you both have agreed to join me, let''s finalize our n of action quickly. Once we''ve worked out the details, we need to inform the others immediately.


    "After we leave, Valley City will depend entirely on them for defense. While the city is unlikely to face any threats other than those monsters, we still need to prepare for any unexpected situations," Jeremy reminded Major Joseph firmly.


    Major Joseph nodded, fully understanding the gravity of the situation.


    Without wasting any time, he and Jeremy began drafting their action n.


    The n itself was rtively straightforward: they needed to approach the vicinity of the monsters, draw their attention, and then lead them away from Valley City.


    "Now that we have our n in ce, I''ll inform the others about it. Give me fifteen minutes, and I''ll be back to join you for the mission," Major Joseph said before promptly leaving.


    He had to ry the n to the other defenders in Valley City to ensure the city was adequately prepared in their absence.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy and Ritchie began preparing themselves for the operation.


    Both men were keenly aware that the Moon Envoys would target them as their primary adversaries.


    This meant they had to make thorough preparations¡ªnot just for the confrontation with the monsters, but also for the possibility that [Moon] might project its full power into the real world.


    [Moon], as a designer of the apocalypse game, might not have disyed an excessively cruel side, but it undoubtedly harbored significant hostility toward Jeremy.


    Jeremy and Ritchie had to steel themselves for a grueling battle! Only by preparing for the worst could they hold onto any reasonable hope of sess.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 429 Taking the Initiative to Act Separately

    Fifteen minutes passed quickly, and Major Joseph returned as promised.


    "I have already informed everyone who needs to know about our n. While we''re away, they''ll be responsible for defending Valley City," Major Joseph said briskly, his words delivered at a quick pace.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement. "In that case, let''s get moving! Those creatures are only about two hours away from Valley City. The sooner we take action, the less of a threat they''ll pose to the city."


    Major Joseph, naturally, had no objections to Jeremy''s n.


    Without further dy, Jeremy, Ritchie, and Major Joseph left Valley City.


    Once the three departed, the defensive forces within Valley City immediately sealed all the city''s exits.


    At this point, Valley City no longer had any particrly strong apocalypse game yers left.


    A city defended only by ordinary soldiers was frighteningly vulnerable when faced with the monstrous horde.


    Every soldier who remained stationed in Valley City was tense, anxiously awaiting the return of Major Joseph and the others.


    In the city center, inside the mayor''s office at City Hall, the mayor was frowning deeply, deliberating on the next course of action.


    He had indeed followed Major Joseph''s suggestion and sought help from the Lannisters.


    And, to their credit, the Lannisters had agreed to send some apocalypse game yers to aid Valley City.


    However, the speed at which these apocalypse game yers were moving was painfully slow. They would not arrive in time to defend Valley City.


    The mayor''s mood was grim.


    Initially, he had believed that allying with the Lannisters would grant him greater control over Valley City.


    He had never imagined that the Lannisters would be unwilling to provide him with any substantial assistance.


    "I really regret this! Why did I choose to cooperate with the Lannisters? They don''t provide me with resources at all! On the contrary, they just want to control Valley City''s resources through me!" the mayor muttered bitterly to himself.


    Hisints, however, were futile.


    In the eyes of the Lannisters, he was nothing more than a minor, insignificant figure.


    And in truth, Valley City itself wasn''t particrly important to the Lannisters either.


    At that moment, a knock sounded at the mayor''s office door.


    His assistant entered the room.


    "Mayor! Major Joseph and his team have already taken action! They intend to draw the monsters away from Valley City!" the assistant reported urgently.


    Upon hearing the news, the mayor''s expression finally softened a bit.


    "It seems that Major Joseph is indeed a responsible man! I thought he might take the opportunity to flee alongside Jeremy and Ritchie," the mayor said slowly.


    "Mayor, you weren''t entirely wrong. ording to the intel we received, Ritchie did mention escaping amidst the chaos," the mayor''s assistant quickly added.


    "Is that so? Looks like I was right not to ce too much trust in them," the mayor remarked, feeling validated in his assessment of Jeremy and Ritchie.


    "So, what should we do next? Should we inform the soldiers to keep a close watch on Jeremy and Ritchie, to make sure they don''t abandon Valley City?" the assistant suggested, offering a new n.


    In the assistant''s view, as long as Jeremy and Ritchie were closely monitored, they wouldn''t have the chance to abandon the city.


    The mayor, however, did not immediately make a decision.


    He found the suggestion to be rather impractical.


    Although Ritchie had indeed spoken about fleeing, he hadn''t actually acted on those words.


    Taking preemptive action based solely on an offhandment would undoubtedly anger Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Valley City was in an extremely fragile state right now.


    If Jeremy and Ritchie were provoked, the city could face an even greater crisis.


    "Do not take any hasty actions. For now, we still need their cooperation. Once they''ve resolved the threat posed by the monsters, we can then consider our next steps," the mayor ultimately decided, opting for a cautious and measured response.


    Although the assistant appeared slightly disappointed, he nheless carried out the mayor''s orders.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy, Ritchie, and Major Joseph had already reached the vicinity of the Moon Envoys.


    Though the Moon Envoys moved at a rtively slow pace, they werepletely unaffected by the terrain.


    It was as if none of them had physical forms in the real world; the Moon Envoys seemed to be nothing more than manifestations of moonlight itself.


    As Major Joseph caught sight of the Moon Envoys, his face twisted into a somewhat unnatural expression.


    "I really didn''t expect them to look this beautiful up close. Why didn''t the scouting team mention that these monsters have such stunning appearances?" Major Joseph asked Jeremy, his voice tinged with confusion.


    Jeremy responded with a calm smile, "The scouting team members naturally wouldn''t notice how beautiful these creatures are, because they must have been incredibly tense during their reconnaissance.


    "When someone is extremely nervous, their mental state bespromised. These creatures are called Moon Envoys, and they can kill humans by affecting their mental state.


    "So, during the reconnaissance, the team must have already been influenced by the Moon Envoys. Since the Moon Envoys didn''t want to engage with the scouts, it''s only natural that the scouts couldn''t perceive their beauty."


    Jeremy''s exnation was logical, and Major Joseph slowly nodded in understanding.


    "Then what should we do next? Should weunch a direct attack on these Moon Envoys?" Major Joseph asked.


    Unaware of the true strength of the Moon Envoys, he believed that attacking them was the only way to draw their attention.


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "That''s unnecessary. All we need to do is make our presence known to the Moon Envoys. Once we appear, they''ll inevitably target us," Jeremy exined.


    Although Major Joseph didn''t fully understand Jeremy''s reasoning, he didn''t object.


    The three of them then stepped directly into the open, facing the Moon Envoys.


    The moment Jeremy appeared, all the Moon Envoys turned their gazes toward him.


    A pinkish glow radiated from their bodies, and in the same instant, a massive red moon materialized in the sky above.


    This enormous crimson moon emitted a sinister, maddening energy that spread across the area.


    Both Ritchie and Major Joseph were affected, feeling strange, disembodied voices echoing in their minds.


    Under the influence of the pink moonlight, the Moon Envoys grew significantly more powerful. Their forms expanded, each bingrger and more imposing than before.


    Jeremy made a quick decision.


    He realized that splitting up was their best chance of sess.


    "Don''t just stand there! Run now! The Moon Envoys are about to attack us!" Jeremy shouted, snapping Ritchie and Major Joseph out of their daze.


    After Ritchie and Major Joseph began running, Jeremy was thest to flee.


    The reason Jeremy chose to be thest was to ensure he could draw the attention of as many Moon Envoys as possible.


    Jeremy believed that Ritchie and Major Joseph would struggle to deal with arge number of Moon Envoys. By attracting the majority of them to himself, he could ensure the safety of the other two.


    His strategy worked.


    Most of the Moon Envoys turned their attention to Jeremy and began pursuing him.


    Only a small handful chased after Ritchie and Major Joseph.


    Jeremy, however, didn''t simply flee.


    As he ran, he continuouslyunched attacks on the Moon Envoys.


    Thanks to his talent, The King of Time and Space, Jeremy could repeatedly use his blink ability to evade the Moon Envoys'' attacks.


    Each time he blinked to safety, he would take the opportunity to counterattack.


    Moreover, Jeremy could use his unique talent to teleport some of the Moon Envoys to distant locations, effectively separating them from the group.


    Through his relentless efforts, the Moon Envoys gradually dispersed.


    Once they were separated, the power of each individual Moon Envoy began to weaken.@@novelbin@@


    After half an hour, only three Moon Envoys remained in pursuit of Jeremy.


    At this point, Jeremy decided there was no need to continue running.


    What he needed to do now was to eliminate the three Moon Envoys that were still following him.


    "Yourpanions are no longer here! Do you really think the three of you can take me down? You don''t stand a chance! But I can definitely eliminate all three of you!" Jeremy dered with a confident smile.


    As soon as he finished speaking, Jeremyunched an attack on the closest Moon Envoy.


    Using his talent, The King of Time and Space, Jeremy summoned a series of folded spaces to his aid.


    When the space folded together, the Moon Envoy felt an immense pressure.


    The Moon Envoy targeted by Jeremy''s attack was instantly destroyed.


    Its body shattered into countless fragments, which, under the glow of the moonlight, began to form new Moon Envoys.


    Witnessing this, Jeremy''s face was filled with shock.


    "What''s going on? Are the Moon Envoys truly indestructible? Does killing one only increase their numbers? Are these creatures invincible?"


    Jeremy was deeply puzzled.


    He couldn''tprehend why this was happening, nor did he have any idea what the Moon Envoys'' weakness might be.

 Chapter 432 Keans Strange Order

    Faced with the mayor''s criticism, Kean''s subordinate wore an expression of deep frustration.


    He was fully aware that his earlier decision to reveal their entire n had been impulsive, but he believed that this was not the time for finger-pointing.


    In a cold, detached tone, Kean''s subordinate said, "Mocking me now won''t change anything. If Jeremy learns of our n, he''ll me you too. Do you honestly think you can face Jeremy without our protection?"


    He paused for a moment before continuing, his voice tinged with a note of warning. "Let''s not forget, Jeremy is a yer who''s alreadypleted the Apocalypse Game''s awakening. And hispanion, Ritchie, isn''t much weaker than he is. Even if you mobilize every soldier in Valley City, you''ll never be able to stop their attacks. The only thing you can do right now is cooperate with my n."


    Kean''s subordinate was attempting to coerce the mayor of Valley City into cooperating by threatening him.


    However, his approach was having no effect at all.


    The mayor of Valley City sneered coldly.


    "You really think this kind of threat is enough to make me cooperate with your ns? Don''t be so naive. Even if Kean himself came here, he wouldn''t be able to force me to follow his orders!"


    Though the mayor of Valley City had worked with Kean, he was by no means Kean''s subordinate. He had his own interests to protect.


    The mayor of Valley City was someone who acted for his own benefit and would only do what was in his best interest.


    While he acknowledged that Jeremy posed a threat to Kean, he also believed that Kean had no real means of directly attacking him within Valley City. Therefore, keeping Jeremy in the city was something Kean could ept.


    For the mayor of Hale Valley, keeping Jeremy in Valley City would also make the city safer, which was why he had suggested hosting a banquet to keep Jeremy there.


    The mayor''s words only deepened the frustration on Kean''s subordinate''s face.


    "So, what exactly are you nning? Are you seriously thinking of cooperating with Jeremy? Don''t forget, Jeremy is Kean''s arch-enemy!"


    Kean''s subordinate was in a truly terrible mood now.


    He desperately wanted the mayor of Valley City to understand that if he betrayed Kean, he would face a very grim fate.


    Discover hidden tales at empire


    This time, the mayor of Valley City simply fixed Kean''s subordinate with a cold, disdainful gaze. He didn''t even bother to respond.


    The atmosphere in the conference room became unusually oppressive.


    It seemed like a confrontation between the mayor and Kean''s subordinate was on the verge of erupting.


    At that moment, Kean''s subordinate suddenly received a new order from Kean.


    The order was very simple: do not take action against Jeremy in Valley City.


    The expression on Kean''s subordinate''s face changed dramatically. What had started as a gloomy and serious demeanor shifted to one of confusion.


    The mayor of Valley City noticed the change in his expression and calmly asked, "Kean must have sent you a new order, right? This new order must have surprised you, hasn''t it?"


    Kean''s subordinate turned his gaze toward the mayor of Valley City.


    "How did you know?"


    "From the expression on your face. And Kean isn''t as foolish as you are; he must realize that leaving Jeremy in Valley City could also be beneficial to him," the mayor of Valley City said with a smile, speaking slowly.


    Although Kean''s subordinate had been insulted by the mayor''s words, he didn''t respond.


    Because his judgment had indeed been wrong. The mayor of Valley City''s assessment was urate.


    Since he had received Kean''s new order, he had no choice but to follow it.


    "Kean''s new order is for me to cooperate with your actions. He hopes that you will keep Jeremy in Valley City for as long as possible," Kean''s subordinate said slowly, rying Kean''s newmand.


    The mayor of Valley City nodded with a smile.


    "In that case, you don''t need to be involved anymore. Just stay in the shadows. I can carry out Kean''s order on my own."


    After saying this, the mayor of Valley City directly left the conference room.


    Kean''s subordinate''s mood remained unsettled, still full of confusion.


    However, this didn''t stop him from cooperating with the mayor of Valley City.


    Since the mayor had asked him to stay in the shadows, he certainly wouldn''t be making any direct moves.


    At the same time, Major Joseph was contemting whether he should inform Jeremy about the intelligence he had gathered.


    Though he greatly admired Jeremy and deeply hoped that Jeremy wouldn''t fall into danger, he still hadn''t made a swift decision.


    After all, in the current situation, if Jeremy found out that the mayor of Valley City was intentionally targeting him, he would likely choose to seek revenge on the mayor.


    This could easily escte the situation in Valley City and make things even more chaotic.


    Just as Major Joseph was hesitating, one of his subordinates suddenly approached him.


    "Sir! Jeremy and Ritchie are here to see you! They seem to have something very important to discuss."


    Upon hearing this, Major Joseph''s expression shifted slightly, showing a bit of surprise.


    "Really? I understand. Tell them to wait for a moment. I''ll be out to meet them shortly!" Major Joseph replied slowly.


    His subordinate quickly left to ry the message.


    Major Joseph let out a long sigh.


    "I''d rather deal with the threat of monsters than face thisplicated web of rtionships," Major Joseph muttered, clearly troubled.


    He didn''t want to betray Jeremy and Ritchie, but he also didn''t want to plunge Valley City into further chaos.


    In fact, Major Joseph had misunderstood.


    Jeremy and Ritchie weren''t seeking more intelligence from him.


    Their purpose was much simpler. They wanted Major Joseph to help them move their luggage from the hotel where they had been staying.


    After about fifteen minutes of waiting in the lounge, Jeremy and Ritchie were still there when Major Joseph finally arrived.


    "Apologies for the wait! I had a lot to handle. I just finished going through all the documents I needed to take care of," Major Joseph said with a smile.


    Jeremy and Ritchie, of course, didn''t mind.


    After exchanging a few pleasantries, Major Joseph got straight to the point.


    "Is there something urgent you need to discuss with me? Are you here about the banquet?"


    As he asked, Major Joseph studied Jeremy and Ritchie closely, deciding to y it by ear.


    If they sensed something was off, he would immediately tell them everything he knew.


    If they didn''t notice anything unusual, he wouldn''t say a word.


    Jeremy answered bluntly.


    "We came here simply because we need you to send your soldiers to move our luggage. We left some things back at the hotel. We''re not familiar with Hale City, so we can''t bring the luggage over ourselves," Jeremy said.


    Major Joseph''s mood lightened considerably.


    Smiling, he replied, "Of course, no problem. I''ll have my soldiers move all your luggage over as quickly as possible."


    Jeremy and Ritchie were reassured by Joseph''s response.


    "If that''s all, I''ll take my leave now. I still need to check on the defensive positions around Valley City," Major Joseph said, clearly eager to end the conversation.


    He was concerned that Jeremy and Ritchie might notice something unusual about him, so he decided it was best to leave quickly.


    Jeremy and Ritchie, of course, didn''t try to stop him.


    And so, Major Joseph left, and since he had already gone, Jeremy and Ritchie saw no reason to stay in the room.


    They decided to return to their own quarters.


    As soon as the door to their room closed behind them, Jeremy turned to Ritchie and said, "Major Joseph definitely knows something important. His smile waspletely unnatural. And when he saw us, he was clearly very worried. So, I think he''s deliberately withholding crucial information from us."


    Ritchie''s eyes widened in surprise.@@novelbin@@


    He thought for a moment before asking, "Should we go back to Major Joseph and confront him? If he''s really hiding something that important, we should make him tell us!"


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "He has his reasons. If he didn''t tell us right away when he saw us, it means he''s hesitating. Major Joseph is the person in Valley City with whom we have the best rtionship. We can''t afford to sh with him, so we''ll have to act like we don''t know anything."


    Jeremy''s reasoning made perfect sense.


    Ritchie sighed.


    "The situation in Valley City is really tense. Although we won''t directly face terrifying monsters here, sometimes humans can be even more dangerous than monsters."


    Ritchie''s words resonated deeply with Jeremy. He couldn''t help but agree.


    But Jeremy wasn''t as worried as Ritchie. In Jeremy''s view, both he and Ritchie possessed extremely powerful abilities. Their strength ensured that, whenever they were in a conflict with others, they had the power to change the situation at any moment!


    The ability to change the situation at will was the most important thing!

 Chapter 436 Important Information Revealed Unintentionally

    The mayor of Valley City deliberated for a long time to ensure his n was wless.


    After confirming that his n would at least seed in its initial stages, the mayor finally began to take action.


    The first part of his n was, of course, to figure out a way to get Jeremy to target Kean''s subordinates.


    He started by seeking out Kean''s subordinate.


    When the mayor approached him, Kean''s subordinate was still visibly furious. He didn''t even bother to look directly at the mayor.


    "Are you still upset with me? Do you honestly think there''s anything wrong with what I said?" the mayor asked, his tone slightly casual.


    "Of course, there''s nothing wrong with what you said. How could someone as clever as you possibly say anything wrong?" Kean''s subordinate replied, his toneced with sarcasm.@@novelbin@@


    Though his words seemed to agree with the mayor, in reality, they were mocking him.


    "I can understand your anger, but I also hope you can understand my current situation," the mayor continued. "First and foremost, I need to ensure Valley City''s safety. Only then can I focus on dealing with Jeremy.


    "If Valley City''s safety can''t even be guaranteed, how can I have the peace of mind to take action against Jeremy? But rest assured, if you decide to take the initiative against Jeremy, I won''t stand in your way. In fact, I''ll provide support for you behind the scenes."


    These words from the mayor caused a significant shift in Kean''s subordinate''s mood.


    Kean''s subordinate asked with a hint of doubt, "You''ll really help me? But you were just negotiating with Jeremy not long ago. Why would you now offer to help me deal with him?"


    Although Kean''s subordinate wasn''t particrly intelligent, he was still capable of identifying the contradiction in the situation.


    The mayor let out a sigh.


    "My negotiations with Jeremy were only to keep him cated. By keeping him off guard, it ensures that you''ll have the chance to deliver a fatal blow in secret."


    This exnation made Kean''s subordinate suddenly realize what was going on.


    "So, you''ve been plotting this all along! Why didn''t you tell me earlier? If you had let me in on it from the start, I wouldn''t have opposed your n at all!"


    Kean''s Subordinate Expresses Slight Resentment


    Kean''s subordinate couldn''t help but feel a bit resentful. He thought the mayor of Valley City should have disclosed the entire n to him earlier.


    "I couldn''t tell you ahead of time!" the mayor exined. "If I had told you in advance, Jeremy might have found out about our n! After all, Jeremy was initially wary of me.


    "Now that I''ve gained his trust, it''s safe to share the n with you. He won''t suspect anything now because he no longer has any defenses against me. There''s no way he''d expect me to secretly support his enemy."


    The mayor of Valley City finallyid out his reasoning.


    In truth, his exnation was nothing more than sophistry. If Jeremy had overheard this conversation, he would never have believed it.


    But Kean''s subordinate did.


    Not only did he believe it, but he also saw this as an opportunity to strike a decisive blow against Jeremy.


    "Your Honor, you''re truly brilliant! I''ll start preparing for battle immediately. I''ll make sure Jeremy pays the price very soon!"


    Kean''s subordinate had long been nning to make a move against Jeremy.


    The only reason he hadn''t acted yet was due to the mayor of Valley City''s previous objections and Kean''s sudden new orders.


    Now that the mayor had given his consent and Kean''stest orders didn''t explicitly forbid him from acting against Jeremy, there was no reason to dy.


    As he was about to leave, the mayor of Valley City called out to him.


    "Don''t rush! Even if you attack Jeremy now, it''s likely he won''t be able to respond perfectly. However, Jeremy is still incredibly formidable. We need a wless n for a sneak attack on him."


    These words from the mayor convinced Kean''s subordinate.


    He nodded emphatically.


    "Since you''ve said so, does that mean you already have the perfect n for a sneak attack?"


    "Of course! I''ve already prepared a foolproof n! All I need is your cooperation," the mayor said with a confident smile.


    Kean''s subordinate answered without hesitation, "Of course, I''ll give you my full support! I''ll carry out your n exactly as you''ve outlined!"


    And so, Kean''s subordinate once again joined forces with the mayor of Valley City.


    The mayor proceeded toy out his n in full detail.


    Kean''s Subordinate Felt Very Pleased


    Kean''s subordinate was extremely pleased, as he believed the mayor of Valley City''s n was certain to seed.


    The next morning, early at dawn, the mayor of Valley City sent someone to stand outside Jeremy and Ritchie''s room. Explore stories on empire


    "Gentlemen, the mayor requests your presence. He would like you both to apany him to inspect the defense positions outside Valley City. He hopes you can offer suggestions on how to reinforce the defenses."


    In the face of this invitation from the mayor, Jeremy and Ritchie had no choice but to ept.


    The two of them followed the mayor to the defense positions just outside Valley City.


    "The overall condition of the defense positions is good. While there are some areas that need improvement, I think the soldiers of Valley City have done a solid job," Jeremy said with a smile to the mayor.


    The mayor was very pleased with this response. He nodded with a broad smile. "With your words, I can rest easy. Although you and yourpanions previously helped us fend off the monster attack, that doesn''t mean Valley City is safe yet."


    "I understand," Jeremy responded, continuing along with the mayor''s train of thought. "You mentioned earlier that Valley City will face another monster attack in a few days. Mypanions and I will be ready for the battle."


    However, at this point, the mayor lowered his voice.


    "I''m not talking about that!" he whispered. "I''ve noticed that there have been some individuals moving in and out of Valley City under the radar. Their presence seems to be for some hidden purpose.


    "Since you and yourpanions arrived in Valley City, the frequency of these individuals'' movements has increased. I believe they will target you. You and yourpanions must be on your guard."


    The mayor''s warning shocked Jeremy.


    After hearing the mayor''s words, Jeremy immediately scanned his surroundings.


    Just as the mayor had said, there were indeed some people lurking nearby, moving in a manner that was far from ordinary.


    The mayor, in this seemingly offhand way, had inadvertently revealed an important piece of information.


    Jeremy and Ritchie''s Quick Response


    Jeremy immediately nced at Ritchie, and Ritchie understood the message that Jeremy was silently conveying.


    Both of them instantly prepared for battle.


    In the next moment, several figures suddenly sprang out from concealed positions.


    These figures were armed with powerful weapons, and their obvious target was Jeremy and the mayor.


    Jeremy quickly spoke to the mayor of Valley City.


    "We''re under attack! The information you provided is extremely important! The uing battle should be handled by me and mypanions."


    With that, Jeremy engaged the attackers head-on.


    Using the abilities of *The King of Time and Space*, Jeremy teleported the closest enemy far away.


    He then used a Portal to appear behind one of the attackers.


    The teamwork between Jeremy and Ritchie was wless. In less than fifteen minutes, they had defeated all the enemies.


    During the fight, some of the attackers, realizing they couldn''t win, chose to flee.


    Although Jeremy and Ritchie didn''t manage to capture all the enemies, they did manage to catch two of them.


    The rest of the fleeing enemies were severely injured by Jeremy and Ritchie.


    "Mayor!" Jeremy said directly to the mayor of Valley City, "Get your soldiers to capture these two! They should be interrogated. The information you get from them could be crucial to us, especially since we''ve also been threatened by them."


    The mayor nodded.


    "Don''t worry! I''ll make sure Major Joseph interrogates them immediately. All the intelligence he gathers will be sent to both you and me."


    Here is the English trantion, carefully localized for a more natural tone:


    "I must also express my gratitude to you. If it weren''t for you being here, I would have likely faced a life-threatening situation. You not only saved Valley City, but you also saved me. After this, I will do everything I can to help you."


    The mayor of Valley City spoke these words with a very sincere tone.


    Jeremy smiled and nodded, seemingly acknowledging the mayor''s words.


    "There''s no need for us to stay here any longer. Thank you and yourpanions for apanying me to inspect the defense positions outside Valley City. You can go back and rest now. I must hurry back to City Hall to take care of other matters."


    With that, the mayor of Valley City and Jeremy returned to the city.


    The mayor escorted Jeremy and Ritchie to their amodations.


    Jeremy and Ritchie watched as the mayor of Valley City drove off.


    Once the car carrying the mayor disappeared from sight, the smile on Jeremy''s face quickly faded. His expression turned serious and solemn.


    Ritchie was stunned by the sudden shift in Jeremy''s demeanor.

 Chapter 438 Chaos in the City

    Although the various factions in Valley City each had their own ns, none of them were likely to take reckless actions in the short term after Kean''s subordinates failed in their ambush.


    Even Jeremy and Ritchie had no intention of probing too deeply into Valley City''s secrets for now.


    Over the next two days, Jeremy and Ritchie devoted themselves to preparing for the uing battle. Meanwhile, the mayor of Valley City and Major Joseph were deliberating on how to reinforce the city''s defenses.


    The situation in Valley City seemed to have settled into an unusual calm, at least until the night of the fourth day after Jeremy and Ritchie''s arrival.


    That afternoon, Jeremy and Ritchie had spent some time training at the military camp. Afterpleting their training, they returned to their lodgings.


    "I think your previous worries were unnecessary," Ritchie said in a rxed tone. "Things aren''t as bad as you made them out to be. The mayor of Valley City doesn''t seem to be hiding any sinister plots. Isn''t he busy reinforcing the city''s defenses? Doesn''t that prove he wasn''t lying to us before?"


    Jeremy, absentmindedly sorting through his weapons and supplies, responded without much conviction.


    "Don''t jump to conclusions so quickly! While the mayor hasn''t shown any suspicious behavior, that doesn''t mean he isn''t hostile toward us. It might just mean he''s really good at hiding his true intentions."


    Ritchie seemed to agree with Jeremy''s judgment.


    He nodded, then walked over to the window.


    Peering outside, Ritchie saw the city lit up brightly. Despite the series of mishaps Valley City had endured since the arrival of the Apocalypse Game, its core district had remained untouched by monster attacks.


    As a result, Valley City''s core district was still rtively bustling.


    "If only Moonlight City could be as prosperous as Valley City," Ritchie murmured wistfully.


    Jeremy didn''t respond, continuing to focus on organizing his gear.


    This time, Jeremy had brought an extensive array of equipment with him.


    Not only had he brought along the Dark Core, but he had also packed the Permafrost Ice.


    These two items, in truth, weren''t particrly useful inbat.


    What''s more, both items were closely tied to the Apocalypse Game''s scheming.


    Ritchie didn''t understand why Jeremy had decided to bring these items along, but he didn''t ask either. He knew Jeremy wasn''t the type to offer a clear exnation.


    Ritchie yawned after gazing out the window for a while.


    "I''m feeling a bit tired. If there''s nothing else, I''ll head to my room and rest!" Ritchie stood up and began walking toward his bedroom.


    "There''s nothing urgent. Go ahead and rest! Tomorrow morning, we''ll head back to the training ground!" Jeremy reminded him.


    Ritchie waved a hand casually to show he''d heard.


    He truly felt a little drowsy, but just before entering his bedroom, he nced out the window onest time.


    It was that one nce that froze him in ce.


    The scene outside had changed dramatically. The lights of Valley City''s core district, which had been glowing brightly moments before, had vanished in an instant, reced by faint, flickering mes.


    Ritchie''s sleepiness disappeared entirely.


    He shouted loudly to Jeremy, "Look outside! Has Valley City''s core district been attacked? Those flickering lights¡ªthey must be mes from buildings burning, right?"


    Prompted by Ritchie''s rm, Jeremy turned his gaze to the window as well.


    Sure enough, it was exactly as Ritchie had described. The lights in Valley City''s core district had all gone dark. The faint, flickering lights were indeed the zing fires of burning buildings.


    "Something''s definitely wrong! We need to get out there right away! There''s major trouble in Valley City!"


    Jeremy and Ritchie sprang into action immediately.


    They rushed out of their room and headed straight for the street.


    With all the lights in the buildings extinguished, the street was cloaked in an eerie darkness. The only illumination came from the zing fires in the distance, which intermittently lit up the area around Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Ritchie, who had shadow maniption abilities, quickly sensed the presence of something hidden nearby.


    Lowering his voice, he warned Jeremy, "There''s something hidden around us. Whatever it is, it doesn''t seem friendly."


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    He, too, had noticed the hidden entities around them. However, he refrained from attacking them outright, as he wasn''t sure what they were. He doubted these hidden things were monsters.


    "Let''s keep moving. We can''t make any hasty decisions right now. We''ll take it step by step, and if we can gather additional information from others, that''ll be ideal."


    Jeremy and Ritchie ignored the hidden entities around them and continued heading toward the burning buildings.


    While Jeremy and Ritchie were on the move, others in Valley City were also taking action.


    In the city hall located in the center of Valley City, the mayor was furiously berating his subordinates.


    "What on earth are you all doing? Why haven''t you figured out what''s happening yet? Who is responsible for this attack on Valley City? Why are the buildings in the core district engulfed in mes?"


    None of the mayor''s subordinates dared to speak under his wrath.


    In truth, most of the people in city hall were deeply confused. They had no idea what was going on. All they knew was that Valley City had suddenlye under attack.


    What made the situation even stranger was that no one had identified the source of the attack.


    At that moment, a soldier suddenly burst into the city hall.


    "Your Honor, Major Joseph has sent me to report thetest updates! He has already led the soldiers to the area around the burning buildings.


    The buildings on fire include thergemercial center and the bank tower. These are very tall structures. Major Joseph has not been able to extinguish the fires yet, and he hasn''t encountered any enemies."


    The soldier''s report only served to fuel the mayor''s anger.


    "Deliver my new orders to Major Joseph immediately! He must figure out what''s going on right now! If he can''t determine what''s happening, then he''s failing in his duties!" the mayor shouted furiously.


    The soldier quickly ran out of the office to carry out the mayor''s orders.


    Neither the mayor''s staff nor Major Joseph''s men had uncovered any useful information. This left the mayor feeling increasingly uneasy.


    "What is going on? Why is Valley City experiencing such a sudden and catastrophic event? Could this be the work of Kean''s subordinates?"


    The mayor even began to suspect Kean.


    From his perspective, there was no one else who could inflict such massive destruction on Valley City other than Kean''s subordinates.


    Jeremy and Ritchie''s every move had been under the mayor''s close surveince. He was certain that they were not the ones behind the attack.


    After calmly reflecting for a while, the mayor of Valley City decided to seek out Kean''s subordinates to gather information.


    He addressed his staff in aposed tone, "There''s no need to remain here any longer. Return to your respective posts. Valley City is facing a crisis, and this is when you must work even harder."


    Following the mayor''s orders, the city hall staff gradually left his office one by one.


    Once everyone else had departed, the mayor prepared to head out and confront Kean''s subordinates.


    However, just as he was about to leave, all the lights in the city hall suddenly went out.


    Gasps of shock echoed through the hall.


    The darkness was soon apanied by the sound of ss shattering.


    Your next read awaits at empire


    "Don''t panic! Everyone, stay calm!"


    "No one should run around aimlessly! Moving recklessly will only make us vulnerable to an attack!"


    "Protect the mayor! The mayor''s safety is our top priority!"


    In the wake of the ckout, everyone instinctively began to act.


    Though a few individuals urged calm, their efforts were futile. Everyone moved on impulse, driven by fear and confusion.


    Even those attempting to protect the mayor found it impossible to locate him in the darkness.@@novelbin@@


    A few minutester, the lights in the city hall flickered back on.


    Most of the staff were still present, but the mayor of Valley City had vanished.


    The mood among the city hall employees was deeply conflicted.


    On one hand, they were relieved that they hadn''t been attacked. On the other, they were deeply anxious about the sudden disappearance of the mayor.


    "Where could the mayor have gone? Could the ckout have been orchestrated just to abduct him?"


    "What should we do now? Should we report this to Major Joseph?"


    "Have all the defensive positions on the outskirts of Valley City been overrun? How did monsters manage to enter the city center?"


    The people in the city hall descended into another state of chaos.


    Each person had their own thoughts, but none of them took immediate action.


    Finally, it was the mayor''s assistant who decided to inform Major Joseph about the mayor''s disappearance directly.


    Major Joseph, who was busy dealing with the burning buildings, had a grave expression when he received the report.


    "Understood. I''ll handle it. For now, try to maintain control of the situation! Once I''ve dealt with things here, I''ll head to city hall immediately!"

 Chapter 440 Finding the Root Cause

    Faced with arge number of mechanical monsters, even Jeremy and Ritchie, who had prepared for battle, found themselves unable to respond perfectly.


    "We need to retreat to a safe ce right now! There are simply too many monsters here," Ritchie said urgently to Jeremy.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement, then shifted his gaze toward Major Joseph.


    Major Joseph had been the first toe under attack from the mechanical monsters. Naturally, his condition was the worst among them. However, Major Joseph had no intention of retreating from City Hall.


    "We have to hold our ground. If we retreat, the mechanical monsters will undoubtedlyunch attacks on other parts of Valley City. The ordinary citizens of Valley City won''t stand a chance against these monsters," Major Joseph dered firmly.


    As the person in charge of Valley City''s defense, Major Joseph hoped to rally Jeremy and Ritchie to stand with him against the sudden surge of mechanical monsters.


    Joseph''s reasoning resonated deeply with Jeremy.


    "You''re right, but we need a better solution than just fighting recklessly here! While our strength is considerable, we can''t withstand such a massive assault from these mechanical monsters. I''ll open a Portal for now to transport the mechanical monsters outside the city! During the process, you must ensure I''m not attacked by any of them," Jeremy said decisively.


    Jeremy gathered all the power at his disposal and activated his talent as The King of Time and Space. Around him, space began to ripple and distort. These spatial changes gradually formed a series of miniature light gates. As the miniature light gates converged, they coalesced into a single portal leading outside Valley City.


    Throughout this process, the mechanical monsters relentlessly targeted Jeremy, attempting to interrupt him. Yet their efforts were in vain. Major Joseph and Ritchie stood their ground, holding off the advancing mechanical monsters with everything they had.


    After approximately five minutes of stabilizing the portal, Jeremy expanded it to epass the entire City Hall. In that moment, the entire building became a Portal.


    Every single mechanical monster was instantaneously transported outside the city through the portal.


    The sudden disappearance of the mechanical monsters brought a sense of relief to both Ritchie and Major Joseph.


    Although there were still some stragglers among the mechanical monsters, their small numbers meant they could be easily dealt with.


    "Thankfully, you have the talent of The King of Time and Space! Without you, I wouldn''t have had the slightest idea how to transfer all those mechanical monsters out of here!" Major Joseph said with a hint of awe in his voice.


    As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Jeremy.


    Jeremy''s condition, however, was not looking great at that moment.


    Even though Jeremy had fully mastered the talent of The King of Time and Space, using it to teleport such a massive number of monsters all at once had drained him significantly. Beads of cold sweat lined his forehead, and his face had turned pale.


    "Are you alright? You look terrible! You should take a break. Come back to the camp with me immediately¡ªthere are some supplies there that might help you recover," Major Joseph suggested firmly.


    He wouldn''t allow Jeremy to push himself to fight in such a weakened state. Major Joseph was eager to get Jeremy back to the military camp, where the supplies could help restore his condition.


    At that moment, Ritchie approached Jeremy as well, pulling out some emergency provisions from his pocket.


    Jeremy consumed the provisions, and after a while, hisplexion improved slightly.


    "Teleporting so many mechanical monsters at once took a toll on me," Jeremy admitted. "Although we''ve transferred the monsters away, they''ve only been moved to an area farther from Valley City. It won''t take them long to return! We must act quickly and find the root cause of this problem. These mechanical monsters didn''t just appear in Valley City out of nowhere."


    Jeremy''s determination to uncover the problem''s root cause was unwavering.


    In his view, therge number of mechanical monsters must have been generated from an instance. If they could locate that instance and destroy it, the threat would be eliminated.


    Ritchie and Major Joseph both nodded in agreement.


    "I believe the instance is underground in Valley City," Jeremy spected. "Major Joseph, do you know of any ce in Valley City that leads to the underground?"


    Major Joseph frowned, thinking for a moment before replying, "I do know of a ce that leads underground, but it''s part of the city''s drainage system. Do you think the entrance to the instance could be hidden within the underground drainage system?"


    "That''s absolutely impossible. My soldiers and I have conducted a thorough search of Valley City''s drainage system. There is no instance entrance within the system," Major Joseph replied firmly.


    Before Jeremy could respond, Ritchie interjected bluntly, "It''s entirely possible that you and your team were deceived by the monsters! We''ve encountered creatures in Moonlight City that werepletely invisible. If these mechanical monsters are hiding in a perfectly concealed instance, there''s no way you could have detected it."


    Ritchie''s words struck a chord with Major Joseph.


    "You''re right! Then let''s act quickly. The nearest ess point to the underground drainage system is just a short distance from City Hall. Follow me!"


    Without hesitation, Major Joseph led Jeremy and Ritchie into Valley City''s underground drainage system.


    Though Valley City wasn''t a particrlyrge city, it had a long history, and its drainage system was incredibly intricate.


    As they descended into the system, Major Joseph exined itsyout.


    "The underground drainage system of Valley City is divided into three main sections. The first section is the oldest, which is where we are now.


    This is the original drainage system, built when the city was first established. Its design is extremely poor, so we need to be cautious while navigating here. There are numerous blind spots, and none of the water storage areas are particrly spacious. I doubt there''s an instance entrance in this section.


    If we continue down this path, it won''t take long to reach the second section of Valley City''s drainage system. The second section was built a hundred years ago, and it''s much more advanced than the first. However, it doesn''t have many electronic systems. The main improvements are itsrger water storage areas and slightly better facilities.


    Once we pass through a massive water reservoir, we''ll arrive at the newest section of Valley City''s drainage system. That''s the third section, which was just recently constructed. It''s the most advanced part of the system, equipped with all sorts of high-tech devices.


    When we reach the third section, we''ll be able to use the surveince systems to get a clear overview of the entire drainagework."


    With that exnation, they pressed forward, the dim andbyrinthine pathways of the ancient drainage system stretching out before them.


    Major Joseph exined as he led Jeremy and Ritchie forward.@@novelbin@@


    The three of them quickly traversed the oldest underground drainage system.


    During their progress, they encountered no immediate danger. However, Jeremy felt they might have overlooked some critical information.


    When they reached the second area, Jeremy suddenly noticed a strange glimmer of light flicker within one of the reservoirs.


    "Be careful! There''s an enemy here!" Jeremy shouted as he grabbed his weapon.


    Reacting to Jeremy''s warning, both Ritchie and Major Joseph immediately readied themselves for battle.


    Jeremy''s attack struck true, forcing the hidden creature in the reservoir to reveal itself. A grotesque, distorted catfish leaped out of the water.


    The monstrous fish was covered in various warped organs, wrapped inyers of trash and debris. Its enormous body emanated a nauseating stench that filled the air.


    The putrid odor caused Jeremy, Ritchie, and Major Joseph to feel a wave of dizziness.


    "We need to finish this quickly! This monster is releasing toxic gas! If we don''t deal with it fast, we''ll be paralyzed in no time," Jeremy warned urgently. Experience more on empire


    Spurred by his words, the three of thembined their efforts and managed to take down the massive catfish.


    The moment the creature died, a loud explosion echoed from above.


    Looking up, they saw a massive fireball hurtling toward their position from the drainage system above.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy, Ritchie, and Major Joseph dashed deeper into the drainage system to escape.


    The fireball narrowly missed them, crashing behind and forcing them further into thebyrinthine underground.


    In the chaos of their escape, Jeremy and Ritchie became separated from Major Joseph.


    Now lost without their guide, Jeremy and Ritchie wandered aimlessly through the underground drainage system.


    Although Jeremy possessed the gift of The King of Time and Space, the intricate and convoluted structure of Valley City''s drainage system made navigation nearly impossible. Additionally, the disruptive forces of the apocalypse game nning further hindered his abilities.


    This interference rendered Jeremy incapable of using his powers to locate their position.


    "We can''t keep moving recklessly! If we do, we might end uppletely lost down here!" Jeremy said, his tone filled with urgency.

 Chapter 443 Using the Toxin

    "My current state is far from ideal. I won''t be able to offer you much assistance," the voice of the Goddess of Life echoed as the magic circle waspleted.


    Jeremy, already aware of her weakened condition, quickly responded, "I understand your situation. I''m not expecting you to intervene directly. I only seek some guidance from you."


    "Very well, what kind of guidance do you need?"


    "Can you provide me with information about this toxin? How can I counteract it?" Jeremy asked directly, presenting a sample of the toxic gas he had brought forward from the area ahead.


    The Goddess of Life examined the form of the toxin briefly.


    "This is a particrly vicious toxin! Not only does it paralyze the nervous system, but it also corrodes the soul of any living being. Countering this toxin is extremely challenging. Without my intervention, it would be nearly impossible," she replied.


    Her words left Jeremy deeply disappointed.


    "Then what are we supposed to do? We''re trapped in the underground area, and the path ahead is filled with this toxin," Jeremy muttered to himself in frustration.


    Hearing his words, the Goddess of Life suddenly thought of a clever idea.


    "When such arge concentration of toxins gathers in one ce, it doesn''t just cause harm to living beings. Over time, the toxins can even erode inorganic materials in their vicinity.


    If your observations are correct, the structures in the toxin-filled area ahead should have be incredibly fragile. You might be able to use brute force to destroy the barriers in your path.


    Moreover, if the toxins have been umting there for a long time, they would likely have crystallized into small green formations.


    These green crystals are extremely toxic, but as long as they are not ingested, they won''t cause significant harm to a living organism''s body. The toxins are confined within the crystals themselves," the Goddess of Life exined.


    Her insights lifted Jeremy''s spirits.


    "I understand! Thank you so much for your help! I''ll make good use of the information you''ve provided," Jeremy said enthusiastically.


    With those words, Jeremy took the initiative to sever the connection with the Goddess of Life.


    Jeremy knew very well that maintaining contact with the Goddess of Life would take a toll on her already weakened condition. Thus, he was determined not to disturb her any further.


    After severing the connection with the Goddess of Life, Jeremy returned to Major Joseph and Ritchie''s side.


    "So, how did it go? Did youe up with a way to get us out of this mess? What should we do next?" Major Joseph asked hurriedly.


    Ritchie, though immobilized and unable to speak, turned his gaze toward Jeremy, clearly eager to know if a solution had been found.


    Jeremy nodded.


    "I''vee up with a way to resolve our current crisis. However, this n is extremely risky, so I need to exin everything beforehand," Jeremy said.


    The n he had in mind was indeed daring.


    He intended to use his King of Time and Space ability to gather all the toxins in the area ahead into a single spot.


    If the information provided by the Goddess of Life was urate, the toxins would condense into green crystals. Once the crystals had formed, they could be collected safely, allowing the group to pass through the toxic area unharmed.


    As soon as Jeremy finished exining his n, Major Joseph immediately voiced his objections.


    "This is far too dangerous! Ritchie only inhaled a small amount of the toxin, and he''s alreadypletely paralyzed. How can you be sure the toxins released from the green crystals won''t poison us too?"


    Major Joseph''s concerns were entirely valid.


    Jeremy, however, wasn''t interested in further debate.


    "You''re right to question me, and I don''t have a definitive answer to your doubts. But given the situation we''re in, do you have any better ideas? If not, then follow me and let''s get this done."


    Without waiting for further argument, Jeremy moved toward Ritchie, preparing to lead him forward into the toxic area.


    Despite his lingering worries, Major Joseph had no choice but to follow Jeremy.


    The three of them ventured into the toxin-filled zone together.


    Using his King of Time and Space ability, Jeremy concentrated all the toxins in the area into a single location.


    Just as the Goddess of Life had described, when the toxins gathered together, they began to solidify and eventually formed green crystals.


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    The green crystalsy on the ground, emitting a dangerous glow.


    When Major Joseph saw the green crystals, his expression darkened significantly.


    He had no intention of picking them up.


    However, Jeremy didn''t hesitate and began collecting the green crystals one by one.


    "If you''re not willing to help me with this, then at least take care of Ritchie," Jeremy said, pushing Ritchie toward Major Joseph.


    Major Joseph naturally didn''t refuse.


    After all, collecting the green crystals was a far riskier task.


    Jeremy quickly gathered all the green crystals into a single container.


    "Let''s keep moving. There should be an elevator ahead that leads directly to the surface, right?" Jeremy asked, ncing back at Major Joseph.


    Major Joseph nodded.


    "Yes, there''s an elevator just ahead. But I wouldn''t rmend using it. If your theory is correct, it means someone is actively targeting us. They''ll likely be waiting at the elevator exit."


    Major Joseph''s words gave Jeremy pause.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "You''re right. Then where do you suggest we go?"


    "I suggest we take the nearby vertical shaft. Most of the shaft is essible via the elevator, but we can climb up from the section closest to the surface.


    This way, we can conserve energy while avoiding the most dangerous areas. Plus, I doubt the exit of the shaft will be heavily guarded. It''s located in an old, abandoned courtyard," Major Joseph exined in detail.


    Jeremy immediately agreed with his assessment.


    The three of them made their way to the vertical shaft and began climbing upward.


    Although Ritchie waspletely immobilized, Jeremy and Major Joseph ensured their pace remained swift.


    After about fifteen minutes, they finally reached the surface.


    Just as Major Joseph had described, they emerged into an old, abandoned courtyard.


    Major Joseph took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air.


    "This is what fresh air smells like," he remarked with relief.


    Before he could say more, Jeremy quickly gestured for him to remain quiet.


    Major Joseph and Jeremy carefully observed their surroundings.


    They quickly realized that there were numerous monsters nearby, but what shocked them even more was the presence of several humans conversing with the monsters.


    "These people can actually coexist with monsters! That''s incredibly strange! They must be deeply connected to the trouble we''ve encountered," Major Joseph whispered to Jeremy, his tone cautious.


    Jeremy was already aware of the implications.


    "Let''s not alert them for now. We should listen in on what they''re saying. They might be discussing something important," Jeremy replied.


    The two of them held their breath, straining to hear the voices from outside.


    The people outside the courtyard were none other than Kean''s subordinates and several city government officials.


    Kean''s subordinates were visibly agitated.


    Although their operation had been a sess so far, they had failed to locate Jeremy and Ritchie.


    What frustrated them even more was that even the monsters had been unable to find Jeremy and Ritchie.


    "What the hell is going on?! Where are Jeremy and Ritchie?! Aren''t they supposed to still be in Valley City?!" one of Kean''s subordinates roared angrily.


    It was clear he wasn''t looking for answers¡ªhe was simply venting his frustration.


    The city government officials standing nearby were visibly nervous and uneasy.


    "Why isn''t anyone answering me? Are you all secretly helping Jeremy and Ritchie?" the subordinate snapped, directing his ire at one of the officials.


    The official, clearly terrified, stammered in response.@@novelbin@@


    "I haven''t helped them at all! I''ve been here the whole time! How could I possibly help them from here?"


    His response came quickly, his voice trembling noticeably with fear.


    Kean''s subordinate let out a cold snort.


    "You useless bunch are, of course, incapable of providing any help to Jeremy and Ritchie!"


    As Kean''s subordinate spoke these words, he had already reached his conclusion internally.


    In his judgment, Jeremy and Ritchie must have received assistance from the mayor of Valley City.


    In his view, without the help of the mayor, there was no way Jeremy and Ritchie could have remained hidden for this long.


    "It seems I have no choice but to take matters into my own hands! The mayor, not only unwilling to assist me in any way, has even gone so far as to aid my enemies. I can no longer afford to be polite to him!"


    After uttering these words, Kean''s subordinate turned around abruptly and left.


    As he departed, many of the monsters in the vicinity followed him.


    The number of creatures around the courtyard decreased significantly.


    The remaining monsters were only there to guard the city government staff.


    Inside the courtyard, Jeremy and Major Joseph finally pieced everything together.


    Atst, they knew who their enemy was.

 Chapter 444 The Plan to Destroy Valley City

    In the courtyard, Jeremy, Ritchie, and Major Joseph were all wearing extremelyplex expressions after having overheard the entire conversation. The three of them couldn''t believe what they had just learned: it was Kean''s subordinate who was responsible for all of this. Moreover, this subordinate had managed to deceive the mayor of Valley City.


    "It seems like we now know who our enemy is," Jeremy said, his voice steady but firm. "Now we should stop wasting time. Our first priority is to eliminate those monsters outside the courtyard."


    Jeremy made a decisive call without hesitation.


    Although Ritchie hadn''t fully recovered, he was at least able to make some facial expressions. It was clear from his expression that he supported Jeremy''s decision.


    Major Joseph quickly added, "You''re right. We should strike immediately. I''ll cooperate with your actions!"


    With that, Jeremy and Major Joseph dashed out of the courtyard without dy.


    The monsters surrounding the courtyard immediately locked onto Jeremy and Major Joseph. However, these monsters were not particrly powerful, and it didn''t take long before both Jeremy and Major Joseph emerged victorious in the battle.


    After the fight was over, Major Joseph shouted, "Stop hiding! We heard everything you said during your conversation with Kean''s subordinate. Come out now!"


    At hismand, the government staff who had been hiding in the shadows cautiously emerged from their hiding spots. Their faces were pale with fear.


    When they looked at Jeremy and Major Joseph, they lowered their heads, clearly avoiding eye contact. It seemed they didn''t want to draw attention to themselves.


    The only person who didn''t appear as nervous as the others was the mayor''s assistant. He rushed over to Major Joseph''s side with urgency.


    "Is there anything you need to ask? I''ll tell you everything I know! I just hope you can hurry and rescue the mayor! He must be in grave danger right now!"


    The mayor''s assistant was in a panic. Only recently had he confirmed that Kean''s subordinate would stop at nothing to harm the mayor. If Jeremy and Major Joseph didn''t act quickly enough, the mayor might be lost to them forever.


    The assistant''s plea was filled with desperation. Time was critical; the speed of Jeremy and Major Joseph''s actions would determine whether the mayor could be saved from Kean''s merciless subordinate.


    "We will do everything in our power to rescue the mayor!" Jeremy said, cutting off Major Joseph before he had the chance to speak. "But first, tell us exactly what Kean''s subordinate is nning."


    Jeremy was visibly anxious. His mind raced with thoughts of the consequences of so many monsters gathering in Valley City. He feared that their presence could lead to even more disastrous events. If these creaturesbined forces, they might give birth to a far stronger monster. And if that creature surpassed level 70, Jeremy would be in for a tough battle.


    "The n of Kean''s subordinate is to use these monsters topletely annihte Valley City!" The mayor''s assistant said, panic in his voice. "They couldn''t locate either of you, so they''ve decided to kill every single person in the city without discrimination!"


    Upon hearing this, both Jeremy and Major Joseph were stunned, their faces reflecting shock and disbelief.


    "He actually dares to do this?! He dares to destroy Valley City?!" Major Joseph said in disbelief, unable to process the gravity of what he was hearing.


    Still not fully convinced that Kean''s subordinate could be so ruthless, Joseph pressed further.


    "Are you absolutely sure about this? Are you lying to us? I need to remind you, if you''re lying, the consequences will be severe!" Major Joseph said sternly, his gaze hardening as he looked at the assistant.


    The mayor''s assistant, his face pale with fear, quickly responded, "How could I lie about this? Even if I were going to lie, I wouldn''t lie about something this serious! Please, stop hesitating and act now!"


    At that moment, the other government officials, who had been hiding in the shadows, also came forward. They all spoke in unison, confirming what the mayor''s assistant had said.


    "I never imagined someone could be so utterly deranged!" Major Joseph muttered to himself, his voice filled with disbelief.


    "Enough with the pitying! Dwelling on this won''t solve the crisis in Valley City," Jeremy said firmly. "We need to move. ording to the information from the mayor''s assistant, Kean''s subordinate and the mayor should be at the Valley City stadium right now. They might be conducting some kind of ritual, and we have to stop them!"


    Jeremy quickly turned to Major Joseph, his urgency clear in his tone. Joseph nodded, his determination evident.


    "Let''s go. We need to resolve this crisis as quickly as possible," Major Joseph agreed, his expression set in determination.


    Both men understood the gravity of the situation. The clock was ticking, and their next move would determine the fate of Valley City and its people.


    But soon, he realized that there was still another issue they needed to address.


    "If we two go out to take action, what should we do about Ritchie?" Major Joseph said. "Should we leave him here? Although we''ve already eliminated the monsters around us, there''s a chance more could return once we leave."


    Joseph''s words made Jeremy worry even more.


    Jeremy nodded.


    "You''re right. We have to consider Ritchie''s situation carefully."


    The two of them furrowed their brows and thought for a while, but they couldn''te up with a perfect solution.


    Standing next to them, the assistant to the Mayor of Valley City spoke urgently, "Stop overthinking it. If you can''t guarantee Ritchie''s safety, I have a backup n."


    Both Jeremy and Major Joseph turned their gazes toward the Mayor''s assistant.


    "We know of a hidden safe house. We can take Ritchie there! All of us can hide there," the assistant said.


    "Are you sure this safe house is truly safe?" Jeremy immediately asked. "Even if you''re attacked, we won''t be able to help you."


    The assistant gave a wry smile.


    "Of course, we can''t be absolutely certain the safe house is perfectly secure. But it''s the safest ce we know. After all, with Valley City on the brink of destruction, how could we find anywherepletely safe?"


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    The assistant''s words convinced Jeremy.


    "You''re right! Then we''ll leave Ritchie with you! Major Joseph and I will head out immediately!"@@novelbin@@


    With that, Jeremy and Major Joseph decided to trust the assistant to the Mayor of Valley City. They instructed the assistant and other city staff to take Ritchie to the safe house. Meanwhile, Jeremy and Major Joseph set off toward the Valley City stadium.


    On their way to the stadium, Major Joseph slowly asked Jeremy, "Do you really trust those people?"


    "I don''t trust them, but right now I have no other options. The crisis in Valley City has to be resolved," Jeremy answered quickly.


    Jeremy wasn''t someone who hesitated.


    When facing a crisis, Jeremy was always able to make a decision without hesitation.


    In Jeremy''s view, the crisis in Valley City was the one that needed to be addressed first and foremost. Although leaving Ritchie with the Mayor''s assistant carried some risks, if they took Ritchie along, they would be unable to resolve therger crisis facing Valley City.


    Major Joseph nodded.


    "I think your approach is correct. After all, you have a significant conflict with Kean. So, of course, you should prioritize eliminating Kean''s subordinate."


    Joseph''s words made Jeremyugh.


    "Do you really think I''m the kind of person who seeks revenge for every slight?" Jeremy said with a smile. "This mission isn''t about going after Kean. This mission is to save Valley City. Kean''s subordinate wants to destroy Valley City, and such an action will undoubtedly cause the deaths of many innocent people. The souls of so many ordinary people could potentially be used by the nners of the Apocalypse Game. If the nners of the Apocalypse Game choose to channel their power into the real world during the destruction of Valley City, then this powerful figure could very well manifest. At that point, it wouldn''t just be Valley City at risk of destruction!"


    Jeremy''s words left Major Joseph in shock.


    He had never imagined that the crisis in Valley City could trigger an even greater one¡ªa crisis that could threaten the survival of all humanity. What shocked him even more was that Jeremy was even more selfless than he had expected.


    After the initial surprise wore off, Major Joseph quickly regained hisposure.


    "I understand now! I''ll do everything I can to support your mission! This time, no matter what, we''ll seed!"


    With that, Major Joseph and Jeremy were both fully prepared for the battle ahead.


    The determination of both men was unwavering.


    On their way to the Valley City stadium, they didn''t encounter any monsters.


    Under normal circumstances, the absence of monsters would have been a relief for both of them.


    However, in the current situation, their concern only grew.


    The fact that they hadn''t run into any monsters on the way meant that the stadium likely had arge number of them. It also suggested that Kean''s subordinate''s n to destroy Valley City was likely about to begin.


    They needed to move faster. They had to reach the Valley City stadium before Kean''s subordinate made his move.

 Chapter 445 A Completely Unhinged Person

    As Jeremy and Major Joseph made their way at top speed toward the Valley City stadium, inside the stadium, Kean''s subordinate had already gathered the Mayor of Valley City and other prominent figures from the city.@@novelbin@@


    The prominent figures were in a state of utter panic.


    Normally, these individuals maintained an air of mystery and control, but in the face of life-threatening danger, their behavior was no different from that of ordinary people.


    Only the Mayor of Valley City and the Speaker of the City Council appeared rtively calm.


    Around the two calm figures, countless people were wailing and pleading for mercy.


    "What should we do? Is he nning to kill all of us? Mayor, you have to save me!"


    "I''m willing to give up my entire fortune, just please let me live!"


    "I will fully obey Kean''s orders, just please don''t kill me! I''ve never been your enemy!"


    "Even if I have to defect to the Apocalypse Game, I''m willing to do so. I''d sell my soul to protect my family!"


    The constant wails and pleas were beginning to annoy the Mayor of Valley City.


    He knew these people''s pleas were hopeless.


    The Mayor''s eyes swept around the room, searching for Kean''s subordinate.


    To the Mayor, the situation hadn''t yet reached the point of beingpletely irreversible.


    "Why aren''t you saying anything? You and Kean have such a close working rtionship, don''t you know what''s about to happen?" the Speaker of the City Council asked in his frail voice, looking at the Mayor of Valley City.


    The Mayor of Valley City cleared his throat.


    "I do have a very close rtionship with Kean, but Kean''s subordinate has lost his mind. I have no idea what he''s nning. He''s already working with the monsters from the Apocalypse Game¡ªhow am I supposed to guess his intentions now?"


    As the Mayor said this, his voice was tinged with helplessness.


    The Speaker of the City Council sighed deeply.


    "I never imagined it would end like this. I always thought the monsters would destroy Valley City''s defenses, and I would die at the hands of their attacks."


    "But I never imagined that the monsters were actually brought into Valley City by humans. And the person who brought them in is someone we''ve always trusted."


    The Mayor of Valley City and the Speaker of the City Council had both trusted Kean''s subordinate up until this point.


    They believed that Kean''s subordinate was acting in ordance with Kean''s will. And Kean, being one of the younger members of the Lannister family, had immense influence within the Federation''s upper echelons.


    Both of these highly influential figures in Valley City had hoped to gain even more power through their association with Kean.


    Now, they both felt a twinge of regret, but it was clear that regret was meaningless at this point.


    As the two men sat in silence, Kean''s subordinate, surrounded by the monsters, slowly made his way into the room.


    The appearance of Kean''s subordinate only caused the wailing and screaming of the people to grow louder.


    They continued to beg Kean''s subordinate, pleading for mercy in the hopes that he might spare them.


    But their pleas had the opposite effect.


    Kean''s subordinate nced around at the monsters, and with a signal, the creatures surged forward toward the crowd of wailing people.


    The monsters began killing indiscriminately.


    Most of the people around the Mayor and the Speaker of the City Council were ughtered, and the blood of these humans even spilled at the two men''s feet.


    "Why are you doing this? Did Kean tell you to do this?" the Mayor of Valley City demanded sharply.


    Kean''s subordinate coldly stared at him, offering no response.


    "I don''t believe Kean would ever coborate with the nners of the Apocalypse Game. Your actions are going against Kean''s will. Have you betrayed him?"


    The Speaker of the City Council''s tone was stern despite his frail voice.


    Finally, Kean''s subordinate smiled.


    "Of course, Kean hasn''t given me any specific instructions. But I know what he wants¡ªhe wants to kill Jeremy. Since you two are incapable of helping me find Jeremy and hispanions, I''ll have to take matters into my own hands. The cost, of course, is theplete destruction of Valley City."


    Kean''s subordinate directly revealed his intentions.


    The Mayor of Valley City and the Speaker of the City Council both wore expressions of utter shock.


    "How dare you do this?!" the Mayor of Valley City shouted incredulously. "Valley City is a crucial city! It cannot be destroyed!"


    Naturally, Kean''s subordinate did not respond to the Mayor''s outburst. His mind had beenpletely twisted.


    At this point, Kean''s subordinate had lost all rationality. His brain was consumed by a singr thought: to destroy Jeremy at any cost.


    Whether or not this thought aligned with Kean''s will was of no concern to him anymore.


    "You can say whatever you want, but it won''t change what''s about to happen. You will all be part of my great n. All of your souls will be part of the ritual.


    When the ritual isplete, I will gain unprecedented power. Not only will I be able to find Jeremy and Ritchie, I will be able to crush them like ants!"


    Kean''s subordinate wore a maniacal grin, as though he was speaking to the Mayor of Valley City, but his words also seemed to be directed at no one in particr.


    The Mayor of Valley City had already understood that nothing he said would change the other man''s mind.


    In the end, the Mayor decided to use hisst chance to try and sabotage Kean''s subordinate''s n.


    After a moment of thought, the Mayor spoke.


    "Your n is doomed to fail. Because there are still hidden defense arrays within Valley City. No matter how perfect your ritual is, these defense arrays will destroy it."


    The Mayor''s words left Kean''s subordinate stunned.


    However, he didn''t immediately believe the Mayor.


    With a dismissive tone, he responded coldly, "You''re not telling the truth. You''re trying to deceive me! There''s no hidden defense array. If there were, you would have used it when Valley City was under threat."


    Hearing this, the Mayor of Valley City let out a coldugh.


    "The Valley City has never faced a crisis severe enough to warrant activating the hidden defense arrays. Even when we were recently attacked by arge number of monsters, those creatures didn''t even manage to break through the outermost defenses of Valley City.


    With the outer defenses still intact, why would I need to activate the hidden defense arrays? You should really think about everything that has happened before," the Mayor of Valley City said, his voice firm.


    The words caused Kean''s subordinate to grow suspicious. He furrowed his brows, deep in thought, before calling over the monsters to his side.


    "Where exactly are the defense arrays?" Kean''s subordinate asked coldly, directing his question at the Mayor of Valley City.


    The Mayor scoffed. "Do you really think I''d tell you the location of the defense arrays? I will never tell you that!"


    With those words, the Mayor of Valley City copsed, taking his own life.


    The sudden suicide of the Mayor shocked everyone present.


    Kean''s subordinate''s expression twisted into one of pure malice.


    "No matter what you try, you won''t stop me! I''ll find those hidden defense arrays soon enough! You can''t stop me from achieving ultimate sess!"


    He roared, his voice filled with unrestrained fury.


    His outburst sent waves of terror through the remaining survivors in the room.


    Though the Speaker of the City Council was also frightened, he believed that, like the Mayor, he too should stand his ground.


    "He''s right. There''s no way you''ll ever find the hidden defense arrays. They are buried so deep that you''ll never uncover them. And once you set your n in motion, the defense arrays will stop you for sure."


    The Speaker''s words pushed Kean''s subordinate over the edge.


    "You damned fools!" he shouted, his fury overwhelming him. "It doesn''t matter what you say¡ªI won''t let you stop me! Even if you don''t tell me where the arrays are hidden, I''ll find them myself! You are of no use to me anymore! I''ll send you all to die right now!"


    Kean''s subordinate roared as he raised his weapon high, then swung it down with all his might, delivering a heavy blow to the Speaker of the Valley City City Council.


    With that, both of Valley City''s top officials were dead at his hands.


    The remaining few survivors, most of whom were already in a state of shock, fainted in terror.


    Kean''s subordinate coldly nced at the group of people, his eyes devoid of anypassion. "The priority now is to find the hidden defense arrays as quickly as possible! The ritual must begin immediately! The longer we dy, the higher the chance something goes wrong!"


    Without hesitation, he ordered all the monsters to be sent out.


    He believed that if he stayed inside the Valley City Grand Stadium, he could ensure its safety and prevent any interference.

 Chapter 447 The Rapidly Changing Situation

    Kean''s subordinate ultimately decided to begin the ritual ahead of schedule. He summoned all the monsters back to the stadium. The return of so many monsters made the interior of the stadium feel extremely cramped.


    Jeremy and Major Joseph immediately sensed the disturbance. Both of them realized it was time to act.


    "Kean''s subordinate must have noticed something''s wrong and decided to start the ritual right away! That means we have to move our n forward too! We can''t hesitate any longer¡ªlet''s strike now!" Jeremy quickly said to Major Joseph.


    Major Joseph nodded in agreement. The two of them had nned to work in perfect synchronization during the battle.


    Major Joseph immediately used his fire-based skill. A massive amount of mes erupted in front of them, and Jeremy, using his The King of Time and Space ability, sent those mes flying into other areas of the stadium.


    The mes spread across the entire stadium. The lower-level monsters were immediately incinerated, while the higher-level monsters, along with Kean''s subordinate, immediately reacted.


    Kean''s subordinate fixed his gaze on the location where Jeremy and Major Joseph were.


    "You rats finally decided to show yourselves! I thought you were going to hide forever! It''s good you''re here, now I can stop digging for you and deal with you directly!"


    A grin appeared on Kean''s subordinate''s face as he saw Jeremy. Although he was still angry from the unexpected attack, the chance to finally confront Jeremy thrilled him. Finding Jeremy meant he had the opportunity to destroy him.


    Kean''s subordinate immediately transformed into a shadow and shot toward Jeremy and Major Joseph''s location.


    At the same time, numerous monsters charged at them.


    Jeremy and Major Joseph, however, weren''t about to stand still and wait for the enemy''s attack. The two of them quickly used their Portal ability to transport themselves to the center of the stadium.


    Jeremy activated The King of Time and Space once again, and several portals appeared around his body, each leading to different spaces.


    The monsters were quicker to react than Kean''s subordinate. Therefore, the monsters surged toward Jeremy first, but as they charged, they were immediately teleported into other spaces through the portals.


    Although these monsters were not immediately destroyed, they were unable to participate in the uing battle for the time being.


    "Let the mes purify all of you evil creatures!" Major Joseph, standing beside Jeremy, decided to use all of his power. His body emitted a dazzling light. He was enveloped in raging mes, and arge amount of fire began to swirl around his body.


    The monsters that hadn''t been teleported away were severely injured by such a powerful attack, even if they weren''t killed outright.


    Through their perfect coordination, Jeremy and Major Joseph sessfully wounded a significant number of monsters. The monsters seemed unable to pose any further threat to them.


    Finally, Jeremy and Major Joseph were able to focus their attention on Kean''s subordinate.


    At the same time, Kean''s subordinate had arrived not far from them.


    "It seems like you really believe your n has seeded," Kean''s subordinate said ominously. "You really think you can stop me. How naive."


    Neither Jeremy nor Major Joseph paid any attention to Kean''s subordinate''s words. They didn''t respond, as they saw him only as an enemy that needed to be eliminated. There was no need to engage in any conversation with an enemy that must be dealt with.


    Jeremy immediately used The King of Time and Space to gather arge amount of green crystals. He then threw the crystals out.


    These green crystals contained powerful toxins. Even Kean''s subordinate had to be extremely cautious when facing them.


    Kean''s subordinate didn''t choose to face the attack head-on. He decided to dodge to the side.


    But as he tried to evade, fiery balls of intense heat came flying toward him.


    Kean''s subordinate didn''t only have to face Jeremy. He also had to contend with Major Joseph, who was in a state of extreme rage. Major Joseph desperately wanted to kill Kean''s subordinate, as he was, up to this point, the only person who posed a massive threat to Valley City.


    Facing thebined onught of the two, Kean''s subordinate quickly found himself at a disadvantage.


    The space around Kean''s subordinate continued to twist, the distorted space gatheringrge amounts of mes together. Under the dual assault of the toxins and the mes, Kean''s subordinate''s life force quickly began to drain away.


    His eyes were nearly unable to see anything at all.


    "Do you really think you can defeat me so easily?!" Kean''s subordinate let out a tortured roar. "You''re too naive! I haven''t even shown you my true power yet!"


    His roar, though not causing any harm to Jeremy and Major Joseph, brought all the dead monsters back to life.


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    However, these resurrected monsters did not choose to attack Jeremy and Major Joseph. Instead, arge number of them ran to Kean''s subordinate''s side.


    Kean''s subordinate immediately gathered all the monsters together, then concentrated their power into himself. The souls of the monsters gathered and eventually formed a twisted ck shadow.


    Kean''s subordinate merged with this twisted shadow.


    Under the influence of the monster souls, Kean''s subordinate''s body rapidly mutated. Various deformed organs began to grow all over him. His face also became as grotesque and terrifying as the monsters he had just summoned.


    "I will show you how incredibly resilient the true form of life can be! Your attacks will never be enough to kill me! On the contrary, your attacks will only make me stronger!" Kean''s subordinate''s voice became sharp and grating. It seemed that his organs had now transformed into those of a monster.


    As Kean''s subordinate merged with the monsters, Jeremy and Major Joseph also began to take action.


    Both of them were recovering their strength while observing their surroundings carefully.


    They both knew that the real battle was only just beginning.


    Jeremy immediately chose to bring all of the portals together. He fused the special space behind the portals into a unique space that could appear in the real world. This new space was enough to cause significant interference for Kean''s subordinate.


    Meanwhile, Major Joseph gathered all the mes into one massive sphere. The fire emitted a blinding light, and it seemed to be absorbing all the surrounding energy into its core.@@novelbin@@


    After merging with the monsters, Kean''s subordinate immediatelyunched an attack on Jeremy.


    Jeremy, using the special space to dy his opponent''s movements, also activated his The King of Time and Space ability to shift to a safer location.


    Jeremy had no intention of engaging in a direct confrontation with Kean''s subordinate. After gaining the power of the monsters, Kean''s subordinate''s physical strength had been greatly enhanced. Anyone who tried to face him head-on would inevitably be at a disadvantage.


    Jeremy decided to utilize The King of Time and Space to continually keep his distance and wear his opponent down through a game of attrition. By pulling Kean''s subordinate back and forth in this way, Jeremy and Major Joseph could slowly weaken him, eventually killing him off over time.


    Major Joseph, of course, was fully aware of Jeremy''s strategy and fully agreed with it.


    With Joseph''s cooperation, Kean''s subordinate''s condition began to deteriorate rapidly. Despite the immense healing powers granted by the monsters, they couldn''t keep up with the intense assaults he was facing. When confronted by a formidable opponent like Jeremy and Major Joseph, even his restoration abilities weren''t enough to keep himpletely unharmed.


    As time passed, the situation grew increasingly dire for Kean''s subordinate. Realizing that the odds were turning against him, he decided to adopt a different approach.


    Kean''s subordinate came to an abrupt halt. With countless eyes fixated on the direction of Jeremy and Major Joseph, he dered, "You are indeed stronger than I expected, but you still cannot stop me. The ritual isplete, and I willmence it immediately!"


    No sooner had the words left his mouth than his body rapidly disintegrated into ashes. All the souls¡ªhis own included¡ªbegan to float toward the deep crimson fabric surrounding the stadium. As the souls poured into the fabric, the mysterious symbols etched on it began to materialize one by one.


    Once all the symbols had solidified into the physical world, a golden moon suddenly appeared in the sky. The moon was surrounded by swirling High-Dimensional Data, a vast array of iprehensible and intricate patterns.


    Through the power of his own soul, Kean''s subordinate had sessfully summoned the immense force of the White Tower into the real world. The golden moon was, in fact, a projection of the White Tower itself in the physical realm.


    At the sight of this, Major Joseph furrowed his brow in confusion. "What is that in the sky? Why is there a golden moon?" he asked, trying to make sense of what was unfolding.


    Jeremy''s tone was calm, almost detached, as he replied, "That is the most powerful enemy we will face. That''s the projection of the White Tower in our world. Even though it hasn''t fully manifested here, its power is still terrifying."


    Jeremy''s words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of the truth. The White Tower wasn''t just a symbol or an idea¡ªit was a force, an entity capable of warping reality, and its power had now been brought into the world. They were no longer just fighting against a group of monsters or a rogue individual; they were up against an unimaginable force capable of altering the very fabric of existence itself.

 Chapter 449 The True Form

    The Embodiment of Wisdom suddenly appeared not far from City Hall, throwing the four people inside into a state of panic.


    It was the first time Ritchie and Valley City''s mayor''s assistant had seen The Embodiment of Wisdom, and they were both terrified by its twisted and grotesque appearance.


    "You shouldn''t stay here any longer. Get back to the safe house immediately! Leave the uing battle to us. Do note out until it''s over!" Jeremy said coldly to the mayor''s assistant.


    The assistant, hearing Jeremy''s words, scrambled away, practically crawling back to the safety of the hidden shelter.


    "Prepare for battle immediately! This monster is going to attack us at any moment, and it can summon a massive number of mechanical monsters!" Jeremy quickly outlined the characteristics of The Embodiment of Wisdom.


    Ritchie listened carefully.


    Although Ritchie was someone who often got easily distracted, when it came to matters ofbat, he was always highly focused.


    Once again, The Embodiment of Wisdom summoned a swarm of mechanical monsters.


    However, this time, the mechanical monsters posed far less of a threat to Jeremy and his team.


    Both Jeremy and Major Joseph had gained some experience and decided to work together strategically to counter the monsters.


    Jeremy used his King of Time and Space ability to create a spatial barrier.


    This barrier cut off most of the surrounding space, leaving only a narrow passage for the mechanical monsters to funnel through.


    As the mechanical monsters clustered in the confined passage, Major Joseph unleashed his mes, annihting the horde in one swift attack.


    While Jeremy and Major Joseph carried out their coordinated efforts, Ritchie slipped into the shadows.


    Ritchie''s n was to circle around to The Embodiment of Wisdom''s back.


    He hoped tounch an attack from behind, believing that such a massive creature must have numerous weaknesses.


    If he could locate one, there was a good chance he could deal a devastating blow in a single strike.


    When Ritchie finally made his way to the rear of The Embodiment of Wisdom, he discovered something unexpected¡ªa second arm extending from its back.


    This arm glowed with an ominous red light.


    "There''s another arm on its back! Maybe this arm is its weakness! Get over here and help me destroy it immediately!" Ritchie shouted to Jeremy.


    Jeremy, upon hearing this, didn''t hesitate and made a quick decision. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire


    Jeremy immediately activated his King of Time and Space ability, opening a Portal that led directly to the back of The Embodiment of Wisdom.


    Stepping through the portal, Jeremy joined Ritchie''s side.


    Just as Ritchie had described, there was indeed a red arm extending from the back of The Embodiment of Wisdom.


    Although Jeremy wasn''t entirely convinced that Ritchie''s theory was correct, the discovery itself was a promising lead.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy and Ritchie joined forces and destroyed the red arm.


    The moment the red arm was obliterated, The Embodiment of Wisdom let out a piercing wail of pain.


    Its body rippled with blue waves, which appeared to be the result of the fluctuating High-Dimensional Data.


    Seeing this, Ritchie''s face lit up with a bright smile.


    "Our attack worked! We''ve severely injured this monster! If we destroy the arm on the front, we might be able to take it downpletely!"


    After saying this, Ritchie transformed into a shadow and swiftly moved to the front of The Embodiment of Wisdom.


    Jeremy, however, did not act immediately.


    In fact, he thought Ritchie''s approach was far too reckless.


    Jeremy shouted after him, "Don''t act so impulsively! Showing yourself in front of The Embodiment of Wisdom could make you its primary target. I can''t guarantee your safety right now!"


    Although Jeremy issued the warning in time, Ritchie''s reaction wasn''t quick enough.


    In its rage, The Embodiment of Wisdom concentrated all its power into a single move.


    The High-Dimensional Data began to coalesce, forming a massive, tangible greatsword, entirely constructed from the vtile data.


    With overwhelming force, the greatsword was swung in Ritchie''s direction.


    Although Ritchie managed to use his shadow maniption ability to retreat into the shadows, the attack caused the surrounding space to distort violently.


    As a result, Ritchie was temporarily unable to rejoin the battle.


    "You''re just as reckless as ever! Because of your impulsive actions, I can''t end this fight quickly!" Jeremy''s tone carried a hint of frustration.


    Despite his irritation, Jeremy knew there was no point in dwelling on it.


    Given the current situation, he had no choice but to prioritize rescuing Ritchie.


    Jeremy immediately opened a Portal and stepped through to Ritchie''s side.


    Without hesitation, he grabbed Ritchie and pulled him through another Portal, bringing them both back to Major Joseph''s position.


    Major Joseph had been closely observing the battle from his vantage point.


    Though he couldn''t provide direct assistance to Jeremy and Ritchie, he had noticed something peculiar during the fight.


    "While you were battling, I observed something strange about that monster''s reactions," Major Joseph said. "At times, it could pinpoint your attack locations with incredible uracy. But other times, it seemedpletely unaware of where either of you were."


    Joseph''s observation left Jeremy puzzled.


    "Why would it behave that way? Could it be that The Embodiment of Wisdom doesn''t have stable intelligence? Or is it still being controlled by The White Tower from another world?"


    A series of questions swirled in Jeremy''s mind.


    Unfortunately, he didn''t have the time to figure it out, and the situation didn''t allow for careful deliberation.


    After recovering from the earlier setback, The Embodiment of Wisdom quickly regained itsposure.


    The red arm on its back regenerated, restoring The Embodiment of Wisdom to its strongest form once again.


    This time, the monster summoned an even greater number of mechanical monsters than before.


    Every detail pointed to the fact that The Embodiment of Wisdom was preparing for an even more ferocious assault.


    "It seems like defeating this monster won''t be as easy as we thought!" Major Joseph eximed. "Should we retreat again? Maybe we can buy ourselves some time toe up with a better n."


    Jeremy shook his head.


    "We can''t keep running. The Embodiment of Wisdom likely already understands our strategy. If we retreat again, it might adapt and respond differently.


    Aren''t you worried it could decide topletely destroy Valley City? You must remember that Kean''s subordinates had previously nned to annihte the city, and The Embodiment of Wisdom is something they summoned. Their actions could very well align."


    Jeremy''s exnation left Major Joseph in a difficult position.


    "So, what do you suggest we do? We can''t win in a head-on fight, and we can''t run away either! Are we just supposed to keep stalling and let this monster wear us down?"


    Joseph''s voice carried a tone of frustration and desperation.


    "Over time, our strength will inevitably weaken rapidly, while this monster''s power shows no signs of diminishing. In a prolonged battle, we''ll be destroyed," Major Joseph said, his toneced with despair.


    Ritchie, too, was affected by Joseph''s hopelessness.


    "I think Major Joseph is right," Ritchie said. "We can''t stay here any longer! We should retreat immediately!"


    Hearing their words, Jeremy felt a wave of irritation.


    He desperately wanted to argue against their reasoning but knew that the priority right now was to keep fighting.


    "Regardless of what you think, we need to keep fighting! If we waste more time arguing, we might not even have the option to escape when the timees," Jeremy said firmly.


    At Jeremy''s urging, Major Joseph and Ritchie reluctantly returned to the battle.


    The three of them fought with everything they had, and for the moment, they managed to stabilize the situation.


    However, as the battle dragged on, The Embodiment of Wisdom''s strength continued to grow, while their own powers steadily diminished.


    The increasingly dire circumstances weighed heavily on all of them, driving them closer to despair.


    Under immense pressure, Jeremy pushed himself to think of a solution to defeat the monster.


    He focused intently on observing The Embodiment of Wisdom, analyzing its every movement.


    Finally, he noticed something unusual.


    As Joseph had mentioned earlier, The Embodiment of Wisdom''s movements were slightly strange¡ªalmost as if it were a puppet on strings.


    This realization led Jeremy to a critical conclusion:@@novelbin@@


    *"The real body of The Embodiment of Wisdom isn''t here. The White Tower couldn''t possibly control it this perfectly from another world. This means the true form of The Embodiment of Wisdom must be somewhere in this reality.


    The Embodiment of Wisdom was born in the grand stadium, and the center of the stadium is where Kean''s subordinate resided for an extended period. That must mean the real body of The Embodiment of Wisdom is most likely at the very center of the stadium!"*


    A sudden sh of insight struck Jeremy like lightning.


    He realized he had been deceived by The Embodiment of Wisdom.


    When The Embodiment of Wisdom was created, its true body had already separated from its avatar.


    The true body had been hiding in the grand stadium all along, while the avatar was tasked with pursuing Jeremy and the others.


    As the realization hit him, Jeremy immediately turned to Ritchie and Major Joseph and said, "I''ve figured out how to deal with this monster! We need to return to the grand stadium right away!"

 Chapter 450 The True Form of the Monster

    Jeremy suddenly came to his senses and immediately decided to take action.


    Without hesitation, he activated his innate ability, The King of Time and Space, constructing a teleportation passage leading directly to the gymnasium. Grabbing hold of Major Joseph and Ritchie, he dered,


    "There''s no point in wasting time on these monsters! Let''s head straight to the main gym and end this battle once and for all!"


    Before the other two could even react, Jeremy pulled them into the teleportation channel.


    In the next instant, the three of them materialized at the very center of the grand gymnasium.


    At that moment, all three of them were confronted by a dense ck mist.


    The entire gymnasium was shrouded in an imprable fog.


    "We can''t see a thing! The whole gym ispletely enveloped! What the hell is going on? When did this ck fog appear?" Major Joseph eximed, his voice tinged with shock.


    He hadn''t expected the entire gymnasium to be swallowed up by darkness.


    However, neither Jeremy nor Ritchie answered his question.


    Both of them were intently focused on analyzing their surroundings.


    Even though Jeremy couldn''t see through the thick fog, he could use his The King of Time and Space ability to sense the fluctuations in the spatial field around them.


    Ritchie, on the other hand, relied on his shadow maniption skills to quickly assess the environment.


    At the same time, both of them detected the presence of something unusual nearby.


    That strange entity¡ªit was highly likely to be the true form of The Embodiment of Wisdom.


    Jeremy immediately turned to Ritchie and said,


    "No matter what, we have to strike first! If this is indeed The Embodiment of Wisdom''s core form, our attack could destroy itpletely. If it''s not, at the very least, we''ll have ruled out a false target."


    Without hesitation, Jeremy and Ritchieunched their assault simultaneously.


    Each of them utilized their most powerful attack methods.


    Jeremy chose to annihte the very space surrounding the mysterious presence.


    As the space crumbled, the strange entity suffered a devastating blow.


    Meanwhile, Ritchie gathered all the surrounding shadows together.


    When countlessyers of darkness ovepped, they formed an isted pocket of an alternate dimension, severing the entity from reality itself.


    Although this alternate dimension was different from the special space created by The King of Time and Space''s ability, and its power was far inferior, it was still enough to trap the strange entity.


    Under thebined assault of Jeremy and Ritchie, the strange entity waspletely annihted.


    "We did it! The Embodiment of Wisdom has finally been defeated!" Ritchie eximed excitedly.


    Major Joseph, however, wore a deeply puzzled expression upon hearing these words.


    He had no idea what had just happened.


    From his perspective, all that had urred was Jeremy suddenly pulling him into a teleportation channel, and they arrived in the pitch-ck gymnasium.


    Then, Jeremy and Ritchie took action. But what exactly they had done, he had no clue.


    Momentster, he heard Ritchie''s celebratory deration.


    "Is it true? Have we really defeated The Embodiment of Wisdom? Does this mean the crisis in Valley City has finally been resolved?" Major Joseph hurriedly asked Jeremy.


    Although Ritchie was an awakened powerhouse, Joseph didn''t trust him.@@novelbin@@


    The only person he trusted was Jeremy.


    Jeremy did not answer immediately. Something about this situation still felt off.


    Just then, the thick ck fog that had engulfed the gymnasium rapidly dissipated.


    Jeremy and Ritchie simultaneously turned their gazes toward the spot where the strange entity had been moments before.


    There was nothing there.


    Ritchie frowned in confusion.


    "What''s going on? Was there really nothing there? Were we both mistaken?"


    Before they could process the situation, The Embodiment of Wisdom suddenly descended from the sky.


    It was surrounded by an overwhelming mass of High-Dimensional Data.


    As itnded, the High-Dimensional Data rapidly transformed into a swarm of mechanical monsters.


    Before they even touched the ground, the mechanical monsters surged toward Jeremy and the others.


    "This isn''t over! The Embodiment of Wisdom''s core form was never going to be so easy to locate! But our attack must have had some effect¡ªotherwise, it wouldn''t have appeared so suddenly like this."


    Jeremy''s calm voice resonated in the ears of both Major Joseph and Ritchie.


    Although Ritchie was slightly startled, Jeremy''sposed demeanor helped him regain his focus.


    Major Joseph no longer asked any questions¡ªhe simply followed Jeremy''s lead.


    Jeremy''sposure was not an act.


    He genuinely had reason to be optimistic.


    Even though The Embodiment of Wisdom had suddenly appeared before them, its power had been significantly weakenedpared to before. More than half of the High-Dimensional Data that had surrounded it had already dissipated.


    Jeremy still didn''t know exactly where The Embodiment of Wisdom''s core form was hidden.


    However, one thing was certain¡ªhis and Ritchie''s attacks had been effective.


    Their next task was to locate The Embodiment of Wisdom''s core form once again.


    To ensure he wasn''t deceived by any illusions, Jeremy closed his eyes. He chose to rely entirely on his The King of Time and Space ability to sense the true location of The Embodiment of Wisdom''s core form.


    The moment his eyes shut, his perception was stripped down to the pure sensations of time and space.


    At this moment, Jeremy could perceive only the fluctuations of space and time¡ªhe had even cut off his sense of taste and hearing.


    Neither The Embodiment of Wisdom nor the mechanical monsters could deceive him now.


    It didn''t take long for Jeremy to pinpoint a strange presence not far away.


    That presence¡ªit had to be The Embodiment of Wisdom''s core form.


    Without hesitation, Jeremy moved toward it.


    As Jeremy took action, Ritchie and Major Joseph continued their battle against the monsters.


    However, they were not gaining any advantage in the fight.


    Despite its weakened state, The Embodiment of Wisdom still possessed overwhelming power.


    While it wasn''t strong enough to eliminate Jeremy outright, it was more than capable of suppressing Major Joseph and Ritchie with ease.


    On top of that, The Embodiment of Wisdom had an army of mechanical monsters assisting it.


    Their struggle, however, unintentionally aided Jeremy.


    With The Embodiment of Wisdom''s full attention locked onto Joseph and Ritchie, it failed to notice Jeremy''s approach.


    By the time it realized, Jeremy had already reached its core form.


    In the next instant, he struck.


    Once again, The Embodiment of Wisdom''s core form was annihted.


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    A devastating impact rippled through its body.


    Massive amounts of High-Dimensional Data fragmented into blue light, dispersing into nothingness.


    The remaining High-Dimensional Data, however, surged back into The Embodiment of Wisdom''s body.


    The purpose was clear¡ªthese remaining fragments were attempting to sustain The Embodiment of Wisdom, allowing it to continue fighting.


    A painful, guttural howl erupted from The Embodiment of Wisdom.


    At that moment, it locked its sights onto Jeremy once more¡ªJeremy had be its sole target.


    When The Embodiment of Wisdomunched an attack at Jeremy, he instinctively used his The King of Time and Space ability to evade.


    The battle quickly turned into a game of cat and mouse.


    Jeremy relied on his agility to continuously maneuver around The Embodiment of Wisdom, avoiding direct confrontation while staying just out of reach.


    During this back-and-forth, he seized every possible opportunity to strike at The Embodiment of Wisdom''s core form.


    The Embodiment of Wisdom had no effective counter to Jeremy''s tactics.


    In the end, it was forced to resort to its final measure.


    Itpletely destroyed its own core form.


    All the power that had been split between its main body and its projections merged into a single entity.


    Atst, its true form was revealed before them.


    The Embodiment of Wisdom had transformed into an elderly man with long, flowing white hair.


    In his hands, he held an unusual book.


    "Did you really think you could defeat me?" he asked, his voice ancient and hoarse.


    "All you have is petty cleverness! Before true wisdom, your little tricks are meaningless."


    As he spoke, he slowly raised the strange book in his hands.


    Suddenly, an overwhelming surge of High-Dimensional Data burst from its pages.


    Unlike before, this time, the High-Dimensional Data did not transform into mechanical monsters.


    Instead, it coalesced entirely into spells.


    Jeremy, facing The Embodiment of Wisdom''stest assault, simply smiled.


    "So, you''ve finally revealed your true form. Maybe what we have is nothing more than petty cleverness¡ªbut that''s more than enough to deal with you."


    Jeremy was convinced that he had taken control of the battle.


    All he needed to do now was coordinate with his two allies, steadily wearing down their opponent.


    Once The Embodiment of Wisdom was weakened enough, he would be able to deliver the final, decisive blow.


    The Embodiment of Wisdom let out a cold, disdainfulugh.


    "You may be able to suppress me in battle," The Embodiment of Wisdom said, his voiceced with arrogance.


    "But you have no way of ensuring Valley City''s safety. My servants have alreadypleted the final stage of the ritual. The entire city will be offered as a sacrifice to the Great Lord of Wisdom.


    And I shall receive the blessing of the Great Lord of Wisdom. I will gain power beyond your wildest imagination!


    When that momentes, not only will you fail to defeat me, but you will be effortlessly wiped out."


    His words sent a shockwave through Jeremy and his allies.


    Major Joseph''s face twisted into a look of urgency and panic.


    "We cannot let him seed! We have to protect Valley City! Don''t forget your promise!"


    Of course, Jeremy had not forgotten his promise.


    However, he also wasn''t about to take The Embodiment of Wisdom''s words at face value.


    To Jeremy, The Embodiment of Wisdom was the enemy¡ªhow could he blindly believe the words of an enemy?

 Chapter 451 The Lord of Wisdoms Conspiracy

    "You''re just trying to deceive us. Everything you''re saying is a lie!" Jeremy said coldly, ring at The Embodiment of Wisdom.


    The Embodiment of Wisdom simply replied, "Believe whatever you want. It makes no difference to me. Whether you ept the truth or not, my n is already set in motion. The Lord of Wisdom''s strategy is wless¡ªit will not fail."


    It showed no concern for Jeremy''s judgment.


    Instead, it relentlessly continued its assault on him.


    Its behavior made Jeremy slightly uneasy.


    Judging from its actions, it didn''t seem like it was lying.


    If everything The Embodiment of Wisdom said was true, then the crisis they were facing was far worse than they had anticipated.


    The chances of sessfully saving Valley City were significantly lower than they had hoped.


    "What are we supposed to do now? Are we just going to keep fighting it here? We can''t take it down that easily! And meanwhile, its servants are about to destroy Valley City!"


    Major Joseph''s voice rang out again, filled with even more anxiety than before.


    Jeremy responded with a calm and steady tone.


    "Don''t panic! The more desperate the situation, the more we need to stayposed! We are the only ones left who can save Valley City. If we lose our heads now, then there will be no hope of saving it at all."


    Thanks to Jeremy''s reassurance, Major Joseph barely managed to calm himself.


    However, Jeremy knew that Joseph''sposure wouldn''tst long.


    If the ritual to destroy Valley City truly began, Joseph would undoubtedly rush off to stop it¡ªno matter the cost.


    At that point, Jeremy would be left with only Ritchie to fight alongside him.


    And if it came down to just the two of them against The Embodiment of Wisdom, even Jeremy wasn''t certain they could win.


    True to its name, The Embodiment of Wisdom was undeniably cunning.


    But Jeremy didn''t consider himself a fool either.


    "I know exactly what you''re trying to do! You''re only here to stall us! But your n won''t work.


    Your servants will never seed inpleting the ritual!"


    "The key to the ritual is right here in the gymnasium. Your servants can only seed in activating it if we leave. As long as we stay here, they won''t be able to proceed with the ritual."@@novelbin@@


    After carefully thinking things through, Jeremy had finally identified the w in The Embodiment of Wisdom''s words.


    The moment he spoke, The Embodiment of Wisdom''s expression darkened.


    It stared coldly at Jeremy, its gaze filled with a chilling intensity.


    "You truly are intelligent. The Lord of Wisdom once told me that you are the smartest human He has ever encountered.


    And indeed, you have forced the Lord of Wisdom to pay some insignificant prices in the past."


    The Embodiment of Wisdom narrowed its eyes, its toneced with disdain.


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    "But I must tell you¡ªyour intelligence is utterly meaningless.


    Even if you''ve deduced that the gymnasium is the key to the ritual, what difference does it make?


    You cannot defeat me quickly.


    And that means I can force the ritual into activation!


    Once the ritual begins, the great power of the Lord of Wisdom will descend upon Valley City.


    And when that happens, there will be no victory for you¡ªno matter what you do."


    As soon as The Embodiment of Wisdom finished speaking, an overwhelming wave of mechanical monsters suddenly surged from every corner of the gymnasium.


    A brilliant white light radiated from The Embodiment of Wisdom''s body.


    All of the High-Dimensional Data within it dispersed in an instant.


    Each and every mechanical monster absorbed a fragment of The Embodiment of Wisdom''s High-Dimensional Data.


    Under these circumstances, every single mechanical monster had now gained the ability to initiate the ritual on its own.


    Witnessing this, Jeremy immediately shouted,


    "This is bad! The Embodiment of Wisdom is willing to destroy itself just to activate the ritual! We have to act now!


    Destroy everyst one of those mechanical monsters as fast as you can!"


    Jeremy urgentlymanded Major Joseph and Ritchie to take action.


    But in reality, he didn''t even need to say it¡ªthey had already realized the gravity of the situation and were moving on their own.


    Major Joseph unleashed the full extent of his power.


    A torrent of mes erupted from his body, sweeping across the battlefield.


    The moment these mes touched the mechanical monsters, they were instantly incinerated, reduced to nothing.


    Meanwhile, Ritchie continuously used his shadow maniption ability.


    Although his awakened talent was Soul Division, it had little advantage against mechanical monsters.


    Furthermore, Soul Division could only be used against a single target at a time, making it far less effective in thisrge-scale battle.


    Facing the overwhelming number of mechanical monsters, Ritchie ultimately decided to rely on his shadow maniption ability.


    Despite their best efforts, both he and Major Joseph were struggling to keep up.


    There were simply too many mechanical monsters.


    No matter how fiercely they fought, they couldn''t eliminate them all.


    Eventually, one of the mechanical monsters managed to break through and reach the center of the gymnasium.


    The High-Dimensional Data within it rapidly converged into a single point.


    A momentter, the entire gymnasium began to tremble violently.


    "The ritual has started! We can''t stop it anymore! We need to find a safe ce to take cover, now!" Jeremy immediately called out to Major Joseph and Ritchie.


    Both of them could sense the impending catastrophe.


    However, Major Joseph refused to listen.


    "We can''t retreat! If we run and hide, what will happen to Valley City? There are still countless civilians trapped here!


    If you want to escape, go ahead! But I will fight until myst breath¡ªfor Valley City and its people!"


    With that, Joseph turned and rushed toward the center of the gymnasium without hesitation.


    His sudden action stunned both Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Neither of them had time to stop him.


    But Jeremy couldn''t afford to dwell on it.


    Without wasting another second, he activated his The King of Time and Space ability.


    "No matter what, we have to retreat! This is all part of the Lord of Wisdom''s conspiracy!


    His power is about to descend upon us, and we cannot stand against it. We arepletely outmatched!"


    Without waiting for a response, Jeremy teleported Ritchie directly to City Hall.


    Then, he himself appeared right beside Major Joseph.


    Though Joseph was determined to stop the ritual, it had already gained immense power the moment it was set in motion.


    He couldn''t even get close to the ritual''s core.


    Jeremy fixed his gaze on Joseph and spoke with firm resolve.


    "Why won''t you listen to me?


    Do you really think what you''re doing right now will help save Valley City?


    Charging in recklessly will only put you in grave danger.


    Temporarily retreating doesn''t mean we''re abandoning the city¡ªit just means we need time toe up with a better solution!"


    Jeremy still hoped that Joseph would choose to follow him.


    Joseph''s strength was undeniably formidable.


    And despite his stubbornness, he had always trusted Jeremy deeply.


    In some ways, Joseph was even more valuable than Ritchie in this fight.


    Faced with Jeremy''s plea, Major Joseph''s expression twisted with deep pain.


    "That''s not what you said earlier.


    You told me that once the ritual seeds, Valley City will bepletely destroyed.


    If that''s the case, then of course we have to do everything in our power to stop it!


    Retreating now is abandoning Valley City!


    No matter what, I won''t follow your orders this time.


    You and yourpanions should just leave.


    After all, Valley City doesn''t really have anything to do with you."


    With those final words, Major Joseph turned away, refusing to acknowledge Jeremy any longer.


    Jeremy, realizing the futility of further persuasion, sighed in resignation.


    "I''m sorry.


    I know you won''t retreat willingly.


    But I have to take you with me¡ªbecause if you stay here, Valley City will face an even greater catastrophe!"


    Jeremy made his decision.


    There was no point in arguing anymore.


    He would take Joseph by force.


    Although Major Joseph was still strong, all of his energy was currently focused on resisting the overwhelming power radiating from the ritual.


    That made it far too easy for Jeremy to overpower him.


    "You can''t do this! I''m your friend!


    I''ve helped you so many times before¡ªhow could you betray me at this critical moment?"


    Joseph''s voice carried a deep sense of betrayal.


    To him, Jeremy''s actions were nothing short of treachery.


    But Jeremy did not see it that way.


    His voice remained calm and resolute.


    "I am not betraying you.


    I am saving you.


    And at the same time, I am saving Valley City!


    The city''s key leaders are already dead.


    You are thest hope for Valley City!


    If you die here, then there will truly be no hope left!


    Only by retreating for now can we find a way to save this city!"


    As soon as he finished speaking, Jeremy opened a Portal.


    Without hesitation, he grabbed Joseph and dragged him through it.


    At the very instant they passed through the Portal, a blinding explosion of light erupted from the center of the gymnasium.


    An endless torrent of High-Dimensional Data surged outward, flooding the entire space.


    The massive surge of High-Dimensional Data distorted the surrounding space, warping reality itself.


    In an instant, every single mechanical monster within the gymnasium perished simultaneously.


    The High-Dimensional Data that had once powered them converged into a single point, drawn together by an unseen force.


    Endless streams of High-Dimensional Data continued to umte, shifting and coalescing¡ªuntil finally, they took on a humanoid form.


    That form was none other than the human manifestation of The White Tower.


    As the Lord of Wisdom, The White Tower had sessfully executed its grand conspiracy.


    And now, its projection had fully descended into the real world.

 Chapter 454 The Truth Behind the Enemys Retreat

    Although the atmosphere was slightly heavy, Jeremy still wanted to lift his friends'' spirits.


    "Valley City has indeed suffered a devastating blow, but at least we managed to drive the enemy away. The surviving civilians in Valley City no longer have to fear for their lives," Jeremy said to Ritchie and Major Joseph.


    Ritchie''s expression remained unchanged.


    After all, he didn''t have much attachment to Hale Valley City in the first ce.


    Major Joseph, however, let out a bitter smile.


    "You''re right. At the very least, those who are left don''t have to worry about their safety anymore. But how are we supposed to rebuild Valley City? And, more importantly, we still don''t understand why the enemy weakened so quickly.


    There could be an even bigger secret behind their sudden decline¡ªone that might pose an even greater threat to us."


    Major Joseph had more concerns on his mind.


    Though the situation was better than before, the overall circumstances were still incredibly dire.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "You''re right, which is why I''ll get in touch with my powerful ally as soon as possible. He should be able to give me a reasonable exnation."


    The moment Jeremy finished speaking, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind¡ªthe voice of the [World].


    "Stop overthinking things! [The White Tower] is unable to maintain its projection in the real world solely because I attacked it. While I can''t directly assist you, I can still weaken [The White Tower], giving you the opportunity to achieve ultimate victory.@@novelbin@@


    For the time being, [The White Tower] won''t be able to project its power into the real world again. So, you can focus on what you need to do without worry."


    The [World] had just provided an exnation for the enemy''s rapid decline.


    Jeremy''s face suddenly lit up with realization.


    Joseph and Ritchie both turned their gazes toward him.


    "The reason why the enemy weakened so quickly is that my ally attacked its true body. Since the enemy''s core was severely damaged, its projected power in the real world naturally began to fade rapidly."


    "We no longer have to worry about being attacked by the same enemy again. What we need to do now is restore order to Valley City as soon as possible!"


    Jeremy''s words made both Major Joseph and Ritchie breathe a sigh of relief.


    Without wasting any time, Major Joseph pulled out hismunicator and began contacting his subordinates.


    During the recent battle, [The White Tower]''s overwhelming power had severed all means ofmunication. That was why Major Joseph had been unable to reach his troops.


    Now that the formidable enemy had been eliminated, themunication channels had finally been restored.


    Major Joseph immediately reached out to his subordinates, hoping they could act swiftly to reestablish order in Valley City.


    Meanwhile, Ritchie walked up to Jeremy.


    There was a trace of doubt on his face. Lowering his voice, he asked,


    "The ally you mentioned¡­ is it [The World]? Did he really manage to defeat [The White Tower]''s true form? If that''s the case, then wouldn''t that mean [The White Tower], one of the masterminds behind the Apocalypse Game, can no longer interfere with us at all?"


    The reason Ritchie asked this was simple¡ªhe didn''t fully believe what Jeremy had said.


    Jeremy slowly shook his head.


    "I don''t know whether [The White Tower]''s true form has beenpletely defeated. [The World] only told me that he sessfullyunched an attack against it. For now, [The White Tower] is unable to project its power into the real world.


    But that doesn''t mean it can''t interfere with us in other ways.


    We can afford to rx for a little while, but we must also adjust and prepare ourselves as quickly as possible. Our enemies are numerous. Besides the masterminds behind the Apocalypse Game, we still have to deal with Kean in the real world. He alone is a serious threat to us."


    The moment Jeremy mentioned Kean, Ritchie finally pieced everything together.


    "You''re absolutely right. The crisis we just faced was Kean''s doing. His subordinates were so desperate to take us down that they were even willing to sacrifice all of Valley City!


    They''vepletely lost their minds!


    If I ever get the chance, I won''t hesitate for a second¡ªI''ll wipe them all out! And I''ll make sure they repent for everyst one of their crimes!"


    Ritchie was truly enraged. Kean had pushed him past his breaking point.


    Although Kean and Jeremy''s group had always been enemies, their past conflicts had merely been matters of personal grudges and shes of ideals.


    However, after the Valley City incident, Jeremy and hispanions finally saw Kean''s true nature for what it was.


    "We''ll deal with this matterter. There''s no need to rush right now. Sooner orter, we''ll settle our score with Kean," Jeremy said.


    Of course, he too wanted nothing more than to eliminate Kean.


    But he knew that, for now, the priority was to restore order to Valley City as soon as possible.


    As Jeremy and Ritchie spoke, Major Joseph finally finishedmunicating with his subordinates.


    He walked straight up to the two of them.


    "I''ve managed to establish contact with most of the surviving troops. They''ll be able to assist us in the uing operations. All we need to do now is clear out the remaining monsters in Valley City. As for restoring order, I''ll leave that to my subordinates."


    Major Joseph had already thought everything through.


    Naturally, Jeremy and Ritchie had no objections to his n.


    "Understood. I''ll cooperate with your actions. But before we begin, we should release the government officials trapped inside City Hall. They might also be able to provide some assistance," Jeremy suggested.


    At the mention of the city officials, Major Joseph suddenly came to a realization.


    He hadpletely forgotten about them.


    "You''re absolutely right. Get them out immediately. They''ll be an essential part of restoring order in Valley City."


    Without dy, Jeremy and the others freed the trapped government officials from City Hall.


    With thebined efforts of the city officials and Major Joseph''s subordinates, Valley City''s order was quickly reestablished.


    In truth, the surviving civilians of Valley City had been longing for someone to restore order. That was why they fully cooperated with Jeremy''s group, making their mission much smoother.


    The only real problem they faced was the lingering monsters that had hidden themselves in the shadows.


    These creatures had not beenpletely wiped out during the previous battle.


    And since they had burrowed deep into the city''s ruins, Jeremy and Ritchie had to spend a great deal of effort hunting them down, taking far longer than expected to root them out.


    "These monsters sure know how to y hide and seek! They actually managed to conceal themselves in such hidden ces! If it weren''t for my shadow maniption ability, I wouldn''t have even noticed their presence," Ritchie remarked.


    Using his shadow maniption skill, Ritchie had discovered a monster lurking in an extremely dark corner.


    As soon as he found it, he turned to Jeremy and spoke.


    Jeremy, too, couldn''t help but sigh in admiration.


    "These monsters are indeed highly skilled at hiding. What''s even more troubling is that they''ve altered their usual behavior just to remain concealed. Under normal circumstances, monsters wouldunch an attack the moment they encountered us.


    But this time, not only did they avoid attacking us, but they even ignored our movements altogether. I believe this is because someone gave them a newmand.


    And the one who issued thatmand is none other than [The White Tower], the very entity we just drove back!"


    Jeremy''s words took Ritchie by surprise.


    If what Jeremy said was true, then it meant that [The White Tower]''s n hadn''t beenpletely thwarted.


    It still had some means of infiltrating the real world.


    "I think you might be overthinking this. [The White Tower] shouldn''t have been able to set up such preparations in advance, right? When we defeated it, didn''t it retreat from the real world almost immediately?"


    Ritchie was skeptical of Jeremy''s theory.


    Even though [The White Tower] was a mastermind of the Apocalypse Game, a being that represented wisdom, Ritchie found it hard to believe it possessed such terrifying foresight and strategy.


    Jeremy didn''t argue further in response to Ritchie''s doubts.


    He simply let out a sigh and said,


    "I hope my spection is wrong. That way, the pressure we''re facing wouldn''t be as overwhelming."


    With that, Jeremy resumed his search.


    After all, there were still some monsters hiding in the shadows.


    If they didn''t eliminate everyst one of them, Valley City would undoubtedly face even greater troubles in the future.


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    Through the relentless efforts of Jeremy and Ritchie, the two of them spent more than half a day tirelessly hunting down the remaining monsters.


    Finally, they had cleared out everyst one.


    By now, order in Valley City was gradually being restored.


    Meanwhile, Major Joseph had gathered all of the city''s most capable individuals inside City Hall.


    Major Joseph was the highest-ranking survivor in Valley City, and he wanted everyone in the city to follow his n.


    Just now, he had received good news¡ªthe federal leadership and the military headquarters had finally decided to dispatch reinforcements.


    The reinforcements were expected to arrive in Valley City in approximately two days.


    Although they hadn''t made it in time to assist during the battle, their arrival would at least provide crucial support for the city''s reconstruction.

 Chapter 456 The Deeper Reason for the Hasty Departure

    Under Jeremy''s constant urging, Ritchie barely managed to keep up with his pace.


    After leaving Valley City, the two of them traveled for just a day before arriving at a small town located right between Valley City and the capital.


    Like many other towns, this one had already been abandoned.


    At the very center of the town, there was an instance of moderate difficulty.


    However, Jeremy and Ritchie had no intention of clearing out the instance at the town''s center.


    They were merely nning to rest there for a short while.


    ording to Jeremy''s n, they needed to reach the capital by the following morning.


    That way, they could initiate their move against Kean before reinforcements from the military headquarters arrived in Valley City.


    During their brief rest, Ritchie remained frowning the entire time.


    His mood was, in truth, extremely foul.


    Ritchie knew that their enemy, Kean, was a formidable opponent, but he still felt that Jeremy was making an unnecessary fuss.


    Moreover, their rushed journey had taken a toll on both of them, leaving them in a worse state than before.


    Under normal circumstances, they could have used Jeremy''s innate ability, The King of Time and Space, to open a portal and arrive just outside the capital within seconds.


    But Jeremy had deliberately refrained from using his ability to avoid revealing their whereabouts to Kean in advance.


    As Ritchie chewed on apressed biscuit, he grumbled in frustration.


    "I really don''t get it. Are we really in that much of a hurry? Even if the military headquarters informs Kean about what we did in Valley City, it''s not like he''ll have much time to prepare.@@novelbin@@


    Besides, I''m pretty sure Kean already knew about our actions in Valley City. After all, the crisis in Valley City was orchestrated by his subordinates. How could they not have reported our movements to him?"


    Jeremy, however, didn''t respond to Ritchie''sints.


    He simply kept a calm expression and said tly,


    "Stop whining. Once you''re done with those biscuits, we need to get moving. It''s gettingte, and if you don''t want to be traveling through the dangers of the night, we need to cover as much ground as possible before sundown."


    Jeremy''s refusal to answer his question only frustrated Ritchie further.


    Irritated, he took a swig of water, forcing the dry biscuit down his throat.


    "So, you''re really not going to give me any exnation at all? If you refuse to exin anything, then I''m not moving forward. I think staying in this town for the night would be a much better choice for us."


    What Ritchie said did make some sense.


    Neither he nor Jeremy was in great condition right now.


    If they rushed ahead recklessly, there was a real possibility of running into powerful enemies along the way. Encountering a strong opponent while they were in poor shape could easily put them in a dangerous situation.


    Jeremy let out a sigh upon hearing Ritchie''s words.


    "You''ve never forced me to exin myself before. Do you not trust me anymore?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of disappointment.


    Ritchie also realized that his approach might have been a little inappropriate, but he still had lingering frustration that he couldn''t shake off.


    "It''s not that I don''t trust you! I''ve always trusted you! I just want you to give me an exnation, that''s all. I feel like the reasons you gave me earlier aren''t the real ones. You must be hiding the true, deeper reason."


    Ritchie wasn''t exactly the smartest person, but he had spent an extremely long time with Jeremy.


    No one understood Jeremy better than he did.


    And from what he knew, Jeremy would absolutely keep important information to himself.


    Jeremy sighed again after hearing Ritchie''s insistence.


    "You''re right. I didn''t tell you the deeper reason. Because I knew that once you found out, you would fall into a state of panic."


    "Don''t worry about that! I may not be as powerful as you, but I''ve been through plenty of crises myself. We literally just took down a projection from the Apocalypse Game in Valley City. I''m not as fragile as you think."


    Ritchie answered with unwavering confidence.


    Since Ritchie had already said so much, Jeremy had no reason to keep hiding the truth.


    "Alright then. But remember¡ªyou asked for this! I''ll tell you now why we need to reach the capital as soon as possible.


    Kean has indeed known about our movements for a long time. But the reason I''ve been pushing you to move faster... isn''t just because of Kean."


    "Kean may be our enemy, but the threat he poses to us is nowhere near as great as the threat from the Apocalypse Game''s orchestrators.


    The reason I''ve been pushing you to move faster has everything to do with the Apocalypse Game''s orchestrators. Do you remember the one I mentioned to you before?"


    Faced with Jeremy''s question, Ritchie hesitated slightly before responding, "You mean the Sun?"


    "That''s right! I''m talking about the Sun, the Apocalypse Game orchestrator! I can feel its power growing stronger by the minute. This likely means that it is on the verge of resurrection.


    Unlike the White Tower, which can only manifest itself in the real world through its avatars, the Sun is different. Once it fully resurrects in the real world, it will be able to unleash its full power here.


    We must act immediately to stop the Sun from reviving. If it seeds, then the real world will be beyond saving. Humanity will bepletely wiped out along with it."


    Jeremy''s words left Ritchie utterly stunned.


    Halfway through listening, his eyes had already widened in shock, his face frozen in sheer disbelief.


    "How is that possible? How did you even notice something like that? I haven''t detected any signs of this at all!"


    Hearing Ritchie''s reaction, Jeremy gave him a wry smile.


    "You actually have received the relevant information, you just never pieced it all together. If you had connected all the clues, you would have reached the same conclusion as I did."


    After saying this, Jeremy went on to exin in detail how he had arrived at his conclusion.


    "What happened in Valley City was undoubtedly linked to the White Tower, but don''t forget¡ªmanifesting its power in the real world is extremely difficult for the White Tower.


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    It needs assistance from others. Kean''s subordinates did provide some level of aid, but do you really believe that they alone had the capability to summon an avatar of an Apocalypse Game orchestrator directly into the real world?"


    The moment Jeremy finished speaking, Ritchie''s expression changed as realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.


    "You mean to say that Kean''s subordinates were just a front? The real force assisting the White Tower is actually the Sun, which is in the process of reviving?"


    Ritchie''s voice trembled slightly as he spoke.


    If this was true, then Jeremy''s theory was undoubtedly correct. And more than that, the threat humanity was facing might be even greater than Jeremy had initially predicted.


    As soon as Ritchie voiced his thoughts, his expression shifted into one of utter shock.


    For a moment, he struggled to ept the reality that humanity was facing such an immense and terrifying danger.


    "You understand now, don''t you? Now you finally see why I''ve been urging you to move faster! The Sun is lurking somewhere near the capital.


    We may not be able to pinpoint its exact location, but Kean certainly can.


    Our next step is to drive Kean into a corner. Once he''s in a desperate situation, he will seek help. And in the real world, the one entity that can provide him with the greatest support is none other than the Sun!


    This mission carries an enormous risk, but I believe our chances of sess are still very high.


    After all, we don''t need to destroy the Sunpletely. All we have to do is force it to pay a price and halt its resurrection process."


    Jeremy had finallyid bare his true intentions.


    He knew from the very start thatpletely annihting the Sun was nearly impossible, so his priority had always been to stop its revival before it was toote.


    If, in the process, they could also deal a devastating blow to Kean, then this mission could be considered an overwhelming sess.


    As soon as Ritchie finished listening, he sprang into action.


    Standing up with newfound determination, he dered, "In that case, let''s not waste another second! I''ve rested long enough¡ªI''m ready to move out right now!"


    Ritchie wasn''t always the most reliable person, but once he understood that a mission was truly important, he would devote himself to it without hesitation.


    His immediate resolve made Jeremy exhale slightly in relief.


    "Alright then, let''s keep moving! We need to reach the outskirts of the capital by dawn. If we make it in time, we might be able to catch Kean off guard! Though, I have no doubt that he''s already made some preparations."


    Jeremy didn''t have absolute confidence in the sess of his n.


    But he couldn''t afford to back down just because the odds weren''t in his favor.


    After all, the actions he was about to take were of utmost importance¡ªnot just for himself, but for everyone.


    Even if he wasn''t fighting for all of humanity, he had to fight for the friends and loved ones he cared about.

 Chapter 457 Keans Quick Response

    Even though Jeremy and Ritchie had been moving as fast as they possibly could, the reinforcements from military headquarters still reached Valley City before they could arrive at the capital.


    The number of reinforcements sent by military headquarters wasn''t particrlyrge, but every single one of them was exceptionally capable.


    Most of them were around Level 40, meaning they were on the verge of awakening.


    In fact, given how rare it was for humans toplete their awakening as Apocalypse Game yers, these reinforcements represented the first echelon of the strongest forces avable.


    When Major Joseph of Valley City saw the reinforcements arriving, a faint smile finally appeared on his face.


    "It seems military headquarters responded much faster this time. Now that reinforcements are here, I have nothing to worry about."


    Wasting no time, Major Joseph led his remaining forces to meet themander of the reinforcements.


    As soon as themander saw him, he immediately began questioning him in a direct and efficient manner.


    "What''s the situation? From the looks of it, Valley City has suffered massive destruction. How heavy are the civilian casualties? How many Apocalypse Game yers are still left in Valley City? And how many subordinates do you have left under yourmand?"


    Themander was a seasoned professional.


    He wanted to extract the most critical information as quickly as possible.


    Major Joseph responded immediately.


    "The situation is extremely dire. More than half of Valley City has beenpletely destroyed by the monsters. Civilian casualties exceed fifty percent.


    As for the remaining Apocalypse Game yers¡­ there aren''t many left. I have fewer than a hundred men under mymand now. And among them, only about twenty have reached Level 30 or higher."


    Hearing this, themander''s face darkened slightly in disappointment.


    "It seems the situation in Valley City really is as bad as I feared.


    But don''t worry¡ªnow that we''re here, Valley City will no longer be under threat.


    I''ll have my troops immediately deploy across every district of the city.


    You and your men only need to cooperate with my operations. We must establish a defensive stronghold over Valley City in the shortest possible time."


    Without hesitation, themander began issuing orders.


    Major Joseph offered no objections, as he knew themander''s forces were far superior to his own.@@novelbin@@


    Moreover, it was clear from themander''s swift and decisive orders that he was a highly experienced and professional leader.


    The reinforcements dispatched by military headquarters took less than half a day to fully assess the situation in Valley City.


    Under themander''s direction, the reinforcements quickly secured the city, ensuring its safety.


    With that taskpleted, themander was ready to have a more in-depth conversation with Major Joseph.


    As themanding officer sent by military headquarters, his responsibilities extended beyond just securing Valley City¡ªhe also needed topile aprehensive report detailing everything that had transpired and submit it to headquarters.


    "So now, can you give me a detailed ount of what exactly happened in Valley City?


    Why was a city like Valley City subjected to such immense destruction?


    Are you telling me that the monsters here were even stronger than the ones that attacked the capital?"


    At this stage, themander''s questions were not targeted at any specific individuals.


    He was merely asking key questions to grasp the bigger picture.


    Major Joseph answered each of them one by one.


    However, the moment Joseph mentioned Jeremy and Ritchie, themander''s expression immediately changed.


    "Jeremy and Ritchie? What were they doing in Valley City?


    Weren''t they supposed to be in Moonlight City?"


    "They were indeed supposed to be in Moonlight City, but they told me they were heading to the capital to carry out something extremely important."


    Major Joseph did not hold back any of the information he knew.


    Upon hearing this, themander reacted at once.


    "I see¡­ I need to report this to headquarters immediately. Stay here for now¡ªI''ll return shortly."


    With that, themander left without another word.


    He wasted no time in rying all the intelligence he had gathered to military headquarters, making specific mention of Jeremy and Ritchie in his report.


    In his assessment, Jeremy and Ritchie''s presence in Valley City was highly suspicious and likely tied to the attack that had devastated the city.


    Military headquarters had always kept a close eye on Jeremy''s movements.


    So the moment they received this information, they immediately took action.


    "Jeremy has already left Valley City.


    If nothing slows him down, he could arrive in the capital within two days.


    We must prepare as quickly as possible.


    We may not have concrete evidence linking Jeremy to the attack on the capital, but one thing is certain¡ªhe is an extremely dangerous individual."


    The majority of the members in military headquarters remained wary of Jeremy.


    However, at the same time, they had severely underestimated his true strength.


    They assumed that Jeremy would take at least two days to reach the capital, but in reality, he would arrive by early morning tomorrow.


    Not long after military headquarters received this intelligence, Kean was informed of it through his connections within the military.


    Unlike the slow reactions of the military officials, Kean responded immediately.


    He quickly realized that something was off.


    "So Jeremy is moving much faster than I anticipated.


    Even after I sent my subordinates to interfere with his journey, he is still arriving much earlier than I expected."


    In truth, Kean had a certain level of admiration for Jeremy.


    He even believed that if Jeremy hadn''t been his enemy, the two of them could have be the closest of friends.


    After all, both of them were exceptionally gifted, possessing top-tier strength and talents.


    Moreover, their performances in the Apocalypse Game had both been wless.


    But now that they stood as enemies, Jeremy had be the one person Kean most desired to eliminate¡ªand also the most formidable opponent he had ever faced.


    Kean had made extensive preparations for this confrontation.


    On one hand, he had stockpiled additional weapons and artifacts.


    On the other, he had enhanced the defensive formations across the pre-designated battlefield.


    Originally, he had already ced a series of traps, weapons, and countermeasures specifically designed to restrain Jeremy.


    But after learning that Jeremy was moving faster than expected, Kean took his preparations even further.


    Now, the number of defensive formations across the battlefield had been increased to fourteen.


    This was the absolute limit¡ªany more, and the formations would begin to interfere with each other.


    Aside from the defensive formations, the battlefield was also armed with twelve high-powered weapons and artifacts.


    Each of these twelve weapons and tools possessed immense destructive capabilities.


    The moment Jeremy stepped into the pre-designated battlefield, these traps, formations, and weapons would immediately activate, putting him under intense suppression.


    Most importantly, if Jeremy used his innate ability, The King of Time and Space, during the battle, the entire battlefield''s mechanisms would be triggered against him.


    From Kean''s perspective, as long as he could prevent Jeremy from using his awakened ability during the battle, victory was assured.


    After spending a significant amount of time making preparations, Kean was convinced that his strategy was wless.


    "Even if ten Jeremys were to step into this battlefield, they wouldn''t be able to defeat me.


    His ability has been perfectly countered by my setup.


    This battle will be the end of him¡ªI will eliminate Jeremypletely."


    With a confident smile, Kean muttered these words to himself as he surveyed thepleted battlefield.


    And he had every reason to feel confident.


    Even an Apocalypse Game orchestrator would be astonished by the battlefield Kean had designed.


    After all, Kean was one of the people who understood Jeremy best.


    Every trap, formation, and mechanism he had set up was custom-tailored to restrain Jeremy specifically. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    With all his defenses in ce, Kean returned to his residence.


    He had onest task¡ªto rest.


    He needed to recover his energy and prepare his mind for the pivotal battle that was about to unfold.


    However, despite Kean''s swift reactions and meticulous preparations, he still hadn''t done enough to guarantee Jeremy''s defeat.


    Because what Kean failed to anticipate was that Jeremy wasn''ting alone¡ªhe was bringing an arsenal of powerful artifacts.


    Not only had Jeremy brought along the immensely powerful Permafrost Ice and Dark Core, but he had also brought something even more extraordinary¡ªa World Tree Seed, a gift he had received from the Goddess of Life.


    World Tree Seeds were incredibly rare and precious, each one containing an overwhelming amount of life energy.


    But Jeremy had no intention of nting the World Tree Seed in the real world.


    Because once a World Tree Seed began to sprout, it would affect the entire world.


    Life energy, though powerful, was also a force of corruption in the real world.


    If the real world were to be overwhelmed by such energy, every form of life would undergo drastic and unpredictable mutations.


    And that was something Jeremy absolutely could not allow to happen.


    After all, the Apocalypse Game had already inflicted devastating damage on the real world.


    If the World Tree Seed were to further destabilize the world, the entire reality could very well copsepletely.


    Thus, Jeremy had no intention of using the seed recklessly.


    His sole purpose for bringing it was to harness its life energy, allowing him to sustain himself in battle for an extended period.


    Jeremy knew all too well¡ªhis fight against Kean would be far from easy.


    He had to prepare for prolonged suppression during the battle.


    And more importantly, he had to brace himself for the possibility of suffering serious injuries at Kean''s hands before the fight was over.

 Chapter 458 Endless Obstacles

    Kean and Jeremy each made their final preparations for the ultimate showdown.


    Both of them eagerly anticipated the final battle, each hoping to end the other once and for all. With this decisive confrontation, their long-standing feud would finally be resolved.


    However, before the final showdown arrived, both sides would undoubtedly continue to create trouble for each other.


    Jeremy had no way of directly influencing Kean, who was in the capital. As a result, he could only rely on the Goddess of Life and the God of War to interfere with Kean''s judgment to some extent.


    After all, besides gathering intelligence, Kean also had to depend on divination or the prophecy abilities provided by the nners of the Apocalypse Game to predict Jeremy''s moves.


    Although the Goddess of Life and the God of War were not as powerful as the nners of the Apocalypse Game, they were still deities in their own right. They possessed the ability to disrupt divination and prophecy to a certain extent.


    On the other hand, Kean had far more ways to deal with Jeremy.


    Kean urged the military headquarters to prepare for battle against Jeremy.


    After all, the rtionship between the military headquarters and Jeremy was far from harmonious.


    If Jeremy recklessly arrived in the capital, there was a high chance that he woulde into direct conflict with the military headquarters.


    Should such a situation arise, Kean would ultimately be the one to reap the greatest benefit.


    Additionally, Kean continued to send his subordinates to set up various obstacles along the route from Valley City to the capital.


    These obstacles included roadblocks as well as powerful monsters.


    While Kean''s subordinatescked the ability to control overly powerful monsters, they were capable of releasing them from instances.


    These creatures would undoubtedly slow Jeremy''s progress.


    Kean''s tactics proved to be highly effective.


    Originally, Jeremy and Ritchie could have reached the outskirts of the capital within a day, but due to the obstacles they encountered, their journey was dyed by a full three days.


    As soon as they left the small town where they had been resting, they were ambushed by a level 60 monster.


    Although this creature wasn''t overwhelmingly powerful, it possessed the ability to be invisible. Even with Ritchie''s shadow maniption abilities, it still took Jeremy an entire hour to eliminate the beast.


    By the time they finally took down the monster, night had already fallen.


    Jeremy decided that there was no need to rush forward any further.


    Since traveling through the darkness would inevitably lead to encountering even more dangers, and the monster they had just faced had already proven that the night would bring countless more creatures their way, it was clear that continuing forward was unwise.


    "We have to find a ce to stay for the night! The monster we just fought wasn''t particrly strong, but don''t forget¡ªthe night hasn''t even reached its darkest hours yet.


    The creatures we encounter now are nothingpared to the horrors that will emerge at midnight. The monsters we''ll face in the dead of night will be far stronger and far more terrifying."


    Jeremy voiced his concerns.


    Ritchie, of course, had no objections. After everything they had been through, he had developedplete trust in Jeremy. Whatever Jeremy decided, Ritchie would follow without hesitation.


    "So, are we just going to hide somewhere around here? There doesn''t seem to be any safe ce nearby. Forget about a town¡ªI can''t even spot a single vige."


    Ritchie scanned the surroundings.


    The area was indeed deste. There were no towns, no viges¡ªnothing but barrennd stretching endlessly into the distance.


    Aside from a few abandoned structures that had long since fallen into decay, there were no signs of human habitation.


    In truth, even without the unexpected arrival of the Apocalypse Game, this region had always been an inhospitable wastnd.


    The terrain was predominantly desert-like, and humans could not survive in the desert for long.


    Jeremy took a moment to assess their situation beforeing to a decision¡ªhe would use a magic formation to create a safe zone.


    "We might not be able to find shelter here, but we can use our own abilities to construct a secure area."


    Without hesitation, Jeremy activated his innate ability¡ªThe King of Time and Space.


    One by one, spatial rifts began to form in the area surrounding him and Ritchie.


    These rifts severed the space around them from the outside world.


    Effectively, they had created an isted dimension¡ªa pocket of space that functioned as an imprable fortress.


    Upon witnessing Jeremy''s handiwork, Ritchie wasted no time in taking his own measures.


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    Ritchie utilized his shadow maniption ability, conjuringyers of shadows around the special space. These shadows seamlessly concealed their refuge within the darkness, making it almost impossible to detect.


    "See? The two of us can create apletely secure area out of thin air. Let''s stay here until sunrise."


    With that, Jeremy and Ritchie retreated into their protected zone.


    Just as before, they took turns keeping watch throughout the night.


    Jeremy took the first watch, remaining vignt as he monitored the surroundings. As the hours passed, he became increasingly aware of the sheer number of monsters lurking nearby.


    These creatures seemed to be wandering aimlessly, as if searching for something.


    Perhaps they were trying to track Jeremy and Ritchie, but it was clear that they had no way of finding them.


    Their intelligence was simply too low, and theycked the ability to perceive spatial anomalies.


    When the second half of the night arrived, Ritchie took over.


    However, things quickly took a turn for the worse.


    Not only had the number of monsters surrounding their safe zone increased significantly, but their levels were also much higher than before.


    As time went on, Ritchie''s nerves grew taut.


    He noticed that some of the monsters appeared to be staring in their direction.


    It was as if they had be aware of his presence.


    Ritchie refrained from taking any reckless action. Instead, he chose to wake Jeremy.


    "Something feels off. The monsters out there¡­ they seem to be able to see us. Should we act now? We need to strike first!"


    Ritchie''s concern was evident.


    He feared that if the monstersunched an attack first, their chances of survival would plummet. However, if they acted preemptively, they could seize the advantage and eliminate the threat before it overwhelmed them.


    Jeremy didn''t rush to a decision.


    Instead, he carefully observed their surroundings.


    Just as Ritchie had said, the monsters did indeed seem to be aware of them.


    Yet, despite this, they had not immediately attacked. That hesitation alone suggested that they had some sort of concern.


    After a moment of contemtion, Jeremy finally realized what it was that kept the monsters at bay.


    "These monsters won''t attack us. They''re intimidated by the spatial rifts surrounding our special space.


    Even though their levels aren''t low, they all originate from ordinary instances.


    Monsters frommon instances rarely encounter spatial anomalies like these rifts. They have no understanding of what these distortions mean, so naturally, they won''t recklessly make a move."


    As Jeremy spoke, his tone grew increasingly rxed.


    In his mind, monsters that feared spatial rifts posed no real threat to him.


    However, Ritchie wasn''t as optimistic.


    "Even if they won''t attack us now, once the sun rises, we''ll have to leave this special space.


    By then, we won''t have the rifts to shield us anymore."


    Ritchie''s concern was valid.


    But Jeremy remained just as carefree as before.


    "Don''t worry. I have The King of Time and Space ability.


    Maintaining this special space does consume a lot of energy, but we don''t need to keep it up for too long.


    We only need to shift the special space forward a short distance, and these monsters will be left behind.


    Once we''ve shaken them off, we can move at full speed.


    Besides, monsters react more slowly during the daytime.


    At this rate, we should be able to reach the outskirts of the capital within a day or two."


    Jeremy''s words finally eased Ritchie''s concerns.


    With that settled, they decided against taking any action against the surrounding monsters.


    However, the number of monsters continued to increase.


    More and more of them gathered around the edges of the special space.


    At the same time, their eyes were all fixed on Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Jeremy no longer felt as rxed.


    Something was off.


    The situation was starting to exceed his expectations.


    It was bing clear that his previous judgment might have been wed.


    "I think your initial assessment was right after all!


    Even if these monsters aren''t attacking us outright, the sheer number of them gathering here could lead to unexpected consequences.


    We need to get out of here¡ªfast.


    The sun will rise in less than an hour.


    At this point, we''re unlikely to run into any additional monsters."


    After saying that, Jeremy wasted no time and immediately opened a Portal.


    Given the overwhelming number of monsters outside, he had no choice but to abandon his n of moving the special space forward.


    Instead, he decided to use the Portal to transport himself and Ritchie to a distant location.


    The moment the Portal opened, the monsters surrounding the special space flew into a frenzy.


    Sensing the shift in space, they suddenly abandoned their usual hesitancy andunched a frenzied assault on the spatial rifts encircling the special zone.


    Ritchie''s face twisted into an expression of terror as he watched the scene unfold.


    Jeremy, however, remainedposed.


    Without hesitation, he grabbed Ritchie and pulled him into the Portal.

 Chapter 459 The Unexpected Melee

    Although Jeremy and Ritchie had sessfully entered the teleportation tunnel, the exit was not far from where they had started.


    After all, Jeremy''s innate ability, The King of Time and Space, was currently under suppression. He was unable to open a direct Portal leading to a faraway location. Instead, he had to rapidly create multiple portals in session to push forward with Ritchie.


    This method, however, was extremely exhausting.


    After covering approximately 20 kilometers, Jeremy''s stamina was nearly depleted.


    "I can''t open any more portals! I need to conserve my energy. If I burn through all of my stamina, we won''t be able to deal with any unexpected enemies."


    Jeremy voiced his concerns.


    Naturally, Ritchie had no objections.


    He remained on high alert, scanning their surroundings. He had a nagging feeling that they were far from safe here.


    At that moment, the ground beneath them trembled violently.


    One by one, grotesque monsters emerged from beneath the surface.


    These creatures varied in shape and size, and their levels differed greatly. However, they all had one thing inmon¡ªtheir eyes gleamed with an eerie blue light.


    The sight of the glowing blue eyes caused Jeremy and Ritchie to feel a moment of unease.


    It was evident that these monsters were being controlled by some powerful force.


    But what did the blue glow signify? That was a mystery they had yet to solve.


    "Well, since they''ve decided to show up, let''s just wipe them all out!" Jeremy, though not fully recovered, knew that they needed to clear out the surrounding creatures as quickly as possible.


    If the monsters were allowed to gather inrge numbers, he and Ritchie would soon find themselves overwhelmed, drowned in an endless tide of monstrosities.


    As Jeremy and Ritchie battled fiercely against the creatures, not far away, a Special Team from the military headquarters was also carrying out its own mission.


    The intense fight between the two men and the monstrous horde quickly caught their attention.


    The Special Team members instinctively felt the urge to intervene.


    To them, monsters were the enemy of humanity. Whenever humans engaged in battle against such creatures, it was only natural to lend their fellow humans a helping hand.


    "Captain! We need to get over there now! We have to join the fight immediately. If we don''t, those two will bepletely overrun by the monsters!"


    One of the Special Team members hurriedly spoke up.


    Before the team captain could make a decision, another member quickly added,


    "Captain, I think he''s absolutely right. Besides, those two seem to be quite powerful.


    If we rescue them, they might even consider joining our squad. With their strength, our team''s overallbat capabilities would increase significantly!"


    Every single team member supported the idea of joining the battle.


    However, the Special Team captain remained somewhat hesitant.


    After all, they were carrying out a special mission assigned by military headquarters.


    Until their mission waspleted, they weren''t supposed to take on any additional engagements.@@novelbin@@


    "Captain, what are you still hesitating for? Are we really going to just stand by and watch while monsters wipe out fellow humans?"


    "Yeah, Captain! We can''t afford to waste time! Hesitating any longer will only make things worse!"


    "We''re already close topleting our mission for the military. There''s no reason we can''t spare some time to save those two!"


    Faced with the persistence of his squad members, the Special Team captain found it increasingly difficult to stick to his original stance.


    Even so, he didn''t immediately give the order to engage.


    It seemed like he was waiting for the right moment.


    Not far from where the Special Team was stationed, several of Kean''s subordinates were also in a state of conflict.


    The monsters attacking Jeremy and Ritchie had indeed been lured there by Kean''s men.


    Since their ownbat abilities weren''t particrly strong, they didn''t dare to confront Jeremy and Ritchie directly.


    Instead, they hade up with a scheme¡ªby guiding the monsters into attacking, they could use these creatures as pawns, eliminating Jeremy and Ritchie without getting their own hands dirty. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire


    So far, their n was working perfectly.


    Jeremy and Ritchie hadn''t even realized what was happening.


    However, the unexpected arrival of the Special Team was throwing a wrench in their carefullyid-out ns.


    If the Special Team intervened in the battle, there was a high chance that Jeremy and Ritchie would quickly escape from danger.


    "We have to stop the Special Team from interfering! Should we just attack them directly? They don''t seem to be as strong as Jeremy."


    One of the more ruthless subordinates suggested this sinister n without hesitation.


    However, their leader was visibly hesitant about executing such an idea.


    After all, while military headquarters had suffered heavy losses, it still possessed formidable strength.


    Kean was merely coborating with certain individuals within military headquarters¡ªhe could never convince everyone to cooperate with him.


    If Kean''s subordinates were to sh with the members of military headquarters, Kean himself would face serious consequences.


    "Stop hesitating. If we keep dying, Jeremy and the others might escape the threat entirely.


    If that happens, we''ll have no way to exin ourselves.


    Do you really think Young Master Kean will ept our excuses?


    He''ll just assume we''re making up reasons to cover our failure."


    Every single one of Kean''s subordinates understood perfectly well¡ªKean was not someone to be trifled with.


    If they failed to carry out his orders, they would undoubtedly face punishment.


    Hearing this, their leader finally made a decision.


    "You''re right.


    We must stop the Special Team from interfering.


    We absolutely cannot allow them to reach Jeremy and Ritchie.


    We''llunch a preemptive attack before they have a chance to act."


    And so, Kean''s subordinates immediately ambushed the members of military headquarters'' Special Team.


    The Special Team was caughtpletely off guard.


    The sudden attack threw them into a state of panic and disarray.


    Their understanding of the situation became increasingly muddled.


    They had no idea what was happening.


    In their confusion, they assumed they were being attacked by another Special Team dispatched by military headquarters.


    "We''re human, not monsters!


    Stop attacking us!


    We should be working together to deal with the other monsters!"


    The members of the Special Team shouted desperately.


    But Kean''s subordinates had no intention of listening.


    After all, their objective was to prevent the Special Team from interfering at all costs.


    And so, a battle erupted between the Special Team and Kean''s subordinates.


    This was apletely unexpected conflict for both sides.


    Moreover, their sh triggered a chain reaction, causing a series of unexpected developments in Jeremy''s vicinity.


    Jeremy and Ritchie quickly noticed that a new battlefield had suddenly emerged nearby.


    Both of them exchanged looks of confusion.


    "What''s going on here? Why is there another battle unfolding around us? Could it be that our allies have arrived to support us?"


    Ritchie asked Jeremy with a puzzled expression.


    Jeremy shook his head without offering an answer.


    After all, he himself had no idea what was happening.


    If their allies had truly arrived, as Ritchie suggested, then they would have contacted them by now.


    The fact that no one had reached out to them meant only one thing¡ªthis was an unnned development.


    "No matter what, we have to stay calm.


    Right now, our priority is eliminating the monsters around us.


    As long as we take them down, we''ll gain the upper hand."


    Amidst the chaos of battle, Jeremy made a swift and precise decision.


    He understood all too well that in the current situation, they needed to focus entirely on the battle at hand.


    Once they had dealt with the surrounding monsters, they could then assess the other battlefield.


    Only then would they decide whether or not to get involved.


    Jeremy''s quick thinking had a significant impact on the overall situation.


    The Special Team from military headquarters and Kean''s subordinates were evenly matched, making it impossible for either side to im a quick victory.


    Their battle had stagnated into a deadlock.


    Meanwhile, Jeremy and Ritchie, thanks to their precise maneuvers, had begun rapidly weakening the monster horde.


    Kean''s subordinates were growing increasingly anxious.


    "Jeremy and Ritchie are about to win their battle!


    If we don''t act fast, they''ll escape, and Young Master Kean''s n will be aplete failure!"


    One of Kean''s subordinates eximed in a panicked voice.


    The orders from Kean had been clear.


    They had to stall Jeremy and Ritchie for as long as possible.


    If they failed to do so, Kean would hold them ountable without question.


    At the mere thought of Kean''s punishment, fear washed over their faces.


    Faced with no other choice, Kean''s subordinates ultimately decided to retreat from the battle.


    They nned tounch a direct attack on Jeremy and Ritchie themselves.


    However, this approach was doomed to fail.


    The Special Team from military headquarters had also begun to fight with their full strength.


    Each member of the Special Team possessed unique abilities.


    Most importantly, their captain was someone who had already undergone an awakening.


    A fully awakened Apocalypse Game yer was not someone Kean''s subordinates could easily defeat.

 Chapter 461 A Series of Coincidences Stacked Together

    Jeremy''s exnation only confused Ritchie even more, but he chose not to press further.


    Instead, the two of them quickly continued on their journey.


    Meanwhile, on Vincent''s Side¡­


    Vincent''s subordinates began questioning him about what they should do next.


    Vincent''s response was simple and direct.


    "Even though our mission isplete, I have a feeling there are still some monsters lurking nearby.


    We might as well eliminate them while we''re here."


    His words puzzled his team members.


    "Captain, you really don''t n on reporting our encounter with Jeremy to headquarters?


    I think headquarters has the right to know about this.


    Besides, if theyter find out that you withheld information, they''ll be furious.


    Your chances for future promotions will definitely suffer."


    Hearing his subordinates'' concerns, Vincent remained unfazed.


    With a calm but dismissive tone, he replied,


    "Why should I do Kean''s dirty work?


    Do any of you actually like Kean?"


    His words carried a hint of disdain.


    Vincent had always looked down on Kean.


    In his eyes, Kean''s strength was nothing more than a product of the Lannisters'' vast resources.


    Kean was not the talented warrior his family portrayed him to be.


    If Kean truly possessed great talent, he would have joined military headquarters directly.


    He would have risen through the ranks based on his own skills, not through his family''s influence.


    "Kean and people like us are nothing alike," one soldier admitted.


    "But orders are still orders.


    Captain, I still think we should report Jeremy''s movements to headquarters."


    Another soldier added his voice to the argument.


    Vincent shook his head.


    His tone was firm.


    "No matter what, I will not report this to military headquarters.


    If any of you believe my decision is wrong, then go ahead¡ªreport it yourselves."


    After saying that, Vincent''s demeanor suddenly changed.


    His expression turned serious.


    "Enough.


    Monsters are already closing in on our position.


    Right now, our focus should be on the battle ahead¡ªnot this pointless debate."


    Although some of his subordinates still had concerns, they understood that a battle was imminent.


    With that in mind, they shifted their focus to the fight ahead.


    In this way, Vincent sessfully helped Jeremy conceal the fact that he was about to arrive at the capital.


    Jeremy and Ritchie spent nearly two hours making their way toward their destination, and at longst, they finally reached the outskirts of the capital.


    The moment they set foot on the outskirts, Kean immediately sensed their presence.


    "So, my subordinates failed after all," Kean muttered, his expression darkening. "Just as I expected, they were nothing but a bunch of useless fools. They only managed to dy Jeremy and Ritchie for two days."


    A flicker of irritation crossed Kean''s face.


    Initially, he had estimated that his men could hold them back for at least three days.


    But to his disappointment, they had barely managed two.


    However, Kean was not the type to dwell on failure. He adjusted his mindset almost instantly.


    "Two days¡­ Fine. Two days is enough. I''m already fully prepared for battle. All I need to do now is follow through with the original n."


    Over the past two days, Kean had meticulously made every necessary preparation.


    This time, he would not only have The Person in the Mirror fighting alongside him¡ªhe would also have direct assistance from one of the masterminds behind the Apocalypse Game itself.


    The Sun had already made a promise.


    Kean''s figure began to blur and distort, his body gradually turning into a shimmering white light.


    A secondter, he vanished.


    In the blink of an eye, Kean reappeared at the prearranged battlefield.


    "Jeremy and Ritchie will never make it into the heart of the capital!" Kean dered with unwavering confidence. "The moment they step through the entrance, they''ll be transported straight to the battlefield."


    His tone was solemn,ced with an unmistakable authority.


    "You all need to be fully prepared forbat! I don''t want to see any mistakes in this battle! If anything goes wrong¡ªnot only will I punish you, but your deity will punish you as well."


    Kean''s words were directed at The Person in the Mirror.


    A vast number of The Person in the Mirror had already taken their positions around the battlefield.


    Individually, their power might not have been overwhelming, but when they banded together, they posed an enormous threat to Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Yet, none of The Person in the Mirror responded to Kean''s warning.


    They had already entered a state of absolute silence.


    Not far from the battlefield, The Son of the Sun had also made his preparations.


    Truth be told, The Son of the Sun was secretly hoping that Kean would suffer a few setbacks in the battle ahead.


    He hoped that during the battle, Kean would suffer severe injuries.


    Then, just as Kean was on the verge of defeat, he would step into the battlefield, save Kean, and turn the tide of battle in their favor.


    Only by doing so could he make The Sun see him as the most loyal and invaluable subordinate.


    However, no matter what, The Son of the Sun would not allow this battle to end in failure.


    Jeremy and Ritchie moved forward cautiously.


    The moment they entered the outskirts of the capital, both of them became extremely vignt.


    They were well aware that the territory they had just stepped into was incredibly dangerous.


    Under no circumstances could they allow themselves to be discovered by the military headquarters'' forces.


    After advancing for a short while, Ritchie spoke in a low voice.


    "It looks like your judgment was spot on. Vincent really didn''t report our movements to the military headquarters. The forces stationed here seempletely unaware of our presence."


    Jeremy responded with a small, knowing smile.


    "Aren''t you even a little curious about how I was so sure?"


    "Is it because you''re exceptionally smart? If that''s the answer you''re about to give me, then save it. My intelligence is already at its limit¡ªthere''s no hope for improvement," Ritchie sighed with mock defeat.


    Jeremy chuckled softly.


    "No, it''s not just because I''m smarter. The truth is, when Vincent was probing my mind with his psychic powers, I used the opportunity to reverse-search his memory and gain insight into his thought process."


    "Vincent doesn''t like Kean. That much is clear."


    "And since I came here specifically to cause trouble for Kean, there was no way Vincent would try to stop me."


    Jeremy finally revealed the real reason behind his confidence.


    Ritchie nodded slowly, an expression of understanding crossing his face.


    "I knew it. There was no way you made that call based purely on spection."


    The two of them continued their conversation, exchanging words casually as they maneuvered through the suburban buildings.


    Then, finally, the gates leading into the capital''s city center came into view.


    Jeremy''s expression turned serious.


    "Get ready for battle."


    "The moment we step through that gate, Kean will know immediately. There''s a good chance he''lle straight for us, looking to settle things in a final showdown."


    Before entering the gate, Jeremy made sure to warn Ritchie.


    Ritchie nodded solemnly.


    In truth, he had already been prepared for this fight.


    Throughout their previous battles, he had barely used his Soul Division ability.


    That skill was something he had reserved¡ªfor Kean alone.


    The two of them quickened their pace, heading straight for the city gate.


    Just as they were about to reach the entrance, Jeremy suddenly came to a halt.


    Ritchie turned to him, surprise flickering in his eyes.


    Before he could ask what was going on, an impatient voice rang out from the guards stationed at the gate.


    "What are you two standing there for? If you''re not nning to enter the city, then move along! The gate is crowded enough as it is¡ªthere are plenty of people trying to get in!"


    The capital''s gate guards had little patience for people loitering at the entrance.


    Not only did it interfere with their duties, but it also disrupted the entire flow of the capital''s operations.


    Under the guards'' firm urging, Jeremy grabbed Ritchie by the arm and pulled him away from the immediate vicinity of the gate.


    Once they were a safe distance away, Ritchie turned to Jeremy with a serious expression.


    "What''s going on? Why did you suddenly stop? Did you notice something unusual?"


    His voice carried a note of concern.


    Jeremy nodded briefly¡ªthen shook his head.


    That confused Ritchie even more.


    He had seen Jeremy do this exact thing many times before, but no matter how often it happened, he could never quite get used to it.


    "I didn''t detect anything suspicious," Jeremy admitted. "But I just heard the voice of the Goddess of Life in my mind."


    "The Goddess of Life warned me¡ªif I step through that gate right now, I will walk straight into a trap."


    Jeremy''s connection with the Goddess of Life wasn''t particrly surprising.


    After all, their coboration had been ongoing for quite some time.


    However, the nature of the warning was perplexing.


    Ritchie furrowed his brows.


    "Then what are we supposed to do?" he asked, frustration creeping into his voice.


    "Are we just going to stand here?"


    "Or are you telling me we''re actually going to try and lure Kean out of the capital?"


    The moment Ritchie finished speaking, Jeremy''s gaze snapped toward him.


    "You''re absolutely right!


    Maybe we should lure Kean out!


    If Kean knows we''re here, he''s bound to be anxious.


    He might evene to face us directly in battle.


    That way, we won''t have to step foot into the capital at all."


    Jeremy''s words left Ritchie stunned.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, Ritchie realized that Jeremy''s logic was wless.


    Their goal ining to the capital was simple¡ªdefeat Kean and prevent [The Sun] from reviving.


    [The Sun] would never be hiding in the capital''s inner city.


    It was almost certainly somewhere outside, concealed within an instance near the capital.


    So in truth, entering the capital itself wasn''t necessary.


    "What do you suggest we do, then?


    How exactly do we lure Kean out?"


    Ritchie asked after a moment of thought.


    Jeremy''s lips curled into a subtle smile.@@novelbin@@


    "Don''t worry¡­


    You''ll find out soon enough what I have nned!"

 Chapter 462 A Mysterious Move

    Jeremy did not reveal the details of his n. Instead, he pulled Ritchie a little further away.


    The two of them moved back to a spot where the soldiers guarding the entrance could no longer see them.


    "What exactly are you nning to do?" Ritchie asked, his voice carrying a hint of doubt.


    Jeremy did not answer. Instead, he reached into his pocket and took out the Dark Core.


    The original power within the Dark Core had already been depleted, but Jeremy had no intention of using its energy. He treated the Dark Core as a storage vessel for power.


    During the battle in Valley City, Jeremy had stored a portion of Major Joseph''s fire-based abilities within the Dark Core.


    The moment he took it out, mes erupted around it, burning intensely.


    Jeremy cast a smile in the direction of the entrance. Then, under Ritchie''s astonished gaze, he hurled the burning mes straight toward the gate.


    The soldiers guarding the Capital''s entrance were by no means weak, yet they were still caught off guard by the sudden fire attack. Panic spread among them.


    Moreover, beyond the soldiers, there were ordinary citizens present at the entrance.


    When these people saw mes descending from the sky, they screamed in terror and scattered in every direction.


    Chaos quickly engulfed the Capital''s entrance.


    While the soldiers struggled to block the fire, they also attempted to restore order and locate the attacker.


    "We''ve neutralized the attack! Do not panic! Everyone stay where you are and do not run around!"


    A stern, authoritative voice rang out from the entrance.


    It was unmistakably the voice of the soldiers'' captain.


    Jeremy and Ritchie heard it as well.


    The moment the voice reached them, Jeremy swiftly opened a Portal.


    "We don''t need to stick around here any longer. Come with me," he said with a grin.


    Before Ritchie could even react, Jeremy grabbed him and pulled him into the Portal.


    As soon as the two stepped inside, the Portal vanished without a trace.


    A few minutester, a towering figure with an overwhelming aura of authority appeared at the very spot where the Portal had just been.


    "There are traces of spatial fluctuations here. The one who just attacked us must possess space-rted abilities or an innate spatial talent. Follow this lead and investigate immediately."


    The tall figure spoke in a grave tone, hismanding voice leaving no room for hesitation.


    At hismand, the soldiers sprang into action.


    Every single soldier remained on high alert.


    Not only did they search the surrounding area near the entrance for any sign of the attacker, but they also swiftly ryed the news of the assault to others.


    All entrances to the Capital were ced under strict security measures.


    The soldiers stationed at each gate were visibly tense, their heightened vignce akin to being on edge at the slightest disturbance.


    After all, the Capital had suffered multiple attacks before. Each assault had resulted in devastating consequences.


    None of them wanted to witness the Capital being ambushed once again.


    While the Capital was ced under full lockdown, Jeremy and Ritchie emerged from a Portal near a different entrance of the Capital.


    At this moment, the two of them were quite a distance away from the gate.


    Jeremy did not approach the entrance directly.


    Instead, he activated his King of Time and Space ability, generating a Portal that discreetly opened at the corner of a building near the entrance.


    Jeremy once again took out the Dark Core.


    The mes surrounding the Dark Core were immediately sent through the Portal.


    Ritchie, upon witnessing this scene, began to understand Jeremy''s intentions.


    Still, he couldn''t help but voice his skepticism.


    "Do you really think this will work? Are you sure this won''t just alert them and put them further on guard?"


    "The Capital must already be on high alert. And Kean won''t leave so easily. As long as he stays inside the Capital, he has the military headquarters'' support at his disposal."


    Ritchie was unconvinced that Jeremy''s n would seed.


    By now, he had realized that Jeremy intended to throw the Capital intoplete disarray.


    "Kean will have no choice but to act. The military headquarters will undoubtedly send people after me. If I fall into their hands, Kean''s position will be precarious."


    Jeremy spoke with a confident smile. Then, without further dy, he sent the mes through the Portal.


    The moment the fire passed through, Jeremy swiftly opened another Portal.


    Ritchie took the initiative this time and stepped through the Portal.


    As soon as Jeremy and Ritchie passed through, a massive explosion erupted near the entrance of the Capital.


    Since Jeremy had already thrown the Capital into a state of high alert, he had no intention of stopping there¡ªhe wanted to make sure everyone inside the Capital understood just how powerful he truly was.


    Inside a secret conference room within the military headquarters, numerous high-ranking officers were engaged in a heated debate.


    They had already received reports about the attack on the Capital''s entrance.


    Although the attack itself had not been overwhelmingly powerful, it was enough to signify that the Capital was once again in a dangerous situation.


    Some of the military leaders were in favor of taking immediate action.


    "We must deploy arge number of soldiers to hunt down the creature bold enough tounch an attack on the Capital! We need to make it clear that no matter how powerful these monsters may be, the Capital is not a ce they can assault so easily!"


    It was clear that this particr officer believed the attacker was a monster.


    However, before he could continue, another voice rang out from the other end of the conference room.


    "And how exactly are you so sure that a monster is responsible for this attack? Are monsters even capable of this level of calcted strategy? I believe the one who attacked the Capital was human. In fact, one of the individuals the military has been monitoring¡ªone who possesses spatial and temporal abilities¡ªcould very well be responsible for this."


    The moment these words were spoken, the room fell silent again.


    At the head of the table sat an elderly man with a full head of silver-white hair. He slowly raised his voice and asked,


    "You''re suggesting that Jeremy is the one behind this attack?"


    "I can''t say for certain that Jeremy was the one whounched the attack. But I do believe he is the prime suspect. After all, he should still be in Moonlight City at this moment. Why don''t we simply contact Moonlight City and verify his current status?"


    The elderly man nodded slowly.


    "You make a valid point. Very well, then. Send an order to Moonlight City immediately. Have them report Jeremy''s current whereabouts to us at once."


    After issuing themand, the elderly man rose from his seat.


    "Regardless of whether the attacker is a monster or a human, I do not want any of you to panic. We have the means to ensure the Capital''s security. And despite the attack, the entrance to the Capital has not beenpletely destroyed."


    "Even now, no soldiers have been seriously injured. Only a few civilians were hurt in the panic, and even then, it was due to their own recklessness. So there''s no need for us to be overly rmed."


    After saying this, the elderly man with silver-white hair turned and left the conference room.


    Walking down the hallway, he slowly shook his head.


    Deep down, he felt a hint of disappointment.


    He had expected the elite officers in that room to maintain aposed demeanor and quickly analyze the situation with a clear mind.


    However, reality proved otherwise.


    They were merely powerful individuals¡ªnothing more.


    Theycked the wisdom andposure needed to handle unexpected crises effectively.


    Rather than adapting to the current situation, they simply followed the same strategies they had always used in the past.


    Meanwhile, one of Kean''s allies within military headquarters wasted no time in rying this information to him.


    At first, when Kean received the news, he was not particrly concerned.


    He assumed that it was nothing more than an unexpected monster wandering too close to the Capital.


    If it was just a particrly strong creature, the military should have no trouble eliminating it quickly.


    "This information is useless to me. Jeremy and Ritchie will be arriving at the Capital soon. My priority right now is preparing for battle."


    Kean remained focused on getting ready for the confrontation ahead.


    However, just ten minutester, another report from the military headquarters came through.


    This time, Kean could no longer remain as calm as before.


    The military had confirmed that the person who had just attacked the Capital''s entrance was Jeremy.


    Not only that, but it seemed that Jeremy was attempting to shut down all of the Capital''s entrances.


    At first, Kean was deeply confused.


    Why would Jeremy do this?


    What was his true objective?@@novelbin@@


    Frowning, he fell into deep thought.


    But after a brief moment of contemtion, a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.


    "Could it be¡­ his goal is to trap me inside the Capital?"


    "And then¡­ he and Ritchie willunch an attack on The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun?!"


    Kean''s voice trembled slightly as he slowly spoke those words, shock evident in his tone.


    Kean suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of danger.


    If his suspicions were correct, then The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun were about to be in serious trouble.


    And if he allowed Jeremy to eliminate them, then in the impending final battle, he would have no advantage left.


    "I absolutely cannot let Jeremy''s n seed! I have to act immediately to stop him!"


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    Kean made his decision without hesitation.


    He was ready to move out directly, but before that, he had to warn The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun.


    They needed to be prepared for what wasing.

 Chapter 463 Overthinking is Also a Mistake

    Kean moved at an incredible speed.


    In just a few minutes, he had already ryed thetest intelligence to The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror.


    During that same time, he also took the opportunity to prepare all of his weapons and equipment.


    "I have to leave the city immediately! But with all the Capital''s entrances now under heavy guard, I might need help from someone inside the military headquarters to get out sessfully."


    Even though Kean had made up his mind to act right away, he was still running into obstacles.


    After the attack on the Capital''s entrance, the entire city had been ced under strict security measures.


    Someone of Kean''s power level would not be allowed to leave so easily.


    That left him with no choice but to seek assistance from his allies.


    While his n would eventually work, there was no doubt that it would take up a considerable amount of time.


    That dy left Kean feeling restless.


    As he moved, he continuously prayed that The Person in the Mirror and The Son of the Sun would not be defeated too quickly.


    In a dense forest not far from the Capital, The Son of the Sun frowned slightly, confusion evident on his face.


    "What''s going on? Why is Jeremying directly for me? Could he really know my exact location?"


    Despite receiving Kean''s warning, The Son of the Sun was not fully convinced.


    Cautiously, he surveyed his surroundings.


    The area he was currently in was the entrance to a Level 30 Instance.


    All of the creatures inside this Instance had already been transformed by the Sun, granting them the power of sunlight.


    The Son of the Sun had remained here specifically to absorb the Instance''s energy, further strengthening himself.


    Although he did not immediately trust the information Kean had provided, he still decided to take precautions.


    Without hesitation, he summoned one of The Person in the Mirror to his side.


    "Kean has run into some unexpected trouble again. We need to prepare for battle immediately. Also, inform yourrades to follow the n we discussed earlier. All of The Person in the Mirror must enter a state of high alert."@@novelbin@@


    At The Son of the Sun''smand, every Person in the Mirror in the surrounding area shifted into full defensive mode.


    And there were many of them stationed around the Capital.


    The Persons in the Mirror typically disguised themselves as ordinary people. However, the moment they entered a state of high alert, they would utilize their unique abilities and powers to serve The Son of the Sun.


    Now, all of the Persons in the Mirror were actively searching for any trace of Jeremy and Ritchie.


    But their efforts were doomed to fail¡ªbecause Jeremy and Ritchie were, in fact, still lingering near the Capital''s entrance.


    "Everyone has started moving. So, what''s your next step?"


    Ritchie asked with a hint of curiosity in his voice.


    Jeremy smiled and replied,


    "It''s not the right time to reveal my n just yet. If you just wait and watch, you''ll figure it out soon enough."


    He was still being deliberately mysterious.


    Ritchie couldn''t help but feel slightly annoyed by his attitude.


    "You are definitely smarter than me, I won''t argue with that," Ritchie admitted. "But shouldn''t you at least tell me the details of your n? I am yourpanion, after all. And in the uing battle, I''ll be facing just as much danger as you."


    Ritchie''s words made perfect sense.


    Jeremy nodded in agreement.


    "You''re right. You are mypanion. And yes, you''ll be facing the same level of risk as I will in battle. But the truth is¡­ I can''t reveal my n."


    "Because even I don''t know what the next step is."


    As soon as those words left Jeremy''s mouth, Ritchie''s face contorted into an expression of pure shock.


    "What the hell are you talking about?! Are you just making things up as you go?!"


    Ritchie waspletely dumbfounded.


    He had assumed that Jeremy''s actions were all calcted, but now it seemed as if he had just been acting randomly without any concrete strategy.


    "You really think I''m being reckless?" Jeremy asked with a smirk.


    "My goal in stirring up chaos is simple¡ªI want Kean and his allies to panic. Do you think Kean would ever underestimate me?"


    Ritchie took a moment to think before shaking his head.


    "Kean would never underestimate you. After all, in every previous battle, he''s never been able to im victory against you. And not only that¡ªhe''s suffered some serious losses at your hands."


    Ritchie stated his thoughts clearly.


    Jeremy smiled again and gave a satisfied nod.


    "You''re absolutely right. Kean would never underestimate me. That means he will take every single one of my actions seriously. He has to believe that there''s a deeper meaning behind everything I do. And because of that, he''ll start overthinking things." Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    Jeremy stopped speaking for a moment.


    He wanted to give Ritchie time to think.


    Ritchie furrowed his brows and then continued the thought himself.


    "If he overthinks, then he''ll convince himself that you have some kind of deep, strategic n. And if that n seeds, he''ll suffer a devastating loss. That means right now, he''s probably panicking. There''s a good chance he''s already making a move.


    And if I were Kean, the first thing I''d do is try to track you down as fast as possible. Because only by finding you can I figure out what your real n is."


    Finally, Ritchie had used his own reasoning to piece together a logical exnation.


    Jeremy smiled and pped his hands together lightly.


    "Not bad! Looks like your intelligence has improved significantly over the past few weeks."


    Hearing that, Ritchie let out an awkward chuckle.


    At first, he thought Jeremy was genuinelyplimenting him¡ªuntil he realized something.


    Wait a minute.


    Wasn''t Jeremy implying that he had been dumb before?!


    "What the hell is that supposed to mean?! Are you saying I used to be an idiot?!"


    Jeremy smirked. "Well, your intelligence was a bitcking before. But don''t worry, you''ve almost made up for it now. At this rate, I''d say it won''t be long before you can operate on your own¡ªand actually use your brain to outsmart your enemies."


    He was clearly joking.


    But Ritchie wasn''t in the mood to keep joking around.


    The smile on his face disappeared in an instant, reced by a serious expression.


    "How confident are you that this n will actually work?" he asked, his tone sharp. "Once Kean finds you, do you really think you can beat him?"


    Jeremy''s smile faded as well.


    "I''d say the odds of sess are at least fifty-fifty," he admitted. "But waiting here for him toe to us is not an option. If we stay in one ce, he''ll know something is off."


    "We need to keep moving¡ªstay out of his reach. And while we''re at it, we should also be looking for his allies.


    I have no doubt that Kean''s allies are going to take action as well. If we can track them down and find the right clues, we might be able to weaken them before the final battle even begins."


    Jeremy understood one fundamental truth¡ªif he was going to put on a show, he had tomit to the full act.


    If his only goal was to deceive Kean, then his n had already seeded.


    But if he wanted to guarantee victory in the final battle, he needed to be even more strategic.


    Ritchie, after hearing Jeremy''s exnation, nodded firmly.


    "Let''s move quickly! I''ve been feeling some unwee eyes on us for a while now!"


    The unwee eyes Ritchie referred to were, of course, from The Person in the Mirror.


    Although many of The Person in the Mirror were searching for Jeremy and Ritchie, their individual strength was rtively weak.


    Theycked the ability to locate the two of them quickly.


    However, their searching gazes had not gone unnoticed.


    And that was exactly what Jeremy had been waiting for.


    "You''re right. It''s about time we made those unwee eyes disappear."


    The moment Jeremy finished speaking, multiple spatial rifts began forming around him.


    The rifts spread outward at a rapid pace.


    A Person in the Mirror who had been lurking nearby was caught off guard and instantly pulled in by one of the spatial rifts.


    This Person in the Mirror had not even realized that Jeremy and Ritchie were so close.


    It wasn''t until he was already trapped that he attempted to send out a warning.


    But Jeremy didn''t give him the chance.


    The spatial rift tore The Person in the Mirror into fragments before he could even react.


    "This was one of Kean''s allies. His soul structure is nearly identical to that of The Person in the Mirror. That means we can confirm¡ªhe was definitely one of them."


    As soon as Jeremy eliminated the Person in the Mirror, his soul materialized before Jeremy and Ritchie.


    Jeremy, possessing the s¨¦ance ability, knew exactly what to do.


    With it, he could extract valuable intelligence from the fallen Person in the Mirror.


    Ritchie nodded in understanding.


    "Go ahead and perform the s¨¦ance. I''ll keep watch and make sure no one interrupts us."


    With Ritchie standing guard, Jeremy quicklypleted the s¨¦ance.


    The information he obtained confirmed that the spirit belonged to The Person in the Mirror.


    It also revealed that The Person in the Mirror had already gone into high alert.


    All of them were actively searching for Jeremy and Ritchie.


    After finishing the s¨¦ance, Jeremy smiled and said,


    "It looks like our n has been an overwhelming sess. Not only is Kean in a state of panic, but even his allies have been thrown into disarray. We''re not far from victory now."


    After saying this, Jeremy turned to look at Ritchie.


    Ritchie, however, only grew more confused.


    He had no idea why Jeremy was suddenly looking at him like that.


    Under Ritchie''s puzzled gaze, Jeremy slowly spoke.


    "This whole situation has taught us a very important lesson¡ªoverthinking is also a mistake. When you find yourself in a crisis in the future, don''t overthink things."

 Chapter 464 The Exposure of the Instances Location

    Ritchie''s puzzled expression gradually faded as he finally grasped Jeremy''s overall strategy.


    "So what you''re saying is that when the enemy overthinks, they end up scaring themselves, and in their panic, they make mistakes? And that''s when we strike,pletely crushing them?"


    "Exactly! Your intelligence has leveled up again!" Jeremy praised Ritchie with a smile.


    "So what should we do next? Are we just going to sit here and wait for the enemy to make more and more mistakes?"


    Although Ritchie understood Jeremy''s approach, he still found this method a bit too passive.


    Shouldn''t they actively look for the enemy''s weaknesses and take them down? If they kept waiting for the enemy to make mistakes, how long would it take before they couldpletely crush them?


    Of course, Jeremy understood Ritchie''s thoughts.


    He nced at the tattered soul of The Person in the Mirror not far away.


    "Haven''t we already extracted a critical piece of information? All The Person in the Mirror are now in a state of high alert. Since they are actively searching for us, they will definitely take action sooner orter.


    In this situation, where the enemy is in the light and we are in the shadows, we can eliminate them one by one. Through s¨¦ances, we can extract even more intelligence from them."


    After saying this, Jeremy led Ritchie away.


    While speaking with Ritchie, Jeremy once again sensed the presence of another The Person in the Mirror.


    Thus, Jeremy and Ritchie continued hunting them down, eliminating The Person in the Mirror one by one. Through s¨¦ances, they extracted all the information their enemies held. Eventually, they uncovered the location of their leader¡ªThe Son of the Sun.


    "So The Son of the Sun has been hiding all this time in a low-difficulty instance in the mountainous outskirts of the capital! Let''s take him out first. Maybe in the process, we''ll find a way to obtain additional intel rted to permafrost ice."


    In Jeremy''s view, The Son of the Sun had no chance of defeating both him and Ritchie alone.


    Once The Son of the Sun was forced into a desperate situation by him and Ritchie, there was a high chance that The Son of the Sun would directly seek help from [The Sun].


    [The Sun] would most likely want to protect its most capable subordinate. If that happened, the overwhelming power of the sun would descend upon them directly.


    This could potentially create an area where mes would burn eternally. The way to obtain additional intelligence on permafrost ice was to ce it within these eternally burning mes.


    Although Ritchie didn''t think as far ahead as Jeremy did, he also felt that their priority should be dealing with The Son of the Sun first.


    Ritchie''s reasoning, however, was much simpler¡ªThe Son of the Sun was easier to deal withpared to Kean. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    As Jeremy and Ritchie made their way toward the instance where The Son of the Sun was hiding, Kean finally managed to escape the heavily fortified capital with the help of his allies.


    At this moment, Kean had already reached the outskirts of the capital.


    "Those damn The Person in the Mirror still haven''t provided me with any urate intel! What the hell are they doing?! Are they just wasting time?! They''repletely useless!"


    Kean''s frustration wasced with anger.


    He had expected The Person in the Mirror to gather some valuable intelligence on Jeremy during this time.


    But after spending so much time and taking a long, circuitous route to escape the capital, he was furious to find that The Person in the Mirror had yet to uncover even a single clue rted to Jeremy.


    Without hesitation, Kean contacted The Son of the Sun.


    "What the hell are you doing? Have you and your subordinates not taken any action at all?" Kean demanded aggressively.


    The Son of the Sun responded coldly.


    "You are in no position to speak to me like that. My subordinates are carrying out my orders. They are searching for Jeremy and Ritchie as quickly as possible."


    Although The Son of the Sun was also dissatisfied with the progress of his subordinates, he wasn''t about to admit that Kean was right about anything.


    "Your subordinates seem like nothing but a bunch of worthless trash! Where exactly are you right now? I''ll juste and meet you directly!"


    Kean wasn''t interested in arguing with The Son of the Sun.


    Given the current circumstances, he still wanted to maintain unity with his allies.


    Kean had made up his mind¡ªhe would join forces with The Son of the Sun.


    Once the two of them joined forces, theirbined strength would surpass that of Jeremy and Ritchie.


    "You don''t need to meet up with me. Stay in the outskirts of the capital. The The Person in the Mirror around you are under yourmand," The Son of the Sun said, making it clear that he had no intention of meeting Kean.


    The Son of the Sun believed that if he met with Kean now, there was a high chance they would soon run into Jeremy and Ritchie directly.


    Although he had agreed to assist Kean in battle, he still hoped that Kean and Jeremy would exhaust each other in a fight, leaving him to reap the final benefits.


    After hearing The Son of the Sun''s response, Kean''s expression twisted with barely contained fury.


    He was doing everything he could to suppress his anger, forcing himself to remain silent. He knew that if he opened his mouth now, he would probably start cursing The Son of the Sun outright.


    Taking a deep breath, Kean slowly said, "Fine. For now, let''s split up and search for Jeremy separately. As soon as either of us finds any useful information, we''ll inform the other immediately."


    With that, Kean ended the call without waiting for a response.


    The Son of the Sun could hear from Kean''s tone just how much effort it had taken for him to hold back his rage.


    That realization delighted him.


    "I''ve finally gained the upper hand in my struggle against Kean! No matter what, making Kean suffer in silence is a victory for me."


    For once, The Son of the Sun had the advantage over Kean.


    At the very least, in this matter, he had sessfully frustrated Kean.


    However, The Son of the Sun''s good mood did notst long.


    Shortly after, he received a report from The Person in the Mirror. Many of the subordinates he had sent out had been eliminated. Worse still, they had failed to send back any useful intelligence before being wiped out.


    "What the hell is going on? Has my entire operation been exposed to Jeremy and Ritchie? Are those two hiding in the shadows, systematically taking out my subordinates?"


    If that was the case, he had to act immediately.


    "I can''t just sit back and let them wipe out my forces so easily!"


    For the first time, The Son of the Sun began to feel a sense of unease creeping in.


    However, The Son of the Sun had no intention of leaving the instance he was in.


    He had already converted all the energy within the instance into sr power. He only needed half a day more to fully absorb the remaining sr energy within the instance.


    Once he had absorbed all of it, his level would break past Level 70.


    As long as he surpassed Level 70, his strength would be far beyond that of Jeremy and Ritchie.


    For this reason, The Son of the Sun chose to remain where he was, opting tomand his subordinates from a distance instead of taking direct action.@@novelbin@@


    Yet, as The Son of the Sun continued to stall for time, he ultimately failed to locate Jeremy and Ritchie through his subordinates.


    Instead, he saw them with his own eyes.


    Jeremy and Ritchie had arrived near the instance where The Son of the Sun was hiding.


    Although they were still about one kilometer away from the entrance, Jeremy could already feel the overwhelming sr energy radiating from within the instance.


    "Based on the intelligence we''ve gathered, the instance ahead was originally one that contained death energy. That means it has mutated. The Son of the Sun must have done exactly what The Person in the Mirror described¡ªstaying inside and attempting to convert all of the instance''s power into his own," Jeremy exined to Ritchie swiftly.


    Ritchie nodded in acknowledgment.


    Jeremy had sensed the changes within the instance using his King of Time and Space ability. Meanwhile, Ritchie had detected them through his Shadow Maniption skill.


    Shadows were naturally sensitive to sr energy.


    The stronger the sun''s power became, the more suppressed Shadow Maniption would be.


    Right now, Ritchie could feel that his Shadow Maniption was being severely restricted.


    Although Jeremy had reached their target smoothly, Ritchie wasn''t feeling optimistic.


    His Shadow Maniption had been weakened, which meant that in the uing battle, he could only rely on his awakened ability¡ªSoul Division.


    But his Soul Division ability wasn''t at a high enough level topensate for the loss of his shadow skills.


    This left Ritchie feeling uneasy¡ªhe wasn''t confident that he could contribute much to the fight.


    "So what should we do next? Do we just charge in? My Shadow Maniption has been suppressed. I might not be able to provide you with much support inbat," Ritchie admitted, his tone carrying a rare trace of frustration.


    Ritchie''s tone carried a hint of disappointment.


    However, Jeremy didn''t seem to mind at all.


    "You''re seriously underestimating yourself," Jeremy said casually. "Sure, your Shadow Maniption is being suppressed, but it''s not The Son of the Sun suppressing it¡ªit''s just the sr energy.


    Once the fight starts, I''ll make sure to keep The Son of the Sun upied. In that situation, the suppression on your Shadow Maniption won''t be as overwhelming as it is now. You''ll still be able to contribute significantly."


    Jeremy''s words helped Ritchie regain his confidence.


    Ritchie nodded firmly, his hesitation fading away.


    "I get it now! Let''s move in and take action immediately!"